Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQ
Are dogs easy to train?
Yes, dogs like to perform and to please their owners. Some dogs can be challenging and require more effort. They love to manipulate their owners. With positive training methods, confidence, and consistency even strong willing dogs will respect you as their leader.
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Are older dogs trainable?
Yes, dogs learn a lifelong. Dog training is nothing else than making experiences. Older dogs with strong learned habits may need a bit time, until they are willing to obey you.
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Does every dog learn tricks?
Basic tricks you can teach every dog. Some of the most popular tricks are shake hands, give a kiss, sit high, roll over, wave, catch food, catch toys, and find hidden items.
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What dog toys are the best?
The best toys for your dog are hard rubber toys, knotted rope toys, and action balls on a string.
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Should dogs drink milk?
NO. Dogs cannot digest our normal milk, it causes diarrhea. But, dairy products as cottage cheese or plain yogurt are excellent.
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How many meat should my dog eat?
Dog food should ideally consist of 60% meat (poultry, beef, lamb, and fish), 15% Offal (heart, stomach, rumen, or liver), 10% Vegetable (carrot, fennel, paprika, avocado, or artichoke), 10% Fruits (Watermelon, apple, banana, or papaya), 5% Herbs and Supplements (kelp, garlic, carrot, parsley, celery, alfalfa, and yogurt).
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How often I must bath my dog?
Bathing your dog every 3 to 5 months is usually enough to keep the skin clean and healthy. Brushing and combing is more important. It activates the metabolism, removes dead hair, and reduces shedding.
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Why dogs shed?
Dogs shed to replace their thick winter fur with thin summer coat, and reverse. Dogs that live in a constant climate shed more than they normally would.
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How can I get rid of the stains and odor of dog urine?
Even when potty training is going smoothly, there will be times when your puppy has an 'accident'. It's one of those 'puppy FAQs of life'. To avoid having your carpets ruined you need to act quickly, and tackle those puddles in the right way.

To be effective, you need to blot up any liquid that is in your carpet. Then you need to rinse the area well with clean, cool water and blot that up too. Follow this with an application of an enzymatic-based cleaner/odor remover. Allow this to soak into the carpet for at least 10 minutes and then blot up the excess. Allow area to dry thoroughly.

You may need to repeat this process more than once. For more information on how to keep your carpets stain and odor free, and find out which product REALLY works,
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Puppies Staffordshire Bull Terriers
How much is a puppy?
Prices of puppies depend on quality, availability, trend, and personal opinion of the breeder. Responsible breeding cost a lot of money. But, the result is visible in the puppies! And, responsible breeders will answer all your questions clear and honest.
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Which puppy I choose from a litter?
Puppies of a litter should not be afraid of humans! Well raised puppies are willing to come to you, sniff at you, play with you, nibble on your fingers.

Let them chase your foot or fingers, make some soft squeaking noise, touch them.

Finally choose a puppy that is playful and inquisitive but not demanding; brave but not aggressive. Take the one that has a bit of all. Do not choose a shy, nervous, or fearful puppy!
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How old should a puppy be before I take it home?
Ideally, puppies should stay with their littermates until 8 weeks of age. The mother weans them by about 6 weeks of age. Now they learn important social behavior as body language, or send and interpret signals. They learn patience, and self-confidence. Playing with littermates helps puppies increase their physical coordination, social skills, and learning limits. It teaches them "to be a dog". Humans cannot teach themthis!

By eight to ten weeks, puppies have a fear period. During this time, they should not experience any ominous, threatening situation! Fears developed during this time last forever. Change of owner, transport, change of home, loss of littermates and mother is threatening for a puppy!
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What should I choose, a male or female?
For beginners I recommend starting with a female. They are easier to handle, and more compliant. Females are more gentle than males, but also more emotional theatrical.

Male dogs will constantly defy their owners, and keep in dominance challenges. They can be very active and energetic. But, male dogs are stable in their emotions, with a reliable spirit.
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What does purebred mean?
It means that the parents of a dog are from a registered breed. In addition, the lineage consists of this certain breed over many generations.
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Are purebred dogs better than mixed breed dogs?
The benefit of a purebred dog is that you know how he will look as an adult. In a puppy's mother, you realize the final size, coat type, and specific characteristics. This helps you, to find and choose a dog that fits your purpose and lifestyle. However, mixed breed dogs have less genetic disorders.
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When will my puppy's ears stand?
Usually, dog-ears stand between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Some Dogs' ears stand already pretty by 10-12 weeks of age. Your dog's ears may stand but wiggle at the tips when the dog runs. This "friendly ears" are not a desirable trait for Show dogs.
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When do puppies get the permanent teeth?
Starting with four months, the puppy teeth fall out gradually. At 5-7 months, the permanent teeth are usually full grown.
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How often does a female go into heat?
Females go twice a year into heat. The cycle starts at about 6-9 months of age. Dogs may skip a heat occasionally, if their mental or physical condition is weak.
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My puppy is shy, what should I do?
Dogs progress through a sensitive period of socialization from early puppy hood to 12-16 weeks and should be exposed to as many different types of persons and new surroundings as possible. If your pup exhibits signs of escape or submission in new situations, do not reassure him that it is ok by petting and coddling him. Instead, act silly, play, and distract his attention away from the source of fear.

Don't force him to approach or interact with anything / anyone that seems to be frightening him. The idea is to teach him that new situations are fun and there is nothing to fear.
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How can I tell if my puppies are fighting or playing?
When puppies or dogs play, they "trade roles". Dog A will chase Dog B and then Dog B will chase Dog A. The same goes for mugging. Dog A will be on top and then Dog B will be on top. If one dog is constantly hiding or trying to escape, the play is out of hand. It's best to randomly interrupt the play, even if they are playing nicely, and ask for a few sits or downs. This helps to teach them about self control. Teaching your dog to go from an excited state to a relaxed state is a good idea!
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My puppy whines and barks when she is in her crate. How can I teach her to be quiet?
Teaching your puppy to relax in a crate is a process, not an event. Crate introductions are best achieved over a long weekend. Before you lock your pup inside a crate and walk away, introduce your pup to the crate in small doses. Feed her in the crate. Walk away for a few minutes and then return before she is done eating.

Gradually increase your "away time" to include a short period after she's finished eating. Next, gradually increase the amount of time your pup is crated in your absence. Giving your puppy a unique treat when she is in the crate is another way to form good associations with the crate.
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At what age does a puppy get their first vaccination?
A puppy’s first vaccination is usually given at around 8 weeks with a second at 10-12 weeks. He’ll be fully protected 2 weeks after the second dose, and yearly vaccinations will maintain his immunity.
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What do I need for my new puppy?
A first time puppy owner will need quite a few things to start off with, and it's best if you've acquired these items before you bring your new pet home. Bowls, one for water, one for food. A six-foot nylon lead is best. Adjustable buckle collar. Appropriate food. click here for more information
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how long after vaccination is it safe to take my puppy out on a walk?
Most vets advise waiting for 1 week - the pup's immunity will be building up all the time after their first vaccination and boosted further by the second - ensuring full protection for the first year.
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How long and how often should you walk a puppy?
Daily, start 5-10 minutes for your puppy to get out the energy he has, and gradually increase.
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What is a puppy mill?
A puppy mill is a place that breeds dogs for profit only, without a care to health, temperament or behaviour. Puppy mill puppies are almost always poor in health, and can often be unstable of temperament. It is not unheard of for puppies to be sold as purebred dogs, but are, in reality, mixed breeds that resemble the purebred.

Owners who buy from pet stores or puppy mills, even backyard breeders often face serious illnesses requiring extensive veterinary care shortly after bringing the dog home. In some cases the dog has long-term and ongoing problems.
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How do I stop my puppy from eating feces?
Coprophagia is normal canine behavior. Bitches eat their puppies' stools when their pups are still nursing and unable to leave their den. Although there are many theories about why pups eat feces, there is no definitive scientific evidence to indicate that lack of nutrition is the primary cause. There are some products touted to make stools unappetizing to dogs, but the best method to stop coprophagia is to clean up the feces before your puppy eats it.
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How do I know how much to feed my puppy?
We recommend feeding a complete dry/'biscuit' diet to puppies during their vital growing period, this way you can be sure that you are feeding a balanced diet to meet the needs of your puppy. Buy a high quality puppy diet that is suitable for the size of your puppy.
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How often a puppy must eat?
Puppies from 10 weeks to 6-8 months get three meals daily. Then you can feed two times a day, depending on the breed, activity, and appetite. Adult dogs get one meal a day.To prevent bloat, I feed even adult dogs 2 small portions a day, instead of one big.
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Can I feed my puppy adult food?
Puppies and adult dogs have different calorie and nutritional requirements, our diets are specially prepared with this in mind.

Occasionally eating the wrong food for his/her developmental stage will not harm your puppy, however, we would not recommend that you feed your puppy adult food on a regular basis as your puppy has specific nutritional requirements to help him grow up to be happy and healthy.
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When should I change to adult food?
There is ABSOLUTELY no need to feed commercial puppy food. Your puppy is a carnivore so feed him like one. Feed your puppy natural, fresh foods as meat, oats, barley, vegetable, and fruits. And you never will need a vet!
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Why should I crate train my dog?
Crate Training is the fastest and most humane method of housebreaking dogs. Have you ever seen a dog under a table, chair or bed? The reason is that dogs naturally want to seek shelter, even in a house. If you don't provide it, they will create it themselves in an effort to feel safe and secure. A crate serves as a den for your dog.
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What do I need to do to keep my new puppy fit and healthy?
As well as vaccinating your new puppy, he/she will require regular treatment for worms and fleas. The breeder should have started the programm of worm and flea treatment from just a few weeks of age and you will need to continue this to ensure that your puppy grows into a fit and healthy dog. We recommend that you use prescription worm and flea treatments to ensure that the treatment is both effective and safe.
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Do all puppies have worms?
Not all puppies, but it is very common for puppies to have roundworms or hookworms, either passed in utero or through a mothers' milk. Because worm infection is so common, we normally deworm puppies just to be safe. Fecal samples might not show parasites, but it's so common that it's almost irresponsible not to deworm a puppy
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How often do I need to worm my puppy?
Worming your new puppy is essential to protect their health and also your family's health. Some worms such as Toxocara can cause illness in people and children are especially at risk if they play in soil frequented by dogs and then put their fingers in their mouths. However, it is quite easy to keep your pet and family safe by following a program of regular worming with your puppy.

There are two main types of worms, these are Tapeworms (look like grains of rice) and Roundworms (look more like spagetti).
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Should my puppy mix with other dogs?
Puppies should not be allowed to mix with unvaccinated dogs or be allowed free access to any public area frequented by other dogs until a week after their second course of vaccinations usually at between 10 and 12 weeks of age. However, puppies need to be well socialised and learn to be confident with other dogs, people and environments. The most common cause of fear and agression is lack of suitable socialisation.

Puppy socialisation involves meeting and having pleasant encounters with many adults, children and dogs starting during their early weeks of puppyhood
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When should I insure my puppy?
We strongly recommend that you insure your puppy from the very first day that you have him/her or as soon after that as possible. Once you have your puupy home he/she will soon become very inquisative and playful and unfortunately accidents do sometimes happen. Conditions and illnesses can also appear during the first few months of a puppys life and if you wait to insure your puppy these conditions are likely to be permanantly excluded from your insurance cover.
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Adult Staffordshire Bull Terriers
My dog is eating his own poop – it’s disgusting! What can I do?
As off-putting as it seems, there is a natural explanation for this less than endearing behaviour. The eating of faeces is known as ‘coprophagia’ and is most often seen in puppies (they mimic the behaviour of their mother who will eat their faeces to keep the nesting area clean).

Most puppies quickly grow out of it. But occasionally an adult dog will indulge in a spot of farm manure or another pet’s poop. Yum.

The best way to avoid this behaviour is simply to remove the opportunity! Keep your garden poo-free and gently pull or call your dog away from temptation when you’re out for a walk.
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I think my dog has fleas – what should I do?
Fleas are an ecto-parasite which means they live outside the body. In the UK, the cat flea is the most common, but they will happily live on your dog – and you – all year round.

But don’t panic. Although fleas are a nuisance, they are a common problem and easy to deal with. There are lots of effective flea treatments available and what you use depends on the size and type of pet. Just make sure you treat all the dogs and cats in your household at the same time.
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Why do dogs eat grass?
If your dog is acting normally and appears healthy, then a little grazing on the lawn doesn't hurt. Grass eating is a topic that may receive some debate between veterinarians, but most agree that there is no proven correlation between eating grass and any ailments in canines. In fact some vets suggest that dogs simply eat grass because they enjoy it and they lack this aspect of roughage in their diet.
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What should I do if my dog is overweight?
Give less food or switch to a low-calorie dog food. Cut out any table scraps and high-calorie treats, such as dog biscuits. Look for high-fiber, low-calorie treats instead. Make sure your dog isn't eating food intended for other pets in the house.
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Why do I need to keep vaccinating my adult dog?
The diseases that we routinely vaccinate many dogs against include distemper, hepatitis, parvo virus, parainfluenza, leptospirosis and kennel cough. These diseases are all very contageous and are likely to be serious in nature or even fatal. Some of these vaccinations need to be given every year to remain effective while others only need repeating every second or third year. Therefore, although your dog will need to visit the vet every year for a 'booster' vaccination it is likely that the the combination of diseases vaccinated against will vary on a two or three year cycle. For all of these diseases prevention remains much better than cure.
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How often should my adult dog eat?
Most pet owners prefer feeding an adult dog twice a day, although a dog can eat just once daily. Giving two meals a day may make it easier for the dog to digest the food and helps control hunger.
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Senior Staffordshire Bull Terrier
How should I care for my older dog?
Older dogs are susceptible to a large array of ailments: cataracts, blindness, arthritis, hearing loss, gingivitis and tumors. Make sure to check your dog frequently for symptoms. Also, you should continue to give your dog regular exercise. Make sure to avoid over-exertion. Meals should be split between two smaller meals instead of one large one. Also, he will be more susceptible to cold and heat so keep him warm in the winter and cool in the summer. You should also be aware that he might have to relieve himself more frequently.
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Is my pet acting this way due to old age or is he sick?
Changes happen as pets age, similar to the changes seen as people age. Sight and hearing may be diminished, pets may sleep more, and so on. These are expected changes. However, people often miss potentially serious signs of illness in their pets by writing off symptoms as "just old age" when a veterinary exam is in order.
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Senior dog foods
They don't need as many calories as a younger dog, and may need some help with joint health and weight
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Why (and what) is my senior dog "leaking"?
They don't need as many calories as a younger dog, and may need some help with joint health and weight
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My dog is weeing on his bed while he's asleep. Why is my he doing that?
leaking urine or peeing and not seeming to be aware he's doing it, he's having incontinence problems. This is not a training issue, it's a medical issue, so don't correct him in any way for these accidents. He's not able to control his urine like he used to, so this behavior is involuntary and uncontrollable. This problem can't be resolved using behavioral methods.

It isn't unusual for older dogs to experience a decrease in bladder control. Talk to your vet to find out the cause and to discuss possible medical treatments for your dog's incontinence. If your dog is on any kind of medication, be sure to ask your vet if the involuntary urination might be a side effect of the medicine, since a medication or dosage change may resolve the problem if that's the case.
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Health Issues
How often dogs need a check for worms?
A checkup every 4 months is advisable.
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What do i do if my dog is overheating?
If your dog is panting heavily and becoming lethargic you must act quickly to lower their temperature. Place them in a cool place and either hose them down with cool (not freezing) water or dampen them down frequently with a wet towel. Don't cover them with a wet towel & then leave it on as this will act like a sauna & make them hotter still. If there is no improvement withing 5 minutes, contact a vet.
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What do i do if i suspect my dog has bloat?
Bloat is very serious and can kill a dog very quickly so immediate action is essential if you suspect bloat.

If your dogs stomach is swelling out, s/he is retching, bringing up white foam and bile, seems in great distress, is unable to pass stool and is panting heavily for no reason it is possible s/he has bloat (or a twisting of the stomach.) In cases of bloat it is essential to get your dog to a vet immediately as this is classified as an emergency. While waiting for a vet or on the way to a vets try to keep your dog standing and moving.
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How to I help my dog deal with separation anxiety?
Dogs are among the most social creatures on earth. They just love spending time with you, so when it comes time for you to go to work or leave the house for long periods of time, it can make your dog lonely and anxious.

Here are a few tips to reduce separation anxiety:
  • Encourage independence by discouraging your dog from following you around the house constantly.
  • Keep departures and arrivals low-key.
  • Always give your dog a reward when you leave the house.
  • Give puppies and young dogs the opportunity to get accustomed to being left alone for short periods.

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Behavior
Why does my dog howl when he's left alone?
Dogs perceive their owners as members of their pack. In the wild, dogs howl to let their pack know where they are and that they want to be reunited with them. When you return, he assumes his howls have brought you back. The best way to halt this behavior is to decrease his anxiety about you leaving. Crate training and other measures will help this.
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Why is my dog so obsessed with smell?
Smell is the most highly developed sense a dog possesses. The canine sense of smell is highly advanced and dogs use it in investigating their environment. A dog's vision is not as acute as a human's and they must rely on their sense of smell and hearing.
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How can I get my dog to walk with a leash?
Most public areas require dogs to be leashed. Starting your puppy with a leash will ensure he is well adjusted to the lead and both of you will enjoy walks in public places. Getting the dog used to a collar at a young age is also a good idea. If you have problems with your dog pulling on the leash, there are many harnesses and collars on the markets that help discourage such behavior. Teaching a dog to "heel" is the best way to assure he will be well behaved on the leash. This is best done by a system of rewards and praise. Make sure to associate commands with the treats. If you hold a treat in your hand so that the dog can see it, it will follow at your side when you walk. Make sure to reward the behavior and eventually you can hide the treat and reward less often.
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Why does my dog pant?
Dogs pant to cool themselves down. Contrary to popular belief, dogs do have sweat glands (the only ones not covered by hair are the ones on the pads of the feet). However, air evaporating off the tongue is still the best way for a dog to lose its body heat. When the water evaporates off the moist surface of the tongue, it also takes heat with it into the air.
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