kima

This is clearly a very contentious topic and obviously a lot of people have had different experiences and have formed different opinions. I don't think there is any 'correct' answer, I think its about doing what is best for you and your individual dog at that time. Its a shame when topic like this start to turn from people offering their experiences and advice to people trying to assert their views over others and take digs at others in the process.

We got our male (Stafford) done at 9 months. We were going to wait until he was 12-18 months but he started getting really humpy and despite our best efforts we did not succeed at discouraging this. He even started trying to mount our friends male Dalmatian. We figured we didn't want him to miss out on playing with other dogs due to his humping so we got him done at 9 months. Now he is back to playing with his Dalmatian buddy instead of trying to hump him!

Ever since Marlo was a puppy I have noticed that occasionally when he is sleeping he seems to stop breathing for 5-10 seconds before taking a really deep breath and back to normal. It seems very similar to sleep apnoea in humans and from what I gather dogs can get it to. He is a Stafford and a really loud snorer so it seems like an entirely likely possibility. I intend to take him to the vet next week to get it checked out but was just wondering in the meantime if others have had similar experiences and what the outcome was?

This topic made me laugh so much, its nice to know I'm not the only one with a precious dog! Marlo very reluctantly heads outside but will stop every few steps to look back at me as if to say "really?". I then tell him again to go and he takes a few more steps then stops. Repeat 3-4 times. Sometimes he tries to veer off course and sneak off (while I am still watching). Eventually he just gives up and goes onto the grass to do his thing and then dashes back inside. This is the same dog that launches himself into the creek or ocean at any opportunity... Go figure!!

Marlos eyes reflect a neon green colour. my old dogs eyes went an Orange/red colour. Scared the life out of me the first time I shone a torch on him in the backyard at night. Thought it was some demon possum at first! Then realised it was just the dog. According to that list miniature schnauzers usually have a nice turquoise, that would have been much nicer than the devil red Charlie had!!

The human body is a wonderful thing and its ability to heal amazing. This man was probably very fit, but from the tv pix of him, there doesn't seem to be much of him. His fitness will probably stand him in good stead, but the fact that his heart was exposed, and his injuries so horrific, I expect he will be subject to recurring medical problems from now on. The smallest dog bite can take a long long time to heal and the chance of infection is very real also for a long time. He also would be in the most awful pain at the moment as well despite the super painkillers available today. And I would hate to be in his head when he goes to sleep. I hope he has a caring circle of friends and family to support him through this dreadful event. With any luck he will physically make a good recovery, however it was more the emotional trauma I was referring to. To be just going about your business and be attacked in such a way would be so hard to reconcile with. In the paper it said he attack lasted for about 5 minutes, to endure that amount of pain and fear for such an extended period of time is bound to have a lasting impact. I can't even begin to imagine what that must have been like. I agree with you though, loving and supportive friends and family can make a world of difference.

I agree 100%. culpable driving carries much higher penalties. The sort of negligence and lack of regard for public safety associated with dog attacks should be treated no differently, 2 years is nothing when you have destroyed lives. Even though this man was fortunate enough to live, I cannot imagine the impact such a traumatic event will have on him for the rest of his life.

Doesn't help anything that you have some idiot on the project saying that if they could kill all American staffies it would be ideal. Because people aren't prejudiced enough. my heart goes out to that poor man though. What a horrific ordeal to endure :-(

I go snowboarding regularly over winter, no puppies allowed. I would love to take Marlo to the snow but that would mean no boarding! Can't go to the snow and not snowboard. We are going snowboarding in NZ this July for 2 weeks so Marlo is staying with friends.

Yoghurt would probably be Marlos favourite. He cries and whimpers while he is waiting for me to finish so he can lick the tub. If I have yoghurt and say "drop" he hits the deck instantly, normally it takes a few tries.

Have never had to cut Marlos nails as we do lots of walks on the footpath. Dew claws get done whenever we are at the vet though, those things are sharp when they get long!

She must be very cute then! does she have silly floppy ears too? On the chewing front I got Marlo some nice big marrow bones from the market. Won't know how good they are at keeping him busy till tomorrow but it has been quite fun watching him drag one round the garden and attempt to hide it under bushes. Hopefully he will actually chew it and not just spend all his time trying to hide it! unfortunately it wasn't until AFTER I got back from the pet shop that I realised he has chewed the top off his black Kong so he will have to settle for his Kong wobbler and rope toy tomorrow.

i dont think that sounds negative blackjaq, it is a real possibility. Always better to be realistic I think :) Fingers crossed a combination of toys and morning walks and mental stimulation does the trick! otherwise it looks like we say goodbye to the outdoor setting and get a small run!

I think the sand pit idea is definitely worth a try, and some new toys. Unfortunately a dog run wouldnt be possible due to the layout of the back yard. Its a lot of raised garden beds and not a lot of flat space. We try and give him alone time in the garden when we are hone but he just lies next to the door and cries and waits to be let in. Think we definitely could do some work around teaching him he doesn't need to be with us ALL the time when we are home! Thanks again for all the suggestions. Its all really helpful constructive stuff. He hasn't been too bad today because my mum is staying with us for a week from interstate so he has company. Will be off to Bunnings for some sand tomorrow though!

I have far more issues with small dogs when out walking than with big ones.I guess some (not all) small dog owners are just not as concerned about controlling their dog because they see it as not being able to do much damage. I know this is the case with my friend with a vicious chi. I honestly think she wont realise how not ok it is until her dog gets hurt. Mind you even then she would probably just blame the other dog! Can't win with some people!

He doesnt have much of a routine in the mornings, especially lately as he is refusing to get out of bed in the morning (clearly takes after his owner :p ). When we make him get up OH usually plays with him for about 20 minutes in the morning and then he gets breakfast and then he puts himself back to bed for a bit until i leave for work. Most of his training gets done in the evening. He gets walked as soon as we get home from work, then he lies on the couch and watches us make dinner. After dinner we do training with him and then play time. 9:30pm he puts himself to bed. I think diet might play a factor, the trainer we saw said that raw mince can cause an abundance of energy in Staffords. He gets a few chicken necks or a tin of sardines in the morning with 1 cup advance and then raw meat and whatever veggie scraps we have (usually beans,carrots, sweet potato or peas) in the evenings. We got him desexed about a month ago and hoped it would calm him down a bit, alas it has not! The Kongs are a good idea, we give him cheese and kibble filled kongs in the evenings if we need some quiet time and they entertain him for about 15 minutes, I was just worried it would get lost in the garden, but i guess replacing kongs is cheaper than replacing the other things he destroys! He has a wobbler, doesnt take him long to get all his kibble out of it though, he has figured out if he bats it really hard with his paw it goes spinning across the room and kibble flies out everywhere :) Cardboard boxes i can see him loving though! Thankyou all for the great advice so far! Am now going to go make OH drink a bottle of soft drink so I can fill it with chicken stock for Marlo tomorrow!

I wasnt quite sure where to post this but as Marlo is technically still a puppy (10.5 months old) I figured here was as good as anywhere! Recently (well over the last 3 months) Marlo is becoming increasingly destructive during the day when we are at work and being a Stafford, Marlo is capable of a great deal of destruction! Because I study fulltime and work fulltime I dont really go out much so other than 9-5pm when me and my partner are both at work, Marlo has people around. While we are home he gets plenty of attention and walks and runs and never chews on anything he isnt supposed to in the house (except for the odd slipper or sock here or there)however during the day when he is outside he is a terror! The worst part is that he is beginning to destroy things that have been around for months and he has never paid much attention to. Over the last 2 months he has pulled down a small tree, destroyed 2 solar lights, numerous plant pots and pegs, a packet of BBQ wipes, the wheel off the BBQ, a fence paling, the trigger head off the hose, and he has started to chew the edges of his kennel and pulls out and tears to pieces any blankets, towels or bedding we put in there. More concerning (and costly) he has pulled up and chewed the plastic pipes of the sprinkler system and no matter how many times we bury them he digs it back up and he has chewed through the gas line between the gas bottle and the BBQ. We make an effort to Marlo-proof the garden as much as possible but he still finds something to chew and destroy and the more little things we remove like plant pots etc. the more he chews big things like the BBQ! We have tried leaving him more toys outside but there are very few toys that last more than 15 minutes with him and the few that do last, he will no doubt get bored of. Leaving him bones and things to chew isnt really an option either because he tends try and swallow any food small enough to fit in his mouth meaning we have to supervise him to make sure he doesnt start choking. (He doesnt seem to understand that just because half a pigs ear fits in his mouth doesnt mean he should swallow it!). We even tried the no-chew sprays (without much hope) and sure enough he just licked it off. I am open to any suggestions people may have and interested to hear what others have done in the past to tackle problem chewing! Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Here is Marlo just because I can :)

This is exactly why dol is so helpful :) having never owned two dogs at the same time its good to hear other people's advice and experiences.

So many great, and at times amusing, responses! :laugh: It really has given me a lot to think about though. I think i will definitely be making an effort to get down to some dog shows and spend some time getting to know the breeds. I have plenty of time to think and persuade OH at least :)It's also made me consider more seriously the idea of getting a rescue or retired show dog (still hopefully a pointer) as that way I can get a better idea how older Marlo and potential new dog will interact, it would mean missing the gorgeous chunky puppy stage though.. But again, lots of things to consider! Again, thanks for the responses, overall it has been very helpful!

Thanks everyone for the fantastic replies! My childhood dog was a Dalmatian and he was wonderful, that's what initially got me thinking of a pointer as the breeds appear to have similarities. I just love the sound of pointers, they seem like such gentle natured dogs! In regards to play styles, our friends have a Dalmatian and a foxy and we regularly have play dates. Marlo and the Dalmatian love playing together, the foxy isnt keen on playing though so Marlo leaves her alone. I'm hoping Marlo stays this way as so far he seems pretty good at adapting his play style. If we were to get another dog it will be very much my dog which would mean 4-5km runs at least 5 times a week, plus walks I will definitely be looking into shows to try and meet some pointers though! Dotdashdot I think you are right, puppy first seems like a better idea! Tdierikx that is brilliant! I will be using that :)

Even before we bought our current dog, my partner and I agreed that we would eventually like to be a two dog family. Whilst we are not planning to get another puppy for another 2-3 years, it seems like now would be a good time to start planning, getting advice and getting in touch with breeders etc. We currently have a 10 month old Stafford, Marlo, and whilst i love him to pieces, it wasn't my choice of breed. OH and I agreed that we would each get to choose the breed of one of our dogs (with the others approval of course), so this time will be my turn! Marlo is a very well socialised dog and loves other dogs (big and small) so i think he will be thrilled to eventually have a play mate. We will not be getting another dog until we have bought a house, and whatever house we buy will have a big backyard, suitable for two active dogs (this is a must!)and my partner and I are both very active. At the moment the breed that has really caught my eye and sounds like exactly what i would want in another dog is the Pointer (Not a GSP, an "English" Pointer). However OH is not entirely convinced and would prefer a Rottweiler or GSD. At the moment i have my heart set on a pointer but i am always open to suggestions! The things we do agree on is that we want an active dog, something reasonably easy to train and with the potential of doing dog sports with (endurance or agility), must be short haired or require minimal grooming (I have owned a Schnauzer before who hated being brushed-never again!!). We also both love sooky dogs that like cuddles and whatever dog we get will be very much an indoor dog when we are home and part of the family. We are also intending to (hopefully) add some human children to our family in the next 3-4 years. So what i was hoping to get some opinions/advice on is.. 1) what sort of age difference between dogs works best? If we were to get another dog in 2-3 years that would make Marlo 3-4 years old. 2) what gender mix would people recommend considering our current dog is male? 3) what are some ways to meet and interact with new breeds? Having never met a pointer in person i would love to see if they are what i am expecting! 4) for people who are planning to have children would it be best to get a puppy first (say a year before) or baby first? Thanks!

If staffords are predisposed to agression then I think mine is broken :p He got told off once or twice by our friends foxy who didn't want to play and now gives her plenty of space. He has also been rushed and attacked by a swf and his response was to hide behind my legs. Not really fair to tar all members of a breed with the same brush. My miniature schnauzer was very antisocial and had no patience for or interest in other dogs but that doesnt mean all schnauzers hate other dogs.

What a gorgeous puppy! We had a similar experience with Marlo. As a puppy at around 10-10:30 every night he would have a sudden burst of energy, and was a terror for about half an hour. Barking, mouthing etc. I can happily say he grew out of it fairly quickly. He is now 9 months old and at about 9pm every night he decides he has had enough of us and puts himself to bed!

My dog (Stafford) adjusts his play style to other dogs but its not something we ever actively taught him. He will go from romping and body slamming style play with other staffords to playfully batting his paws at an Italian greyhound and letting it jump on his back.

We went to high st rd animal hospital for over a decade and found them to be fantastic. With our current dog we use Blackburn Vet Centre (296B Middleborough Rd, Blackburn) and couldn't be happier with them. All the staff are incredibly friendly and we have seen each of the vets there are found them all to be fantastic. Plus they're open Saturdays and send text message reminders of every appointment. When we had a scare with our dog eating aspirin they called us between appointments to check in. You know a vets alright when you're dog gets excited when he gets there :p