There's a Staffi in the house!!!

Hello,

You might remember I posted a couple of wks ago about possibly adopting a staffi girl. Welllllll we went ahead & it's now day 12!!!! .

I have to say blimey it was harder work than I expected (you might remember I have NEVER owned a dog before, even as a child) but.... SHE'S LOVELY!!!! & I have a staffi foot warmer as I type. I really did think "oh my goodness" for the first few days but am SOOOooo thankful we got such a lovely dog (which I can completely not take any credit for) and I'm Sooooo fond of her already. Things are also going well with my daughter.

I've had a couple of negative reactions that we have a staffi but overall I think our lovely girl might win a few of them over

Couple of points for help pls
1.) can anyone recommend a FLEECE (she has the worlds most soft skin on her tummy) harness please - I have looked at a dazzling number and haven't a clue, we are borrowing one at the mo but it's not ideal and needs to go back this wk.
2.) she's becoming more interested in other dogs as she's settled in and become a bit more confident I think (?) she pulls like mad to get to them, stands tall, whines a bit then comes away. She doesn't growl or do anything aggressive it's just that she's MEGA persistent to get to them and some owners don't like it + she's pulling too much to get to them. Any tips please ? I've been letting her go up and say hello, sniff when they were near but now she's trying to get to them further afield - should I have not let her (ie encouraging her) or is this fairly normal ??? I've never owned a dog before so would appreciate your experience.

Thank you in advance

Congrats on your adoption - I do remember the thread.
No advice on number one, but for number two, I would be introducing the watch command, taught initially in the home/garden, then using it as an "attention breaker" when necessary out and about.
Takes a while for it to become second nature but so handy at times.
Other commands may suffice - sit/stay for instance - but watch gets the dog to break off from what it's interested in and focus on you.

Huge congratulations on your new addition

I can't help with a harness, but with other dogs, it will just take consistent training, start with recall and the basics and build from there Xxxx

Hello,

Could you do a quick (but idiots guide) to the watch command pls ?

Congrats on the adoption sorry about the harnesss can't help there, lot of persisitence with the other dogs and some distraction tactics . How old is she ??

Oresteia wrote:Hello,

Could you do a quick (but idiots guide) to the watch command pls ?

Caryll sums it up quickly here: https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t24055-barking

She's 6 (ISH) they didn't have an accurate history so guessed at 6 - I suspect maybe a little older with "6" possibly giving her more chance of adoption.

I'm taking her to the vets on Wed for the first time (I have never been in a vets!) to get her vaccinated, a check up and some worming / flee treatment & I wouldn't be too surprised if the vet felt she was a little older but it wouldn't matter to me now :-)

Great thanks - will start doing "watch" from tomorrow - I'm SOOOO excited about her, I almost feel a bit emotional I know that must sound a bit daft but she's a really lovely natured girl & it's so nice to be able to share it on a stafford friendly forum.

Doesn't sound daft at all - sounds completely normal.

I remember the thread as well! So glad you took the plunge!

Oresteia wrote: I'm SOOOO excited about her, I almost feel a bit emotional I know that must sound a bit daft but she's a really lovely natured girl & it's so nice to be able to share it on a stafford friendly forum.

Absolutely nothing daft about being emotional over a dog. Those of us who've had dogs for many years still get totally wrapped up in our furry friends, so you're not alone!

Oresteia wrote:She's 6 (ISH) they didn't have an accurate history so guessed at 6 - I suspect maybe a little older with "6" possibly giving her more chance of adoption.

I'm taking her to the vets on Wed for the first time (I have never been in a vets!) to get her vaccinated, a check up and some worming / flee treatment & I wouldn't be too surprised if the vet felt she was a little older but it wouldn't matter to me now :-)

Convince the vet to agree to her being 6ish this will give you a little longer with the insurance before they start to impose penalties etc >

Fantastic on the new addition, good on you.
There are loads of good harneses but fav two are julius k9 and halti head harness.
I use the julius k9 for play and pull walks on a flexi and the halti head for controlled on a normal lead. Laska my youngest is using a sporn anti pull which i got for marley...doesnt work on her either. Think kathy also has the julius so will be best placed to comment on how it fits a pure staff as my hounds are odd but the big thick chest strap is perfect for marley as his old one started to rub. But like i said there are loads of good ones and im sure the good folk on here will have plenty of alternatives.
And as for emotional, when im driving home from work and see other people out with there dogs i cant wait to get home even more!
Dogs are super special and i love my pair like mad so your def not alon

The watch command works great for pulling. You can also turn around and walk the opposite direction or have her sit and be calm before going ahead.

Re the WATCH command.

I take delivery of my first staffy on Monday coming, although I have had dogs in the past ( GSD x2 and 1 Dobe) and was an assistant trainer many years ago.

Training methods would appear to have changed over the years however.

The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson was recommended to me by a member of this forum and it is very interesting.

It is quite a daunting read but seems to make a lot of sense. I've read it cover to cover and have started reading it for the second time and it is much easier this time around.

Can't vouch for the efficacy of the methods yet but will be giving it a try when my wee boy comes home on Monday.

Good Luck.

Congrats on your new addition, lots of patience need for the first few weeks at least.

good luck with it all. Please dont be afraid to ask any questions, someone here will know the answers.