my puppy

[sarah20]

i have got a 5 month old staffordshire bull terrier and he is always full of energy, how ever many walks he goes for he is exactly the same when he gets back are all staffys the same? he also mouths your hands quite a lot how do you stop this because he is getting alot of his adult teeth now?

[jules77]

You really shouldnt give a 5 month old puppy too much exercise, especially not road work. Puppies do have lots of energy and can be very hard work - have you owned a dog or a SBT before? If this is excessive though it could be that he is having too much protein in his diet. Mouthing your hands - all puppies try it on, but you need to tell him no in a very firm voice - if he had been corrected earlier he probably wouldnt be doing it now.

[paddywak]

It's not just staffies Sarah, most pups are the same in fact Max my GSD is 6yrs old and I think its impossible to wear him out, we can walk for miles,but when we get home he has a drink, lies down for 10min, then he starts looking at me as if to say "I'm ready again lets go". As for the mouthing I dont know if it was because I kept stopping him and firmly telling him "no" when he did it or because all his puppy teeth came out but he soon stopped doing it.

[paddywak]

As Jules says you should build up his excercise gradually, after all you wouldnt expect a year old baby to start running 100m races would you?

[leelapops]

Hi sarah. SBTs are, apparently, full of beans! But yes, that applies to most dogs. As has been advised, his walkies should be built up gradually, at 5 months he is young and you don't want to damage his bones and muscles, as they will develop until he is 18 mths-2 yrs (maybe others can give a more exact age?) Take it slow with him for now, and keep an eye on him. He should be allowed to stop if he's tired out (I know, sometimes it feels like he never is!), so he shouldn't be forced into carrying on walking. Walks round the local area to get him familiar with his surroundings, and meeting other dogs will be valuable.

As for the mouthing, you need to be really firm with him. If not, he won't realise the damage his bite can do. This is potentially dangerous, esp. with a dog like a Staff, which has a lot of power in its jaws. If he mouths at you in play, yelp as if in pain, or say NO v. firmly, and after that, stop any interaction with him, and ignore him until he settles. If he does it for attention in everyday situations, do the same. You need to give him NO reward for his behaviour, and that includes your attention-even negative attention can seem a good thing to a dog. Make sure EVERYONE who spends time with your puppy follows this, no-one can be lenient with him because he's "just" a puppy. They'll regret it when he's a fully-grown dog.

Stick with it, it's so worth it to have a dog that is happy, and healthy, and that you'll just love forever! Good luck, let us know how it goes. x

[divegirl]

Hi, I don't know much about SBT's but my Dane get's 5 mins road work for every month of life. She was 15 weeks yesterday and would be getting 10 minutes in the morning and 10 at night.......but is under house-arrest as she has sprained her toe :O{

The rest of the time I wear her out using play....Kongs, teddies [SHE ATE MY BAGPUSS...... am not a happy bunny......lol], bones and love :o]

Stick with it....she will calm down....eventually.....lol

Lisa x

[winny]

Staffs are renowned for being full of beans (although many dogs have this trait). Mr W asked the vet when our lab was likley to calm down and he said with a big grin "usually about 10 mins before they die" oh the bearer of good news!! I would agree with leeapops mouthing advice fully and spot on. Also bear in mind the difference between energy and excitement. The dog has to learn self control too and ignoring constant atention seeking behaviour will calm them down as they realize it gets them nowhere. Keep playtimes as play and you start and end them showing any other sillyness will get them nothing. This worked with our lab although she is still potty she knows when potty behaviour is not tolerated and saves it till later.

[fairies07]

i have an 11 month SBT and he was the same, only had him a few weeks, and he has now settled down. he does have a bed to go and when he is too much i send him to bed to make him calm down it does work although he looks sad!!! they are like children try to push their luck!!! Stick with her and be firm..