Tips On Rehoming a Staffordshire Bull Terrier

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 tips 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 stocky built dog will carry
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 any road or car sense because of
their spontaneous character 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 dog collars are best as they
are much stronger than material 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 amused. 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 interact with
other dogs in a calm, controlled environment.
They don't normally get on that well with other
dogs and definitely feel happier with human
company. 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
classes for dog obedience training.

And finally, don't forget that if you are
adopting a rescue dog you won't know their full
story or the suffering and pain they may have
been subjected to. 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.

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Alex KellyAs an animal lover, my articles are
based on issues I feel are important for fellow
pet owners.Pet Promenade has everything you will
need for the furry member of the family. From pet
food, dog leads, grooming equipment and bird
cages.With over 5000 pet products, at
competetive prices, it's worth paying us a visit
at http://www.petpromenade.co.uk/

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