FLAMETREE KENNELS,,,,, APBT
Into the future, with the best from the past.,,,,,,American Pitbull Terrier
FLAMETREE KENNELS "keepers of the flame"
January-February, 1975 issue of Bloodlines Journal
" No one really knows when these dogs first came to this country, but the great breeder William J. Lightner once told me that his grandfather raised them before the Civil War. It is quite possible that they were even here during the Revolutionary War. In any case, it is clear that dogs of this breed came from various parts of Europe, specifically Spain and Sicily. But little is known about these earliest importation's, because nothing was written about them.. People like Lightner, McClintock, Menefee and Wallace, to mention just a few. "Regardless of one's historical perspective, these old amber eyed, rednosed, red-toe-nailed, red coated dogs represent some of the most significant pit bull history and tradition that stands on four legs today." Richard Stratton
215-425-2639
South Eastern, Pennsylvania
Hello and welcome,I hope you find this site informative. I am far from finished but I hope to have this modist site up and running soon. Please keep comming back as I plan to share my experiences with and about the Old Family type American Pitbull Terrier. After many years I am still learning about this wonderful breed, so if anyone out there has any new information or pictures regarding this old line of APBT please let me know. Enjoy, and be patient with the errors on my site,,,I hope to get better as I go.
At Flametree, we specialize in the Old Family Rednose strain of American Pitbull Terriers, usally known as Hemphill/ Wilder.. The OFRN is a strain of APBT made true by old time breeders such as Corcoran,Lightner,Bourgeous, McCoy and later by LC Owens,Buck Moon, Aurther Harvey then Hemphill and Wilder. These are but a few of the breeders that made the Old Family Rednose true and what it is today. Just to give credit, there are other breeders, hobbist and Kennels that are dedicated to saving the OFRN strain and I like to consider myself one of them. There are many APBT's that are red rednose but not all red rednoses are Old Family. At Flametree ,all my dogs are ADBA/UKC/ AADR registered a fact that I take great pride in . All my breeding dogs are DNA-Profiled as proof to the world of their purity and in time I will place those certificates on this site for all to see. So,please enjoy your visit,,,there is plenty to see and read,plenty of information that will clarify this misinformation circulating.
Let me state that the OFRN line of APBT has gone through some changes throughout the many years that they have existed. When Hemphill recieved the the Frenchman Bourgeous dogs he made breedings and outcrosses to improve the line same as ,Wilder and the many other breeders. Then as now it was known that "you" can only inbreed so much and outcrosses have to be made to keep any Line going. It is true that Hemphill and Wilder died many years ago and someone might ask why do I call my dogs Hemphill/Wilder dogs? Hemphill was that last true keeper of the OFRN and even he outcrossed to the Clouse dogs and Clouse did the same by outcrossing to the Hemphill dogs. Hemphill gave the last of his dogs to Wilder as the story goes and Wilder and his associates did many breedings and outcrosses also. Their results are what todays OFRN are made of and as they did,,we have to keep the line going as best we can. I once asked my dad just as my son asked me,,,,"What am I" I told my son just as my dad told me ,,,"You are what you say you are, just make it true " My dogs heritage is about as pure OFRN as any dog in the world could be. In a few more generations the Hemphill and Wilder names will no longer be seen on a pedigree,,what will they be called then?
I have always been a person that if I'm going to do anything, I will do it right or give it my best shot. I have done so with my dogs by searching this country for the best possible specimens for my breeding programe. I will never place a pup with anyone I do not feel right about and I only place my dogs with experienced dog "people". The APBT Terrier is not for everyone, they are "alot" of dog and need special care. People have said that I am crazy for keeping/caring for "Pitbulls", they say" they all should be exterminated". The more "people" hate them, the more I love them,,,I feel they are a treasure to be preserve in their purest state and I will only place my dogs with people who will preseve the Old Family Rednose line. My dogs will not be wasted or sacraficed in the" pit" no dog will be handed over/sold for illegal purpose.
I plan two more breeding this summer and spring of 2010, then I will retire. This is a young mans hobby and I am just unable to keep up and maintain my animals. I will only keep Koda and one of his great great grand daughter. My dog Zapata will be up for sale this Summer and I will be accepting offers after June or July. Before I place "Z" I plan to back Cherokee 2 into him,if he is able to produce I will place him up for sale.
I have also decided to give up Shawnee and will be excepting offers but I believe I will offer Shawnee and Zapata as a pair. This will be a great opportunity to acquire two pure bred OFRN that are ADBA/UKC/AADR registered and are DNA-P.
215-425-2639
Flametree's Sully Missouri Red (RIP)
Contact Flametree@verizon.net
215-805-2593
Flametree Kennels Registrations and Certifications
" It is our belief that we have been handed a great legacy. From the originators of the breed in England and Ireland to the earliest Americans who brought the dogs here and called them Staffordshire Terrier, then Yankee Terriers and finally settled on the name, American Pit Bull Terriers. The A.D.B.A. does not condone any illegal activity, but will never deny the history of our breed. Hundred of years of breeding and selection have developed the dogs of today. Without the past, we could not have our present and certainly not our future. We salute the contributors to our breed. We salute the contributors to our breed. The many breeders, competitors, trainers, handlers and fanciers whose love for the breed developed one of the finest canine athletes ever known to man. This is a true athlete, the American Pit Bull Terrier. Within this athletic package, we have been given the spirit, loyalty, dedication, and heart of the dog that we love today. It is the never give up, always give 110% attitude, the gameness, that keeps us connected to the breed. The A.D.B.A. and the A.D.B.S.I. are here to stay. It is our responsibility to protect and preserve the APBT in its original form. We do this in a number of ways: 1) Register the dogs and guarantee purebred status. This is dependent on the honesty of our breeders and the paperwork they submit to the office; 2) Holding A.D.B.S.I. Conformation shows judged according to the ADBA standard, that is based on the original purpose of the breed. No other registry can say that. The A.D.B.A. believes in responsible ownership of the A.P.B.T. and has promoted responsible ownership through the GAZETTE and information provided to clubs. It is our goal to answer questions about the breed and to promote the positive aspects of the American Pit BuIl Terrier. Over the years, the American Dog Breeders Association, Inc. has held fast to traditional values. Although current trends reflect innovations within the breed, we are firm in our resolve to stay the course of fundamentals. Some things do not need to change. To those who pledge to preserve the unique qualities of the APBT, we dedicate and re-affirm that our tradition of class continues. Our association continues to grow in the U.S.A. and other countries overseas. The American Dog Breeders Association Inc. is the largest registration office of the American Pit Bull Terrier. The A.D.B.A. registered American Pit Bull Terrier is the #1 breed of dog exhibited in the U.S.A. today, through conformation dog shows and weight pulling events sponsored by the American Dog Breeders Show Inc.
DNA- Profiles of Flametree Dogs will be shown on demand, I'm unable to post on this website.