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Hello
everyone, my name is Caroline (aka ‘Chapstaff’
on the D for Dog Forum).
I have been an Administrator on the D for Dog Forum for
over 2 years now. I am married to Ken and we have two grown
up sons and two baby grandchildren.
We owned a Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Cleo, who we
rescued from Wood Green Animal Shelter when she was one
year old. Cleo recently passed away peacefully at the grand
old age of 16. The house was so empty that we felt the need
for someone else to love, so we decided to get a Stafford
puppy. |
In this instalment of our puppy diary Tala is 11-17 weeks old.
| Tala
is now 17 weeks old and has grown into a big dog already and
still has a lot of growing to do yet. She won't be fully grown
until about 12 months of age, and will still be filling out
for a few months after that. She is eating very well and is
now settled on Naturediet puppy
food, which is as close as you can get to feeding natural
food without all the preparation. It has absolutely no artificial
additives, preservatives or colourings. It is also low in
protein which is ideal for Staffordshire Bull Terriers as
they can become hyperactive when fed a diet high in protein
and colourings. |
|
I brush Tala's teeth a couple of times a week with special meaty
flavoured doggie toothpaste. It's especially important to do this
when you feed wet food. I started with a rubber finger brush, then
progressed to the proper bristle brush. She also has an occasional
Nylabone chew or even a raw knuckle bone from the butcher (note
never give dogs cooked bones as they can splinter).
When it comes to grooming, being short coated, I only need to give
her a quick going over twice a week with a bristle brush, finishing
off with a chamois cloth to add shine.
In the last instalment I mentioned the free puppy socialisation
classes held at my local vet's surgery. Well we've attended our
last 2 classes. Nothing much changed with Tala's behaviour to be
honest. She continued to try bossing the other puppies, but I did
notice they generally became less forgiving of her and she didn't
get her way all the time. She got pinned on her back on the floor
by one or two of the shyer puppies which gave her a bit of a shock
hahaha, and there was a bit more growling going on throughout as
all six puppies started to gain in confidence.
We were given various leaflets about dealing with any behavioural
issues before they became serious, and had the chance to discuss
any health concerns or general behaviour problems with the vet nurses.
Toilet training was discussed, as was chewing the furniture. The
vet nurses gave some sound advice and we generally helped each other
out with our own suggestions.
I would definitely recommend these classes for all new puppy owners.
In fact it would be very useful to have free classes like these
for all new dog owners, whatever age the dog might be. It could
mean fewer dogs growing up with behaviour problems and ending up
in rescue centres (or worse).
I
took out dog insurance for Tala when
her six weeks free insurance from the breeder expired. I chose 'lifetime
cover', as, if she should develop an ongoing illness like diabetes
or epilepsy or arthritis, I would be covered to claim for treatment
and medication for the whole of her life. You have to read the terms
and conditions very carefully, as some policies may seem a good
buy but will exclude certain conditions the next year once you've
claimed for them. You do pay more for 'lifetime cover' but at least
nothing is excluded after claiming. Also a lot of insurance companies
won't pay out for hereditary illness like heart conditions in the
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for example, so you do need to do
your homework.
| Tala
had her second vaccination at twelve weeks, and was then able
to start going out for walks a week later. I'm not getting
on as well as I had hoped with walking her. She pulls on the
lead like a train. I've tried stopping every time the lead
goes taut but it makes no difference. The dog training club
I've joined recommends changing direction each time the lead
tightens, which isn't easy on the pavement, then clicking
and treating when she gets it right. We are very slowly improving,
although it can and does take us 20 minutes (seriously) to
reach the end of my road which is only 100 metres away. My
neighbours already think I'm a bit crazy so this just confirms
it. |
|
At the dog training school we're on week 4 of the 12 week training
course, which has about 6 dogs, and we have been training with a
clicker. The pups have been learning to sit and to lie down, also
to 'leave' a treat offered in a closed hand, they then get clicked
and treated for leaving it. They then progress to 'leaving' it when
it's put on the floor in front of them. Tala is actually very good
at all these things.
The
walking to heel is taking a bit longer, as is the holding
back to let me through doors first, probably because I'm not
practising that one at home. Although I want respect and manners
from my dog I also want her to be a puppy, not a puppet who
obeys every time I pull the strings. She is very spirited
and I like that in her and don't want to break her spirit,
just harness it slightly.
I've been walking Tala on a 'normal' lead, then once we get
to our destination I change her over to the extending lead
to give her a bit of freedom (I won't let her loose until
I know I have a reliable recall) and tell her to 'go play'.
She has met and played with lots of dogs, and is absolutely
loving her walks. I call her to me now and again, and click
and treat her for 'coming'. I also practise 'sit' and 'down',
to which she responds very quickly. |
|
I
took her along the brook the other day and she went in for a paddle.
She looked so funny as for once she was hesitant with the fast flowing
water, and kept patting it with her paw and then gave a little jump
to get in. Within a short while she was running around, snapping
at leaves in the water and having a great time. She'll have to wait
until next year when it's a bit warmer before she can try swimming.
In
the last instalment I mentioned how Tala had been a nuisance with
biting at our hands, and defiantly snapping at us when reprimanded.
As advised on the 'training and behaviour' section on the D
for Dog forum I started using a time out box. I told you how
effective it seemed to be after just a few times of using it - well
- I haven't had to use it at all since then, the biting has all
but stopped. She will still snap at our hands when excited, but
a short, sharp NO stops her in her tracks, then I can divert her
attention to a toy.
The same thing works when she is chewing something she shouldn't.
I no longer need to use the water sprayer. I just get her attention
with a clap of the hands and tell her "No" and it stops
the behaviour.
| I
can't say the same thing for shoes though! What is it with
dogs and shoes? As soon as one of us takes a shoe off Tala
pounces. She just appears from nowhere, grabs the shoe and
disappears down the garden at top speed. She generally goes
to her special place under the big Laurel bush where she can
lie and chew her prize in peace. Still - at least she will
always give the shoe up when told to ‘drop it’.
I must admit I do find it funny; after all she is just a puppy
and it is fun, although I don't always feel like that when
she has disappeared with my shoe when I'm rushing to go to
work and I have to find another shoe to put on to go and fetch
the stolen one. |
|
We
had a scare the other week when we couldn't find Tala. It transpired
she had wriggled through a tiny gap in the bottom of the fence,
under her favourite Laurel bush, and got through into next door's
garden. Thank goodness they were in and were able to bring her
back. We couldn't believe how tiny the gap was, but she had wriggled
through it. We then checked the bottom of the fence all the way
round the garden and secured any areas with gaps under the fence
where she might dig her way through. I felt real panic for a few
minutes.
I
can't quite believe how well Tala has fitted into our lives. Cleo,
our late Stafford, was always going to be a hard act to follow,
but Tala is certainly well on the way...
| In
summary, I've got myself a very happy, healthy, fun loving
puppy, who is confident, strong willed and spirited, who loves
cuddles and playing games with us, but who is equally content
playing on her own. She loves going in her crate, and looks
upon it as her own space. She loves her food, going for walks
and playing with other dogs. She loves people and wants to
play with every child she sees. I haven't found anything she
dislikes as yet. In short - she is well on the way to being
a great ambassador for the breed. |
|
Thanks must go to breeders Kevin and Tina Hubble (Hubbulls), who
did a great job of raising Tala for the first 7 weeks of her life.
Look out for a progress report on Tala in the future.
Caroline and Tala
Check back for future updates. |
