LittleRock

My boy just turned 1 last week and he is entire as we show him and will soon have him available for breeding. He is hyper too not just due to his age. His mum is hypo so runs in the family l suppose. We close the doors to rooms we dont want him in. However our bedroom door doesnt cach properly so he can bump it open. (we should fix the door). We swim him as its great to build his muscle whilst low impact on his joint etc. But even after a swim he has energy. I know it will improve with age but l'd love to nip it in the butt a bit quicker.

Thanks Luke. Consistency is our problem. I cringed when you said "let him have it"... I understand, but gee thats gonna be hard. Especially when he manages to get items that are even what l think are out of his reach. His pillow pinching has turned into grabbing the foxtel remote and killing it!!! Argh He even got my pursue the other week and there was no way l could have let hm keep that, too much trouble if he killed any cards or licences. My OHs brother was over last weekend and my boy managed to get the hidden remote from behind him. Obviously my OH's brother wasn't paying attention to him otherwise he should have been able to stop it. He is one switched on dog and knows whats going on and where things are even when were not aware. I try to be consistent when lm stern with him, but he makes it hard to get to him as he hides under the bed. But yes l agree totally he thinks its game hence why he continues to do this behaviour.. He is like a miner bird, grabs anything he get his little mouth on.

My partner has created a little bit of a attention seeker whom when he doesn't get enough attention he steals the pillows from the couch and runs off with them. If we don't go after him, he might on occassion bring it back. But when we do try to retrive the pillow it turns into a game to him. I try to ask him to come to me and start some stand/stay training. This doesn't always work. I have also tried to work with him with the items he loves to run off with in front of him and say NO when he nears the items. Should he pick them up l tap his neck until he releases then praise him when he drops it and leaves it in front of him. (I learnt this from a trainer that came to our place). But the problem generally is when he grabs and runs.... Other than putting the pillows away (out of reach) which defeats having pillows, nothing has really works completely. My pillows are looking a little sorry for themselves. Any ideas??

Hi, Im just curious as to if anyone else has had the same. My staffie (1yr old) has been constantly itchy for sometime now. He is bathe, wormed and treated for fleas regularly. His food is simple and quality. We dont feed him much red meat as this made him itchier. Also his breeder told me her bitch (his mum) was sensative to red meat. He does get bones (with minimal meat) reguarly. He gets dried liver for treats and training. His bedding is washed in good quality detergent (what we use). His coat is gleeming which is also showing his health. For awhile l thought it was a sexual thing (as his what l'll call rocket comes out when he scratches). But now my partner thinks it might be due to our dying lawn. He loves to live outside on the lawn and now with the weather it is dying and/or browning off. We also have a few ants in the backyard as the landlords have fruit trees. so now lm thinking maybe the lawn is causing him to itch. Thoughts and similar stories would be great. Thanks

Uneducated people will always mistakes in identifying the different dog breeds. Espeically with cross breeds it makes it harder for the average joe harder to identify. They just tend to assume that anything with a big head is a staffie. I've had people on the street ask what breed my boy is (pedigree SBT). So lm not surprised by people assuming dogs are breeds that they are not. I'd love to see the stats on the owners of these dogs that have been involved in the dog attacks. Also SBT tend to attract people that think they look tough due to their muscles.... (studity of people amazes me, Im sure one day l'll no longer be surprised) without them considering whether they are the right dog for them.

My staffy is only 7 months so l cant quite say. But l've been having behavioural problems and lead problems. Well the trainer that came out today worked wonders. I now have the knowledge to work on the issues and make our interaction with him positive and enjoyable for everyone. What training you have to do might take a little longer, but they can always learn if your CONSISTENT.... Its never too late to make some positive changes...

Just an update..... Had a trainer come out today and l was very surprised to see me little angel walking on the lead without pulling and staying beside the trainer. It then was my turn and l got the same response. Thankfully a stranger walked past and l asked them if we could walk my boy past them. They obliged and we were able to keep it all going.....!!!!! The trainer gave us some help with the in house problems and were doing it again next week. So far so good. It was the best money l've spet. Also i was great for an someone else to assess him. The overall conclusion is that it is very fixable and not as bad as l was thinking. Just little teething (or dominant behaviour trying to find his place in our household)

Good to hear. I only had my boys taken out as we show him and plan ot breed from him when he is old enough. So it was just a precautionary measure.

My boy initially slept in the laundry... Chewed the paper l had left in there. But the breeder did give us a stuffed toy that had been with the litter for a little while so it had the litters smell on it. After a few restless hours (we ignored him as hard as it was) but he settled and slept well. We then started introducing him to his kennel (outside) and put his blanket and snooza pillow in the kennel so it had his smell on it. He took to his kennel like a star and has no problems sleeping outside. We can also let him sleep inside and then back outside with no complaints. Some people have told me that as hard as it is, when you are trying to get them to sleep and they start crying, don't give them attention. This attention can then cause problems down the track and even around the corner. We managed to ignore his crys, but only just. Its easy in theory but difficult in practise. Good luck. It does get easier....

My boys canine milk teeth weren't budging with an endless supply of bones, chew toys etc. My local vet removed all 4 of them and my boy is alot more comfortable. They were causing him some grief so all in all, l'm glad (and l think he was also) that l had them removed. Now his adult teeth can grow and settle in the right spot.

With my pup (Staffordshire Bull Terrier) l initally carried over the meals the breeder was feeding him ie: chicken mince, pasta, cheese and chicken necks. But l also added a dog food (dry food). I went for a very good brand as the nutrients was measured and l knew exactly what he was getting, especially what he would miss from the chicken mince etc. This dry food (puppy food Purina Pro Plan - Lge puppy food) he is still on to this day. As he gets older l will ween him off the puppy mix. Once l had to change his food when his puppy canines where removed, but his tummy didn't like the change, nor did it like the tin food. All l can say is look into the food you choose and make sure that it has as few perservatives as possible. he has thrived on Pro Plan and is steadily growing and putting on weight (a healthy weight of course).

Thanks jane. I think the most important thing you said was the word "WE". My partner isn't the most consistent person. Which has probably caused a confused pup. Again thinking about it, l'm probably consistent. When l get home from work, sometimes l will greet him first. I suppose thats cause l get a lovely response and l do miss him when l'm at work. Again l need to treat him more like a dog than a person. My boy was probably his best up to the age of 5 months. Since then he has been demonstrating some undesirable behaviours. Ive just enrolled us in obedience and have a trainer coming over for a one on one session/s. So l'm addressing the problems now and lets hope my next report is more positive. As he truely is a lovely dog (i suppose all owners say that about their dogs).

Now l took my puppy out quite early and he had only had the first 2 injections. I even showed him. As another people have said some people will be against this but others wont. The breeder l got him from said that these days after the first 2 injections provide enough coveage, the 3rd is not always necessary but the vets do push it. I took my pup to show training (indoors) with other dogs, adults included. Also to the beach and everything for us turned out ok. But l suppose it easily could have been the opposite. Good luck as its a difficult choice to make between socialising and finding a safe environment.

Hi fellow staffy owners, Firstly l must say this is my first Staffie and l won't ever get another breed of dog. My boy has completely won us over and maybe thats why l'm having a few little problems. My beautiful boy is 7 months and entire. I haven't taken him to any obedience classes as l have been training him at home myself. Having said that he goes everywhere with me. He gets out and about a lot. Loves the car and falls sleeps in the car most of the time. Just not heaps of interaction with other dogs. Any way needless to say when he sees other dogs he gets very excited and pulls when on the leash. At the moment it feels like he won't ever settle. Also when at home he can be a big attention seeker. He can bark if we don't pay him enough attention and even grab our socks (whilst wearing them) or pants (whilst growling) to get our attention. Most of the time l'm able to ignore him, but its hard to maintain all of the time when he is grabbing your pants or socks. He have had to impose some time outs (either outside or in his show trolley) so he will settle. This works sometimes but sometimes when he comes back inside or out of the trolley, he picks up where he left off. I do try to ignore him but sometimes you can't as he gets a bit destructive (holes in pants). Also embarassing when he does this to friends that are visiting. He has never hurt anyone, nor would he. He can just be a bit intimidating. Anyway being my first Staffie l'd love some stories from other people, where their little monster has turned out into a well adjusted young dog. He is probably an angel 70% of the time, its just the other 30% that l'm wanting decrease. Thanks Elizabeth