Staffordshire Bull Terrier training - Part I
Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or Staffies to their friends, are often thought to be pit bull terriers and get an undeserved reputation as a result. They are exceptionally strong for their size and can be challenging to train, but if trained correctly from young, they make superb family dogs. The usual behaviors that need attention early if they are to be corrected quickly are:
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Pulling on the leash, relentlessly if allowed
- Aggression towards other dogs, trying to be “top dog”
- Sometimes foolhardy in the pursuit of their objective
- NEVER let them start fighting other dogs - it could prove very costly
They are naturally very friendly towards humans, as with other breeds unless trained otherwise. A few general points are relevant to training Staffordshire Bull Terriers:
- Like all terriers they are attention-seekers, which means, used appropriately with this breed, ignoring them can work well; however, in my experience there is hardly ever a need for this if the other tips advised here are applied consistently.
- They take to a general daily routine very easily if not too rigid. Getting into a routine quickly will contribute towards training success.
- Food is a real driver with this breed; coupled with their mammoth capacity for exercise, when young, food treats work very well as rewards.
- Don’t have too high an expectation of them at the outset. By keeping things simple and focusing on the basics in short sessions, the training process will be much easier.
- Invest in a chest halter! A traditional lead will work with some, and with most Staffies it will work some of the time, but if he gets into pursuit mode, all kinds of problems can ensue.
Parts II and III of this post will go into more specific training techniques for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
