what makes a Responsible Owners?

Responsible ownership starts from the time your Staffordshire Bull Terrier comes to live with you. Irresponsible owner's are one of the major causes for all the problems the breed faces today. It's our hope here at Staffordshire Bull Terrier Website we can spread the word and educate more owners to take responsibility for their dogs actions.

11 easy to remember tips for responsible Staffordshire bull terrier owners:

1. Buy from a reputable breeder
   
   Anyone can put two dogs together and can call themselves a breeder but that doesn’t make them reputable or responsible.
   
   Buying a dog is an important and long term commitment so you want to choose a breeder that has the best interests of the dog, their breed and you in mind. Reputable breeders usually don't advertise in the local classified newspaper ads, glitzy dog magazines, or on a poster taped to a wall in the local shop - the places that the average person might look. Most importantly they will not sell to pet stores.
   While some may say it's because the breeders are being elitist, the real reason is quite simple. These venues encourage impulse buying.
   
   Impulse buying all too often leads to disappointment when the dog turns out to be just a “dog”, with a dog's needs, and a dog's means of communication.
   
   Shelters and rescue programs are full of dogs that were bought on impulse. Such a fate is not what a responsible breeder wants for the dogs he or she has helped bring into this world.
   
   
2. Exercise your dog everyday.
   
   Staffordshire Bull Terrier have high energy levels they want to play and run forever the more exercise they get the calmer and better behaved they will be. If you can manage it two/three walks per day for 45mins plus each time .
   
   
3. Unwanted Matings
   
   Keeping your female safe from male advances is an IMPORTANT job for responsible owners it only take minutes for them to get locked.
   
   
4. Vet bills
   
   Vets fees nowadays are very expensive, with operations costing £1000s and unless you have an amount of money put aside, then maybe you should think about taking out pet insurance.
   
   
5. Wormed Regularly
   
   Make sure your dog is properly wormed regularly, not only to prevent illness in the dog but to avoid the dangers to young children through toxocara infestation.
   
   
6. Dog proofing house and garden
   
   A curious dog can get into every kind of danger a baby or toddler can and even more sometimes. A dog's sensitive nose can sniff out intriguing and potentially dangerous off-limits items in hiding places that a two-year-old child would never find.
   
   It can be frustrating to have your dog get out of a fenced garden. Whether your dog is a digger or a jumper, keep your garden fence dog-proof and keep your dog safely inside your garden.
   
   
7. Train your dog
   
   It is important to start training your new puppy as soon as you bring it home. Training can be done yourself or a professional can be hired. Local dog training classes are often available. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a trainer or look in your local newspaper for a trainer in your area.
   
   
8. Supervise your dog with small children.
   
   This is a must. Small children are often hurt by dogs not out of anger, but because dogs can scratch them, step on them, and otherwise injure them.
   
   
9. Always have your dog on a leash in public.
   
   Always have your dog on the lead in public places, they can be nervous and excitable when there are lots of people it is bettter to be safe than sorry.
   
   
10. Socialize your dog.
    
    Take your dog to as many places as you can, meet new people and while they are young meet as many other dogs as possible. Socializing your Staffies will help curb any future problems that might occur.
    
    
11. learning your dog body language
    
    It's important to understand what dogs are saying with their bodies, not only to know your own dog but to better predict what other dogs are doing.
    
    To really read dog body language takes experience. I encourage you to watch your own dog(s) and others. Go to the dog park and watch dogs interacting. Watch different body parts (ears, tails, eyes, lips, hair, overall posture) separately for a while. See if you can predict which body stances lead to which activities or outcomes. read more....

In order for things to change, we must change the way we look at our own actions and how they affect the world around us. Until we do that, things will simply stay the way they are right now.

Perhaps we should talk about energy draining activities of which walks are a large part. Putting a specifc duration on the walk may not be ideal as it is more about getting rid of excess energy so the intensity of the activity is important. (Say a 20 minute run or 25 minute walk with a back pack)

people can make up their own training routine this is a list of things responsible owners should have considered.

Enough money saved for vet bills, or a good imnsurance policy in place.

Dog proofing the house/garden?

I can certainly vouch for greater exercise happier dog topic. My hubby and me have recently been taking Rocky for an extra walk most days and have seen a noticeable change in him. Before we were taking him for 2 40 min walks per day, we have now put an extra one in about every other day and he is much calmer now and plays with other dogs better too.

As for being a responsible owner, having your dog on a lead in a public place and it wearing a collar with your contact details on.

bump can anybody think of anything that can be added to our list or change?

Proper nutritian to be provided by responsible owners

that a good one but there some very good owner who cant afford prefect food for their dogs i will think about that one

cleaning up after your dog when out walking (allways check you have poop bags on you all the time )
i havent got a coat without a pocket full all the time lol

yes it a very good one i'm want more important ones to keep our staffy safe

what about watching fdor picking up disgarded food and chewing gum

@ Steve

What I meant with proper nutrition wasn't about feeding the best or most expensive food on the market, just that people should be aware of what is good and bad for dogs, like maybe a dangerous food list. Some people feed their dogs anything, not because of financial issues, but because they are ignorant (sorry, for a lack of a better word - its monday and my brain is fried )

Steve wrote:yes it a very good one i'm want more important ones to keep our staffy safe

To be quite honest I find this important,Although not keeping the dog safe but kids safe in the park and streets!
We have all heard about toxicara.

perhaps you could consider training as part of being a responsible owner? if your dog doesn't have good manners, it can lead to all sorts of problems x

DOH! just seen training at the top. sorry

Make sure your dog is properly wormed regularly, not only to prevent illness in the dog but to avoid the dangers to young children through toxocara infestation.

Caryll wrote:Make sure your dog is properly wormed regularly, not only to prevent illness in the dog but to avoid the dangers to young children through toxocara infestation.

And protected against fleas and ticks Annual vaccinations? Don't think this was mentioned... hmmm...

Melwilk47 wrote:And protected against fleas and ticks Annual vaccinations? Don't think this was mentioned... hmmm...

Neither of these are as important as worming regularly; fleas & ticks are easy enough to get rid of if you see them, and the vaccinations only have to be done every 3 years after the first annual booster.

I find, if you are lacking in time for a walk, I do this, Pixee is always on a 3 day walk, but should I find I am short for time, I take her up the fields, with a frisbee for 15 mins, and shes a happy girl.

To always warn strangers not to touch if they are awary of strangers as in my case Pixee is.

Caryll wrote:Make sure your dog is properly wormed regularly, not only to prevent illness in the dog but to avoid the dangers to young children through toxocara infestation.

ties in with my surgestion about cleaning up after your dog to safegaurd against toxocara

A responsible owner should be able too understand their dogs mental well being as well as their physical care, alot of staffords have anxiety or stress issues that can mainifest itself in alot of behavioural problems, we need too be able too cope with these, as alot of dogs that have been deemed aggressive aren,t at all they have stress issues and could have been saved if a responsible owner had dealt with it.

crystel wrote:A responsible owner should be able too understand their dogs mental well being as well as their physical care, alot of staffords have anxiety or stress issues that can mainifest itself in alot of behavioural problems, we need too be able too cope with these, as alot of dogs that have been deemed aggressive aren,t at all they have stress issues and could have been saved if a responsible owner had dealt with it.