Staffordshire Bull Terriers

Posted in: Animals
  
The Staffordshire bull terrier is a type of muscular dog that is usually kept as pets by families. This type of dog is very sociable and will do well with small children and with adults. Although they are quite small in size, compared to other dogs, they are actually quite strong because of their stout and very muscular bodies.

• Buying the terrier. If you want to have a happy and healthy Staffordshire bull terrier, you should get your dog from a real breeder. Pet shops are one of the worst places where you can buy dogs. Pet shops usually do not care much for the health and the temperament of the dogs, and will just allow any pair of dog to breed so that they will have puppies that can be sold. Breeders, on the other hand, usually pay close attention to the dogs that they breed and make sure that the dogs are physically healthy and with a good temperament.
• Food. Once you have your dog, make sure that you have a large food bowl with a nonstick bottom that will keep the bowl from moving as the dog eats from it. Also make sure that you have a water bowl that is always filled with water .as much as possible, the food and water bowl should be separate so that the water will not be contaminated with food particles during feeding. Because Staffordshire terriers are quite active dogs, you need to choose high-protein food for them. Make sure that you only feed the dogs twice a day, and only feed them enough food that they can eat during feeding time to prevent the dogs from overeating.
• Exercise and medical treatment. Because of the dog’s active nature, they need to be taken out to exercise daily. A thirty minute walk will usually suffice, but as much as possible you should also engage them in games such as fetching, so that they will be able to run and jump, apart from just walking. Constant exercise will keep the bull terrier’s bones strong and healthy, which is important because these dogs are prone to getting hip dysplasia. Also make sure that the dogs get a chance to visit the vet at least twice each year. Apart from hip dysplasia, these dogs also often get eye disorders.
• Leadership. You also need to make sure that you establish the pecking in order at home. These terriers can get a bit destructive at home if they do not recognize who the leaders in the house are. Especially during the formative puppy stage, you need to teach the dog about the basics of obedience, so that they will know how to follow commands in the future. You also need to make sure that the dog is socialized with people and other dogs, so that they will react favorably when you receive guests at home.