Vi är mycket glada över att ha Lefteris Joannidis, Ruffian Joannidis kennel, med i vår uppfödarintervju. Intervjun som följer är på engelska.

Lefteris and his wife Ivana have been interested in American Staffordshire Terriers since 1990, when they saw the dog SINDELAR’S GOCK OF MAX on the World Dog Show in Brno (CZ) in young class. He tell us that ”This beautiful and grand dog took us so much, that it wasn’t any question about which breed to choose”.

As a young boy, Lefteris was interested in many dog breeds, to explain the situation he tell us that he was born and raised in a country ruled by the communist party and a totalitarian regime. They didn’t have the chance to see many breeds in the Czech Republic, only here and there in foreign films for example Bloodhound, Neapolitan Mastiff, APBT, American Staffordshire Terrier.

Lefteris and his brother imported Neapolitan Mastiffs from Di Ponzano Breeding. So his first dog was a Neapolitan Mastiff. After the two years he spent with Mastin, he understood that it was not the breed for him and he became intensely interested in Staffordshires.

Lefteris tell us that he was attracted by it’s intensity, audacity, temperament, type of breed, size, constant effort to be as close as possible to a person, history of the breed. ”His canine nature suited me to my own human nature” Lefteris explains.

The interest in breeding started in 1990 and he started studying everything available about the breed. From 1996 he became a member of STCA with the help of Richard Gray (Rounders kennel), who vouched for him, and Lefteris tell us that ”Richard Gray slowly began to influence my thinking, added Hendrix Harper, the attitude and work of these people influenced me forever, I continued to keep in touch with breeders of the Ruffian line R.Gray, H.Harper, Jerry Rooney”. He also tell us about how he in recent years spend a lot of time with Jodi Sprat and Mindy M Stab. Jodi and Mindy are very close and important people to Joannidis and his wife Ivana. ”My wife has a huge influence on the whole running of our household and dog breeding” he says.

Lefteris also explaine ”I was intrigued by the Ruffian line and everything related to it and therefore decided to maintain the line and try to move the line forward in the best possible condition.”

When we ask him what he look at when choosing a potential dog for breeding he tell us that ”We are looking for an anatomically balanced dog with expression”. He also explain that physically, they prefer medium size and average build. It is also important for them that it is a good-natured dog – ”one that has temperamental intelligence and common sense to be a good dog”. He also tell us that they have no problem with the use of ”hot dogs” and explain that it belongs to the breed

The goals of Ruffian Joannidis breeding is to maintain quality breeding of Ruffian dogs, health, temperament, standard type. It is also to keep the same dogs that he got ”so that in the future I can pass them on to other fans of the breed in the best possible condition” he says.

We asked him what he is most proud of with his accomplishment in breeding and he tell us that they are happy that even in today’s ”special canine era” they can produce standard dogs that are capable of competition at exhibitions and are able to establish themselves in kennels all over the world. ”With hard work, we managed to keep the line at a more than good level” Lefteris tell us.

From the puppybyers he require passion, background, desire to own a Staffordshire, Desire to work with a dog.

Lefteris is a supporter of the standard, he tell us that ”for me, Staffordshire is like an athletic decathlete who can handle all 10 disciplines very well. The American Staffordshire Terrier should give the impression of great strength for his size, a well put-together dog, muscular, but agile and graceful, keenly alive to his. He should be stocky, not long-legged or racy in outline. His courage is proverbial”.

Thank you very much Lefteris Joannidis – Ruffian Joannidis kennel for participating in our interview. We wish you the best of luck with your continued breeding.