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 storny, 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
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/shows.html for details of any shows coming up
Why buy a KC registered SBT?
For a puppy to be KC registered both of it's
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
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 untilthe 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 service 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 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.htmlShould 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.