DOSE A STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER MAKE A GOOD FAMILY PET ?

Just lately me & Tracy have been getting a lot of E-mails & phone calls about, Dose the Staffordshire Bull Terrier make a good family pet & are they good with Children & other dogs ?

ALL DOGS MAKE GOOD FAMILY PETS.

Whether its a Stafford or a Jack Russell, a Bloodhound or any form of Terrier. Its all down to the new family on how to bring your dog up right.

We all worry whether or not the Puppy or an older dog that we’ve just got, is going to be OK with the children & the family. We cant really say to you that your puppy is going to be a good puppy or a bad one !. We can only advise you on what to do and our experiences on how we have to deal with it. A Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a very loving, playful, loyal, intelligence dog. They are just like children, they crave attention, they need looking after just like our children do. If a puppy is misbehaving THERE ARE WAYS THAT YOU CAN AVOID THIS !.

THIS FAITHFUL FRIEND IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE NANNY DOG THE STAFFORDS.

When he a puppy first arrivers at their new home try not to leave your puppy alone for too long. After all its the first time its going to be away from its mother and it’s brothers and sisters. So he or she’s probably feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. So gradually give them a little more time on their own every day. And if you have children make sure they understand that sometimes the puppy is going to be tired and needs to be left in peace.

Make sure that your new puppy is interacting and socializing with the family. Having  pleasant social interactions with adults, children and the vets. Your puppy also needs careful exposure to different situations in the environment like the hover, traffic, crowds, traveling in the car. ( Now our Blue Boy once he gets in the car, its his car as far as he is concerned. You can not go near the car at all, unless its us ).  

You’ve got to tell your children that the puppy is not a toy and that they cant pull it about, hitting the puppy, dress it up, put it in the bath. My daughter Elisha who was about 13 months old put our puppy Ziggy down the toilet and tried to flush her, LOL That’s what im saying to you all, it happens to the best of us.

Feeding your puppy, now that’s where you need to keep an eye on the children, Because if they are any thing like mine was, they will be in the puppy’s food bowl and trying to eat it for their self. What you can do is get your children to feed the puppy as well as you. Then you can get you or your child to pick the bowl up and take it away from the pup, just for a little time, then place the bowl back down. The last thing you want is a dog that goes for you over it’s food bowl.

Tasty rewards are the easiest way to encourage  your puppy to learn. But not chocolate !. He wont thank you for it , because its actually toxic for them. Instead try snacks and treats specially developed for puppies. Its best to involve every one in the family with obedience training. But make sure that everyone in the family uses the same commands to avoid confusing him or her. Encouragement works better than harsh words or hitting them. From as early as 6 weeks you can teach your puppy to obey simple commands.

SIT, STAY, COME, HEEL, FETCH, & MOST OF ALL GOOD BOY OR GIRL.

IRRITATING BEHAVIOR. You should attempt to control any over-enthusiastic adults and children around your puppy. Do not allow them to disturb its sleep, or to play rough or over exciting games, which will encourage ( Undesirable ) play biting or grumpy behavior. Which is not what you are out to achieve.

 Do not let any one pick up the puppy. Molly coddle it or smother it, as it is not uncommon for people to pick up and carry puppies awkwardly. Which can cause pain and the puppy will bite you. Which will also teach it to be nervous and hand shy. What’s more, a puppy that is constantly picked up and carried can become overly clingy and demanding, so it better to squat down to the puppies level, to pet him.

Every puppy needs socializing around other dogs. If you find that your dog is to aggressive towards the children and the family and out of control. Then you will have to rehome him or her. But don’t just past the buck on, you have to tell the new owners what sort of dog they will be taking on.

Not like this puppy lol------------------------------>

If you own a Stafford that has been moved from home to home that’s not Healthy or mentally good for them at all. It could result in having a difficult time in settling him or her in to there new environment.

It is important to vet the suitability of the potential owners. As a dog lover go with your gut instincts as it is very difficult and often Cruel to rehome a Stafford as their natural character is based on loving, trust and loyalty.

If you feel that you are endangering your family in any way then it has to be done.

FIRST OF ALL THIS TYPE OF DOG IS NOT

A fashion item just because its Blue. Also to get a Blue Stafford just to pose off to your mates. Or just because your mate down the road has got a Blue dog and you want one !. also not to go around harassing and Terrorizing the public and other dogs. As this is the type of thing that give’s the Staffordshire Bull Terrier a bad name !. The Staffie is often seen as a status symbol ,exploited by people wanting to increase their macho image. Its not the best reason to bring a Staffie into your life. The idea of getting a Blue Staffie is because they are so good looking and Rare & make a good family pets as well as good guard dogs. And best of all you get to show them off at the dog shows that are organized all over the country. When your dog takes 1st place 2 nd place or just entering the show, how proud it makes you feel.

THEY ARE NOT A FIRE SIDE ORNAMENT.

PLEASE THINK CAREFULLY

Before you take on a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. They have been known to piss people off. Because of what damage that they can cause.( I don’t mean with the children ), its what they can do to your home. The fun loving Staffie is full of energy and will amuse there self’s if board, possibly in quite destructive ways !. That’s probably why your house gets ripped to pieces, or they foul all over the house.

They are not the sort of dogs that just want to lay around all day ( Well up to a point that is ). Mainly because they get bored and frustrated and need to burn off their energy. Our dogs know when its time to go out. ( And they will remind you of it ). They jump all over you and drive you mad. Its not like us humans, we just put our hat & coat on & away we go.

THEY HAVE TO BE EXERCISED.

There is alot of work that go’s into these dogs. You’ve got to take them out regularly and work them. What I mean by that is that your dog has got to have a good run around. Or doing the Treadmill or the A frame, the Flirt Pole, Weight Pulling, They need this because it helps get rid of their frustrations. Being shut up in the house or laying on the sofa ( Which they love doing ) or being locked up in the kennels gets them all bottled up and existed and ready to go.

Some of you out there seem to think that your going to get a Blue Staffie bitch & a Blue Staffie boy and start breeding. It is very rewarding but if you are doing it for the money your doing it for the wrong reasons !.

Please think carefully about the suitability of this wonderful breed for there home and lifestyle, and for breeders to seriously consider whether there’s enough responsible loving homes for them to go to.

Not to find out that your dog is being used in dog fighting. Its bad enough them getting targeted because of what sort of dog they are. Some relate them as pit-bulls witch they definitely not. And put in the wrong hands, they will get bad publicity because of what they are putting them poor dogs through.

Please check who you are going to rehome your puppy’s to. Ask question, like have they got the right environment do they have a family like children ect ect. As there is a growing amount of Stafford’s that are being put into rehoming centers, like Battersea dogs home, The Dog Trust ect ect. Because they are either to boisterous, they are a high maintenance, marriage break ups, owners deaths or owners moving, there’s a baby on the way ect ect. I find the one that piss’s me off is, there bitch cant breed any more so they get rid of her and put her into a home and find some excuse to use like she no good with the children ( Mmm that always works ).

Me and the wife have built up such a good relationship with the people that are on our website, though our dogs as well as other peoples dogs. I think that it’s safe to say that we are responsible Breeders in every way possible.

Thank You.