Introducing my new nutty dog!

[stez1234]

Hiya,

After passing the home check I picked up Holly today!

Unfortunately she has come home with kennel cough so we cant go out for walks at the moment

She is an 18 month old staffy cross. Not too sure what she is crossed with.

I think it will take her a while to settle in as she seems quite unsettled at the moment.

Here are some picture of her....

Thanks for looking! Advise about training will be welcomed with open arms!

A xxxx

 

[Dobiegirl]

Well done for taking on a rescue and double well done for a Staffy x.

Holly looks a beauty and am sorry to hear about her kennel cough.

I cant give you any tips on Staffs Im afraid, have never owned one but know they are lovely dogs.

 

[splashgirl45]

well done for taking a staffy from rescue, there are too many of them in rescue. have never had one myself but please, please make sure she is well socialised with other dogs as this can be a problem with this type of dog as sadly the wrong people often own them and deliberately make them aggressive to other dogs. i would enrol at a good dog training school (once she is over kennel cough)where she will meet other dogs in a controlled environment and you can get help if there are any problems. she looks like a lovely dog, lots of luck with her

 

[stez1234]

Hiya,

She is lovely and very very affectionate!! My plan is to got to some training classes when she has recovered from the kennel cough. We will also be going for lots of walks with a friends dog as well.

I also have 2 cats and she has been completely fine with them so far. She just laid in her bed while one of the cats sat and growled at her!!

She has had a bit of basic training but needs a whole lot more!! She jumps up you alot and this is something I would like to stop. She will sit. I think once she calms down and settles in a bit training her will be fairly easy (fingers crossed)

Thanks
A xxxx

 

[CAYLA]

She is lovely, being a staff she is likely to be boisterous/ott friendly, try not to lavish her with ott attention, cos she will suck it up.

Here is some very basic tips

Learn her to sit and learn her some patience for a reward and ask people not to over fuss her, she must be calm in order to get even the smallest amount of attention, better a small treat than a huge hug or encouragement to bounce like tigger Offer attention at your own convenience, dont allow her to demand you attention if she is a full on type dog, instead ignore her attempts for attention and call he more randomly when she is calm and give affection then take it away when you feel like it, this way she knows her pushiness/demands get her no where.

When she jumps turn you back on her, dont speak, not even to tell her NO! or touch, simply turn away, she must know that when he does this it get no attention from you or anyone else, she simply gets to see the back of you.
Reward her when her feet are firmly on the floor.
When out and about where you cannot always control the attention she gets, use your clicker (see below) to get her attenton back on you.

Look up clicker training to teach her the basics with a food related reward, this will also help you keep focus when out and about.
Recall....also start in the house, call her randomly and offer a high reward when she hot foots it back, she then associates being called and her coming with a high reward treat like hot dog, chicken, cheese (miniscule amount) and reduce her food if need be if you have given a lot of rewards in a day.
Get a longline and do the whole call and reward outside in the garden, then in an enclosed field, introduce a whistle as an aid if need be, call her name and whistle at the same time, then give her the treat when she comes, she will eventually just come to the whistle.

If she is boisterous when people come to the house........put her in the kitchen, invite your guests in, allow your guests to be seated and ask then to ignore any attempts of ott behaviour she displays, inclucing jumping up, mollesting them
Let her come in to the room, if she makes a bee line in an ott manor, get her collar and remove her to the kitchen again, no fuss, quick as you can.
Allow her to re enter a few minutes later, again if she goes to dive bomb, place her back out.
Repeat as often as u need to, until she comes in and remains calm, she then remains in the room, and you can ask your guests to stroke her when she is calm or offer a treat (this works very well) and they get it very quick.
Don't grapple or talk or touch her apart form getting her collar and placing her out to the kitchen.
Make sure ther eis a bed in the room she can retreat too and be firm with your guests in the fact that you dont want them to touch, talk, wriggle, push or anything, just ignore her

Training classes will be fab for her, to get mingling with the other dogs and learn some manners on the lead......try not to let anyone talk you into a harness, get yourself a good quality training lead, the clicker nylon ones are ok and good quality or a good quality leather lead, and a half check chain to help with pulling or a halti, or collar if she is not a puller.

The above will help if she is a typical fun loving, people adoring staffi, with loas of enthusiastic energy

There will be typos

 

[Kc Mac]

Ah bless her! She looks very sweet Hope the kennel cough clears up soon.

I'm currently waiting to meet my possible new dog (rescue staffie) but as he has kennel cough having to wait as can't risk it with my old girl

 

[lexiedhb]

I am 3 months further in than you with a rescue Staff X. Shes a lovely looking girlie

If you do go down the headcollar route dont get a Halti- mine can get it off in 3 secs- not ideal. Gentle leader all the way £9.99 from wilkinsons.

What Cayla says is all true- for any behaviour you dont want actually.

Enjoy her- have to say I really hope her cough clears sooner rather than later I wouldnt want mine having no exercise!!!- Bull china shop springs to mind!

 

[stez1234]

Hiya,

Thanks for the replys! Some fab advise. She is already learning that the fuss and attention is on my terms only. If she jumps up then no fuss!
We have been playing fetch in the back garden lots so she gets at least some exercise and she will fetch and bring it back. She will also sit before I throw the ball again.

She was a star over night no accidents and no crying and my kitchen is still standing!!

I am going to take Cayla's advise an clicker train her.

I wont be putting her in a harness as I don't want people to loom at her and assume she is an aggressive staffy. From what I saw and what they said at the RSPCA she walks like an angel on the lead.

I am sure I will have a lot more questions and will keep you updated with her progress and you never know we might join you on one of the get togethers!!!

Thanks
A xxxxx