Eileen Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 Hi everyone, I am getting a blue staffy puppy on Friday from a reputable breeder. We are very excited, but I am worried about a few things. I've tried searching your forums to see if you've answered these questions before, so I hope you haven't. I am taking a few weeks off work to settle her in, and after that I will be home in the early afternoons onwards, so she won't be home too long by herself. I know she has to go to puppy preschool, but when I googled to find one near me (I live in Surry Hills) it seems there was an outbreak of parvovirus at the preschool near here. So I was wondering, if she doesn't get her shots for that for quite a few months, how do I make sure she doesn't catch it? We do have a backyard, but being in the city, it's not huge. I was also wondering if someone could point me in the direction of a good book to read in terms of raising a staffy? Any other tips would be good. My parents had a few when I was a very small girl, so I remember they were fun dogs, but we've had a lot of different dogs since then. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northern Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 ok ill try and help. we have a 8 week old english mastiff. we have organised the back yard so she wont escape for a puppy adventure and catch something orrible. 1. your back yard should be fine as long as other dogs dont come in normaly,,,,they can catch parvo from sniffing where dogs piss and poop normaly,,,ie outside your yard. 2. 2 weeks is a long time to take off, she'll , he will be dependant on someone been with her 24/7. we leave tallulah bloo most days for a few hours, she has a area in the house thats fenced off ( garden trellace, it folds up nicly ) and she stays there, just tire her out before you go out sio she sleeps. serious your pups a gaurd dog by nature so she'll love the responsability. we have bought the book ( PUPPIES FOR DUMMIES) just like the windows for dummies book, it realy good loads of tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eileen Posted May 13, 2007 Author Share Posted May 13, 2007 Thanks very much, that's very helpful. I will get the book tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel964 Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 How exciitng a new puppy and a staffy! Staffies can be stubborn so they need a firm hand and good solid consistent training from the beginning. They can also have a tendency to want to fight with other dogs - so its is especially important that they are well socialised and regularly socialised. I highly recommend clicker training. I bought the Karen Pryor Clicker training book and DVD. It had to get sent from the U.S but its so great - its like magic. There is heaps on this forum about clicker training. I also highly recommend crate training. I used to think it was cruel, but I did not understand. Both my dogs love their crates and having them crate trained gives them and me a better life. It is not cruel (Unless misused). It gives the dog a haven (den), a safe place (refuge) and peace fo mind for both of you at times. Its also AWESOME for toilet training a puppy. As for the parvovirus - I'm not what to do about that. Can you take her to a puppy pre-school that has had no outbreak? Might be a little further out, but whats an extra 5-10 minutes if you are taking 2 weeks off work ayway right? Also, if you have other dogs, your new dog will be fine when you go back to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northern Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 not a fan of the crate thing,,,we have made it clear to tallulah where her area is,, i feel that putting a dog in a crate isnt right, to me its suppose to be part of the family and i dogs in cages, crate's isnt right. makes them feel isloated and supresed. just my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 Ohhh, staffy puppy!! Come visit the staffy thread in General! Have you got any photos? Just want to comment on the crate comment about crating a dog isnt right. Tell that to my 2 who spend most of their time in there, doors always open, and they LOVE their beds. They are a place to put the dogs if needed (kaos is full on, if i have people over i crate her, she still sees people, but isnt in the way) it is a place to help toilet train puppies, and i promise that any dog that is crate trained, is 100 times easier and calmer at the vets then an untrained dog! If your dog is sick and needs to be kept quite, there is no problems with a crate trained dog. It is NOT cruel and is a fantastic thing for a dog I just traveled from NSW to WA - No way i could do that with 2 dogs if they were not crate trained. They were fine (well one was, the other had the shits cause he wanted to sit on my lap ) good luck with the pup!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eileen Posted May 13, 2007 Author Share Posted May 13, 2007 Also, if you have other dogs, your new dog will be fine when you go back to work. We don't have any other dogs now. We thought in the future we would get her a companion so it wouldn't matter about us being at work, but for the time being she will be our only baby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoemonster Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 (edited) Crating is the best thing you can do, it gives them their own place, and it is also extremely handy for times when they need to be confined My 2 both sleep in their crates, and if I try to get them on the bed for a cuddle at bed time they just want to get in their crates! Whilst we are home they are out in the house and they do what they like, they have a doggy door into a big run with a human sized cubby house in it, and they are happy in the mornigns when we leave for work, they run out to get their bickie, no stress about being left We take them everywhere we can to socialise, socialising should never stop IMO, and we do obedience as I can't stand to see an untrained out of control stafford. They love every person they meet too! lol When I got Ed as an 8 week old pup, I had the weekend with him and a few days off work, then i came home for lunch for 2 days until i realised I was interupting him more by coming home than leaving and he was fine, he slept, and had no probs with being left, he was an awsome pup Molly we got at 8 months, we seperated them during the day for a week or 2, but she would dig or jump over fences to get to Eddie cos she just wanted to be with him, and they have been together since We need pics!!!! Edited May 13, 2007 by shoemonster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eileen Posted May 13, 2007 Author Share Posted May 13, 2007 We need pics!!!! She is the little on the right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoemonster Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 Awwww puppies!!!!! Very cute!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northern Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 well to me its like prison, my dogs well trained allready, and just because i aint a fan and WONT crate our dog doesnt mean shes gonna be " un-trained" we have looked into the history of our breed and mastiffs are general guard dogs. so therefore like the fremdom of swondering around our house and gardens, BECAUSE thats in there blood to do that. I think keeping a 85 kilo dog in a prison cell will be cruel and i dont care about other people thoughts on that, tallulah will be loved and trained very well as all my dogs have been, walking at my side with no lead, coming when called ect ect ect. maybe i just hate to see dogs in boxes although i am talking about my dog not yours remember, and your was bred for fighting !!! got link for you www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staffordshire_bull_terrier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 Ithought we were talking about crate training, not what our breeds were bred for? I know the history behind both my dogs, and know the history behind the future breeds i want to own (including a mastiff breed, who WILL be crate trained) What does that have to do with crate training? Do you know what it is? Tell me what you think it means, what is the routine for a dog who is crate trained? do you think they are stuck in the crate 24 hours a day? Is that why you dont like it? My crates are set up in the loungeroom, door always open. I will put them in there if i am going out at night and dont want them outside, and shut the door, or if i have people over. (not often) At night both dogs will go to bed (yep, hate it so much that they put themselves there) on their own, and follow me to bed when i head to bed When dogs were puppies they were put in the crate about 10 at night - i would get up at 12, 2, 4 and 6 to toilet them. as they got older i would make that 3 hours apart, and then 4, then all night. At most they would spend 8 hours in a crate, SLEEPING. During the day they would be outside or with me doing dog things. How is that cruel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoemonster Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 I'm really confused as to why you are getting defensive about what you do with your EM? We said we like crate training for staffords and you feel the need to justify why you dont with your mastiff, and bring up our breed history which has nothign to do with any of this Crate training is a very very small part of training for any dog, and it does not replace other training Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 oh, just saw the photo! where are you getting it from? and can i ask howmuch? (pm me if you rather) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlb Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 Congratulations on your new puppy. I have a 5 month old Stafford girl and have learnt a lot from DOL. We have a crate for Cynda and like TB and Shoey have said they love them. Cynda can't wait to get in there at night and when I open the door in the morning she takes her time coming out It is only used at night 'cause during the day she is either outside or with us in the house. All the best with your girl and don't forget to visit the Stafford thread in general (with more pics!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaY Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 we have a 8 week old english mastiff. we have organised the back yard so she wont escape for a puppy adventure and catch something orrible. I thought you had a English Mastiff X Douge De Bourdux and then you say a 9 week old douge de bordoux (french mastiff) which is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 sway, i was just thinking the same, and posted the same question in the posters intro thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva's_girl Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 very cute i must say, we just got a staffy x 2 weeks ago and are hoping to get a pure amstaff next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoL Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 Hi there So,you've got a staffy pup??? Buckle down for the ride! Firstly, re parvo. I personally don't take my pups out the front gate until they are fully vaccinated with all 3 shots (I know there is some contention here as to whether all 3 are required, but this is my opinion). This means no puppy school til then either. Parvo is too easily transmitted, it is rampant, it is distressing, it is costly and can be fatal. Secondly, congratulations! Your yard is just about to be landscaped .. for FREE! Thirdly, I would recommend training. Keep it short and basic to begin with. Make it fun. Fourthly, crate train. I am a convert in this. Our boys were never crate trained. Then we got bitches who came into season. So we got runs built. Stuck the boys in (gradually of course). Couple of broken canines later and their show careers were over red rover. Crate train. It's not cruel unless misused. It can be a lifesaver (if that's too drastic, just think you'll save their teeth!). Welcome to the wonderful world of Staffies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaY Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 sway, i was just thinking the same, and posted the same question in the posters intro thread. I leave for a few hours and i miss so much Going over there to see now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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