Zzzz's and socializing...

So since i just got my first staffy i was curious is it normal for them to sleep alot? Besides his walks (2x a day) and him following me around the house the rest of the time he is nappin. Just curious if that is normal? He is also extremely quiet! NEVER barks or growls. He did give a hi pitch wine (seemed like it was because he was excited) when he got near another dog on his walk today...since i just got him and i dont know his past i didn't want to let him go over to the dog...he seemed way too excited. I wanted to set up a controlled socialization enviornement for him (introduce him to a friends dog first) before i let him go up to other dogs. He was prefectly fine around people and kids though. Could the wine mean he may have some socializing issues? Thanks in advance for any replies!

If you are not sure about his background/history take care when introducing him to new dogs. Keep them on the lead and let him meet them one dog at a time, try to get him to sit if possible, if not use the Watch Me command so he concentrates on you, this may need some treats to work every time.

Thanks! yes i kept him on a short leash when i say him getting over excited and starting to tug against me to run toward the other dog. I will have to give him some training...poor guy...i hate that he wasnt properly taught to socialize when he was younger. My husband and i will work our best with him!

mrs hopkins wrote:poor guy...i hate that he wasnt properly taught to socialize when he was younger. My husband and i will work our best with him!

You are definitely not alone there, Rocky was 9 months old when we adopted him, had no socialising at all. It makes it harder work when they are older but by no means impossible, just takes a little longer. You will get there.

They are all different in energy levels.  I had a brother and sister years
ago,  the dog used to run around all day long, almost until he 'conked
out' with tiredness and I had to pick him up and bring him in.  The bitch
preferred to snooze on the sofa or in the conservatory taking the rays   

I would say that what you refer to as a whine is just sheer excitement, staffies can be quite vocal  
But you are quite right to take socialising slowly. Good Luck

Thanks Kathy and Lizzie!

I can only speak from experience of the one staffx that I have, and have ever had. But Douglas also sleeps a lot, preferably in a sunny spot, until he overheats and then slinks back on the couch to continue. He is now 3 years old. He hardly barks at all, but when he does it's very low and throaty sounding. I rescued him when he was about 18 months, after he'd been in the rescue for a very long time, poor fella. I have to be very careful with other dogs as he likes a lunge and has to be stopped. This means he only goes off lead in controlled circumstances. He loves all people and is the most affectionate dog you could ever meet. When he's not sleeping, he's full of beans, loves to chase after a ball (when suitable to let him off) and likes plenty of exercise. He's smart - learns new tricks easily. His latest is to roll over on his back waggling legs in the air when I say 'bang'.  However, I believe his reaction to other dogs is in some primal, lizard part of his brain and may not so easily be trained out of him - not to count on it. That's what Douglas is like. Hope that gives some idea.

thanks! that's very helpful!

Hiya! Biscuit is also a lazy little miss, I run her for about 2 hours a day, and she does some obedience work and follows me around whilst doing housework. If it's sunny she snoozes out in the garden whilst sunbathing, but she spends a lot of her time snuggled up on the sofa. Biscuit only barks if she's concerned about something to alert me, or at other dogs (she can be fear aggressive)

I'd keep going with the training around other dogs, not all dogs like other dogs so I would certainly never let him run up to other dogs anyway. Just encourage calmness in greetings, and the watch me command is a great one.

Daisy is quite lazy and sleeps a lot! When I first got her she never barked but gradually that changed I guess as she felt more settled x

Alfie rarely barks, odd cat in the garden and Bees!! Lol Only heard him do this about 5 separate times in 6 mths. Its great to have a quiet dog though   He also sleeps quite a lot

The sleeping alot is very normal. If you can do some socializing every day. If you can find an older well socialized dog to walk with that would be ideal

My Flo sleeps a lot.. I like to think that she's like a coiled spring and ready to leap up but not so sure anymore   

She will only bark for her rope toy or stick. She will whine in her sleep along with the occasional low growl and soft woof which always makes me laugh.

Flo is fine with dogs she has socialised with but does get grumpy with dogs that pester her. I also watch her body language when in this situation and pull her away before she has a chance to tell the other dog off so as not to let any confrontation occur. I have to add that this only ever happens when the other dog is loose and not being controlled by an owner way off in the distance