Staffordshire Bull Terrier As A Pet

Unfortunately Staffordshire Bull Terriers now have a bad reputation that will be hard to change. 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. It was sad to see that a large portion of dogs we saw were Staffs or Staffordshire crosses. Their name has now been blemished by the gangs and yobs using them for fighting weapons and gang credibility. The truth is very different from the image they have, as they're usually big softies. This is one of the main reasons they end up in rescue centres because they don't always develop into the fighters that their owners have trained 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 strong physique often confuse and threaten would be owners. As the saying goes, never judge a book by its cover. Don't judge a breed of dog because of stupid human behaviour.

Below are some points on rehoming a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Firstly prepare your home and garden. Safe fencing and gates are a must. They love to play and can get carried away when they're having fun. 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 housing a delicate 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 enthusiastic, therefore keep in mind that some obedience training is advisable. 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 street, they love to chase and seeing a smaller animal to run after will be too difficult to resist.

Always keep them on a strong lead when out walking and invest in a good dog collar. Often leather or nylon collars are good as they are much stronger than material dog collars. The Staffordshire Bull Terriers instinct is to forage and explore, so it's a good idea to have him wearing something that will withstand his rummaging.

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 when you are with them, they are big softies that will crave for your attention and give you it back ten times over.

As soon as possible get them to play with other dogs in a calm, controlled environment. They don't naturally get on that well with other dogs and definitely feel more in tune 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 been subjected to. Obviously the rescue centre will have some knowledge but the dog will never be able to tell you what life they've truly experienced before you.