• When training a staffordshire bull terrier, it’s best to start out by giving them a treat every time they do what you want them to. After they get the hang of it, back off the treats and only give them a treat 75% of the time, and continue reducing treats until they only get one occasionally.
• Be as generous with affection as you are with discipline. So many people spend a great deal of time yelling at their dog to stop doing things that they should not be doing and not enough time showing their dog that they love them. Let him know he is loved and he is sure to behave better for you.
• While it is possible to train many types of dogs together, depending on their personality, it may be impossible if you have two dogs. If you find that your dogs are not concentrating during training, then it may be necessary to train them independently, and then work on training them together.
• Figure out your training staffordshire bull terrier goals. Do you want a dog that obeys every command perfectly, or do you just want a good canine citizen with basic household manners? Take in to account how much time you have to train your dog, and the limits of the particular dog. Some dogs are easy to train, whereas others take a long time to learn each command. If you don’t have the time to train your dog, find a good trainer who specializes in the particular breed.
• An important dog training tip is to use the pet’s name whenever you are trying to get its attention. You need to get your pet used to responding to you when you call it by name. Use the pet’s name when you feed it, take it for walks and play with it. Randomly call your pet to you by name several times throughout the day, and then reward it for coming when called. Never call your pet by its name to come to you only to be punished.
• Don’t ever ignore good behavior from your dog. If they do something good, even if you didn’t ask them to do it, make sure that you reward them for it in some way. If you start to ignore them when they have done something desirable, then they will see no reason to keep doing it.
• Learn to read how your dog is feeling. By studying your pet’s body language, you’ll be able to guess whether it is feeling nervous, agitated, aggressive, or calm. If you can predict when a dog is about to behave badly, you can remove it from a bad situation before a problem develops.
• When training a staffordshire bull terrier it is important to reward good behavior while punishing bad behavior. Careful effort to maintain a clear distinction between good and bad behavior will go a long way towards overall training of the dog. This will guarantee that the dog knows why it is being rewarded or why it is being punished.
• Affection makes a great reward, however, be careful not to turn it into play. During training sessions, physical rewards such as belly rubs or scratching the ears can easily be overdone and lead the dog to think you are entering a play cycle. Keep the rewards quick and allow your dog to maintain focus for more training.
• Make sure that your pooch is obeying commands. If Spot is ignoring you when you tell him to sit, do not give up. Follow-through until you get the action that you expect. If you are going to give up without getting the action that you requested, don’t bother giving the command in the first place.
• Don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional dog trainer if your dog’s issues become too much for you to handle alone. Problems like aggression and severe anxiety are best handled by professionals, as these issues can become dangerous if they’re handled by untrained people. Your trainer can guide you in your efforts in person.
• Be mindful of exactly what behavior you are reinforcing, so stand your ground and don’t give into your pet’s persistence. A dog will generally repeat whatever action has previously earned him a reward. Thus, if you give a dog food so that it will stop begging at the table one night, you’re only making the dog more inclined to beg for food again, the next night.
• The easiest way to keep your dog or new puppy from chewing up everything in the house while you are out is to keep him outdoors while you are gone. If this is not an option for you, the simplest way keep him from chewing is to close the doors to rooms that have appealing items and put other tempting items out of his reach.
• Rewarding good behavior doesn’t require tons of dog treats. Often your dog is happy just to get your praise and affection. When your dog performs well, give him lots of love and attention. Your dog will associate the action with your affection and be willing to repeat the good behavior, even without a treat.
• Generosity towards your dog goes a long way when you are trying to train your pet. Reward your pooch where rewarding is due and don’t be stingy with the doggie treats. You and your pet both deserve a reward for all your hard work and make sure to put enough time aside for your dog’s training.

All pets, and certainly all staffies, can be wonderful companions. For many people, the time and patience it requires to train their dog properly may discourage them from attempting it on their own. By applying the tips in this article on training a staffordshire bull terrier, not only will you have an obedient companion, but you will save yourself many headaches and provide yourself great joy in the long run.

• As you train your dog, it is important to remember that everything you do with your pet is an opportunity for them to learn. Without realizing it, you may be rewarding undesirable behaviors throughout the day. Keep in mind that whether you are actively training or not, your actions are still having a large impact on your dog’s behavior.
• Dogs will be dogs, so give your dog outlets to work out his canine behaviors. Dogs need an appropriate diet, a place to run out their energy and lots of ways to keep busy. If you stay on top of his needs, he’ll be less likely to fulfill his desires through undesirable channels.
• Does your staffy pull on the leash? This is one of the most common complaints owners have about their dogs, and it’s also incredibly easy to remedy. Head to your nearest pet supply store and pick up a harness for just a few bucks – harnesses dramatically cut down on pulling, and make walks enjoyable again!
• If your dog is not fond of unfamiliar men, consider this tip to curb Cujo. Keep a jar of treats near the entrance of your home. Bring new people around who love dogs and understand the situation, and have them treat your pooch. They should extend the treat out sideways from their body, without looking at the dog. It’s non-confrontational and teaches the dog that new people are exciting.
• If you use treats for positive reinforcement when training a staffordshire bull terrier, be sure that you use them sparingly. If the dog receives a treat every time it follows one of your commands, it will learn that treats and obedience go together, not you and obedience. If you stop giving treats at that point, the dog will stop obeying.
• If you have an old dog, he may become grouchy and nervous. This is because older dogs often lose their vision, hearing, and/or sense of smell. This can cause them to feel uncertain and vulnerable. Be sure to keep things consistent for your old dog. Set up a comfortable area where he can always count on finding his comfy bed, favorite toy and a dish of food and water.
• When training staffordshire bull terriers, be competent! Your dog wants to know that you are in charge and that you know what you are doing. If you are inconsistent, anxious, irritable, angry, or in any way unstable while training your dog, you will not succeed. You must be calm, consistent, and competent. If you don’t know about dog training, it is a very good idea to learn from books, videos and people who know before you ever get a dog!
• If you have gotten a dog or puppy and you have crate trained them you should always try not to keep them in there for more than four or five hours at a time unless it’s overnight or it’s just a once-in-awhile thing. If you have to have them in the crate for longer periods of time, a dog probably wasn’t the best option for you.
• Set your staffy up to succeed for the end of a session. End all of your training sessions with a command that you know that he can do and reward him for his effort. You don’t want him to come away depressed about training time, but you also don’t want to reward him if he was not responding well during the session. Giving him a task or command that you know he can do allows you to reward him without confusing him.
• Try using your dog’s name to get it’s attention. It should have a good orientation response. Try to build attention by using your dog’s name when calling it for things like walks, food, playing, etc. Try doing this 10 times a day at random times. Never punish them for coming to you via a call by you.
• To make training staffordshire bull terrier effective, refrain from attempting to train it when you’re mad at it. If you are upset, there is no way you can give fair orders to your dog, because you will let your emotions take over any rational thoughts. Therefore, you should wait until you have calmed down before attempting to train your dog.
• When training your dog, a great tip is to be sure you have proper timing when trying to teach your dog certain commands because it is the key towards a successful teaching method. It does not matter what particular method you use. You just have to make sure the timing is right.
• Avoid using food and treats when training staffordshire bull terrier beyond the puppy stage. Once you teach your dog to expect food for performing any task, they will refuse to do even the most basic commands without a food reward. Praising your dog warmly with words, cuddles and special playtime will get you a dog that listens without you worrying whether or not you have a treat in your pocket.

As we have discussed in this article, owning a happy, healthy, and well adjusted staffy is not an impossible dream. Training your pet, offering him plenty of love and attention, and being mindful of your dogs needs are key. Follow the ‘training staffordshire bull terrier’ steps listed above and your dog will become, and remain, an important part of your family.

1. Make sure to keep your staffordshire bull terrier puppy training sessions brief. Animals become bored quickly and are less likely to respond if they are not engaged in what you are doing. Aim for working with your pet three times a day for approximately five minutes at a time. This will leave them wanting more and will make your overall program more successful.
2. Make sure to only say the command word one time while training your dog. It is important not to repeat yourself, because your pet will begin to expect you to say the instructions multiple times. You want your dog to respond to your commands as soon as you say them.
3. To make your staffy understand what you are expecting from it, you should reward it when it behaves well. Pet it when it obeys you, and use a soothing voice. You can even feed your dog a treat if it did something remarkably well. Make sure your dog understands why you are pleased.
4. While your staffy pup should obey all humans, it is very important that they have only one master. This does not mean that he won’t listen to the commands of others, but that there is one individual who is clearly the highest in command. Otherwise, the dog may feel confused and insecure.
5. Keep your dog up-to-date on his check-ups. If you are finding your dog is having difficulty with some aspects of staffy puppy training, or has regressed in his training, make sure he is in good health. Dogs are very adept at hiding pain and discomfort. So many times behavioral changes are the only clue that there is a health issue. For example, aggression can be a sign of pain, and sudden regression in-house training can signal a urinary tract infection.
6. Praise your dog lavishly every time he or she comes closer to following commands. For instance, when first teaching the dog to come, praise for turning in the right direction. Then praise for a few steps toward you. Eventually, praise the dog enthusiastically for running straight to you at the first call. The dog associates obedience with the joy of pleasing you and shares in your excitement.
7. Dogs are happiest by your side, so remember that staffordshire bull terrier puppy training requires a commitment from you as a pet owner. Your dog is a commitment for the rest of his natural life, so your training sessions should be a time to bond. Make them fun and rewarding for you both, and training will never be a chore. Training should be a joyful time!
8. One tip to keep in mind when training your dog, is to be sure to never discipline your dog for bad behavior when he is ill. This will only confuse your dog and might cause him to not respond to discipline in the future. Examples of this would be, if your dog vomits or defecates in a manner that is not typical to his normal behavior.
9. When training your dog to fetch a ball, show him you are the leader by making him bring the ball to you at all times. If your dog drops the ball nearby and you walk to pick the ball up, your dog assumes he is the leader. Teaching the dog that he must bring the ball to you each time helps your dog to understand what is wanted of him at all times with the ball.
10. A great way for your dog to learn new skills (or brush up on some old ones) is to attend classes at your local dog training center. If you are not sure of where to take him, your friends or veterinarian may be able to help you find a place that best suits your needs.
11. When you are training your new dog or puppy that will be living indoors a good thing to do is the crate training. The dog’s first impressions of the crate are the most important. Try putting some dog treats around the crate and leading into it so that they can walk around and inside the crate. Make sure that you are positive and upbeat so that they know it’s a good thing.
12. Staffordshire bull terrier puppy training may sometimes be frustrating. If you have found yourself to be upset because you are not making progress, go ahead and take a break before trying it again. The dog is always watching you and learning, so if it can see you are upset it will react in a similar manner.
13. Your anxious dog should have something to do when you’re not home. Many people have success with food-based distractions. By appealing to a dog’s natural love of food and chewing, food shoved in a rubber toy can make a world of difference for anxious dogs that are home alone. Make sure this food cannot be choked on – there are many dog-safe recipes to be found online for various types of chewing toys.
14. A staffy with hobbies is a happy dog. Make your dog work on walks. Many large breed dogs enjoy carrying items during walks such as tennis balls, sticks, or even dog-sized backpacks. This gives a dog a sense of purpose and gives him something to concentrate on. This way his attention span will be less likely to stray from your walk.

As was discussed in the beginning of this article, puppy chewing is a problem only if you do not give him something else to focus on. Apply the advice from this article on the proper way to train your puppy not to chew up your home, and soon you will see your dog finding non-destructive ways to occupy their time.

• To teach your staffy to lie down, have him start in a sit position. Take a treat, and place your hand on the ground. Slowly drag it away from your dog. Your dog should initially lower his nose to the ground, and then lie down as he tries to follow the treat further away. If he stands up instead of lying down, have him restart from the sit position. Make sure to praise him once he lies down.
• Find a suitable trainer. Ask your vet, other dog owners, or a local shelter or rescue organization for recommendations. Also, check out the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, which has a list of approved instructors on their website. When finding an instructor for your dog, be sure to sit in on one of their classes. If the dogs in the class seem to be happy, then it’s a good sign.
• If you are having problems with your dog’s behavior, one of the best things that you can do is to avoid aggression triggers. For instance, do not put them in a situation where they are likely to feel protective. If they do not like other dogs, simply try to separate them.
• Watch your demeanor when you are training your dog. You need to remain calm, but assertive at all times. Do not show anger or raise your voice. If you do this, your dog will require you to shout commands in order to follow them, if this is how he is trained.
• When training your dog, do it in short sessions, no more than fifteen to twenty minutes each session. This keeps your dog from becoming bored and uninterested in the training. More importantly, it ensures that your focus is entirely on training, which is vital to ensuring your dog’s success.
• The main reason for crate training is to housebreak your dog. The concept of crate training is that dogs feel secure in this environment and will not soil the area in which they sleep. In this case, the crate, or den, is their sleeping area and they will not soil it, so it’s the best choice for housebreaking your dog.
• For staffies that chew inappropriately, try a training aid like a liquid that has a strong, bitter taste. Many pet stores sell holistic products that taste terrible to most dogs. Some people choose to steep pepper flakes in water in a spray bottle instead. Either way you choose to go, a bitter or spicy deterrent on furniture, shoes, or other items that you don’t want your dog chewing or eating can stop this behavior in its tracks.
• To teach your dog anything, you need to be consistent. This means you should give the same order every time, and reward or punish your dog in a similar way, all the time. This will help your staffy assimilate certain concepts much faster than if you were using a more complex and diverse way of communicating.
• Spend time each day training your dog, even if for only a few minutes a day. Dogs respond well when they get to practice what they are learning and what they have learned. Practicing at least 15 minutes a day on commands your dog already knows keeps the dog in practice.
• Remember that sometimes patience is key with training staffies, so don’t become frustrated if your dog doesn’t catch on right away. It would be nice if every dog could understand your every command but you have to remember they can’t. Just try and be sure you are aware of your dog’s emotions and when they do follow your command reward them so they know what they did was right.
• Does your dog bark excessively? If he does, do not give him treat to quiet him, or raise your voice to quiet him. If he is quiet, offer him treats then, and a lot of attention and praise. By doing this you are encouraging the silent behavior you are after.
• Negative methods of training staffies don’t work. Just as with humans, positive reinforcement of behaviors is much more effective. Use praise, treats and play time to show your dog that you are pleased with their performance. If he cannot do what you are asking him, do not punish him or yell at him. He will associate trying to do the task with negativity and will avoid the task even harder the next time.
• A barking dog can drive its owner as well as the neighbors crazy! A good way to train your dog not to bark is to offer him a reward to stop barking! When he barks, use a command such as “Quiet!” or “No bark!” and wave his favorite treat in front of his nose. Soon he will learn that dog treats are better than making noise!
• Get in the habit of only giving your dog a direct command one time. It will seem easy to just repeat it over and over until he responds, but don’t do that. Instead, revisit the training until your dog understands that you expect him to react the first time you say something.
• Use food as a reward when training staffies. Many dogs will respond on a basic level to edibles. The reward of food will usually encourage them to continue on a food winning path. Vary the types of treats you get for your dog. Alternate fresh meat with packaged treats.

Training staffies isn’t impossible, even though there are times when it can seem that way, there are things you can do to get over those tough hurdles. Make sure that you start with these tips and hunt out other such tips from the internet, so you can get off to the best start to successfully train your dog.

• If you want your dog to bond with a favorite toy, such as a lovey or chewing object, make the toy a treat. Filling the toy with a wonderful smell or treat, such as peanut butter, can make it very enticing for your pup. If the toy is a kong style, fill it with his kibble for meals.
• Like people, different staffies respond better to different staffordshire training styles. For example, a laidback and loving dog (as most staffies are!) will be likely to thrive on positive reinforcement, whereas, a more aggressive dog may need negative reinforcement in order to respect your alpha position. If your chosen training method is not working, then it may be time to consider another approach.
• In order to ensure success with training your staffy, you must have excellent self-control over your own actions. If you do not have control over yourself, then there is no way you can effectively have control over another life. Therefore, if you have poor self-control then you should not attempt to train a staffy.
• When it comes to barking, be aware of the environment or activities when your dog barks excessively. Having an awareness of the triggers, can help you address the behavior constructively. For example, if your dog only barks excessively when visitors enter your home, enlist a friend to come over to help you address the behavior, at the time of the trigger event.
• Don’t feed your dog food they aren’t accustomed to when house training them. Very rich foods, in particular, make it hard for a dog to control their bowels. Stick to the tried and true in terms of types of food and the quantity you feed and the house breaking experience will proceed much more smoothly.
• In order to train a well-mannered dog you should always be consistent with your punishments. If you let your dog get away with a particular bad behavior when you normally punish him for it, then your dog will be more likely to revert to bad behavior in general and not as likely to listen to your commands in the future.
• One tip to keep in mind when training your staffy is that it is important to ensure that your dog has all of his needs fulfilled. Your dog will not respond well to praise or punishment and will not be able to focus on learning skills, if he or she is not being well taken care of. Be sure to feed him well, shelter him comfortably and spend time playing with him.
• A great staffordshire training tip is to always be sure you properly enforce all the commands that are given to your dog. The reason for this is if you do not enforce them, your dog will not listen to your commands in the future. In all likelihood though, because staffies are so close to their owners you shouldn’t have any problems.
• Make sure your dog’s diet is appropriate for him. If your dog is a lazy dog who likes to lounge around all day, you don’t want to give him the high protein food a dog who herds sheep would receive. This can cause problems and high vet bills down the road.
• When training your staffy, it is important to remember to keep the training sessions relatively short. Fifteen minutes is about the right time to work on a training task, spending much more time than this will frustrate your dog and set back progress. After each training session spend some time playing with your dog and lavish him with praise.
• One tip to keep in mind when staffy training is to ensure that you make it absolutely clear to your dog what it is that your are disciplining it for. This is important to avoid confusion and to teach the dog what is desired and what is undesired behavior. An example of what to avoid is hitting your dog hours past and in a different room from where it shredded your couch. In fact hitting a dog is not recommended at all because it is totally counterproductive to building a happy, healthy relationship with your pup.
• Be patient with your staffy – every dog has its own unique and will learn at his own pace. Some dogs can and will learn very quickly; other dogs choose to take their time. Patience is one of the most important virtues you can employ when effectively training your dog.
• At the onset of training a command or skill, it is best to keep the corrections to a minimum. It’s not fair to over correct him for something he doesn’t know how to do, and you will only discourage him from wanting to work with you. Remember to keep corrections appropriate for his age and knowledge of the task you are both working on.
• When training a troublesome dog there are many different techniques that one can use. However a key factor is establishing that one is dominant over the dog they are trying to train. By ensuring that your knows who is in charge will guarantee that they will listen to you.
• Don’t get angry or upset if your staffy doesn’t learn a new trick right away. New tricks take time to learn and require patience and persistence from you. Praise your dog for each correct response and try not to get frustrated. Your dog can sense your frustration and that may cause him to get discouraged.
• If your dog does not respond well to you during training you should not get mad at him or her. You are the teacher and he or she is the student, so if they are not responding very well to you it could be the fact that you are not such a good teacher.

Now you see how much you need to put into staffordshire training. While staffies are an awesome dog to have around the house, they are a lot of work, especially at the beginning. It will be worth it, and you will find you have a new best friend that will love you unconditionally!

If I had a dollar for every tennis ball my staffy has ripped to pieces, I’d be living in a penthouse on a tropical island! As a staffy owner, you will appreciate how easy it is for your dog to tear most toys to shreds in a very short space of time.  That’s why we all need a toy that will last the distance.

I’ve finally learned my lesson, and I now seek out only the toughest toys I can find.

The other day, I came across this toy that has been built to withstand those powerful staffy teeth.  It’s called the Staffy Ball (Enduro) and it comes with a 12 month warranty. It’s a hefty 240mm in diameter, which means your staffy won’t be able to tear at any loose ends or corners that some staffy toys have

Mind you, it’s not cheap, but then neither is driving to the pet store every weekend to replace the latest ripped up toy on the back lawn!

To find out more about one of the best staffy toys around, Click Here To Go To Vet Products Direct and type ‘staffy toys’ into their search tool – it will take you straight to the staffy ball.  If you want to see what other staffy owners think, there are some good reviews there too.

While you’re looking at their website, you might want to have a look at some of their other products.  Whatever you want for your pet…any pet…it looks like they have it!

For example, all dogs have a hunting or chasing instinct, and staffies are no different.  Fortunately their desire to chase is much less apparent than in many other breeds, but it can still cause problems if it is not properly handled. Training staffordshire bull terriers to stop them chasing is important for a number of reasons.  Firstly, if they chase after everything that moves it will be very difficult if not impossible to ensure their safety from cars and other vehicles.  Secondly, if they chase after other animals they may injure or even kill them. Finally, if you are taking your staffy for a walk it is supposed to be relaxing for you both and the last thing you need is to be worried about what they are getting up to.  

TRAINING STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIERS – HOW TO STOP YOUR STAFFY CHASING

If your staffy has serious chasing tendencies, the first thing you need to do is undertake some basic retraining. As a starting point, you will need to keep your staffy on a leash whenever you are in open public areas.  The leash is the fundamental means you have of controlling your dog and keeping them safe so you can start work on more advanced behaviours.  

Click Here to STOP Your Staffy Chasing FOR GOOD!

Here are 5 tips for training staffordshire bull terriers to stop chasing:  

1. Training Staffordshire Bull Terriers –  Keep the Focus on You  

Make sure your dog focusses its attention on you.  You are the boss and your dog needs to learn that it must take its cues from you. This is a fundamental point that is relevant to all aspects of staffy training.  When you take your dog for a walk, make sure they look directly at you before you start moving.  Under no circumstances should they start walking before they receive a visual and verbal cue from you.    

2. Use Leash Training  

If your staffy likes to pull on their leash and seems reluctant to focus on you, make them sit down and wait for you.  If they pull on the leash, make them stop and sit beside you.  Within a short period of time they will learn to control their walking to a pace that is dictated by you. You can also use this method for training staffordshire bull terriers if your dog pulls at the leash in an attempt to chase another dog, or someone on a bicycle, for example.  Once again, make them stop and sit until the object of their attention has passed.  They will soon learn that indiscriminate chasing is something you will not permit.  

3. Use Distraction  

When your staffy is not on a leash, you can use a toy to distract them from chasing.  Throw it in another direction and they will chase after it instead.  

 4. Use Rewards  

Reward your staffy with a small treat or a pat after you have restrained it from chasing.  In this way it will learn to associate ‘good’ behaviour with a reward.    

5. Avoid Using Extreme Measures

Many people will revert to extreme measures for training staffordshire bull terriers and to stop them from chasing, such as using electric fences or collars.  This is inhumane and unnecessary.  It is always better and more constructive to concentrate on developing and rewarding your dog’s ‘good’ behaviours rather than punishing them for something they have done wrong. If your staffy likes to chase cars, other people or animals, it is not only annoying for you, but also dangerous to your dog and to others. Concentrate on fixing their behaviour in the early day of your ‘training staffordshire bull terriers’ partnership, and you’ll both be much better off!

Whatever approach you decide to take in training your staffy, it is useful to have an idea of the typical benefits that training will provide.
One of the biggest benefits to training staffordshire bull terriers is that you can quickly learn how to give specific commands and ensure that your dog knows how to respond to these commands.  Many people make the mistake of thinking that dog training is all about what their dog does or doesn’t do, and has nothing to do with their own actions.  In reality, dog ownership is a form of partnership between you and your dog, and each of the partners has responsibilities and a particular role to play.  If you think of dog training in this light it will be much more enjoyable and effective.

 Here are four specific benefits that staffordshire bull terrier training can provide:

1.  Staffordshire Bull Terrier Training – Leadership 

It is worth remembering that in the wild, dogs are pack animals, and each pack has a leader.  Even though your staffy is a domesticated breed, it will still have that pack instinct,  and will see you and your family as their ‘clan’.   You will need to train your staffy so that they know you are the leader and that they have to listen to you.   If you don’t do this they will be confused and may try and exert their own dominance. As a starting point in any training program, make it clear to them that you are the ‘alpha leader’ and all the other elements of dog training will become much easier. Fortunately, staffies are naturally friendly and love being around people so you will have a good basis to start from!

2. Basic Commands

A good practical benefit of staffordshire bull terrier training is that you will be able to teach your pet some simple commands like heel, sit, stay, and quiet. Once learned, these commands will be very useful when taking a dog for a walk, for example, or when you have visitors in your home.  You can also build on these basic commands later on if you want to teach your dog more complex responses.

3. Staffordshire Bull Terrier Training – No More Barking and Biting!

Barking and biting can be serious issues if they are not dealt with at an early age. With some focussed training you can quickly teach your dog what the acceptable limits are. 
 
4. Stress-Free Walking

Click Here to STOP Your Staffy Barking ONCE AND FOR ALL! 

Walking a dog can be very stressful and tiring if your dog keeps pulling at the lead.  Although staffordshire bull terriers are only medium-sized, they are a very powerful breed and it can be quite an effort to control them if they are intent on getting away.  A good staffordshire bull terrier training course will teach you how to stop your dog from taking you for a walk, and will ensure that they heel or sit when you want them to.

Remember that staffordshire bull terrier training is just the starting point in developing a partnership with your dog.  It is important to be consistent with your commands and requirements, and to make sure that the rest of your family understands what the training involves and who is the ‘ultimate boss’ in terms of dog leadership.  You must be kind, yet firm with your dog and they will come to love and respect you and your family.

If you have a new staffy pup or even an older dog, it is well worth considering a class or course to get you started on this path.

If you are considering staffy training or staffy puppy training, there are easy ways to stop your staffy from barking. Staffies are one of the most ‘vocal’ breeds of dogs, and can make a wide range of sounds as they attempt to communicate with you, many of them very endearing! Fortunately for their owners, barking is not usually a major problem with staffordshire bull terriers and often doesn’t need to be dealt with during staffy training. 

However, it is part of a dog’s nature to bark, and while this can be useful if you are concerned about intruders, in most cases security is not an issue and people just want a friendly, quiet dog that won’t disrupt the neighbourhood with loud or incessant barking. If your dog does have an unwanted barking habit, it is a good idea to deal with this as part of your overall staffy training program.

Before you decide how to train your staffy to stop it from barking, it is useful to understand why dogs bark and what types of barking you can control.
   

Click Here To STOP Your Staffy Barking!

Staffy Training – The Causes of Dog Barking

Just as humans sometimes cry out or shout, dogs often bark when they are scared, excited or angry.

The different reasons for barking can be categorised as:

Injury or Illness Related Barking
Territorial Barking
Compulsive Barking
Attention Seeking Barking
Frustration Barking
Greeting Barking
Alarm Barking

You can see from these categories that barking can arise from a wide variety of situations.  It is perfectly understandable that a dog would want to bark in these situations, as this is one of the few ways it has of communicating with you. It is also important to recognise when you are considering staffy training that it is impossible to stop your dog from barking completely.  Instead, what you will be looking for as part of your staffy training is how to stop the avoidable instances of barking.
 

Staffy Training – How to Stop Your Staffy From Barking

Firstly you need to determine whether your staffy’s barking is warranted. Nine times out of ten, it’s excessive and can be controlled with some simple staffy training. If you decide that your dog’s barking can and should be controlled, ask yourself these questions.

What is my staffy barking at?
When does it bark?
Does he or she have a particular trigger for their barking?

If your staffy starts barking to protect its territory or because it is alarmed by something, don’t yell at it to stop. This so-called ‘negative reinforcement’ to stop territorial barking can cause the dog to express itself through aggression or biting, because they will not understand what you are trying to tell them.  They may stop barking for fear of retribution, but their territorial issue will not have been resolved.

As a general control measure, it is better to make clear during your ongoing staffy training program that you are the ‘alpha leader’ in control of protecting your dog’s perceived territory, and this will reduce its urge to bark in such situations.  You can also take some more immediate practical measures to stop your staffy becoming aware of outside ‘threats’, such as closing the blinds, restricting access to windows, or building a fence that restricts their view of the outside world.

How to Stop Barking Caused By Anxiety
If your staffy seems anxious, it is likely to be due to periods of separation from you or your family, perhaps while you are at work.  This could cause them to bark until you return.  You won’t hear this of course, but your neighbours might not be too impressed if they have to listen to it all day!  The best way to break the cycle is to stop giving your staffy any attention for the first 10 or 15 minutes after you get home, so they stop associating your return with a ‘reward’.

As another staffy training measure to control barking, you can create a command that signals to your dog when you want them to stop.  In this way they will learn to control their barking when is not necessary, but it will still allow your dog to bark if there is an intruder or something else you want your dog to alert you of.

Dog barking does not have to be a problem for you and your neighbours.  Include some simple anti-barking measures in your staffy training program and any problems you have will soon be resolved.

Fortunately, it is easy and fun to learn effective ways of staffy puppy training.

A staffy pup has to be one of the cutest things around, and their friendliness and need for love are impossible to resist.  These characteristics of the breed make staffy puppy training easier than the same training for other breeds. However, staffy pups, like many other breeds, can be very keen on biting and chewing, so it is a good idea to deal with both of these issues at an early  before those famously-powerful staffy jaws reach their full strength! 
Uncontrolled biting habits can lead to aggression and dominance problems later in your dog’s life, although it can be easy to forget this when you are playing with your new pup.  Fortunately most puppies will learn to stop biting if they are kept in the litter with their brothers and sisters for at least 2 months after birth.  They soon learn that if they bite, they will get bitten back and in most instances this is enough to control any biting tendencies.  However, in some cases this adjustment time is cut short and you may have a puppy who still wants to nip and bite at your fingers.  In this situation it is a good idea to take quick action with some staffy puppy training before things get out of hand. 

If you’ve been looking for some information on how to train a staffy, there are six basic principles and ideas you should consider which can make your staffy training much easier and more enjoyable. 

  1. Modify Your Own Behaviour 

 It is important to realise that any training program has to involve changes to your behaviour as well as your dog’s. Like all dogs, staffies show instinctual behaviours which in some cases need to be controlled or modified. However, to a large degree their behaviour is a reaction to your own, so learning how to modify your own behaviour to bring out the best in your dog is very important. Your staffy wants to be part of your family ‘pack’ and will look to you for guidance and direction.    

2. Use Positive Reinforcement 

Staffies are a very intelligent breed and respond well to training, although they can also be very strong-willed and it can often seem like they have a very clear agenda of their own!  In learning how to train a staffy, the best general approach is to use positive reinforcement of ‘good’ behaviour, rather than yelling or shouting at them if they do something you don’t like.  With positive reinforcement, your dog’s behaviour will naturally shift towards your desired outcomes and the other behaviours will fade way.  This is particularly so with staffies because they are a very affectionate dog and actively seek out human warmth and attention. So, if you want to modify any aspect of your staffy’s behaviour, the best way is work on changing how they express their basic instincts.      

3. Be Consistent

  Any dog training method you might use when considering how to train a staffy has to be used consistently.  Dogs respond best to consistent commands and behaviour.  For example, if you only make your dog sit down occasionally before putting on its leash, it will get confused and excited and will not know how to respond.  If you establish a rule, make sure everyone in the family follows it when interacting with your staffy.   

Click Here to Learn How to Give Your Staffy EFFECTIVE COMMANDS!

   4. Establish Your ‘Alpha Leadership’

  One of the most fundamental aspects of how to train a staffy, or in fact any type of dog training, is the position you hold in the household.  It is up to you to show your staffy that you are the leader of the family pack and they must look to you for guidance.  This allows them to relax because they then have a better understanding of their place in the pack and they also know that you will protect them. 

5. Use Leash Training

 If your staffy has a habit of pulling on their leash, the most useful thing you can do is teach them to settle into a calm state.  One simple measure you can use in how to train a staffy is to get them to sit down before putting on their leash. This will allow your dog to respond to your commands instead of getting over-excited about the walk.  If you are out walking and your staffy pulls on its leash, make them sit down and wait for a few moments before you continue.  They will soon realise that if they pull on their leash the walk will come to a halt, which is the last thing they want!

6. Consider Obedience Training for How to Train a Staffy  

You can get some excellent tips on how to train a staffy from going to an obedience class. These classes will show you what you need to know about establishing and maintaining alpha leadership, and how to give your staffy firm, effective commands.  Whether you have a new puppy or are struggling to control an older dog, obedience classes can be a very useful addition to your ‘how to train a staffy’ home training program.