Staffordshire Bull Terrier

We've all been reading and watching the news about terrible disastors of children being mauled by dogs. This is terrible and nobody could wish these inccidents on anybody. But i wouldnt let that put you off buying the breed you want. Simply follow some simple rules. Find a few breeders and ring them up and find out as much information as possible, if they have pups go and look DONT BUY. I would suggest going looking at a few litters. But while you are there watch them playing and how they interact and how they greet you and their current owners. Also when you have rang a few breeders up i would ask them if they know of any other well respected breeders, most will be in contact with other breeders and get advice from the other breeders/vets about what a healthy pup would look like. Once you are satified with a breeder-avoid breeders that arent for the pups best interest, you will beable to see this from the questions they ask wou and from the responses you get from you questions to them. Also, get a KC registered pup and ask to see the family tree as to how far back there registration goes and if there are any champoins. It would be a good idea also to ask about any health problems, usually skin with bull breeds, but every breed has its suspected contitions. You MUST SEE THE MUM AND DAD. From this you will beable to see behaiour the pups may inherit and conditions or look.

Now you have your pup and your trying to let him/her settle. If you have children (my mum was advised by the vet with our dominant bulldog), have them sit on the couch (dont let the dog on) so that the dog is introduced to the family at the bottom of the pack. From this point train you dog with treats and reward good behavior. This will help define you as the master. But never leave your dog alone with children of any age whether you trust the dog or not. You cannot predict how they will react to situations when you are not around, but you can help prevent it. And at the first sign that your dog may resent children or be restless (growling, snapping) try and find a suitable home with no children. Other factors that can help a dogs mood and behaviour is suitable walking, suitable feeding and enough attention and praise.

These were things we were advised to do when we owned a family bulldog. Our bulldog became vicious and we was unable to re-home and as responsible owner we had thedog put down to prevent the next bite being dangerous or fatal.