Angel Rock Staffordshire Bull Terriers

Angel Rock Staffords

Normal

Stages of Puppyhood

by Cheryl Ellicott

From Birth to Seven Weeks

Puppies are born approximately 60-63 days after conception. After birth they spend the first 7 weeks with their mother and littermates. This is an important time!

This period teaches proper social behavior with other dogs: Interactions with mother and siblings teach correct submissive or attention-seeking/receiving body language and overall confidence around other dogs. Orphan puppies and single-litter pups miss out on these important lessons. Some lessons can be learned later, but puppies do best when provided the foundational period as nature intended. Sometime during this time, the litter may begin playing and fighting too roughly with each other. At this point the positive elements of being with siblings are finished and it's time to move them out and on to their new lives.

7-8 Weeks

Studies say this is the very best age to begin forming strong bonds with people. Puppies are mentally mature enough to adjust to changes, and to begin their training in basic manners. From now on, he should be socialized with humans (much more than with dogs!!) so that he will learn to be a good family dog.

8-10 Weeks

Give your puppy as many positive experiences now as possible. (With happy people, friendly animals, and new/fun situations.) Object-associations created at this age cause permanent imprints. Any unpleasant things that must happen now (i.e. puppy shots) can become positive through your attitude. Cheer your puppy up by laughing, praising him, and acting like it's a game. Don't soothe, coddle, apologize or act like you feel sorry for him! Don't appear worried or upset.

8-16 Weeks

Begin positive training experiences. Join puppy kindergarten classes or buy a book on marker or clicker training - or simply one on positive training! Positive is a MUST!

Be sure that all training times are fun and happy. Spend a LOT of time loving on your puppy so that he will bond with you and want to please you. Puppies don't usually have a burning desire to please a stranger - so don't be one! Hugs, cuddles, petting and praise will endear you to his heart. (But don't be a pushover - kindly redirect him and say no if he's chewing on you or other inappropriate things.) Don't expect your puppy to have good toilet habits yet. Keep puppy in a safe, secure area when not supervised (such as a puppy "play-yard") to avoid forming bad habits. Put puppy outside to go potty immediately upon removing him from his play-yard - before playing with him.

Punishing, threatening or forcing a SBT does not work! He will be confused and worried. He'll "shut down". Your intelligent puppy will suddenly seem like an idiot. Do not use punishment based training methods. Use only positive!

SBT puppies raised in a stressful home can develop behavior problems. They feel the turmoil and negative emotions and don't know how to "fix" it; they think they're responsible. If your family is having trouble, work out your problems away from puppy's hearing, just as you should with any baby.

Put your puppy on a leash and take him into the world! Expose him to many different situations and people - but avoid putting him in danger. Do not leave him unattended with children for HIS sake - children cannot be expected to properly train puppies. Supervise his visits with children so that they don't accidentally hurt him or teach him inappropriate behavior.

4-6 Months

Your puppy will become even more curious. He'll want to explore the world and get into more things. Training classes are great for this time, or continue training with a positive method from a book. Start including some distractions during training. Continue to take the puppy places as often as you can. Keep your bond/relationship strong even though he may test you or become somewhat irritating at this time. He may or may not be potty-trained yet. Don't worry if he's not. He's not yet mature enough to have free-run of the house - he may form bad habits if he does. Your puppy will probably still want to chew on everyone he meets - kindly redirect him and say no. You may gently hold his muzzle closed when you say no, but don't hurt him.

Some will recommend having puppy spayed or neutered now, but puppy needs his hormones to develop properly. He will not be mature until 2.5 to 3 years. Leave him in his natural state until then before altering.

6-12 Months

This is probably the most common age for puppies to be given up or given away. They're harder to handle during this stage than ever. Also, your puppy isn't a cute little thing anymore - and yet he hasn't "filled out" so he doesn't have the powerful beauty of a mature Stafford. Be patient! He needs your love now more than ever. Your good, sweet dog will return to you once he's passed through this (sometimes obnoxious) stage.

Your puppy will demand more activity and companionship at this age - and will become bored more easily. If not spayed or neutered, he is now sexually mature and may show behaviors due to this. On the outside he looks like a grown dog, but in his mind he's far from mature! (Think: TEENAGER)

Keep teaching him, but expect some difficulties. Keep him secure and supervised: Leashed when away from home, or in an escape-proof play area at home. Give him opportunities to play hard and wear himself out. Give him safe toys to destroy and plenty of affection. If you didn't allow him to have many toileting accidents in the house, he should be doing pretty well with his potty-training by now. But he's still not mature enough to run free in the home unsupervised - - he will get into mischief if he does. Safe play-yard or crate confinement will not hurt him , but "always being in trouble" will!!!

Continue positive methods of training. However, if you have an extremely intelligent, strong-willed puppy (who obviously understands, but constantly laughs in your face when you give commands) you may need to be a bit more dominant than with other types.

12-24 Months

Your Staffordshire Bull Terrier will begin to mentally mature and physically blossom sometime during this stage. By age 2 or 2.5 his muscles will fill out and he will become more in tune with your words and wishes.

At this time you'll probably see his relationships with other dogs change. It's been said that most Staffords are "alpha" -- it may be true to some extent. Your dog may lose the willingness or ability to "submit" or back-down when challenged by another dog. If this is so, then keep him out of trouble by avoiding dogs who will challenge him.

From now on, always maintain yourself as the leader of the pack in your home. Do not be cruel or punishing, but never be a pushover. Continue your positive methods of training. If your Stafford appears stubborn, wait him out. Never allow him to ignore your commands. If he doesn't respond, work on that same command over and over again until he knows you are more persistent than he. Praise him when he makes the right choice.

If you haven't yet gotten him involved in athletic activities, look into Fly-ball, Obedience, Agility and other fun sporting events. Your Stafford will be healthiest if he gets regular exercise, and he loves to play!

Enjoy!

Oasis staffordshire bull terrier rescue and rehoming assistance in spokane Washington Breeder of quality Staffordshire Bull Terriers Bred selectively for soundness of body, mind and soul. Staffordshire Bull Terrier breeder with emphasis on stable temperaments, affection and athletic health. Staffords for home and hearth. Breeding quality English StaffyBull puppies conforming to grand champion ancestors type with special attention to breed preservation. Striving to produce a dog superior in agility and athletic ability who is a loyal, loving pet. Staffordshire bull terrier is the nanny dog, hearth terrier children child’s pet and ultimate family pet. Puppies available only occasionally and only by prior reservation to approved homes only - maintaining the sound stable strong muscular agile athletic affectionate gentle loving loyal protector who is intelligent beautiful and of solid build. The English StaffyBull, or sometime knowns as staffy or staffies are the ultimate nanny dog of the UK.

Angel Rock - Classic British Staffords

STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIERS

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