Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a short-haired dog. Despite its small size, it is a powerful dog with well-developed muscles. However, this does not hinder its agility. On the contrary, it is very lively and agile.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is very intelligent, strong-willed, and persevering. It has a deep affection for its friends and is calm and brave. It is a reliable family member.
It always gives people a strong, clever, and patient impression. Although it is combative, it is very gentle and friendly towards people, especially towards its owners. It is absolutely loyal and obedient. It is very friendly towards children and can tolerate their impoliteness and teasing.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers originated in England and have a history of several hundred years. They are a new breed created by crossing Bulldogs and Manchester Terriers. During the Elizabethan period, this breed was larger in size, weighing about 45.36-54.43kg. As history progressed, this large breed was crossbred with smaller native English Manchester Terriers, resulting in descendants weighing 13.61-20.41kg. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was bred to be a more agile smaller breed, gradually replacing the previous larger Staffordshire Bull Terriers.
At the time, the breeding of an agile small breed was mainly due to the popularity of dogfighting activities in the early 19th century, during which these dogs were called Bulldogs or Bull Terriers.
However, the previous Stafford Bull Terriers' reputation as fighting dogs was not recognized by the Kennel Club of England for a long time. It was not until 1935 that they were finally recognized. It is said that Bull Terriers entered North America in the mid-1880s. There, they were crossbred with some small-sized native English dogs (ancestors of the present-day Manchester Terrier), resulting in the Stafford Bull Terrier we have today.
The Stafford Bull Terrier was officially recognized by the AKC and registered on November 1, 1974. After March 5, 1975, it was classified as a terrier in regular dog shows held by the AKC.
The dog is friendly to family and friends, kind to children, quiet, loyal to the owner, and obedient. It has many uses and has excellent working ability.
However, due to its previous nature as a fighting dog and its inherent aggressive genes, it requires strict discipline and patient training from the owner. Therefore, it is not suitable for inexperienced beginners and not suitable for being raised as a companion dog in a family.
1. Heart disease
Dogs often develop heart disease due to obesity and old age. When a dog has heart disease, it may show symptoms such as easily getting tired and having difficulty breathing. Heart disease in dogs is difficult to detect, and often by the time the owner notices, the dog is already seriously ill.
2. Infectious diseases
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common and highly fatal infectious diseases in dogs. Dogs that have not been vaccinated in a timely manner are prone to these two infectious diseases. Once infected, dogs may experience symptoms such as lethargy, decreased appetite, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney disease
When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease must be mentioned. The scary thing about kidney disease in dogs is that it often develops unnoticed, and by the time the owner realizes, the damage to the dog's kidney cells has already exceeded 75%. When dogs have kidney problems, common symptoms include blood in urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasites
Roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms are common parasites that infect dogs. When dogs are infected with intestinal parasites, main symptoms include emaciation, depression, diarrhea with worms, and pale gums. Heartworms are parasites that live in the dog's heart. Dogs infected with heartworms may show symptoms such as decreased vitality, coughing, anemia, wheezing, and ascites.
5. Canine pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but it is often a complication of other diseases. It commonly occurs in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory system, bacterial infections, canine distemper infections, viral influenza, lung dysfunction, or heartworm infection. Cough, nasal congestion, and fever are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
Bathing Staffordshire Bull Terriers:
1. If the dog's body is very dirty due to playing after a walk, you can use a hot wet towel or add a little 84 disinfectant to wipe the body at home. 84 disinfectant is very irritating and can harm the dog's skin, so only a small amount can be used to effectively prevent the puppy from bringing home bacteria.
2. Regular grooming helps keep the dog's fur clean and healthy. It also allows you to check the skin and see if it has contracted any skin diseases or if there are parasites in the fur.
3. When bathing the dog, try to choose good weather or do it indoors to avoid catching a cold. Fill half a basin with hot water in the bathtub, making sure the temperature is not too high. Prepare enough hot water for thorough rinsing.
4. When bathing the dog, choose a mild cleanser, such as baby shampoo, dog-specific shampoo, or other shampoos recommended by veterinarians. Read the instructions carefully before use and do not use human shampoo.
5. Put the dog in the basin, then pour water along its neck using a clean bottle or container, and finally wet the head. Apply the cleanser to the dog's body and legs, then gently rub to create lather. Finally, apply the cleanser to the head, being careful not to get it in the dog's eyes or ears. After rubbing, rinse thoroughly with warm water to remove all the cleanser and foam from the dog's body.
6. After bathing, the dog may shake vigorously to get rid of water. You can use an old clean towel to wrap its body and dry it off. Alternatively, you can use a low-heat hair dryer to blow-dry. While blow-drying, you can also brush the fur to speed up the drying process.
1、Cannot bathe frequently
Giving your dog a bath should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing depends on the hygiene of the dog. In hot weather, you can bathe your dog more often, but in winter, you can reduce it. However, the total number of baths should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its coat and skin!
2、Brush regularly
Dogs shed their hair almost every day, especially in spring and autumn when the shedding is more severe. To maintain good hair growth, regular brushing is important. Pet owners can use special brushes for pets to help the dogs remove naturally shed hair and prevent matting. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3、Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of the dog's coat. In addition to giving the coat a shine, sunbathing can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let the dogs exercise, which can improve their physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier hair.
4、Parasite control
Poor coat condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrition from the dog's body, depriving it of nutrients. Therefore, parasite control is essential. It is recommended to do internal and external parasite control together. Parasite medications can cause significant harm to the dog's gastrointestinal system, so it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.
5、Pay attention to diet
To keep your dog's coat shiny and beautiful, it is necessary to establish a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On one hand, feed your dog nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a brand that is suitable for your dog and meets its nutritional needs. On the other hand, you can also give your dog a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil.
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