How to raise and train a Staffordshire Terrier?

Raising a Staffordshire Terrier is not the easiest thing, because the dogs of this breed always have their own opinion. But breeders note the kindness, devotion, rather high intelligence of these dogs. They increasingly combine the roles of guards and companions, participate in sports and show communication skills.

The only thing that should be taken into account is the rules for training an Amstaff puppy at home. They must be strictly observed by both the owner and his pet. Then the results of upbringing will fully meet the expectations.

The American Staffordshire Terrier has a very specific character that generates a lot of rumors. Opinions about the characteristics of this breed are very contradictory. For example, in the US, they are considered one of the best companions and family pets, and in the EU countries they are classified as potentially dangerous animals.

Amstaff does have features to consider when content. But the wrong upbringing turns these kind, loyal and strong animals into unruly and spoiled dogs. A well-trained dog is always friendly, sociable, curious and puppy-like spontaneity even in adulthood. By nature, their character is characterized by fearlessness, energy, reliability inherent in all terriers.

For many years, selection work with the breed was carried out taking into account the participation of the animal in battles. At the same time, dogs were necessarily sent to marriage, showing aggression towards a person. Modern amstaffs are practically not used for fights, but even taking into account the combat past, one can expect no more danger from them than from a shepherd dog or from another service dog.

Kind to children, indifferent or neutral-friendly to strangers, American Staffordshire Terrier dogs have a rare ability to adapt to circumstances. They painlessly endure the change of owner, do not get too sad when moving. These dogs make good service animals, as well as participants in therapeutic programs for children and the disabled. With this category of citizens, amstaffs are patient and gentle.

This dog can be considered a leader who prefers to play a central role in relationships. Such a dog is quite difficult to enter the role of a subordinate. The breed is not recommended for people with little pet keeping experience. It will be better if a physically active owner is engaged in training and education, ready to back up his authority both in words and in deeds. Such an owner will have an amstaff well-mannered, intelligent and charming companion.

It is not too difficult to choose the right moment to start training the American Staffordshire Terrier. Already at 2 months, the puppy is capable of:

• respond to your name;
• know the location of the bed;
• run up at the owner's call;
• wear a collar or harness;
• walk on a leash;
• observe the rules of hygiene.

During the first year of life of a puppy and a teenage dog, it is necessary to raise both a boy and a girl of the American Staffordshire Terrier breed, taking into account the age characteristics and the degree of development. If you let things take their course, then by the year of its life the dog will be practically uncontrollable. To raise an intelligent, curious dog on his own, the owner will have to make some effort. Conventionally, the first year of a pet's life can be divided into four global periods.

• 1-3 months. This is the time when the dog learns the world. The kid needs walks to get impressions, to find contact with the owner. Being under the protection of the owner, the little amstaff will feel more confident and will immediately learn the correct balance of power in this bundle. Depriving a puppy of active development of the environment, locking him in four walls, it is difficult to ensure the desired development of his instincts and physiology.
• 4-6 months. By this time, you can acquaint your pet with brothers (up to four months of age this is not necessary), conduct game training on the street. Time up to six months is the stage of fears of the dangers of the big world. When this weakness is shown, the puppy needs encouragement, but does not need to be encouraged to take action. It is better to calm, regret, console the baby, invite him to overcome the fear together.
• 6-18 months - the period of socialization. At this age, the puppy learns the norms and rules of life in society, begins to divide people according to the hierarchy. The dog is looking for his place in the "pack", begins to claim the rights to the territory. This is a good time to visit the dog playground, where the animal can satisfy the need for self-affirmation. By this time, the pet should fully understand the human language, know the basic rules of obedience.
• 18 months - the time of the riot. It is typical mainly for boys - females of this breed endure this stage of growing up much more easily. The dog tries to dominate, directly sabotages the owner's orders, can show attempts to escape from the control of the owner.Physical punishment should be avoided during this time. The most that can be done is to pick up and shake the animal by the collar. The dog must in any case show obedience, but in most cases, to achieve the desired result, a gaze directly into the pet's eyes is enough.

By the age of one and a half, the dog is considered fully adult. If up to this point training was a "light walk", then upon reaching the age of eighteen months you can proceed to more serious loads and requirements. This will only benefit the pet.

Not every owner is capable of properly training the American Staffordshire Terrier at home. In the absence of proper experience and knowledge, it is better to turn to a qualified instructor who can instill in the dog obedience skills. Agility, handling and other types of specialized training should be passed only after the completion of the general training course.

For an adult dog, special exercises are beneficial to maintain its fitness, coordination and agility. With the right loads, the amstaff will have no desire to spoil the furnishings or engage in towing the owner out of excess strength. Some of the most beneficial exercise options include swimming, towing, and uphill running.

• Swimming. The dog is taught to it from childhood. Some puppies experience an instinctive fear of water and have to gradually adapt to a new activity. The benefits of water treatments for dogs are undeniable. If there is a river with a current, it is worth choosing it for training, because it will become an excellent simulator for the development of the muscle frame. With the help of swimming, young dogs improve their physical condition, get rid of excess energy. To develop interest, you can use aport objects, for example, balls.
• Towing. Her Staffordshire Terriers are very fond of - they willingly perform exercises both at the training stage, and during competitions or walks. Before starting training, the dog will have to be taught to walk in a harness. He must learn that pulling the leash can only be done on the command "forward". Incentives in the form of treats will help you to quickly accustom your dog to work in conjunction with sleds and skis.
• Run up an incline... The beginning of training requires the use of short distances of 100-200 m, since the load on the shoulder girdle and back in this case is high.

The biggest misconception about Amstaff training is that these dogs are not amenable to education. Animal psychologists and cynologists are sure that although the breed requires a firm hand and serious control, it is at the same time quite trainable. Particular importance is attached to the contact of the owner with the animal: the earlier the puppy is in the house (the optimal age is 2-3 months), the easier it will be to control, understand and predict its behavior.

Modern training methods involve the use of the dog's interest, game form of information presentation. In this case, the training takes place without violence: the dog acquires a strong emotional connection with the owner, performs commands with pleasure.

The principle of encouragement and punishment acts on the consolidation of reflexes: the animal does not learn to think, but simply follows the command. Strengthening of the skill occurs mechanically, the dog acts out of fear or desire to receive a treat. There is no guarantee that the dog will be willing to remain obedient outside of the training ground.

Pampering the American Staffordshire Terrier is even more dangerous than keeping it strict. These attempts lead to the fact that the owner begins to ascribe to the animal features that were originally unusual for him.As a result, predicting the dog's behavior by his own standards, the owner is disappointed.

Around 1.5 years of age, American Staffordshire Terriers develop severe behavioral problems associated with puberty. During this period of time, many owners decide to interrupt the training course, expecting that the animal will calm down over time. But this opinion is extremely erroneous. If the dog rebelled and refuses to obey the commands, then the only correct solution will be a soft but persistent restoration of the master's status as a leader and authority.

In the next video, you will train a Staffordshire Terrier from the Dog Training School.