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Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of frequently asked questions about all things Staffordshire Bull Terrier related.

If you have a question not already in the list, please complete the form below. Remember to specify if you would prefer us not to publish your question, in which case we will email a response to you privately. We will do our best to answer your question as quickly as possible, but some questions may require research so please be patient.

Q	At what age should I teach my puppy elementry training?
A	Your puppy is like a child, obedience is never achieved without firm and tolerent handling. To make it house clean, from the moment it wakes and after feeding, train it to go outside to do its business. When it has done this praise it. This will take a couple of days but consistency will pay off, consistency all the way! (Audrey)

Q	How can I train my puppy to come when called?
A	Never chase a puppy in an effort to catch it. The average pup will interpret this as a game. Have in your hand a small tit-bit, and call the puppy by its name and use a command ["Come!"]. It will take a while but be consistent in your tone of voice, it does work! (Audrey)

Q	How can I stop my Stafford jumping on strangers when they greet it?
A	This is to be discouraged at an early age. Give a command ["Off!"] as soon as it begins to jump up. Try to take its mind off of the situation as it is not a habit you want to encourage. As a puppy it is unlikely that much harm will be done, but as an adult a 38lb Stafford could knock somebody flying which could be misconstrude as being dangerous - even if it just wanted to lick your visitor silly with affection! (Audrey)

Q	My Stafford is scratching himself till he bleeds and has bald patches. What can I do?
A	Seek a vets help on this. There are some skin complaints that need professional advice. Most common in Staffords may be a certain type of Mange if not detected as a puppy which can lead to a lot of discomfort. This is a commonly asked question. Through talking to other Stafford owners I have discovered that it could be diet related - some foods are very high in proteins and can irritate the skin and stomach. The dog could also be allergic to dust mites and detergents used to wash bedding. We have found some homeopathic remedies can help alleviate or solve the problem. Always start by checking your dogs diet to eliminate this problem before looking at other possible causes. (Audrey)

Q	Why does my Stafford lick between its toes all the time?
A	Sometimes the dog may have cysts which can appear over other body parts too. These cysts can be very painful. Some vets remove them, but in some cases they can be caused by bad diet. Some Staffords can be irritated by a fresh meat diet that may cause these cysts. (Audrey)

Q	What should I look for in buying a Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy?
A	Do your homework first! Make sure the Stafford breed is the correct for you. Nearly half of the Staffords that come into a rescue have been bought by the wrong type of person. The Stafford is not a lap dog (although it can be) and likes a lot of excercise and things to keep its mind occupied. The Stafford is a home bird which likes its creature comforts such as siting by the fire or a warm radiator. It likes human contact, and likes to play controlled games in a safe environment. You have a friend for life if it is part of the family. If you want a puppy only buy from a breeder you know and trust. The Kennel Club have a list of Breeders and there are 18 breed clubs around the country who can put you in touch with breeders who have had litters. Most of these should have had all the necessary health checks available for Staffords. You will get all of this advice from the breed clubs. If by chance you cannot keep the puppy always go back to the breeder who should have explained to you that the puppy must be taken back to them or the breeder to find a good home. But if you do not want to go through the puppy training, there are hundreds of Staffords wanting a second chance for a new forever home. Please contact the Rescue Centres. (Audrey)

Q	My Stafford keeps scratching his ears and hold its head to one side, why?
A	The problem is most likely an infection of some kind. Seek a vets opinion sooner rather than later. Always keep the ears clean from seeds that may have come from playing in fields. A tip is to rub a little vasaline into its ears to prevent any debris from getting in the ears. (Audrey)

Q	Why does my dog scrape its bum along the floor it gets stressed out?
A	This could be as a result of 2 problems. It probably has not been kept uptodate with its worming program. It must be wormed regularly. Seek a vets advice and only use wormers recommended by them which work instantly. The other could be blocked anal glands. Again this is another commonly asked question. The glands can get blocked through poor diet as the dog needs some roughage in its food. If not detected early this can lead to infection which could require an expensive operation. So take your dog along to the vet and get its anal glands squeezed which will get rid of any blockages and then begin to introduce some kind of roughage into its diet such as a high grade mixer biscuit. (Audrey)

Q	What is the life span of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier? (Laura, London)
A	I have known a Stafford that lived to be 17 years of age. There is a health programme going on at the moment to see what and why are the most common causes of death in the Stafford. In my experience the average age for a Stafford to live is approximately 13 years. There is no known ailments commonly that take our wonderful breed, but through talking to Stafford owners it is mainly some kind of cancer, arthritis, and just old age. As the Stafford is a tough cookie we never know when it is in pain, which is why we are more aware if anything is wrong with it. If it appears not to be feeling very well it probably isn't. (Audrey)

Q	My Stafford jumps up on furniture and stays there with a glazed stare looking vacant and saliving a lot . worried (question by a reader)
A	It could be a number of things , sounds like fitting, something wrong with his brain, or could be L2 for sure the dog must be seen by the vet  (audrey)

Please use the form below if you would like to ask a question.

Disclaimer: This service is meant to provide advice only and is not meant to replace an appointment with a registered veterinarian. Users should always seek a second opinion. We will try to answer your email as quickly as possible but please be patient as our organisation is run using volunteers. SBTW reserve the right to publish questions which could be beneficial to other dog owners.