FOUNDED 1973
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
Is a Stafford the right dog for
me?
The Stafford definitely ISN'T the right dog for
everyone. When considering buying a puppy or taking on a rescue it is
important that you have studied the breed and are aware not only of its good
points (ie. great with people, low maintenance, relatively few health problems)
but also the not so good points (ie. not always tolerant of other dogs/animals,
can be destructive if left without human company for long periods). There are
many different breeds of dog, it is always a good idea to consider what you
actually want from a dog before deciding on a breed. The Kennel Club hold ‘Discover
Dogs’ in November in London – an opportunity to get to meet all the
differing KC recognised breeds and talk to their owners for advice. There is also a Discover Dogs section at
Crufts Dog Show held in Birmingham in March each year.
I already have a dog – should I consider getting
a Stafford?
Staffords can live alongside other dogs but there are some
very important facts that you need to consider before committing yourself. If you have a Stafford alongside ANY other
dog it is always recommended that you separate them whenever you are not around
to supervise them. What may start out
as harmless play can swiftly become World War Three and if you aren’t there to
put a stop to it you may well come home to find dead or dying dogs (and that is
NO exaggeration!) It is also a HUGE
mistake to own two male Staffords. They may well get on together initially but
at some stage one is going to challenge the other for pack leadership and when
that happens you will find yourself in an untenable situation. I'm afraid
even neutered dogs that have got on well together in the past can fall out.
I have heard that Staffords aren’t good with
other dogs – but surely that’s how they are brought up?
It's
good to socialise your pup as much as possible but I'm afraid all the
socialisation in the world doesn't make any difference to the fact that it is a
Staffordshire Bull Terrier! The dog
will act according to it’s breed - they are wonderful with people, but very
often HATE other dogs and other animals.
This is something which is part of the breed's instinct and you will not
be able to change. Having a Stafford often means that you take lonely walks
-changing direction whenever you see any dogs in the distance. Don't be tempted to take notice of any
'behaviourists' who tell you that they can train a Stafford to be less dog
aggressive - in saying that they are showing that they do not understand the
nature of the breed.
I have a new baby and want a puppy so they can
grow up together
If you have a very new baby it may well be wisest
for your sanity to wait to get a pup until the baby is at least toddling
around! Having a puppy in the house at
any time is hard work – pups need regular feeding and lots of supervision to
make sure they don’t become destructive and to get housetraining in place. Having a puppy when you also have a new baby
to take care of is giving yourself twice as much work and not to be
recommended! With regard to older
children Staffords
love children and most children love Staffords. Be sensible and always remember that your puppy is a dog, not a
human and has animal instincts.
Children must be taught respect for the dog - to let him eat and sleep
in peace and not to be spiteful. Don't
leave children and dogs unsupervised and it is wise not to allow children under
the age of sixteen to exercise the dog unsupervised.
I want to buy two puppies so they can grow up
together
Two puppies at once really is TWICE the aggravation! Two pups together become a pack and as such
make it doubly difficult for you to train them. They often also inhibit each
other, so one becomes more dominant and the other doesn’t develop to its own
potential. Much better to have one
puppy, allow it to grow and flourish with your individual attention and then
consider having another pup when the first one is possibly two or three years
old. This way they accept each other
and develop their own personalities.
Also at the other end of the story, owning two puppies at the same time
often means that when it is time to say goodbye to them you find yourself
losing two within a short space of time and therefore grieving doubly.
Do they need lots of exercise?
Staffords
can enjoy an active life if you are an active person or will be just as happy
to be a couch potato if that's your way of life. Having
said that obviously it is kinder to allow your dog regular exercise to keep him
healthy, rather than allow him to become overweight and put strain on his
organs and joints.
Exercising my Stafford - from puppy exercise
through to exercising Tyson in the park with Penelope Poodle
Young puppies don’t need
formal exercise (collar and lead), they will get all the exercise they need
playing in the house and garden. Use a
collar and lead only as a means of getting the pup used to the lead and to
being near traffic or around the public and other dogs and animals. Don’t exercise too much too young – young
bones are still soft. Once he is over a
year old you will be able to exercise him fully - you will tire before he
does! Don’t exercise him too soon after
a meal; it is better to walk first, and feed him when you get back. Always use
a lead in public places - Staffords have no fear of traffic and no road sense.
Don’t exercise a Stafford (or any other dog for that matter) during the heat of
the day. With their short muzzles
Staffords sometimes find it difficult to cope with hot weather. It is advisable to exercise your dog in the
early morning or late evening during the summer months. This applies equally to
stormy, humid weather. How would you like to go out with a fur coat on? A dog can only lose sweat by panting or
through its pads - if you are walking him on a hot pavement, he can't even do
that! He will dehydrate and die!
Staffords generally aren't
the sort of breed to have loose, off lead, in the local park. When you
own a Stafford you have to always be one step ahead and think for him so that
he doesn't get into a situation where he may let himself, and his breed,
down. If this means taking lonely walks away from areas where other dogs
go, or scanning the horizon to make sure it's dog free before letting him off
lead, then so be it
Are they easy to train?
Staffords are people orientated - they naturally want to
please you. If you use this knowledge, and the fact that most of them are
motivated by food, you should soon be able to train your Stafford in the basic
commands
I have a cat – should I get a Stafford?
Stafford
puppies brought up with cats already in the home are generally fine - just remember
they may each need their own space at times. Allow the cat somewhere to
'escape' away from the pup
Where can I find out where to buy a pup?
Get along to a
show or training class to see adult dogs and find out by word of mouth where
puppies are, or are planned, an excellent place to meet up with lots of
Staffords and their owners and make enquiries. Check out our webpage http://www.eastangliansbtclub.co.uk/open.html
for details of any shows coming up
Why buy a Kennel Club registered SBT?
For a puppy to be KC registered both of its parents must
be KC registered and registration can only be obtained by the person breeding the
litter. In this day and age when so many people breed dogs purely for the
financial gain and without a care for their health, temperament or the future
of the breed it is so very important that folk new to the breed only buy a
puppy that has been bred by responsible and knowledgeable breeders. By buying a
KC registered pup you can trace back the dog's family history. The Kennel
Club has been registering Staffords since 1935 and is a bona fide organisation
How much should I expect to pay?
Average prices quoted are usually between £400 -
£600. Remember, no puppy is worth more than another because it is a
'rare' colour, or because it may have (in the breeder's eyes) show
potential. What you are paying for is a healthy, SBT puppy, typical of its
breed.
What about feeding?
If you are buying from a responsible breeder they will
provide you with a diet sheet, detailing how the pup has been fed up until the
point of sale and also making suggestions for future rearing
Rescue dog versus Buying a puppy
Either commitment needs careful consideration.
Rescue dogs all deserve a second chance - it is NEVER the dog's fault when
things go wrong. Always, it will be the people that have let the dog
down. However, some rescue dogs come to us as strays so we have no history
on them. Our rescue service takes its responsibility VERY seriously and
will not take chances homing a Stafford. If they are at all unsure they
will usually recommend that you look for a puppy instead, however
well-intentioned taking on a rescue is.
Should I breed from my Stafford?
At the end of the day the breed is more
important than any individual dog and we are all responsible for ensuring that
nothing detrimental happens. Allowing a dog to be used at stud is a full
'service' to the bitch owner and as such should not be taken lightly, similarly
breeding from your bitch Both can be very time consuming and difficult. Importantly it is currently VITAL
that should you decide to breed from your dog that it is health screened for
the eye conditions PHPV and Hereditary Cataract and the neurological condition
L2-HGA. For HC and L2 there are now specific genetic DNA screening tests that
can be done to determine whether or not your dog is a carrier for either
condition. For PHPV and PPSC (another eye condition) there is a clinical eye
examination that can tell if your dog is affected by either condition. People
buying pups are now demanding that breeding stock are health screened. You run
the risk if you chose not to test if a puppy is produced that is later found to
be affected by any of these conditions you may be sued for not taking all
reasonable precautionary steps. For more info on breeding see our webpage http://www.eastangliansbtclub.co.uk/breed.html
Should I neuter my dog?
A bitch that is spayed cannot contract
pyometra - an infection of the womb, which can prove fatal. There is also
veterinary evidence that bitches spayed young are less likely to develop
mammary tumours. Some will advise castrating a male dog as a way of
making him less aggressive and excitable - don't forget this is a Stafford we
are talking about! Many neutered male Staffords are still a
handful! If you decide that you are definitely not going to breed from
your dog neutering is an option you may wish to take.
If you have any other queries
then contact our secretary, Lesley on 01205 871762 or email easbtc@thedoghouse89.freeserve.co.uk
Any
media enquiries should be directed to our Hon Secretary, Lesley Mcfadyen on
contact details above