Newb 1st of many questions :)

HI every1,i did try and post this up once already so apologies if its duplicate
Weve just become proud owners of our 1st lil saff pup.
His name is Olly and hell be 9wks old on friday
we r amazed at the amount of energy this lil boy has ,think its to do with the new suroundings etc.
He has been with us for 4 days now and is begining to calm down a tadd,ie sleeping more like i remember my past pups doing.
so thats the 1st question really is it normal?
I have researched ie books friends and google and am aware that the adults are 100% at what ever there into,just a bit concerned that this lilen should be kipping a bit more for his health?

Second question were thinking of crate training,never done it with any other of our dogs but can see the benifits,could some one please advise us to what size you good folks use for your staffs.
Thanks in advance

Podd

Forgot to say this is our 1st time wit staffs so its all new.

Your pup sounds absolutely normal, I'm afraid! The first few days after bringing them home they're often a bit hyper but he should start to settle down to a routine very soon.

As a matter of interest, what do you feed him? It could be that a change of food might help.

As to crate training, this might be helpful to you.....
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t17-information-how-to-crate-train-your-dog

If you buy one on line most of the sites will give you guidelines as to the size you'll need, just get the biggest within that range that you can afford. It'll be way too big at the moment, but it'll save you getting another one later on. If your pup looks lost in it you can always put a smaller 'bed' in there to make him feel more cosy.

to be honest i have never used crates i prefere to bring my pups, up outside were they should be,dogs live happer lives outside and never get under youre feet,but i guess i lot of people will think thats cruel.

Hi, he sounds wonderful and yes the sleeping is normal and then so are the hyper run abouts.
We have a medium sized crate which we bought off e-bay alot cheaper than in the pet shops but still sturdy and very good quality.
We had never crate trained our previous dogs but decided to this time with having a toddler in the house. Bodhi loves it sleeps and chills out in there and escapes my little boy and sometimes is put in there so my little boy can escape him too It's not cruel it replicates where they would try and sleep in the wild and makes them feel safe and secure, we also throw a blanket over ours too and he loves this goes to sleep in no time and also calms him if he's getting .....shall we say a little excited..lol. .
Good luck.

jason k wrote:to be honest i have never used crates i prefere to bring my pups, up outside were they should be,dogs live happer lives outside and never get under youre feet,but i guess i lot of people will think thats cruel.

I don't think it's cruel, but neither do I think that my dogs get under my feet!

Everyone has different opinions, I just prefer my dogs to live in the house with me - I don't think they are healthier or happier either way as long as they are looked after properly.

Thanks caryll,he is begining to get some better kipp now.
The food he is on at the moment is wagg,(which if im honest i dont really like the look of.)which we are in the process of weaning him over onto wainwrights.
He's being fed 3 times a day at the moment 7a.m 2pm and 7pm,45-50grms a serving watered down at about 25% water to food.Plus the tasty reward morsels when he's a good boy in his early training stages.
He seems ok on this routine at the mo and has put on a few pound since hes been here,which is good cos the amount of tearing about hes done ,and leaving his ma,pa and brothers & sisters we were expecting him to have dropped a bit.
He seems to love his food and eats it all in 1 sitting no messing about :)he looks as if its enough at the mo just a lil layer of podge cant see ribs but can feel etc
were of to the vets today to get aquainted and booked up for his jabs.
And hes got a lil chocy playmate comming in 2 wks partener is getting a labrador retriever....so theres lots of fun ahead
ive been looking at crates and were prob gona go for the size suited for medium sized dogs.
They r both gona be crate trained this time, not done it with any of our other dogs.
After seeing friends dogs and how they like the space of there own i have come round to the idea.
once Olly's a bit more savy im planning on taking him to work with me,as my other dogs have loved spending the time with me alday.
He's already very interested in gardening/horticulture which is what i do to ern a crust.

podd

Wow, you're a glutton for punishment!! A lab as well! Good luck with that, I have enough trouble with one!

Getting a crate was the best thing I ever did - never had one with any of my previous dogs - and Dempsey treats it like his den. I cover his with an old curtain on 3 sides so he feel all nice & snug & secure, helps stop any draughts too.

Dempsey comes to work with me. He's a good boy most of the time, but he did embarrass me a few weeks ago by barking at the copier repair man & trying to bite his trousers!

barking at the copier repair man & trying to bite his trousers,lol

jason k wrote:to be honest i have never used crates i prefere to bring my pups, up outside were they should be,dogs live happer lives outside and never get under youre feet,but i guess i lot of people will think thats cruel.

Always kept mine inside the house dont think its cruel its whatever there used to,each to there own

we all know how boisterous the staffordshire bull is when we have visters in the house, that is the main reason i prefere to keep mine outside a lot of people are scared of staffordshire bull,s.every one to there own,

jason k wrote:we all know how boisterous the staffordshire bull is when we have visters in the house, that is the main reason i prefere to keep mine outside a lot of people are scared of staffordshire bull,s.every one to there own,

?? train him lol x

oh and also staffies as a breed are not at all suited to outdoor living. Unlike most other breeds who have an undercoat & a top coat, staffies only have a very short topcoat. They're also very low on body fat. Both of these things mean that cannot tolerate extremes of temperature (either cold or heat). It also goes right against the breed's DNA, they were bred to live cheek by jowl with the family, literally sleeping with the family. Being "shut out" of the family goings on would be quite distressing for a stafford. Keeping staffies outdoors really should be a no-no IMO. x

well i guess thats me told off,lol

haha no like u said its each to thier own i just thought id share the facts x

jason k wrote:we all know how boisterous the staffordshire bull is when we have visters in the house, that is the main reason i prefere to keep mine outside a lot of people are scared of staffordshire bull,s.every one to there own,

Keep mine in the home with me and the family if visiters are scared of my dogs then they need not visit cause its my home and they will have to respect that.
Im not saying its cruel to keep your dogs outside just if you dont spend most of the time out there with them what is the point in having them.
Sorry im a noisy sod and dont mean to offend but do you feel the stafford coat can climatise to the extreme weather conditions you know fit for function.

blaze wrote:oh and also staffies as a breed are not at all suited to outdoor living. Unlike most other breeds who have an undercoat & a top coat, staffies only have a very short topcoat. They're also very low on body fat. Both of these things mean that cannot tolerate extremes of temperature (either cold or heat). It also goes right against the breed's DNA, they were bred to live cheek by jowl with the family, literally sleeping with the family. Being "shut out" of the family goings on would be quite distressing for a stafford. Keeping staffies outdoors really should be a no-no IMO. x

Agree took the words out my mouth

jason k wrote:we all know how boisterous the staffordshire bull is when we have visters in the house, that is the main reason i prefere to keep mine outside a lot of people are scared of staffordshire bull,s.every one to there own,

All it takes is a little training to stop that. I'm not criticizing, just don't see that as a reason. When anyone comes to our house my dog is told to sit and wait. Once everyone's settled he's allowed to say hello clamly. If he gets a bit over the top, then he goes to his crate.

All I know when im nice and warm in my house in winter time in front of a warm fire and my dogs are beside me they look pretty darn happy!!!!!
I couldnt rest knowing they were outside in the cold not my way im afraid

Reading this has made me think again about getting a crate. As when people come to mine they always stand as Lola goes beserk, but then does calm down after a while. But then what you said Caryll made a lot of sense. As I don't ever tell her to go any where when she gets a bit bousterious or however you spell it, and like you said it's there own den. And Lola doesn't even have her own bed any more as she is either on the settee or my bed.

And aswell after today's little episode makes me think aswell I should get a crate and maybe just leave it open and shut all the doors.

Caryll wrote:

jason k wrote:we all know how boisterous the staffordshire bull is when we have visters in the house, that is the main reason i prefere to keep mine outside a lot of people are scared of staffordshire bull,s.every one to there own,

All it takes is a little training to stop that. I'm not criticizing, just don't see that as a reason. When anyone comes to our house my dog is told to sit and wait. Once everyone's settled he's allowed to say hello clamly. If he gets a bit over the top, then he goes to his crate.

Thats the way weve always done it before minus the crate,and im now convinced that the crate if used responsably is good for the dog. I do recall when researching the breed it does state not suitable for extreme weather conditions.
Just got back from vets Olly's had his 1st set of jabs.
earlier than i remember having the last lot done.we had to wait until they were 12 wks old.
Its a result cos that means we'l be able to get out and socialise sooner than expected

Yay but you never get very far with a puppy everyone will want a cuddle

gem wrote:Yay but you never get very far with a puppy everyone will want a cuddle

So we found out yesterday when looking at crates in petsmart lots of oohs & ahhs,still all good the more he meets the merrier.
he really likes the ladies,he goes all silly and his tail goes 10 to the dozen