Getting A Baby Staffy

[su888]

Hi guys, a quick question.... a couple of weeks away from getting a baby staffy and would like to get some recommendations on the following items:

a) should i let it sleep inside or outside, i think it will be too cold outside. If inside, is there a particular style of bed i should get for it.

b) i wish to toilet train it ASAP, however the breeder told me when it wees take it outside and pretend to pee on the grass with a bottle or something.

( i don't have grass in my yard, its fully paved)

c) i know staffies will bite anything, and scratch at a very early age. Is there something i should do to my furniture if i leave it inside alone (or do i put it outside when i'm not home)

Thanks in advance.

David

[Luke W]

Hi guys, a quick question.... a couple of weeks away from getting a baby staffy and would like to get some recommendations on the following items:

a) should i let it sleep inside or outside, i think it will be too cold outside. If inside, is there a particular style of bed i should get for it.

b) i wish to toilet train it ASAP, however the breeder told me when it wees take it outside and pretend to pee on the grass with a bottle or something.

( i don't have grass in my yard, its fully paved)

c) i know staffies will bite anything, and scratch at a very early age. Is there something i should do to my furniture if i leave it inside alone (or do i put it outside when i'm not home)

Thanks in advance.

David

I'd suggest crate training...

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[Raelene]

Possibly one of those new dog loos may be good if you have no grass, or making a small area and placing some turf on it to give it somewhere to go to the toilet. Taking puppy out very regularly (when wakes up, after food/drink and every 30mins to an hr and reward when goes in the right place) will help with toilet training, and not getting lazy. Crate training inside is good too as they tend not to want to go in their bed.

If you have a staffy pup (destructa-pup), it would be wise to restrict it's movement in the house when you aren't there (maybe a dog door into the laundry only?) or using puppy pen, etc - to keep things of value safe.

Staffords are "temperate" dogs (not so keen on being too hot or too cold), so when outside need to make sure that there is plenty of shelter and warm bedding.

Socialising is SOOOO important for a stafford baby to grow up into a balanced adult. Make sure you take every opportunity to socialise your puppy the right way with other animals, etc. Puppies are only cute for such a short time before they become older and more difficult to manage - best to start the right way and take to puppy socialisation classes and dog training, and you'll have a reward and loving companion who'll be a pleasure to have around.

Good luck with your new baby - oooh I Looooove stafford babies!!!

R

[Staff'n'Toller]

Hmmm....I hate to break it to you but Staffords don't sleep outside, they sleep inside, in your bed, preferably under the doona! :D

Mel.

[Raelene]

I don't feel so guilty now!

R

[valby]

Hmmm....I hate to break it to you but Staffords don't sleep outside, they sleep inside, in your bed, preferably under the doona!

Mel.

:D

We have Halston in a crate at night which we started as soon as we got him home. He likes to go in there at night--although I am sure the bed would be a welcome alternative!! Couldn't leave him outside, even waiting for tea he sits there shivering his butt off LOL

[Staffyluv]

Hmmm....I hate to break it to you but Staffords don't sleep outside, they sleep inside, in your bed, preferably under the doona! :p

Mel.

ditto in this house....

Who ever heard of a Stafford sleeping outside :D

If you don't want the pup to run around the house, then get a crate and keep it next to your bed - any chance you can get a blanket with the smell of the rest of the litter on it before you bring the little one home (That would be great to put in the crate with them).

The only thing my lad destroys is pillows and doonas if the covers are left off them Oh and tennis balls and stuffed toys. For the record all pups bite and chew things, it is not just staffords

Plenty of toys but don't let the pup have all of them at once, chop and change them every couple of days so it does not get bored.

As for toilet training - that was easy. As soon as they wake up take them outside. Every time they have a drink or something to eat, take them outside. Every hour, take them outside..

Good luck and I can't wait to see pics of the little one...

[sas]

a) should i let it sleep inside or outside, i think it will be too cold outside. If inside, is there a particular style of bed i should get for it.

I'd set puppy up where it's going to sleep as an adult. If you're not 100% on dogs sleeping inside, read up on crate training

b) i wish to toilet train it ASAP, however the breeder told me when it wees take it outside and pretend to pee on the grass with a bottle or something.

( i don't have grass in my yard, its fully paved)

Haven't heard that one before. What do you want the puppy to toilet on? A puppy pad? If so just use those. Secret to toilet training a puppy is watching them like a hawk and taking them to their toileting spot as soon as waking, after eating and meals and every hour.

c) i know staffies will bite anything, and scratch at a very early age. Is there something i should do to my furniture if i leave it inside alone (or do i put it outside when i'm not home)

This is something you'll probably have to play by ear, not many young dogs can be trusted inside by themselves with free range to the whole house. Start off by being a good back leader and having clear and consistent boundaries.

When young, it's ideal to confine them to a room, dog run or crate whilst out.

Edited July 7, 2008 by sas

[Paganman]

Awww let the baby sleep inside.Im jealous Id love a baby staffy.

[su888]

Correct me if i'm wrong, so you guys are saying you crate the pup when you are out during the day?

As im' at work from 7-5, and it seems a little cruel leave him in there for so long..... and not to mention sleeping in there.

[♪♫LMBC♫♪]

Correct me if i'm wrong, so you guys are saying you crate the pup when you are out during the day?

As im' at work from 7-5, and it seems a little cruel leave him in there for so long..... and not to mention sleeping in there.

I wouldn't leave him crated for that long either.

If I am out for more than an hour or two I generally leave my puppy in his room, which is the room we nomally crate him in at night. He has toys in there and his crate is left open for him to come and go.

If you don't have a puppy safe room to use, you can use a puppy pen, make sure you put it on an easy to clean floor.

[Luke W]

Correct me if i'm wrong, so you guys are saying you crate the pup when you are out during the day?

As im' at work from 7-5, and it seems a little cruel leave him in there for so long..... and not to mention sleeping in there.

I wouldn't leave him crated for that long either.

If I am out for more than an hour or two I generally leave my puppy in his room, which is the room we nomally crate him in at night. He has toys in there and his crate is left open for him to come and go.

If you don't have a puppy safe room to use, you can use a puppy pen, make sure you put it on an easy to clean floor.

I use a vari-kennel inside a puppy pen and cover the floor with clear plastic sheeting that I buy from a roll at my local $2 Shop. Works great - pup loves his pen and kennel.

[Staff'n'Toller]

Ok I'll be serious now, no I don't crate dogs during the day, if you can make a room accessible then that's great. Don't worry about those toiletting accidents during the day your puppy will still train well if you are diligent at home when you are there.

Baby gates are a good way to block off rooms.

Certainly crate at night but Staffords are 1. Very clingy -they love their humans- particularly if they are the only dog. 2. Get cold very easily and may still need a jacket inside in bed over night, if you have no heating going. Mine wears a jacket or jumper pretty much non-stop all winter in Melbourne and if she gets too warm sunbaking outside she takes it off herself.

Do you have garden beds outside? You could always go to bunnings and make up a 1 or 2 metre Squared wooden sandbox and fill it with sand, soil and some mulch as a toilet area. Most dogs like to go to the garden on dirt etc.

Hope that helps...

You can find puppy schools in your area here: Delta Society Aus

Mel.

[valby]

We keep Halston in a puppy pen inside (on some vinyl) or outside, depending on the weather. We put a jumper on him, but he likes to take them off too!

We have started taking him to a Delta accredited puppy preschool and its fantastic. Perfect for boisterous players like staffies because we keep them on the lead to play

Halston's favourite spot in all the world is the lounge!

[Aly]

Hmmm....I hate to break it to you but Staffords don't sleep outside, they sleep inside, in your bed, preferably under the doona!

Mel.

Sooooo true ;)

Aly doesnt think she is dog so why sleep out side.

[GotAnyBlacker]

Hmmm....I hate to break it to you but Staffords don't sleep outside, they sleep inside, in your bed, preferably under the doona! ;)

Mel.

Sooooo true

Aly doesnt think she is dog so why sleep out side.

Staffords aren't dogs! Don't be silly. They're people Well Poppy would tell you that anyway.

When you take your pup outside to toilet and he starts to go, its good to say a key word..like toilet...or whatever so he associates that with going to the toilet. Then when you want them to go to the toilet later on he will follow your command and go when you want him too. I've done that with all my dogs.

Also, staffords are definate sleeping inside dogs

[su888]

Correct me if i'm wrong, so you guys are saying you crate the pup when you are out during the day?

As im' at work from 7-5, and it seems a little cruel leave him in there for so long..... and not to mention sleeping in there.

I wouldn't leave him crated for that long either.

If I am out for more than an hour or two I generally leave my puppy in his room, which is the room we nomally crate him in at night. He has toys in there and his crate is left open for him to come and go.

If you don't have a puppy safe room to use, you can use a puppy pen, make sure you put it on an easy to clean floor.

So can anyone answer my question, if i dont'setup a pen inside or outside when i'm at work and i just leave him inside the crate for 10 hours a day. Would he not go insane or batty??? I know for sure I would...

[Miranda]

So can anyone answer my question, if i dont'setup a pen inside or outside when i'm at work and i just leave him inside the crate for 10 hours a day. Would he not go insane or batty??? I know for sure I would...

I would never keep any dog or puppy in a crate for 10 hours while I was at work. If I were in your situation I would keep the puppy in an outside run with a kennel or in a separate room inside.

[GotAnyBlacker]

Correct me if i'm wrong, so you guys are saying you crate the pup when you are out during the day?

As im' at work from 7-5, and it seems a little cruel leave him in there for so long..... and not to mention sleeping in there.

I wouldn't leave him crated for that long either.

If I am out for more than an hour or two I generally leave my puppy in his room, which is the room we nomally crate him in at night. He has toys in there and his crate is left open for him to come and go.

If you don't have a puppy safe room to use, you can use a puppy pen, make sure you put it on an easy to clean floor.

So can anyone answer my question, if i dont'setup a pen inside or outside when i'm at work and i just leave him inside the crate for 10 hours a day. Would he not go insane or batty??? I know for sure I would...

Yeah I think when you get home there would be a right big mess inside the crate and he would be covered in it and so would his bedding. He also probably wouldnt be too impressed with you.

Are you taking any time off when you first get him to bond with him and let him get used to the house etc.

Can you put a baby gate across your laundry door or something like that, rather than leaving him in his crate all day long?

[Staffyluv]

Being winter and being such a young pup, I would be inclined to find a place inside to keep him.

Lots of people keep them in the laundry or bathroom - personally I think those areas are too cold (just my opinion).

Or you could keep him in a room, block off the doors and put down some vinyl to protect the flooring. He will need a water bowl he can't tip over, toys and perhaps a treat ball or kong to give him something to do while he is awake when you are not there - he will sleep a lot being a puppy.

If you do end up going with outside, the pup will need protective shelter to get out of wind, rain and heat. Somewhere warm and soft to sleep. He will need the same things outside that he needs inside as well as the good shelter...

Still looking forward to those pics when you get him...