poodlefan

Good on you for sticking around FD26 - and for making a tough decision. I don't think you'll regret it in the long run. Check out the Stafford thread in dog breeds 101 - lots of good info on health testing and other things an ethical breeder will be doing.

Best I've ever won was cash. I recall a heap of Liberty stand dryers were given as prizes at a Poodle National. Lucky winners! I had to pay for mine.

Basically to protect him. The thought of my beloved family pet ending up in a fighting pit is beyond horrifying.

Anyone flying a puppy should worry

If they're still transporting unquarantined pound dogs in the same dog trailers with other dogs, I'd not touch them with a barge pole. To be honest, I never asked. Dog has had vacs. Do airlines only fly showdogs that live on their own? Nope. And due to some rescue practices, they fly unquarantined pound dogs too. Don't think I won't be asking about what dogs fly on any flight I get a pup on. In fact I'll probably drive to get the next one. But 50 minutes in a crate in an airline hold sure beats 12 hours in a dog trailer bay that God knows how many dogs have been in before and alongside a dog sprung from a pound dont ya think?

Sound advice - the most important part of which is to avoid choosing littermates if you can. If this trainer thinks a squirt with water or clapping their hands will break up a SERIOUS fight, they're deluding themsleves. Not grabbing dogs is sound advice - that's why an aquaintance of mine needed microsurgery.. and that was two Cocker Spaniels having a dust up, not bull breeds.

Just curious about what led you to this comment? Because the last thing you need with two young male staffords is for both of them to be loaded with testosterone and entire male staffords are the unfortunate target of dog thieves. Please tell me you weren't considering leaving both of them entire.

FD: One of your own choosing.. and one surely, that isn't inevitable? Why can't you tell the breeder you've reconsidered and have decided one pup is all you really want to handle now? Pups are meant to bring joy to a family, not resignation that life is going to be difficult from now on. This may be totally preventable heartbreak waiting to happen. I simply don't get why you can't change your mind and take only one pup now? Getting a dog knowing that you may have to rehome it makes no sense to me.. and that's assuming you still have two live dogs if they get into a serious fight. Read about how people keep severely dog aggressive dogs apart.. and work from there. As SBT123 has pointed out, it may not be a simple as having two dogs in separate parts of the house or one crated. They'll go through doors and crates to get to each other if they are deadly serious in their intent. Despite all your best efforts this may not work - so why proceed? How easy do you think it will be to find a good home for a Stafford with a history of fighting? Whatever you do, desex both of them if you decide to get them or the single dog if you go that path.

We had two male Stafford littermates attack one another at dog training.. they'd get one off the other and it would go right back in. I kid you not, it went on for what seemed like hours (probably only a couple of minutes) and only ended when both handlers (young adult males) end up LYING on their dogs to subdue them. Picture a 9 year old in the middle of that. Shite it was awful. Vet trips for both dogs.

You do realise that responses have been made by breeders and trainers in this thread? I've seen what can happen with my own eyes. .as have others. Have you? Ask any experienced dog trainer about raising two littermates and the first advice will be "don't". Ask them about raising two male littermates who are dogs of fighting ancestry and they'll tell you "absolutely don't". Its BECAUSE people understand pack mentality that they're advising against this. The best recipe for conflict in a pack is two dogs that match each other in age, size and gender. Precisely what you're proposing to do in a breed high on reactivity and long on tenacity. What Cesar Milan can do and what the average pet owner can do are world's apart. You're hoping for the best possible outcome. I'd strongly recommend you prepare for the worst one. No amount of socialisation and training will change a breed's predisposition for tenacity. That's what you're buying into. You're opting for a very high risk option here. You may end up with two total cream puffs but the odds are not in your favour. Get that pet insurance. And get private health insurance too. Microsurgery costs a bomb.

I'll ask. What makes you want two pups anyway? They certainly aren't going to be company for one another in the longer term.

I chose based on the ingredients and DOLer recommendations. The proof was in my dog's condition. I'm happy with Artemis. It has no gluten which matches what I think is best in a dog's diet. ETA: I feed two different varieties. I have older dogs and a younger one.

Two Staffy males.. .are they both pups? Have you considered the very real possibility that they won't get on as they mature? Yes, and we plan on taking all steps to minimise that. I've just written another thread about that... And I've answered in it. I still don't get why you'd want to have two dogs that potentially can NEVER be together.

And this is the kind of idiot that got this breed where it is today. Banned Shame on him and shame on the person who sold him a dog. I wonder what happened to the dog.

The only advice I can offer is that you have a rehoming strategy for one of them as a back up plan if they end up taking a violent dislike to one another. I would have your yard configured to seperate them whenever you're not there and suggest you learn about how to break up a dog fight. Oh and take out pet insurance to cover the bills from fights. Worst dog fight I've ever seen was between two male Staffords who were littermates. Two grown men stuggled to part them.. how do you think you'll fare? Did the breeder even discuss the possiblity of fighting with you? I struggle to understand why anyone would want to have two pets who cannot be walked, transported or share time together. Even experienced breeders wouldn't try this combination.

Two Staffy males.. .are they both pups? Have you considered the very real possibility that they won't get on as they mature?

Depends on the dog. It can be pretty rough on the gut. Flaxseed oil is more digestible but some dogs with cereal intolerances react to it.

They are OK but pretty high in sugars. Your pudgy girl shouldn't be getting ANY treats. If you want them for training her, take them out of her meal ration. I would suggest you mix up the meat ration with other small RMBs. Some red meat is beneficial for a dog's diet.

If they're still transporting unquarantined pound dogs in the same dog trailers with other dogs, I'd not touch them with a barge pole.

For a dog of that size, I think that's quite reasonable. It would probably cost as much to ship that weight by ordinary airfreight. Factor in caring for a live animal and insurance issues and I think its quite reasonable. You'd pay more than that in petrol.

Poor dog is probably in pain. I hope it saw a vet.

If a vet said your dog is "plump", she's probably obese. Vets tend to understate weight issues to owners. Feed her LESS. Separate her from your other dog if you have to. Eating poo isn't as bad for her health as being overweight anyway. Broccoli and cauliflower are both cruciferous vegetables that can cause suppressed thyroid function in dogs. I would not be feeding them on a daily basis. Interestingly one of the symptoms of a depressed thyroid is weight gain. Mashed pumpkin (no butter) would be a better option. Necks would be better than mince. I'd swap the broccoli and cauliflower for pumpkin, feed less kibble and fewer chicken necks. But what she needs is less food overall.

I don't think there's any such thing as a "tame wolf". But if the shot wasn't taken in the wild, a DQ seems fair enough.

Where's TonyMC when you need him.

Glad to hear she's home. Just take it nice and easy with the food this week.. not too much at once and keep it bland.