Just a few questions!

Just a few questions I've been meaning to ask you all ...

Do staffies need rain/winter coats?
With only having a single coat I've read that they suffer with the cold (and heat) and need an extra layer.

Staffies don't like water?
Chase is happy to roll around in the village Ford and wet grass. Have yet to take him to the beach (five minutes away)!

Staffies are ALWAYS hyper?
I've read some Staffies can be couch potatoes but others are just manic!

What toys do Staffies favour?
Tug ropes, balls, treat balls, stuffed toys, chewy bones?

How often do you brush your staffy?

How often do you bath your staffy?

I have a lot more questions but can't think right now. Hope you can all answer them for me.

Coats - yes, both of mine have them for when it gets really cold. I don't use a lightweight rain one when it's not cold, just a snuggly warm one for the winter. We have these:

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_clothing/winter_coats/248452?rrec=true

Staffies aren't natural water dogs but you can teach them, starting very slowly just to paddle, then to swim. I do like all my dogs to be able to swim as we live near the coast and it's a safety thing as well as fun. Both Millie and Chaos now adore chasing balls into the sea but to start off with wouldn't even walk in a puddle.

Staffies are generally high energy dogs. However, they do calm down, usually in their 2s or so. They still love to play but it's much more intermittent, not the manic full on non-stop zoomies of their youth. Something to look forward to!

Toys are a matter of preference, I think. Boomer balls are a favourite with many but they tend to be obsessive. Rope tugs are good but you do need to teach 'leave it' if you're playing tug. Millie's favourite is her Chuckit with whistler ball, which she will then carry around for hours, even going to sleep with it in her mouth.

Treat balls are good, just get something robust! They can be good as a special treat, to keep a dog occupied at specific times, rather than something to have all the time. These are good

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001JQLNB4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't like stuffed toys for dogs, they can shred them and swallow the stuffing.

I never brush the staffs. Nola gets brushed as she has a thick double coat but the littles never get brushed.

I also never bathe them unless they roll in something, which is mercifully rare. Dogs need the natural oils in their coats and over-bathing can cause skin problems, even with the best products in the world. As many dogs don't like being bathed, it's probably a stress you could do without!

What I would do care-wise, though, is start to handle Chase's paws just briefly at the moment while you're cuddling. He may well need nails clipped at some point in the future and preparing him now by just being used to having his paws stroked, then later held, can be very helpful.

Next?

My Experience is broadly the same as that of Liz above.

My Flo does have a coat but mainly in an effort to get her to walk in the rain, rain adversion is a typical Staffy trait.

Swimming per se isn't high on my girls list of activities as she will walk around puddles but has been swimming in the past.

Zoomies are again a Staffy trait, they do love their mad moments but yes they do calm down and eventually will own the sofa

Rope toys are Flo's fave toy followed by the treat ball  and an antler bar... Tennis balls last seconds

We don't groom as such but will brush mud off, I find my fingers do the groom whilst having heat stolen from me in the evening on the sofa

Bathing is only done when covered in mud, fortunately Flo doesn't roll in unsavoury things, she too much a princess. Avoid regular baths as the fur will be stripped of natural oils and they really don't need it.

Thank you for your answers, very helpful!

Onto more questions ...

Crate/ size?
Online they recommended a medium 30 inch cage which is perfect for the car but seems a little small for him. He's a 20 kilo boy and could still grow a little bit yet so we're thinking of getting him an extra large 46 inch cage so he can stretch properly and use the medium one for the car only.

How much do you feed your staffy?
Chase has a mug sized helping of dry food (dr.John silver) twice a day. Once at breakfast and once after we've eaten in the evening.

How much walking is too much walking?
Probably the stupidest question ever!

There will be more questions lol.

I think you've got the crate idea spot on. In the car it's generally short journeys so not such a problem as long as he can stand and lay down ok with room to move. The home crate should be as big as is practical but as a minimum big enough to stand easily with plenty of head room and also lay and stretch out.

Feeding is more trial and error to find the right balance. Start with the package recommended feed and then adjust to suit. It's more about how he looks and feels to be honest, you should be able to feel the ribs though not see them and have a defined waist.

At 2 he should be able to do more or less whatever you can but remember to take fresh water if going on a long walk 1hr+ and maybe snacks. As a rough guide 2x45 walks a day minimum at that age but will happily do more. If he hasn't had that sort of exercise before remember to build it up gradually so as not to cause muscle strain or pad soreness.

The only daft question is the one you didn't ask so ask away

Also, remember that off lead walks use more energy than on lead.

Crate/ size?
Online they recommended a medium 30 inch cage which is perfect for the car but seems a little small for him. He's a 20 kilo boy and could still grow a little bit yet so we're thinking of getting him an extra large 46 inch cage so he can stretch properly and use the medium one for the car only.

i know a lot of people don't like crates,  but used properly i think tgey're very useful. I think you're right - the smaller one for tge car (as long as he can lie down, stand & turn around) and a larger one for the home.

How much do you feed your staffy?
Chase has a mug sized helping of dry food (dr.John silver) twice a day. Once at breakfast and once after we've eaten in the evening.

different brands need different amounts,  so go by the way he looks. If he's a little overweight then cut back & if he's a little thin then increase.

How much walking is too much walking?
Probably the stupidest question ever!


No! Not a stupid question at all! It depends how 'fit' you want him.  In general i'd say that a stafford should probably get 3 walks a day with about an hour walking & some free play/ball chasing/training over those 3 walks. More if you want, but be prepared - the more you give him the more he'll probably want! Just don't make the mistake of too little exercise, as staffords can become lazy & destructive!

Nifty doesn't like rain but have yet to experience puddles or the sea.
In terms of toys, she prefers stuffed toys (makes them squeak and drags them around but as yet, no destruction) and ropes but is not very ball orientated.
I have a very soft bristle brush for her but she sees this as a new toy so no regular brushing, just lots of stroking.
I do, however, clean her eyes and ears with appropriate solutions once a week. Vet was very happy with her general health.

Crate size - what is your crate for ? I've been advised that a smaller crate is better for car travel, as long as they can lie down it is ok. As for house crate, the bigger the better.
I have a travel case as her "house basket" - Ferplast Atlas 60 IATA (91x61x66.5 cms) which is lovely but pricey and she certainly has room to grow into ! However hers is within her play pen so never closed.
Breeder I purchased her from uses this size crate as sleeping quarters for all of her full grown staffies. I think this size is recommended for a german shepherd dog but as breeder said, they have room to roll over if they like. Car case is a trixie gulliver, much cheaper but very nice too.

The reason I don't like crates is that they are over-used/abused, with people using them instead of training, somewhere to keep a dog locked in so they don't have to worry about it, etc. I have survived for years without needing to resort to a crate.

However, in some circumstances, such as Chase's, they can be excllent for fitting a specific purpose. Just remember to train him to love it before you ever close the door, never use it as a punishment, and only have him in it with the door closed for the shorted periods possible. There's an info sheet on crate training if you want the link.

Chase goes in the crate when I need to do things with the children so he doesn't knock them flying, when we all leave the house and at night when we're sleeping.
He's already learnt the command "in you go" and takes his bone in there quite happily.
He's never been put in it cos he's naughty but I do put him in there occasionally if he just won't calm down (he doesn't know how yet) and runs round the hallway like a possessed ninja!
It's certainly not there to keep him locked away, I'm trying my best to get him able to join in with the whole family and be a house dog. I'm going to eventually not need the crate or have to shut the door at all!

That's the way to use it!

we call our Nancy the toy destroyer, she loves ropes balls and anything she can tug with, she has destroyed those so called "indestructible" toys within minutes sometimes, but always has great fun doing it, we just have to be quick to take any damaged pieces away from her to keep her safe.
Buddy on the other hand has never been interested in toys he would rather chew my scatter cushions ... thankfully he grew out of that a long time ago and now he has the company of Nancy she does like to involve him in her play which is quite often amusing to watch!
Our young Giddy kipper keeps the old fellow young and mobile thats for sure!