Interview with Manuel Torres
A conversation with one of the best-known breeders, judges and authors in the world of the American Staffordshire Terrier.
Some names have been familiar in the American Staffordshire Terrier world for decades, and Manuel Torres from Spain is certainly one of them. As breeder under the kennel name Ngorong-Ngorong, judge in many European countries, Australia and the United States, and author of books about the breed, he has made a lasting mark. For ASTCH readers, Wil de Veer spoke with Manuel about his first encounter with the Am Staff, his kennel, his views on temperament and health, and the early development of the breed in Spain.
An early fascination with the breed
Manuel Torres describes himself as a Spanish professional dog breeder and trainer. His first encounter with the American Staffordshire Terrier took place in 1988 in Cadiz, in southern Spain. There he saw a dog that immediately impressed him. When he asked the owner what breed it was, the answer was simple: American Staffordshire Terrier.
From that moment on, his search began. In a time before the internet, information about the breed was not easy to find. Manuel wrote to the Real Sociedad Canina de Espana, which then provided him with the address of the American Kennel Club. After months of waiting, he received information about the breed and began writing letters to Am Staff breeders. Through those contacts, and through people in the Spanish dog world, he eventually obtained his first male. A year later, his first female followed.
The Am Staff was not his first breed. Manuel had started his life with dogs with a Boxer/Dobermann cross, followed by his first purebred dog, a Dobermann named Zarko. Only a few years later did the Am Staff enter his life, and it would become the breed for which he is best known.
The origin of Ngorong-Ngorong
The kennel name Ngorong-Ngorong was officially established in 1988. According to Manuel, the name came from a memorable mistake. In 1987 he watched a black-and-white television program about African wildlife, focusing on the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. He fell in love with the place and later used the name when applying for his kennel registration. However, he did not remember it correctly. That is how the unusual kennel name was born, one that later became internationally recognized.
Building his bloodline
Manuel explains that his earliest dogs were not fully representative of the bloodline that would later define his kennel. His foundation bitch was Ch. Peggy, coming from the Vom Simba Camp line. In later years he added dogs from the United States, including blood from Rounder, Sindelar and Fraja EC. Today he speaks proudly of planning the 14th Ngorong-Ngorong generation.
His goal from the beginning was clear. He did not fall in love with the breed only because of its appearance, but especially because of its temperament. That temperament was the key reason for him to begin breeding. His ambition was to help make this remarkable breed better known and more appreciated.
A large kennel and a life among dogs
Over the years Manuel grew not only into a respected breeder, but also into a true professional with extensive facilities. He owns two large dog hotels and a dog training school. In total he mentions more than eighty rooms for dogs, several large training grounds, spacious walking parks and a daily team of staff members. Dogs have been at the center of his life for decades.
Besides the American Staffordshire Terrier, he currently also breeds Golden Retrievers and Australian Cattle Dogs. Even so, the Am Staff remains a breed with a very special place in his life. Since his first litter, born in September 1990, he has bred more than one hundred litters.
His puppies are raised on both dry food and a BARF diet. Socialization takes place through contact with people and other dogs from an early age. Training is a major part of that process. Manuel summarizes it perfectly: a working dog is a happy dog.
Health, temperament and type
When asked how he would rank health, temperament and type in order of importance, his answer is immediate: health, temperament and then type. It is a view that many serious breed enthusiasts will understand: beauty without stability and health has limited value.
According to Manuel, ataxia is the most serious health problem he has seen in the breed. He also acknowledges that smaller issues exist, but notes that these can be found in many breeds. His breeding aim is therefore focused on healthy dogs that fit the standard and at the same time make excellent companions. He even emphasizes that all dogs from his breeding program are first and foremost pet dogs, even if they also possess show quality.
Breeding philosophy and experience
When it comes to breeding methods, Manuel says that linebreeding is his personal favorite, although over the years he has also used inbreeding and outcrossing. In his opinion there is no absolute formula; it depends on what is needed at a given moment and which qualities one wants to preserve or improve. That, in his view, is exactly what makes breeding such a challenge.
He adds that many people and many dogs have influenced his breeding program over the years. He considers himself fortunate that Ngorong-Ngorong dogs can now be found all over the world. He also makes an effort to maintain good relationships and friendships with owners.
As for guarantees, he works with a general guarantee contract signed by both breeder and owner.
Judge and international experience
Manuel Torres is not only a breeder but also a highly respected judge. He is approved to judge the Terrier Group and most of Group 8. He attended the American Specialty twice as a visitor and also had some of his own dogs shown there, with different results. In addition, he judged a Regional Specialty in Kentucky with 105 entries.
Asked about the differences between Europe and the United States, he notes that handling styles vary widely, but as a judge he prefers to assess dogs in a more natural and free style. For him, the dog should be more important than an exaggerated presentation.
He has not yet judged in the Netherlands. That is one of the reasons why Wil de Veer considers him especially suitable for an event such as the ASTCH Championship Clubmatch.
His greatest winner and major achievements
When asked about his biggest winner, Manuel immediately mentions Multi Ch. Milwaukee de Ngorong-Ngorong. This dog won Best in Show at the 2003 European Dog Show, an event with more than ten thousand entries. It was a result that further established the international reputation of his kennel.
As for the number of champions he has bred, he no longer knows the exact figure, but estimates it at more than two hundred championship titles. That alone shows the remarkable influence his kennel has had over more than three decades.
Advice to newcomers
For new people entering the breed, Manuel has a clear message. Pay close attention to temperament and education, and love your dog every day - not only on show weekends. He also points out that it is often easier to be a good owner than to become a good breeder. In other words: think carefully before taking that step.
The early years of the breed in Spain
After the interview, Wil de Veer adds a brief historical note about the rise of the American Staffordshire Terrier in Spain. According to him, the earliest years ran more or less parallel with those in the Netherlands. In 1983 the first and only Am Staff was registered in Spain. In 1984 there were three registrations, and in 1985 that number rose to 21. That period laid the foundation for the breed in Spain.
The first dog to earn the title of Spanish Champion was, in 1988, the male Hauche Big As A Rock (Ruffians Brave Red Bull x Tiffani), bred by Augustin Lopez Meleo and owned by Julian Celis.
The first kennel in Spain was Ngorong-Ngorong in 1988. Other well-known kennels from the early years included Creek Staff (Francisco Javier Gomez), Amalo (Amalio Lasheras), Heavenguard (Alejandro Rodenkirchen), Truans Staffs (Toni Perez) and De Los Hermanos Dalton (Juan M. Calvo).
The foundation of Spanish breeding was built on dogs from several countries and well-known lines, including the United States (Woods, Rounders, Benmar), Canada (Barberycoast), Germany (Hagele's), the Netherlands (Tippit's, Skram's, Chasqui) and the Czech Republic (Tipit z Hanky). In a relatively short time, this created a broad base for the further development of the breed in Spain.
Closing words
The story of Manuel Torres shows how passion, perseverance and vision can grow into a lasting influence within a breed. From his first encounter with the Am Staff in 1988 to a kennel name known around the world, Ngorong-Ngorong has unquestionably earned its place in the history of the American Staffordshire Terrier.