Owning dogs, in particular taking care of the staffordshire bull terrier, is nothing new for humans across the globe. Historians have proven that dogs were first domesticated sometime between twelve thousand and 25,000 years ago—and that dogs evolved from wolves. Since then, humans have selectively bred more than four hundred different breeds, which range in size from 4-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, whose three-foot stature has earned them the title of tallest dog. But the most preferred dogs are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The staffordshire bull terrier is another popular choice among canine owners. Many owners are uninformed, however, of some of the most crucial staffordshire bull terrier care tips.
Health care cost of the staffordshire bull terrier
The yearly budget for providing for your staffordshire bull terrier—including everything from meals and treats, to doctor bills, toys and license—could range between four hundred twenty and $780. This figure doesn’t include capital expenses for sterilization procedures, a collar and leash, dog carrier and a doggie crate. Note: Be positive you have obtained all your supplies before getting your staffordshire bull terrier home.
Basic staffordshire bull terrier Care
staffordshire bull terrier Feeding Outline
- staffordshire bull terrier pups between 8 and twelve weeks need 4 meals daily.
- staffordshire bull terrier pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 meals in a 24 hour period.
- Feed puppies 6 months to 1 year 2 bowls of food in a 24 hour period.
- By the time the staffordshire bull terrier reaches his or her 1st birthday, one bowl daily is enough.
- Many times adult staffordshire bull terriers, however, do better with two smaller servings. It’s your duty to adapt to your staffordshire bull terrier’s eating habits.
High-quality dry food provides a balanced diet to full-grown staffordshire bull terriers and can mix with broth, water, or canned food. Your staffordshire bull terrier may enjoy fruits and vegetables, cottage cheese, and cooked eggs, but these additions should not be more than ten pct of his daily allowance. staffordshire bull terrier puppies must be given premium-quality, brand-name puppy food. Please try to cut down on “table food”, though, since it can cause mineral and vitamin deficiencies, tooth and bone concerns, and may result in extremely picky food choices and obesity. Clean, potable water should be available always, and be sure to clean food and water bowls very frequently.
staffordshire bull terrier Care Tips: Make sure your staffordshire bull terrier gets some daily physical activity
staffordshire bull terriers need physical activity in order to stay healthy, recharge their minds, and keep healthy. Daily exercise also seems to help staffordshire bull terriers fight boredom, which can often lead to destructive behavior. Getting out of the house can appease many of your staffordshire bull terrier’s desires to herd, dig, chase, retrieve and chew. Individual exercise needs can depend on your staffordshire bull terrier’s level of health and her age—but ten minutes in the backyard and just a walk down the street every day probably will not be sufficient. If your staffordshire bull terrier is a six to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will be a little greater.
staffordshire bull terrier Grooming
You can help reduce shedding and keep your staffordshire bull terrier clean with brushing. Check for ticks and fleas every day during warm weather. Sometimes staffordshire bull terriers don’t need to be bathed more than a few times per year. Before bathing, cut out or comb any and all mats from the staffordshire bull terrier’s coat. Carefully rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap.
staffordshire bull terrier Handling
Pups, as opposed to adults, are obviously easier to handle. While carrying your staffordshire bull terrier puppy, take 1 hand and place it under your dog’s chest, with either the forearm or other hand supporting his back legs and rump. Never attempt to lift or grab your pup by the front legs, nape or tail. When you must pick up a bigger, full-grown staffordshire bull terrier, pick it up from underneath, bracing her chest with one arm and rump with your other arm.
staffordshire bull terrier housing
staffordshire bull terriers need a comfortable quiet spot to be able to rest apart from all breezes and off the floor or ground. You may want to think about purchasing a doggie bed, or make one out of a wood box. Put a clean comforter or pillow inside the bed. Wash your staffordshire bull terrier’s bed covering often. If your staffordshire bull terrier will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be sure she has access to plenty of cool water and shade in the summer, and a covered, warm, dry shelter during the winter.
staffordshire bull terrier Licensing
Make certain you follow your community’s licensing rules. You should attach the license to your staffordshire bull terrier’s collar. This, along with an ID tag or tattoo, could help you recover your staffordshire bull terrier should he go missing.
Facts on staffordshire bull terrier Behavior
Thoughts on Training your staffordshire bull terrier
A well-behaved, companion staffordshire bull terrier is a blessing to have. However, when untrained, your dog can easily be a lot of trouble. Training your staffordshire bull terrier on the fundamentals—”Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, and “Leave it”—will bolster the relationship both with the dog as well as your family. If you own a puppy, begin teaching him or her the appropriate responses ASAP! Doggie treats can be used as incentive and recognition. Pups should start obedience classes when they are adequately immunized. Call the local humane society or SPCA for information on obedience classes. You should always keep your staffordshire bull terrier leashed while in public, even while a pup. Just be sure your doggie will come back to you if you say. A disobedient or aggressive staffordshire bull terrier shouldn’t play with others.
The Health of Your staffordshire bull terrier
Your staffordshire bull terrier should see the vet for a full assessment, innoculations and a heartworm exam annualy, and as soon as possible when he is hurt or sick.
The Oral Health of Your staffordshire bull terrier
Although we might object to our staffordshire bull terrier’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it might be a symptom of. Halitosis is a sign that your staffordshire bull terrier should get a dental examination. Plaque , which is brought on by bacteria causes a terrible odor that demands treatment by a professional. Once your staffordshire bull terrier has had a cleaning from a professional, his gums and teeth may be be preserved in a healthy state by brushing regularly, feeding a special diet focused on dental health, and eliminating table food. The vet can give you other information on eliminating dental ailments and stinky breath. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your staffordshire bull terrier’s teeth. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the tooth and the gum, often affects staffordshire bull terriers. This painful condition can result in your staffordshire bull terrier’s loss of teeth and propagate disease to the rest of the body. The vet will brush your dog’s teeth at a regular checkup.
Halitosis (bad breath) in staffordshire bull terriers
Although dental disease by itself is not a serious threat if detected early enough, the foul odors may also be indicative of fairly serious, chronic problems. A fruity, even pleasant smell can be a sign of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. Kidney disease is a possible cause if your staffordshire bull terrier’s breath smells of urine or ammonia. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your staffordshire bull terrier has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Dealing with Fleas and Ticks in staffordshire bull terriers
Regular, daily checks of your staffordshire bull terrier for fleas and ticks throughout the summer are of utmost importance. Use a flea comb to remove and find fleas. There are many new techniques of tick control. Talk with your veterinarian about these and other options.
Heartworms in staffordshire bull terriers
This parasite resides in the heart and is passed from a contaminated dog to your staffordshire bull terrier by mosquitoes. Several staffordshire bull terriers die each year from heartworms. It is critical to ensure your staffordshire bull terrier has a blood screening for heartworms each year during the spring. A monthly tablet given in mosquito season will protect your staffordshire bull terrier. Your staffordshire bull terrier should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. There are some locations, usually the regions with milder temperatures, where the veterinarians recommend heartworm tablets be consumed continually.
Medicines and Poisons
If you’re contemplating giving your staffordshire bull terrier medicine that was not prescribed for her by his vet, don’t even think about it. For example, did you know that just one regular-strength ibuprofen caplet will cause stomach ulcers in some dogs Make sure your staffordshire bull terrier is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Make sure to notify your staffordshire bull terrier’s doctor if you have reason to suspect your staffordshire bull terrier has been exposed to poison. You may also notify the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hr. help.
staffordshire bull terrier Sterilization Operations
It is recommended that female staffordshire bull terriers be spayed—which is the extraction of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—extraction of the testes—by 6 months of age. You usually will significantly reduce your female’s breast cancer risk by spaying prior to maturity. Spaying also eradicates the risk of a diseased uterus, a very serious issue in older females that requires intensive medical care. Neutering male staffordshire bull terriers helps prevent testicular and prostate diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression.
Immunizing your staffordshire bull terrier
- The combo vaccine (also known as the “5-in-1 shot”) ought to be given to your staffordshire bull terrier at two, 3, and four months old and again once yearly. This shot immunizes your staffordshire bull terrier puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. The staffordshire bull terrier must be vaccinated for at least the first four months of his life.
- If you have an unvaccinated staffordshire bull terrier older than four or five months, he must get a set of 2 vaccinations given two or 3 weeks apart, followed by an annual immunization.
- Your staffordshire bull terrier pup’s immunizations should coincide with his socialization program. You can bring your staffordshire bull terrier puppy to socialization classes as early as 8 or nine weeks old, according to many veterinarians. They should have already received their first innoculations by then.
Statutes are so different between different areas, the best thing is to call your community veterinarian about rabies immunization info. For example, in NYC, the regulation states that all pets older than three months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. After the first immunization, you must have a second vaccination the following year, and then every 3 years. There are several vaccines that may or may not be right for your staffordshire bull terrier. Your veterinarian can give you her opinion. Also, if your staffordshire bull terrier gets sick because he is not properly innoculated, do not administer the innoculation until the dog has made a full recovery.
Hookworms in staffordshire bull terriers
staffordshire bull terriers are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—in all areas, both rural and urban. Microscopic eggs made by roundworms are transmitted through an infected staffordshire bull terrier’s stool. Even the healthiest of staffordshire bull terrier puppies carry hookworms or roundworms. The secret to treatment is early diagnosis. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medication will be successful against your dog’s worms. A dewormer that eradicates hookworms, for example, cannot kill tapeworms. Your vet can best identify the culprit—and assign the most effective treatment.
Additional staffordshire bull terrier Care Tips
staffordshire bull terrier Supply Checklist
- Top-quality dog food and snacks specifically for staffordshire bull terriers and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Brush & comb for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with license and identification tag
- Quality leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Dog box or bed with comforter or towel
- Doggie toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to staffordshire bull terriers:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Coffee, tea, or chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Bones of chicken, turkey, or any other animal (choking hazard)
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit & stems
- Yeast dough
Final Thoughts
Unless you are at home, or in a fenced-in, secured location, always keep your staffordshire bull terrier on a leash. If your staffordshire bull terrier does number two on a neighbor’s lawn, her sidewalk or any other public space, please remove it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about staffordshire bull terriers
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