Do you want to make a four-legged friend who will always protect you and at the same time be very loving? Then a stafford dog is exactly what you are looking for. There is an opinion that the animals of this breed are quite aggressive and have a rampant character. More than once in the press there were articles about how a dog bit or crippled a small child. Perhaps such cases have occurred, but it all depends on the owners and proper education. What are the features of this breed? How to care and train the animal? We will try to answer these and many other questions in the article.
How did the breed appear?
The Stafford dog breed has been known since ancient times. So, in 1209 there were the first mention of it. It is a mistake to believe that these dogs appeared in America, in fact their homeland is England. Dog breeders claim that Stafford has many other names, such as the American Terrier, Pit Bull and many others. The thing is that in certain time periods the animal was assigned different roles. They were used for fighting. Gladiator games faded into the background, instead of them there were slaughter of animals: dogs, lions, monkeys and others.
Initially, mastiffs were used for fighting. But often the dogs lost because of their large build and slowness. It was an ideal target for large rivals. The dog breeders decided to reduce the size of the dog by crossing the terrier and the bulldog. As a result, the new animal has become more flexible, cunning, nimble.
Some interesting dog features
At first glance at Stafford, it seems that a predatory beast is looking at you. But in fact, this dog is quite kind and friendly. She is very attached to her master, ready to give her life for him. It is she who is preferred to be taken as a guard dog to serve in the army or police.
Stafford Fighting Dog is playful and has excellent health. At the same time, the animal perfectly feels the mood of its owner. A dog looks directly into a person’s eyes, it can frighten many. But this is not strange, the dog is simply trying to understand and catch the mood of the owner.
We study Stafford in detail
Stafford dog looks great. Due to its fighting qualities it has:
Many are interested in: “What does a Stafford dog look like?” The answer is obvious: powerful, smart, beautiful. The height of the dog is on average 45 cm, while the weight is quite large up to 30 kg. The color is either plain or spotted.
The dog has great physical capabilities and athletic potential. It needs to be actively developed. For these breeds, a special set of exercises is provided in the gym.
Who is ideal for this breed of dog?
The Stafford dog breed is ideal for people whose hobbies are hunting. The fact is that these animals have the perfect instinct, the genes have a peculiarity to navigate and find the beast by blood.
Athletes who like morning jogging will also be happy to find a new friend in the dog. Staffords do not like to lie in the corner, they are characterized by an active lifestyle. Running, running on a treadmill, swimming - from all this, the pet will receive tremendous pleasure.
It is worth noting that a dog of this breed does not respond well to the smell of alcohol. It can provoke an attack of aggression in the animal. Therefore, it is better to get such a pet for those who lead a healthy lifestyle and do not have bad habits (alcohol, smoking).
Animal character
If you are looking for a reliable friend with whom you can do morning jogging, Stafford is perfect for you. The dog, the photo of which is presented below, will become your protector and guard.
But before you get an animal, you need to know that this is a fighting breed. Therefore, their character is complex and aggressive, so laid down by nature and genes.
Before you buy a pet, read the relevant literature and consult with specialists. You must clearly understand how to act in a given situation.
Stafford dog fully complies with the rules of the pack and the hierarchical ladder. Therefore, from the first day you need to show the animal who is the boss in the house. It is in this case that she will implicitly obey and execute commands.
The dog needs to be constantly engaged, educated, trained - so that she does not see and does not feel aggression from the person. Otherwise, living with an animal in the same territory will be unsafe.
As you can see, the stafford’s dog character is not easy, but at the same time it gets along well with children and can tolerate all their pranks and games. Remember, this pet can become a true friend and protector for your family.
Is special care necessary?
Many people think that Stafford needs special care, this opinion is erroneous. All that is required of you is to properly raise the animal. Immediately after the pet is in the house, he needs to allocate a place to sleep. Puppies prefer to rest with the owners on the bed, but it is worth considering that the dog is growing rapidly, increasing in size. And it may turn out that you already have to look for a new berth.
It is best to purchase a special soft house for stafford. The fact is that this breed of dog has very little hair, and the undercoat is completely absent. In such a house, the pet will not freeze. It is enough to bathe the dog once every few months. It is not necessary to comb at all.
Special attention should be paid to walks in the fresh air. Do not forget, putting on a muzzle, to lower a dog from a leash. Contact with the owners is very important, joint outdoor games will be appropriate.
It is necessary to walk the pet at least 2-3 times a day, otherwise the animal will be lethargic and inactive.
How to feed a dog?
If you first encountered this breed of dog, be sure to ask the breeder what and how to feed the animal. Advice from veterinarians will not interfere.
Stafford is a fighting dog with well developed muscles and tendons. She needs only premium food. They contain all the necessary minerals, vitamins and trace elements.
If the animal is very active, subjected to daily physical exertion, food of the energy class is required. It helps maintain the right balance of vitamins.
When purchasing animal feed, carefully study the composition. It should not contain soy, offal, nitrates, dyes. But the presence of sulfate and glucosamine is welcome. These substances have a positive effect on ligaments. They make them stronger and more elastic.
When purchasing a dog of this breed, follow these rules:
Be sure to give the animal calcium, which is sold in the form of a suspension, tablets, powder in pet stores.
It is strictly forbidden to feed a dog with fatty food, it simply will not be digested in the animal’s stomach.
Meat should be included in the diet.
Veterinarians do not recommend giving only dry food; any food other than sweet, salty, smoked is suitable as a supplement.
By following these tips, you can be sure that the animal will grow up healthy and full of strength.
Is this breed of dog dangerous? Reviews of breeders
Stafford is a dog whose reviews are rather controversial. Many people think that they are dangerous and keeping them in an apartment with children is an extremely rash and rash decision. Frightening articles periodically pop up in the press that the pet has bitten or bit its owners. In fact, such cases are rare.
Most breeders claim that this is a non-aggressive animal that madly loves its owners and considers them gods. In this regard, always implicitly obeys and obeys them. With small children, the dog gets along excellently, giving them all his love and affection.
After dog fights in England and America began to lose their popularity, the most aggressive individuals were destroyed. And new ones were brought up as assistants to farmers. Wolves and foxes were driven away, pastures were protected.
Do not forget that any animal in its own way is dangerous. This is affected by heredity, upbringing, pet handling.
Safety regulations
So you got Stafford. The dog, the photo of which is presented below, is a fighting breed, therefore it is worth observing special rules of behavior with it in public places:
If you live in the city, put a leash and a muzzle on your pet when you walk.
Do you live in a country house? Never leave a dog on the street unattended. The animal must be in the yard or in a special aviary.
But still there is a situation when the animal gets involved in a fight. In this case, the quick reaction of the hosts is important:
You can never get between dogs. In a fit of brawl, they can attack you.
Be sure to take the animals away, but it is strictly forbidden to beat them. Increased aggression can lead to negative consequences.
Two people should separate animals. Everyone will be responsible for their pet. Carefully consider which animal grabbed the opponent. Take a stick and gently unclench its jaws.
After the dogs have been separated, they must be taken in different directions. Do not immediately after the fight to allow the animal to the children, wait until the attack of aggression completely passes.
Fighting in dogs happens quite often, remember these simple rules, and you will always own the situation.
Getting started with training
Stafford is a dog that can be trained very well. Therefore, you need to start classes from the first days of the appearance of a puppy in your home. Remember, the nature of an adult pet will directly depend on this.
Exercise should not be given until the animals reach the age of seven months. Prior to this, the puppy is simply uncontrollable and too playful. The most important thing is to stop attacks of rage and aggression. Raise a dog in love, and she will answer you with the same feeling.
Where to buy a puppy?
Need a dog? Stafford puppy is a great option. A plump pet with a naked belly will be able to please all family members. There are several ways you can get a dog:
Contact the nursery. This has its cons and pros. Of the positive aspects, the puppy's pedigree, the presence of vaccinations, and a veterinarian examination can be noted. Of the minuses - a high price. It often happens that breeders offer the strongest individuals to their friends, while the rest get weaker puppies.
With hands or over the Internet. The methods are rather dubious and unreliable.
At familiar breeders. The most reliable and proven way.
The price of a puppy can range from 100 to 1000 cu per individual.
The Stafford dog is quite popular with families living in their own home. By purchasing a pet, you can find a truly faithful friend who will love and obey you infinitely.