Staffordshire Bull Terrier Blog

Dogs’ chewing on things is not unusual; in fact, it is natural for them. It is how they explore the world and sometimes a result of boredom. Training your dog not to chew on things can be a little skirmish.

If you have a Staffordshire bull terrier then you really have to be patient and firm because this breed tends to chew a great deal. To help you with this, here are some tactics to stop them from chewing and additional safety measures to care for your pup.

1. If your dog starts to chew on things that they are not allowed to, you have to distract them by getting their attention. Make a loud noise or give them chew toys. When your dog plays with the chew toy, give him a reward or praise him. By doing so, you will reinforce this appropriate behavior.

2. You can use sprays that can help you stop your dog from chewing on things. These sprays are not harmful for them, but they taste really bad. Spray them on things that you don’t want your dog to chew on and you have to reapply them often. You can buy this on you local pet store.

3. When your dog gets bored, they tend to chew on things. To prevent this, provide chew toys like an old sock or shoes but you should also replace them because they might get bored chewing on the same thing everyday, provide variety. You can also give dog treats or play with them.

4. Aside from keeping your dog from chewing, it is also your responsibility to keep your environment free from harmful things. Put away things that can be dangerous to your dog and be a responsible dog owner.

Hope this helps

Best Wishes

Denise

All dogs are territorial to some extent. A watchdog’s job is to guard and get the owner’s attention by barking and intimidate any intruder. Staffordshire bull terriers are great guard dogs.

They are very intelligent, trustworthy, and affectionate by nature. Dissimilar from other terrier breeds, they are not susceptible to pestiferous barking. They do bark but only to attract their owner’s attention, they need something like; they want to go out and play or someone/something is in your yard.

Dogs bark because this is their way of communication, but when they bark excessively, that becomes problem. Excessive barking can be really annoying and disruptive to you and your neighbors.

Though there are breeds that are not vulnerable to this kind of setback like the Staffordshire bull terriers, but if they are not properly trained they can do have the tendency to become bothersome.

Teaching your pooch to bark less entails an immense deal of persistence and determination. Therefore, here are some suggestions that you can follow to help you lessen your dog from yapping.

Treat your dog as a toddler that is having a temper tantrum. If you see your dog barking like crazy then you go out and bring him in, you are only reinforcing that behavior. Your dog will think that he should woof like that to get your attention.

On the contrary, you also cannot leave your dog barking like that, you must do something about it and the best way is to get their attention and use a command. Tell the dog to stop and when he does, praise him at once. This will tell him that he is doing the right thing.

Get your dog stimulated. Take him for a walk, or play with him and let him explore the world. Dogs tend to bark at something if they are not familiar with it or if they sense that it is a threat so let them discover their surroundings so that they will be acquainted with it.

The goal here is not to completely eradicate barking. Just as people need to talk, dogs need to bark because that is how they verbalize or communicate what they need or feel. The purpose of bark training is only to control unnecessary barking that is troubling you and your neighbors.
 

Hope this helps

Best Wishes

Denise

Finding a breeder is never easy; this is for the fact that, there are many dishonest ones out there. They produce puppies that are so inbred and have a horde of health problems. Luckily, there are sill honest and good breeders. It is very important that you find these honest breeders when want to purchase a purebred dog. Here are some guidelines on how to spot them.

1. Start searching by asking your friends, vet, or any local breeding clubs. Ask for their recommendations.

2. Call these recommended breeders and ask if puppies are available. If there are, ask him if you can come and visit the puppies as well as the parents of the pups. If he says no, then find another one. A reputable breeder should allow you to learn more about the background of the litters.

3. Ask the breeder on how long he has been involved in breeding. A good breeder should have been doing this for years and is knowledgeable on the breed standards.

4. Inquire if the breeder screens for actual and potential health problems related with the breed. A reputable breeder should show certificates and records that prove that his dogs are in good conditions.

5. Always visit the puppies. Check their living conditions. A good breeder should keep their homes clean and safe.

6. An honest breeder will give you references of people who previously bought puppies from him.

7.  Last but not the least, an honest and reputable breeder should provide a written contract indicating that he guarantees the puppy that you bought is healthy or is in good condition.

My advice would be first off go onto the Kennel club site either in the UK or US. Then look for the breed you want. Which will be a Staffy of course!! Give them a call. If they have not got a puppy they will recommend another breeder if they are worth their salt.

Good luck with your puppy hunting

Best Wishes

Denise

I couldn’t resist this video. Especially as Flo our Staffy is red. Are you getting a new puppy? A Staffy I hope. Will it be a Brutus or a Ruby? Sign up for the free report on the & habits of good Staffy owners. I think you will enjoy it. Back to Dog names.

Well, this is really a thrilling event for the whole family, especially for the children. It is like an additional member to the family and of course giving the puppy a name is even more exciting.

So how do you find the perfect name for your puppy? Preferably, the name given should reflect the physical appearance or breed and the temperament of the puppy. Lets have a look at some of the most popular male dog names.

You may want to call the puppy with a cute name like Bambi, but you have to consider that the puppy might outgrow that name. There are not many Staffs that I know of that are called Bambi?

Though Staffordshire bull terriers might have that rowdy look, they are still notable for their capability as family dog. They are very protective to their owners and that is the main reason why they are good watchdogs and family guardians. Here are some popular male dog names for that big-tough-looking-but-loyal-and-sweet dog:

1. Max – this is the most popular male dog name. It is German in origin and means “great.”

2. Beethoven - another dog name popularized by the movie entitled with this same.

3. Buster – an English name meaning “one who breaks things”

4. Butch – another English name that means “butcher”

5. Duke – an old French name that means “leader”

6. Goliath – this name is from a character in the Bible, the giant man that David killed.

7. Hercules – this name is from a famous character in the Greek mythology that is popular for
his incomparable strength.

8. Rex – a Latin name that means “king”

9. Samson – is another popular Bible character known for his super strength. A Hebrew name
that means “his ministry.”

10. Zeus – is the father of all gods in the Greek Mythology. He is also the father of Hercules.

At the end of the day puppies are special and part of a family. Ours is called Flo!! after my Mum. I think she would have been delighted,

Take Care and have a great week.

Leave us a comment and let us take a poll on the most popular names for Staffy puppies.

Best Wishes

Denise x
 

I couldn’t resist this video. I was looking on youtube for a video of an older staffy and this one came up! I am glad to know that it isn’t just me that has the sofa taken over.

Any way on to some health advice.

Dogs are not immune to arthritis problems. They have almost the same muscular and tissue structure in their joint areas as humans do, so arthritis can rear its ugly head for them as well.

Dogs can suffer like humans and develop limping problems and pain when arthritis hits, but what exactly causes the arthritis to hit them? One of the main causes for arthritis in dogs is a
weight problem.

Excess weight can cause stress on their joints and if it continues, can lead to arthritis. If you keep your dog at a healthy weight, you can decrease their chances for developing arthritis later
on in their life.

Injuries and accidents to their limbs are another cause of arthritis in dogs. When an injury occurs to their limbs, some underlying damage can happen to the muscles and tissues around their joints, causing undue stress.

It’s also possible that some joint misplacement could happen with an injury or accident - also causing stress and rubbing of bone on tissues, making arthritis inevitable in dogs.

Poor nutrition can be another cause to their arthritic problems. Dogs need a well-balanced diet with the proper amounts of nutrients to keep their bones, muscles and tissues strong and healthy.

Prolonged poor nutrition can cause their bones and muscles to get weak and they can start to degenerate, causing inflammation in their joints. Too much physical activity without a balance of rest is another cause of arthritis.

A dog is an active animal and will have bursts of activities that are healthy for them, but they still need proper rest for their muscles, just like humans do. Overworking of the muscles can cause strain on the joints and if they don’t receive proper rest, can eventually lead to arthritis.

Sometimes arthritis can be caused by diseases or tumors that can’t be helped. There are some diseases that come without warning and wreak havoc with a dog’s body, causing many ailments - including arthritis.

Proper veterinary care to help alleviate some of the symptoms may lessen the pain brought on by arthritis. Sometimes old age itself causes arthritis. Your dog has led an active, robust life and now that he’s older, ailments common with old age will set in.

Old age has slowed him down and he’s not as active as he once was. Dogs tend to rest, but too much rest can cause their muscles to stiffen a little. Try to keep them a little active to lessen the effects that arthritis can have on them.

Arthritis might be inevitable for them, but if you keep them comfortable and give them the proper treatments prescribed by the veterinarian, they can live out their last years in happiness.

Hop you found this useful,

Best Wishes

Denise
A fellow Staffy lover!

Taking care of your staffys teeth is important. Your staffordshire bull terrier or any dog for that matter  has become a special part of your family. He or she provides companionship and devotion to you without asking for much in return. You’ll want your staffy to stay around for as long as possible, so keeping them healthy is important.

The one thing most people forget about in taking care of their dogs is that their teeth also need to be taken care of.  We know that wild dogs keep their teeth free from plaque because they chew on raw bones, which are a natural scraper of the plaque that also helps to remove any soft meat that may get stuck in their teeth that would normally cause bacteria to grow rapidly.

You need to remember that your dog isn’t like a wild animal - they need your help from the bacteria that causes bad breath and other problems. 

Your dog generally eats soft canned food or small chunks of the hard food, so these aren’t going to provide  much for natural teeth care. Bonios are great and yet are not the be all and end all. 

Chewing on something else though would be a huge advantage. Maybe a rawhide or  some of the other bones that pet shops sell.
Flo our staff loves this. They smell the house out ! Mind you she is very content with them. They’ll instinctively chew on the bone and the plaque can easily be scraped off.

If the bone isn’t working, or if they just aren’t interested in chewing on bones, then you should take mouth care into your own hands and brush them with toothpaste.  Just in case you where not aware there is special toothpaste for dogs.

Don’t feel embarreed. I didn’t realise this and I have a degree in biology.You can find special brushes and toothpaste for your dog at the local pet store. Or at your vets.

It can be quite a hoot at first so I would recommend startiing from when they are a pup. That way they are more than happy for you to play with their moth and let you open and close it. Good idea for staffys as we all know how they like to pick things up.
Brushing them daily is preferred, but if it’s not feasible, then brush them at least 3-4 times weekly. Scrub the teeth well and massage the gums also to provide for good circulation within there gums. Get rid of any food that gets stuck in his teeth.  The hard, dry food is always better than soft food when it comes to cleaning teeth.

Have the vet inspect there mouth and teeth every time you take your dog in for a checkup. They can spot anything that you may have missed and they can offer advice on how to clean the teeth better or what foods you could give to your dog to naturally help clean the teeth and keep bacteria at bay.

It’s better to treat the teeth before things get out of hand and get more expensive for your pocketbook.  Keep your dog around for your family for as long as you possibly can by keeping him healthy and keeping his teeth healthy, too.

Hope this article has been of use,

Let us know,

Best Wishes

Denise

Ticks and fleas are an annoyance for your Staffordshire bull terrier and for you, not to mention they can cause health problems.

In my experience the short haired dogs seem to suffer all the more. Especially our beloved staffs who are so close to the ground.I don’t know.

I am a beliver in natural remedies, though I am testing out a certain product of “fronline” at the moment.

This in theory stops ticks from attaching in the first place. Watch this space I will let you know how it goes. I live in the UK in a beautiful area just outside the lake district where ticks are rife.

There are many different powders, lotions, drops and sprays out there, but with their chemical-based formulas, they could be harmful to the pet’s health or to yours.

Don’t worry - those powders and sprays aren’t your only means of defense against these tiny tyrants. You can fight them off with natural remedies that are safe for everyone and can be effective for your dog.

Have a look at your local pet store. They offer many different products for your dog in regards to flea and tick care that are made from all natural ingredients. They have no chemicals that could be unsafe for your pets or family, but they have ingredients that are very effective in getting rid of the pain in the neck pests.

They have powders and sprays with no harmful chemicals. You can find shampoos and special flea brushes to remove them from our dog’s coat. There are some treatments that you can apply directly to the dog’s skin that won’t harm the dog in any way, but will kill the fleas.

I am sure you do and in the increasing hot weather Keep your dog and your home clean. Bath your staffy dog no more than a couple of times a month max ( According to my vet lots of staffys have allergy reactions so be careful and kind to them)

Better to wash the bedding at least once a week - I am sure you do anyway.

Fleas and ticks thrive in warm, humid areas and they will lay their eggs in these places, so it’s best to vacuum these areas often.
You can use products like borax or some dry powdered laundry detergents to sprinkle on the carpets to let sit for a few minutes.

This kills the fleas and their eggs, so you can vacuum them up and be rid of them. Make sure your pets and any children aren’t around when you do it. They’re not known to be harmful, but it’s always best to be safe.

There are some homemade treatments that many pet owners claim to work very well. It’s advised to consult your veterinarian to make sure these treatments really are safe.

Garlic and brewer’s yeast have been reported as an effective treatment for killing and preventing fleas on your dogs. Please use these treatments with caution. It’s also very important that you keep your lawn mowed and keep any foliage within the garden trimmed back, so the fleas have a tougher time getting to your dog.

If you take all of the preventative measures possible, you can eliminate the need for chemical-based treatments that could be harmful for your dog. Along with that, use environmentally safe products and your dog will be much healthier.

Staffordshire bull terrier training is easy provided you start young and you establish who is actually the leader of your gang!

Not all staffy owners will find that their particular staff is going to be the next winner of Crufts obedience. Though 2008 if I recall did have one in the last 16.

If you are really serious about agility or obedience training start when they are a puppy. By assessing their potential before you even hand over the cash and take them home.

Each puppy will have a different temperament within the litter. If you’re considering purchasing a puppy based on its ability to train for agility, then you’ll want to do more than focus on one puppy test.

It often takes multiple tests to determine if a puppy has it in him to succeed with agility training. Not only can a one-time test mislead you into believing a puppy does not have what it takes to train successfully, but sometimes a puppy will display a characteristic one day that makes you feel he would adapt well to training, and yet it never surfaces again.

Testing for a puppy’s agility training potential has to be carried out by a trained professional who is experienced in this field. A professional will understand how to truly assess an entire litter equally.

That means giving each one the same chance to perform based on alertness, exact testing areas, hunger, and more. You can’t take one puppy who has just woken up from a nap and been fed test against a sleepy puppy who’s hungry because the attention of each dogs will be vastly different.

It’s best if the person giving you an assessment of your puppy’s potential for agility training is the same one raising the dogs on a daily basis. This gives the breeder an edge in seeing how the puppies’ personalities develop.

If you are the one raising a litter and want to pick out a puppy for agility training, watch their routines for signs of their potential. If there always one puppy who’s first in line for everything – the food or water bowl, the door to go outside, or the chance to get some attention from its handler.

You’ll want to choose a puppy that submits to your commands easily and doesn’t fight back or make it difficult during grooming sessions. These are the best puppy tests to determine if your little dog has it in him to continue agility training.

Other factors you’ll want to consider are how well the puppy jumps, since jumping is a key factor in agility training. Also can you stop it from jumping. We all know what staffys are like in being such a lovable breed.

You can look to the puppy’s parents for signs of whether this dog will handle jumping easily. Overall observation during a period of time longer than one session is required to determine is a puppy is suitable for agility training.

Dogs are considered man’s best friend and some consider their dog a part of their family. Do you insist that your friends and your family see a doctor regularly? Is it because you care very much for them and want to make sure they stay healthy?

Your Staffy should be no different. They need to see their doctor on a regular basis as well.  A lot of dog owners only take their dogs to the vet when the dog is sick or injured.

It’s very important that the dog see the vet for regular checkups as well. Sometimes the emergency appointments are very costly and could have been avoided with regular visits to the vet.

Here are some reasons why taking your dog to the vet is important.

Vaccinations: Dogs need to have regular shots in order to stay healthy. Their shots can prevent many diseases and can prolong their life span, so they can be around for a long time to come. If a dog is left unvaccinated, then he can easily contract diseases, which can be costly to you in the end in order to try to treat them.

Ear Mites - Ear mites are common with dogs. It’s important to have your dog be seen by a vet regularly to keep on top of these infestations. The vet can determine how severe the infestation is and prescribe appropriate medication to help treat it.  If it’s left untreated, bacteria can grow within the tissues and find its way to the dog’s brain, possibly causing death.

Fleas and Ticks - These are also common among dogs. It’s important that they be treated right away. Your vet can help you determine how bad the situation is and provide the necessary treatments to keep the infestation from causing too many problems.

Worms - Worms are also common with dogs and they can easily be treated, but since there are so many different types of worm infestations and different treatments, a vet is more qualified to examine the dog to figure out which type of worm has invaded your pet and what the best treatment is for them.

Dental Health - A vet will sometimes clean a dog’s teeth for you or explain the best way for you to clean them. It’s important for the vet to check the dog’s teeth to prevent bacteria from growing and getting out of hand.

Bacteria can cause all sorts of ailments for a dog, so keep on top of your dog’s dental health and prevent any costly treatments that you could incur if their dental needs are left unchecked.

A dog’s health is just as important as your family’s. Prevention of ailments is always the key to a long and healthy life, so take care of your dog and get them checked on a regular basis.

A vet is trained to recognise many different ailments, sometimes detecting them long before things go wrong. Your dog could live to a ripe, old age with the proper care and the watchful eye of his veterinarian.

If you type in staffordshire bull terriers into google you will see a whole range of sites, comments and opinions about this breed. As you might expect I am a raving fan.

After a number of years in the corporate world. I finally started working from home where I could have a dog.

The one for me had to be a staffy and a red one at that. It was all my sisters fault. Harley her staffy arrived in the Oyston Ellison clan over 11 years ago now. She is miss perfect. Being around her made me really appreciate what a loving ,fun and kind breed they are.

So in April 2007 Flo arrived. Pretty soon after I realised that everybody loves a puppy. Though not always a staffy. Anyway I waffle. I decided to put up this blog in praise of a wonderful breed and family pet. It would be great to hear from you. Post your staffy stories direct us or let us know any great links and I will do the same. In case you havent seen it check out the You tube video. Its over five minutes of great staffy pictures and videos

PS Have your tissues ready !

Best Wishes

Denise Red Staffy Lover