Beautiful Girl Sbt Coming To My Family - Please Advise!

[lindadiosa]

Hi Guys...

Becoming really obsessed with this beautiful breed having never had a pet of any kind before.

My husband and I want to introduce a beautiful red SBT girl to our family. (us & 7y.o boy)

The more researching and reading the more I would like to have that special presence of this breed in our lifes. They just seem to have a magic about them. My husband has always been around dogs and his dream is to own a SBT and so is mine now.

My question, one of many i guess, but the one that concerns me the most is:

We both work full time and leave home from 8am till approx 5pm Mon - Fri.

I would like to know what would then happen with her being left alone for so long?. What do people do when it comes to leaving them at home alone?

Initially, Im aware of the demanding routine we will need to establish but I guess it would mean us taking a week off work between us and i'm afraid that will be it.

I'm open to any suggestions.

I also posted this under Breeders 101 - SBT topic. Need as much info as I can get!!

[luvsdogs]

That's exciting. Have you got a puppy in mind &/or breeder? The longer you can take off work the better, to get her into a routine & getting used to being without her mum & litter. I've only ever had puppies after I left work so was able to be home with them most of the time in the early weeks.

Friends of my sons have recently got a SBT puppy & they both work & she is left in their backyard. I have yet to hear how they are getting on with her. Hope to see her in the coming weeks. Imo not a good situation for a baby.

If your yard is secure I would leave her in the yard with shelter & shade or else a room inside with her bed, water & some food, maybe stuffed in a couple of kongs, but this would encourage toileting inside. Up until 6 m/o they need 3 meals a day. Is anyone able to come home at lunchtime to feed & check on her?

[Paganman]

I dunno.Staffords are people dogs they dont like being alone.But then lots of people work and have dogs Im one of them.If its a pup it might get destructive but I guess itll depend on the dog.

[lindadiosa]

Thanks for the advice.

I will take all those things into consideration.

We are looking at this breeder Close to us the puppies will be ready in two weeks.

It will all come to how we train her and her personality too as I've been findIng out.

[Georgieboy]

We have a 6 month old SBT, George. We got him at 8 weeks old and for the first 4 weeks we kept him in the laundry through the day while we were at work. I just made sure that he had plenty of toys in with him, his bed (a doggie beanbag and a blanket) and we had a clock radio in there with the radio playing softly all day. We covered the floors with newspaper on top of blue plastic tarps from bunnings (which we hosed off every night and rotated them around). All in all he was pretty good, with only the door stops and one piece of skirting board that came to a sticking out corner chewed! (white vinegar in a spray bottle sprayed on the chewed area seemed to help stop the munching ). Just make sure there's no cords hanging down, or plugged in that your baby could pull or chew on.

At 12 weeks old we started leaving George outside through the day. I left for work at 7:45 and my partner was home around 5. George has coped fine with being on his own through the day. We'd have a big game of ball before I left, then I'd give him some treats and his breakfast (which I still do right before I leave) and he's fine. He knows that when we get home, he's inside with us.

He's also great with kids and the elderly. He can get a bit rough when playing with us at times (we dont have human children, just a doggy one), but around my 5, 3, 2 & 1 yo nephew's and nieces or my 89 yo grandfather, he's the very gentle and well behaved.

One suggestion is that anything you want to keep in your garden - fence off. We've had to put plastic lattace all around our pot plants that George could reach the top of, as we were coming home to empty pots where he'd dug them out, and our BBQ covers have been shredded, but its a small price to pay for the joy he brings us. The other thing I've done is to ensure that he's been well socialised with other dogs.

Enjoy, SBT's are fantastic dogs, George is our first and he's the best! Such a personality! (who's sound asleep on his back with his legs in the air and snoring on the couch beside me as I type! ) They love your company, want to be with you, sit on your feet, and snuggle up to you on the couch to watch TV. They snore and burp (and fart! ). But best of all, they give you unconditional love.

[pesh]

How about having a reputable walker come in?

There are also puppy play schools, where pup stays during working hours.

couple of suggestions for you..................good luck.

[Kirra_Bomber_Zeus]

How exciting for you Good on you for asking questions before you get her too

We have an SBT too and yes, generally they dont like to be left at home alone - however, we too live in the real world and have to work We have 2 other dogs as well so Kirra isnt really left 'alone' during the day, but I know other people who just have the 1 and they seem to do fine.

Research some good enrichment toys for her to give her something to do during the day. I think someone else mentioned a dog walker too? We have one that comes twice a week - and I think its money well spent - I like knowing they have something to look forward to in the middle of their day I wish I could afford to have her come everyday - however, with 3 dogs its a bit too costly

If you havent had a dog before it might be worth having a chat to a good dog behaviourist for some tips on successfully integrating your new dog with your son. I dont have children, but if I did I would do this - (although Im in the opposite situation as you - i know a fair amount about dogs but next to nothing about kids ) Better to be armed with as much info as possible and have someone you can yell 'help!' to if you need it (Ive got three dogs and Ive still had to yell 'help' when we got our most recent puppy )

Good luck with your choice - and please post some puppy pics if you do get her!