subject: Staffordshire Bull Terriers - Misunderstood? [print this page] Unfortunately Staffordshire Bull Terriers have developed a bad reputation that will be hard to lose. They often get mistaken for Pit Bull Terriers which are banned in the U.K. I recently visited Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, as my mum was looking to rehome a rescue dog. Sadly the majority of dogs we saw were Staffs or Staffordshire crosses. Their name has now been associated with gangs and yobs using them for fighting weapons and gang notoriety. The truth is quite different from the image that has been portrayed, as generally they are big softies. This is one of the main reasons they end up being dumped because they don't always become the fighters that their owners have bred them to be. Many are extremely child friendly and very protective of little ones, they love to be part of families. Their boisterous nature and bulky physique often confuse and threaten would be owners. Like they say, never judge a book by its cover. Don't judge a breed of dog because of stupid human behaviour.
Below are some tips on rehoming a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Firstly prepare your home and garden. Secure fencing and gates are a must. They love to have fun and can get carried away when they're playing. Obviously a strong built dog will carry a lot of power and weight behind them if they go running and jumping around. Don't think you're rehoming a fragile little Chihuahua, these dogs will give you so much love, loyalty and affection but do need to be secured in their home. They are by nature impulsive and excitable, therefore bear in mind that some obedience training is probably a good idea. They are usually quick learners and aim to please their owners.
They won't have road or car sense because of their spontaneous nature and leaving your front door ajar is a no no. Also don't expect them to walk off the lead on the pavement, they love to chase and seeing a smaller animal to run after will be too hard for them to resist.
Always keep them on a strong lead when out walking and invest in a good dog collar. Often leather or nylon dog collars are best as they are much stronger than material collars. The Staffordshire Bull Terriers natural instinct is to search and explore, so it's a good idea to have him wearing something that will stand up to his foraging.
They are a breed that usually prefers human company to other dogs so make sure you spend time playing with them and have plenty of toys to keep them entertained. Chew toys are a must. Buying a range like the Extreme Kong toys will be fun yet durable for even the toughest chewers. They make a variety of balls, bones and throw toys to keep them occupied.
They can suffer from separation anxiety so it's best to carefully think about your home life and if there's enough company for them in the daytime. Give them lots of love, they are big softies that will crave for your attention and give you affection back ten times over.
As soon as possible get them to play with other dogs in a calm, controlled environment. They don't normally get on that well with other dogs and definitely feel happier with humans. If you get a Staff as a puppy it's a good idea to start them off interacting with other dogs immediately, maybe enrol them in dog obedience classes.
And finally, don't forget that if you are adopting a rescue dog you won't know their full history or the suffering and pain they may have gone through. Of course the dog centre will have some idea but the dog will never be able to tell you what life they've truly gone through before coming to you.
by: Alex Kelly
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