Raising dogs, especially taking care of the american staffordshire terrier, is nothing new for people across the world. Experts have proven dogs were originally domesticated between twelve thousand and twenty five thousand years ago—and that dogs evolved from the wolf. Since then, people have selectively bred more than 400 breeds, which range in size from four-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, whose three-foot stature earns them the title of tallest dog. But the most preferred canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The american staffordshire terrier is another popular pick among dog owners. Many owners are uninformed, however, of many crucial american staffordshire terrier care tips.
Cost of care for the american staffordshire terrier
The annual cost of raising the american staffordshire terrier—including everything from nutrition, to doctor bills, toys and license—could range between four hundred twenty and $780. This doesn’t even consider capital expenses for spay/neuter surgery, collar and leash, a dog carrier and a dog crate. Note: Be positive you have obtained all of the necessary supplies before you get your american staffordshire terrier home.
General american staffordshire terrier Care
Feeding your american staffordshire terrier
- american staffordshire terrier pups between 8 and twelve weeks old need four meals in a twenty-four hour period.
- american staffordshire terrier pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 meals daily.
- Feed puppies 6 months to one year old 2 meals daily.
- By the time the american staffordshire terrier reaches his 1st birthday, one bowl every twenty-four hours is typically adequate.
- Many times american staffordshire terriers might prefer 2 lighter bowls. It is your responsibility to adapt to your american staffordshire terrier’s eating habits.
Top-quality dry dogfood ensures a balanced diet to adult american staffordshire terriers and can mix with water, broth, or canned food. Your american staffordshire terrier may also dig cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese, but these additions should not total more than 10 pct of his or her daily food allowance. american staffordshire terrier puppies should probably be given high-quality, brand-name puppy food. You should try to cut down on “people food”, however, because it can cause mineral and vitamin imbalances, bone and teeth concerns, and may cause some very picky food choices as well as obesity. Give clean, potable water only, and make certain to wash water and food bowls often.
american staffordshire terrier Care Tips: Your american staffordshire terrier needs exercise daily
american staffordshire terriers must have some physical activity in order to stay healthy, recharge their minds, and stay healthy. Physical activity also really helps american staffordshire terriers fight boredom, which can often lead to difficult behavior. Outside playtime will satisfy most of your american staffordshire terrier’s desires to dig, retrieve, chase, chew and herd. Activity needs will depend on your american staffordshire terrier’s age and his or her level of health—but 10 minutes in the backyard and merely a walk down the street every day probably will not suffice. If your american staffordshire terrier is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will probably be higher.
american staffordshire terrier Grooming
You can help keep your american staffordshire terrier clean and reduce shedding with frequent brushing. Check for ticks and fleas daily during the summer or other warm weather. Many american staffordshire terriers don’t need to be bathed more than a few times during the year. Before bathing, cut out or comb all mats from the american staffordshire terrier’s hair. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap residue.
How to Handle Your american staffordshire terrier
Pups, as opposed to adults, are clearly easier to manage. To carry your american staffordshire terrier pup, take one of your hands and put it beneath the dog’s chest, either with the forearm or your other hand supporting his or her back legs and rump. Don’t ever try to grab or lift your pup by her front legs, tail or back of the neck. When you need to pick up a bigger, adult american staffordshire terrier, lift from the underside, bracing his or her chest with 1 of your arms and rump with your other arm.
Housing the american staffordshire terrier
american staffordshire terriers need a comfy quiet spot in order to rest apart from all drafts and off the floor or ground. You may wish to think about buying a dog bed, or think about making one out of a wood box. Put a clean comforter or pillow inside the bed as cushion. Wash the american staffordshire terrier’s bedding frequently. If the american staffordshire terrier will be outdoors frequently, make sure he has shade and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a dry, covered, warm shelter in the cold.
american staffordshire terrier Licensing and Identification
Your town has licensing regulations to follow. Be sure you attach the license to your american staffordshire terrier’s collar. This, together with an ID tag, could help secure your american staffordshire terrier’s return should he get lost.
Facts on american staffordshire terrier Temperament
Thoughts on Training your american staffordshire terrier
Well-mannered, companion american staffordshire terriers are truly a a joy. However, when untrained, your dog can possibly be a big pain. Training your american staffordshire terrier on the fundamentals—”Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, and “Leave it”—will strengthen the relationship with both the american staffordshire terrier as well as your neighbors. If you’re the owner of a pup, begin training him on the right responses as soon as possible! Food can be used as incentive and recognition. Pups can enroll in obedience classes when they have been adequately vaccinated. Call your local humane society or SPCA for details on training schools. Always walk your american staffordshire terrier leashed in public, even as a puppy. Just be sure your dog will come to you every time you tell him to. An aggressive or disobedient american staffordshire terrier shouldn’t play with others.
The Health of Your american staffordshire terrier
american staffordshire terriers should see the veterinarian for a complete check-up, vaccinations and heartworm screening annualy, and ASAP if he is sick or hurt.
The Oral Health of Your american staffordshire terrier
Although we might simply dislike our american staffordshire terrier’s bad breath, we must pay attention to what it may represent. Bad breath is a sign that your american staffordshire terrier should get an oral screening. Dental plaque caused by bacteria results in a terrible stench that can only be cured by the help of a professional. Once you have given your american staffordshire terrier a cleaning done by a professional, her mouth can be maintained by brushing regularly, feeding a special diet focused on dental health, and eliminating table food. The veterinarian can provide you with more information on eradicating oral disease as well as bad breath. You can brush your american staffordshire terrier’s teeth using a doggie toothpaste or a simple baking soda and water paste twice weekly. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, sometimes affects american staffordshire terriers. This painful affliction can lead to loss of your american staffordshire terrier’s teeth and also cause infection throughout the rest of his body. The veterinarian will usually brush the american staffordshire terrier’s teeth in the typical health examination.
Bad Breath in american staffordshire terriers
If your american staffordshire terrier has foul breath, periodontal disease may not necessarily be the only issue, as other more serious problems have that symptom. Intestinal or liver diseases may cause halitosis, and a fruity, even pleasant smell may be indicative of diabetes. When your american staffordshire terrier’s breath smells of ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possibility. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your american staffordshire terrier has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
american staffordshire terrier Flea and Tick Issues
Daily checks of your american staffordshire terrier for fleas and ticks during the summer are of utmost importance. Find and remove fleas with a flea comb. There are numerous new technologies of flea control. Speak with your veterinarian about her recommendations.
Heartworms in american staffordshire terriers
The heartworm is a parasite that lives in the heart and passes from a contaminated dog to your american staffordshire terrier by way of mosquitoes. Heartworm infections can be fatal. Your american staffordshire terrier should have a heartworm screen every spring—this is critical for detecting infections from the past year. It’s also wise to give your american staffordshire terrier a monthly pill during mosquito season to help you protect him from heartworms. Your american staffordshire terrier should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. There are some places, usually the regions with hotter climates, where doctors advise worm medication be taken all the time.
Poisions and Medicines
If you’re considering giving your american staffordshire terrier pills that was not prescribed for him by his veterinarian, don’t. As little as one ibuprofen tablet is known to initiate stomach ulcers in american staffordshire terriers. Make sure your american staffordshire terrier is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. When you have reason to believe that your pooch has ingested a poison, call the doctor or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 twenty-four hours per day for information.
american staffordshire terrier Sterilization Operations
It is recommended that female american staffordshire terriers be spayed—the removal of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—extraction of the testicles—by six months of age. Spaying before maturity significantly diminishes the breast cancer risk, a frequently deadly and common disease of older females. The possibility of a diseased uterus, which is another serious affliction that affects more mature females, will also be removed by spaying when young. Neutering male american staffordshire terriers prevents prostate diseases, some hernias and certain aggressive behavior.
american staffordshire terrier Immunizations
- The combination vaccine (also known as a “5-in-1 shot”) should be given to your american staffordshire terrier at 2, three, and four months of age and then once each year. This innoculation protects your american staffordshire terrier puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Your american staffordshire terrier puppy’s vaccination regimen cannot be completed prior to 4 months of age.
- If your american staffordshire terrier has not been immunized and is older than 4 months, she will need to be given two innoculations promptly, 2 to 3 weeks apart. After that you must innoculate every year.
- Your american staffordshire terrier pup’s socialization should coincide with the innoculation program. Most vets advise that new owners take their american staffordshire terrier puppies to socialization courses, beginning at 8 to nine weeks old. At this age, they should have already received at least their first vaccinations.
Because rules vary so much between different areas, call your community veterinarian for information on rabies shots. For instance, New York City codes state that pets older than three months be vaccinated for rabies. The original rabies innoculation must be followed by a subsequent shot a year later, and then every 3 years after that. There are a variety of innoculations that may or may not be appropriate for your american staffordshire terrier. Your veterinarian can tell youmore about them. Note, if your american staffordshire terrier happens to get sick because she is not properly vaccinated, the innoculation ought to be taken after your dog is better.
Intestinal Parasites in american staffordshire terriers
american staffordshire terriers are often exposed to worms—in all areas, both rural and urban. Eggs that carry roundworms are transmitted through a dog’s feces. Even the healthiest of american staffordshire terrier puppies carry hookworms or roundworms. The secret to treatment is early detection. This will maximize the possibility that the medication is effective against the parasite your american staffordshire terrier has. A dewormer that eradicates hookworms, for example, won’t kill tapeworms. Your veterinarian can best determine the culprit—and assign the appropriate medication.
american staffordshire terrier: Miscellaneous Care Tips
american staffordshire terrier Supply Checklist
- Top-quality dog food and treats specifically for american staffordshire terriers and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb & brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Quality leash
- Dog carrier (for pups)
- Crate for training
- Dog bed or box with blanket or towel
- Doggie or child’s toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
Do not feed your american staffordshire terrier the following:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate, tea, coffee, or any other caffeinated foods
- Raisins or grapes
- Spoiled or moldy food
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Poultry bones
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems & unripe fruit
- Yeast dough
The “Bottom” Line
Retain your american staffordshire terrier on a leash whenever you are outside, unless you are in a secured, fenced-in spot. And please, when your american staffordshire terrier defecates on your neighbor’s yard, remove it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about american staffordshire terriers
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