Before getting a dog it is important to ensure that you can provide it with the environment that your puppy needs ! 

Thank you for choosing a Staffordshire Bull Terrier to be your new companion. You will find that you are taking home one of the most family orientated dogs. This is a brief guide designed to give you some basic advice to help you and your new dog live a happy life together. At the end you will find a list of recommended books for further reading. Staffordshire Bull Terriers (also known as Staffords) are the modern show and pet descendants of the ‘bull and terriers’ originally bred in many parts of the UK well into the nineteenth century as fighting, rat catching and badger baiting dogs. Since he was first registered as a show breed in 1935, the Staffordshire Bull Terriers’ courage and affinity with people, especially children, has enabled him to become popular in many corners of the world and has established the breed’s well-earned nickname of the ‘nanny dog’.

Take your time and be prepared to wait to get the right Stafford you really want. Also make sure that you get to see the Dam ( the Mother ) and the litter and the sire ( the Father ) if possible. We encourage people to come and visit us and the dogs that we own. That way they get to see the way they are with people what sort of dogs they really are. Just like a Staffie they go all stupid and silly, all ways with out a doubt they jump up at you though the excitement that some one new in the house

Making your own mind up

Never be fobbed off with excuses about the condition a puppy is in or its behavior, and never buy a puppy because its the last one left and you feel sorry for it. Its often said that puppies choose their owners, rather than the other way around, and there is much truth to this claim. An overly shy puppy may have socialization problems later, and a puppy that comes forward from the whelping box , is asking to be chosen, and is probably the right one. The puppy must be alert and have bright clean eyes. Its nose must be clean ( but forgive a little crust of food ), its ears must be free of wax and he or she’s coat must be clean and pleasant to handle and smell. There must be no sing of sores or grittiness on the skin and coat. Black ( coal dust ) is usually flea dirt -fleas themselves are more difficult to spot. Examine all the puppies briefly to ensure that they have been well cared for.

Settling in to a new family home

Bringing home a new puppy or even an older dog is an important family occasion. Everyone wants to touch, hold and stroke the new member of the family, especially the children. But do take things slowly. In the case of a puppy, this will be the first time away from the only environment the puppy has known, and away from his or hers mother and litter mates. The world is huge and frightening. For an older dog ,there is still a lot of adjusting for him or her to do. Bring him or her home when there are not too many people around, and introduce him to his or hers new environment in as relaxed manner as possible. Let him or her look and sniff around, offer him or her a little something to eat, which he or she probably wont accept, and allow him or her to have a run around the house and the garden. Bring your family and friends to meet the dog one or two times, and give him or her time to make friends before introducing to anyone else

Home alone all day & what mess they can do

Puppies hate to be left alone until they are confident that you will quickly come back home to them. Our Keetch’s Blue Motor was murder when we had to go out, Motor literally pulled up the kitchen lino and ripped the middle out of it, eat the door frame, and ripped up my shoes and she used to howl the house down. IM not saying that’s going to happen to you

but that’s the sort of thing that happens when your out. I keep saying it im going to put a camera in the house and record Blue when were out. He right nuts off if we leave him home alone he’s got a habit of picking up his water bowl and tipping it all over the floor in the kitchen one day IM going to do it. IM sure some of you out there have had more or less the same happen to you if not worse !!. That’s why we’ve now got Kennels its a lot cheaper on the house hold goods. Some of you might not be so lucky and have kennels so you can do the next best thing and bye your self’s a collapsible traveling cage. Just as long as you don’t leave them in there all day. As you can see by the photo to your left and right any thing can happen when your not home

Safety Guidelines on toys

The jaws and teeth of nearly all dogs are much stronger than you think, so toys should be very tough. Fluffy dolls will be torn to pieces with out fail, especially with this type of dog. so if you must provide them, make sure that they do not have parts that can be detached and swallowed. We’ve learnt our lesson with our Blue Boy he’s for ever ripping up tea towels my Socks ( Brave Boy ) and Fluffy toys, he just thinks its a game. Balls are popular toys for dogs because the owners can throw them and join in the game. That’s Fine but make sure the ball is large enough not even to be half-swallowed by the dog. A dog being rushed to the veterinarian choking on a tennis ball that is stuck in its throat is a common emergency. We know we had to rush Blue to the vets because he had swallowed a part of the ball he was chewing on, he was Shiting Blood and bits of rubber ball. Luckily it all came out with out the help of the vets hand up his bum OUCH !!.

The use of a bone as a toy is controversial. Most vets advise against it , unless the bone is so big that the dog cannot break pieces off and swallow them. There is no doubt that a good chew at a bone is a dogs delight. But Be warned if you have other dogs in the house its not a good idea to give them bones to chew on. because it will end up in a big fight, Unless you’ve got kennels then that’s probably the best thing to do, keep them apart. Rawhide chews are usually an excellent substitute for bones

Fear of strange surroundings.

Puppies curiosity about new toys helps to overcome their Fear of strange surroundings.These are just a few of the toys that are sold in your local pet shops, and supper Markets.As you can see they are not that strong so do keep an eye open for your dog, Or your be down the vets

Home From Home is not a good thing !

Also 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. I agree with Heidi at www.cosmos-staffords.co.uk on what she’s got to say a bout rehoming. Heidi Quotes. 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 trust and loyalty

 Check list on what to look for

1. The puppy’s coat and skin should feel loose and soft. The skin should be free of sores.

2. Make sure there is no discharge from the eyes. Forgive a scratch or two on the face - puppies in the whelping box don’t always agree.

3. The inside of the ears must look pink and shiny, without inflammation or dark - coloured wax. It should not look sore.

4. Sturdy, strong limbs are a must for any breed.

5. The membranes of the nose must be clear and free of discharge. There must be no sign of a runny nose.

6. Soreness or inflammation of the rims of the eyes, or eyes that are not completely clear, may be serious signs of present or potential disease.

7. Puppies should have a clean bottoms. Signs of diarrhea are obvious from a quick examination of the behind