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Staffordshire Bull Terrier: An Owner’s Guide. Alison Smith
Читать онлайн.Название Staffordshire Bull Terrier: An Owner’s Guide
Год выпуска 0
isbn 9780007544301
Автор произведения Alison Smith
Жанр Домашние Животные
Издательство HarperCollins
You can buy crates from dog shows, pet shops or via the internet. Remember that your puppy, who may fit in your hands now, will grow quickly, so buy a crate with plenty of room for your adult Stafford. Crates are great for travelling. They generally fit quite snugly in cars, and your dog will feel secure and safe.
Bedding comes in a variety of types, and specially made bedding can be obtained from the same sources as your crate. You may want to consider buying waterproof bedding for a new puppy as accidents will happen. However, a good blanket or two from your bed is just as good and this will allow the puppy to use his ‘den-building’ instincts, which survive in all dogs.
Playpens
Another great buy, which is particularly helpful when you are housetraining your puppy, is a wire playpen (a three-sided fireguard will also do the trick). It can easily be placed against a wall and will make a great (and cheap) alternative to an indoor crate. Do make sure that the sides of the playpen can be altered, to give your puppy enough room to sleep as well as a small play area.
His crate and playpen can be placed by your outside door and he should be encouraged to go outside in the garden to toilet from day one.
Remember, however, that your puppy should never be left in this confined environment for long periods, although it is perfect for night-times and those times during the day when you need to know where he is and to put him where he can see you. Puppies are like toddlers, so use that as your rule of thumb.
All puppies love to chew – even a cardboard tube or box can become a plaything.
Toys
All puppies love to chew and there is a good reason for this. Chewing is good not only for their mental wellbeing but can also physically aid the teething process. Remember that puppies are not dissimilar to babies, and the distraction of a few hard toys can avoid boredom. They also mean that your sofa and chair legs may remain intact. Staffords have a particularly strong chewing instinct, and therefore their toys should be chosen very carefully for maximum safety. Choose good-quality hard toys and try to avoid the cute furry ones, which will be demolished quickly and any fur or stuffing may be swallowed. Similarly, don’t buy squeaky toys, which can soon be dismantled and contain small parts that are potentially very dangerous.
Choose good-quality toys for young puppies, who will spend many happy hours playing.
Get your new puppy acquainted with a soft ‘puppy’ collar. You should be able to insert three fingers if it is fit comfortably.
Collar and lead
For the first few weeks, you will be advised not to take your puppy out on a lead in public places. There are two reasons for this good advice: firstly, it is sensible to make sure that he has had all his vaccinations before venturing out into public places where other dogs have been. Your vet will be able to advise you on this (see page 102).
Secondly, a puppy’s body in the first few months is growing fast and damage can occur to his immature bones if exercise is too rigorous. Having said this, however, it is a good idea to get your pup acquainted with wearing a collar as soon as possible. At first, buy a soft puppy collar and lead. There are many good collars designed for puppies. Make sure that the collar is soft – nylon is ideal – and a good fit; you should be able to comfortably fit your finger between the collar and the puppy’s neck.
Don’t worry if he fusses a little at first. He may try and scratch at the collar, or roll around as if trying to remove it. This is because it feels alien to him (imagine what it feels like when you wear a new hat or piece of jewellery for the first time). Leave him to it as this reaction won’t last long, sometimes only minutes.
Food and food bowls
Metal bowls are advisable, as plastic ones will be viewed as yet another thing to chew. Buy one for food and one for water. Some breeders recommend bowl stands (these are three- or four-legged raised containers) to prevent the puppy dipping his head to eat. Personally, I feel that normal feeding with the bowl on the floor is perfectly acceptable.
Ask the breeder what food the puppy has been weaned on. Most breeders will give you a diet sheet to take with you when you collect the puppy. Make sure you have the correct food ready for when the puppy arrives.
Wormers
Your breeder should have kept the puppy up-to-date with his worming, and your obligation will start the moment he arrives in your care. All dogs need to be wormed regularly in the first two years of their life. Your breeder or vet will be happy to advise you.
Flea prevention
As with worming, flea and tick control is an essential part of caring for your puppy. There are various excellent preventatives on the market and your vet can advise you and administer flea control for a nominal fee.
Bringing your puppy home
The day you collect your puppy will be very exciting. Make sure that at least two people (preferably adults) drive to pick him up. Puppies can get quite car sick at first and one of you will need to hold him and make sure that he does not become distressed. Some people advise taking a cardboard box full of towels for the journey. However, although this may be a sensible precaution, I have brought a puppy home inside my coat, where the tiny creature was quite happy to sleep during the 200-mile journey.
Puppy training pads
These are like giant nappies that you place wherever you wish the puppy to toilet. Start by positioning one just outside his crate and then gradually move it closer to the door. He will soon associate the pad with doing his business and will ‘follow’ it to his ultimate destination… outside. Pads can also prevent too much mess on the floor.
Your puppy will soon associate his crate with security and will enjoy going in there.
Wearing a collar
Get your puppy used to wearing a collar for the first time. Give him a couple of days to settle in first, and then introduce him to it gently. Most puppies don’t mind at all, but it will help with lead training if they grow accustomed to wearing a collar at the earliest possible age.
You may want to ask the breeder for a scrap of bedding which has the scent of the puppy’s mother on it, as it can be quite soothing for him if he can still smell something familiar amongst his new surroundings.
If your journey will be lengthy, remember to take a bottle of water and a small bowl with you in the car. If a toilet break becomes necessary, you can pull up somewhere well away from the traffic and stay close to your puppy until he has relieved himself.
Settling in at home
When you arrive home, introduce your puppy to your garden straight away. This will tell him that this is where he can relieve himself. Next stop should be his bed, which may be a crate, or a dog bed lined with old towels or blankets. Avoid fluffy bedding as your puppy will probably end up chewing most of it. Some people use sturdy cardboard boxes as first beds. These are OK, but you may find a huge pile