Pup Talk

Each year, nearly 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs. As many as 800,000 people, require medical attention for dog bites annually, and about a dozen people die each year from dog bite injuries. The good news is that most bites can be prevented. All dogs should be treated with the utmost caution; every dog will bite given the right circumstances. Each dog has its own distinct social and personal distance that a stranger is permitted to enter. This is why dogs that are tied may bite or snap when approached; they are unable to escape when there is a sudden invasion of their personal space. Always pay attention to signals given off by all dogs.

by This Year’s Love

Never assume that because a dog’s tail is wagging that he will not bite. It can mean indecision on the dog’s part. If a dog is chasing you, never run unless you can beat the dog to a safe haven. Running is a sure way to aggravate an attack, so if you see a dog wandering loose without an owner and it approaches you, do not run away, yell or make loud noises. Stand very still like a tree and cross your arms over your chest, as if you are giving yourself a great, big hug. (This shape forms the trunk of your tree.) Look away from the dog, because dogs sometimes think direct eye contact is a challenge for power and control. Your intention is not to challenge the dog. Instead you just want the dog to go away. Toss an object away from you and away from the dog. This should attract its attention toward the object and away from you. The dog should move toward the thrown object to sniff and investigate it, which will give you a chance to slowly, turn and walk away. All stray dog encounters does not have to end in a bite.

If you believe that a dog is going to attack you, offer it whatever you have with you, whether it is a clipboard, briefcase, or purse. If the dog is truly aggressive he will grab the object and hold on. As the dog holds on do not let go of the object, if you do he will soon realize that it is not you and will more than likely attack again. Normally, once the dog realizes that he is having little or no effect, he will stop the attack, or at the very least, give you time to plan your next move. You should only strike the dog as a last resort. Inflicting pain on the dog can only make him more aggressive, as he will identify you as the source of his pain. If you happen to be knocked to the ground, remain motionless in the fetal position, and protect your face by crossing your arms above your head. It is also important to remember that turning and running are signals for a dog to chase and attack. Most people are bitten moving away from a dog when they turn to run. Dogs are usually less aggressive on neutral ground, so it is important to gradually increase the distance from where the dog lives, if that is where the encounter occurred. Sometimes all efforts to resolve a stand off with dog fail and the unfortunate happens.

If a dog that may attack you approaches, first follow some simple steps to avoid being bitten. If you are bitten or attacked by a dog, try not to panic. Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water. Contact your physician for additional care and advice. Report the bite to your local animal care and control agency. Tell the animal control official everything you know about the dog, including his owner’s name and the address where he lives. If the dog is a stray, tell the animal control official what the dog looks like, where you saw him, whether you’ve seen him before, and in which direction he went.

Johnny A. Jenkins, Distribution Director of Repeller Technology, provides self-defense and safety products, tips and advice to fit most situations. Make your surroundings safer for you and loved ones today at: Repeller Technology.

Animals as pets, seems a silly notion to me. The only animals I’ve really kept as pets would be fish. And many animal lovers who have pets, would probably disagree with me as to the classification of fish as pets. Whatever. While I enjoy other peoples animal pets, I’m sure none of them would classify me as an animal lover. A recent turn of events may however have a long term effect on my relationship with animals. Having recently caved to our children’s long term lobbying efforts to have a family dog as a pet, it appears that I will be sharing my home with an animal of the non-aquatic variety very soon.

by alicudi

Stress Out The Dogs

The thought of sharing my domicile with an animal has me a little stressed out. However, that should be short lived, as according to many experts living with an animal is supposed to help relieve stress in humans. Not exactly sure why that is. Perhaps having a creature you can speak your mind to, that has no recourse but to agree with you? Sometimes us human animals just need someone to listen, and agree with everything we say. Maybe the constant reminder of an animal who has no control over what they eat, where they sleep, how they play, and what goofy clothes they wear, makes people realize that maybe things aren’t so bad for them. Could be worse, you could be a dog.

First Puppy Wins US Open

Apparently exercise is supposed to be another benefit of keeping an animal in the house. Taking them out for walks, playing catch, and bending over to pick up dogie poo all seem wonderful. Really? I tend to like my exercise to be more of the competitive variety. Any chance rover can learn to pick up a tennis racquet? Animals playing sports? Now that’s got potential.

Animals As People Magnets

Need to find some new friends? Get an animal. Your guaranteed to meet other animal lovers, as they all walk their dogs / cats / hamsters through the park. Not so sure these are the best kind of people for me to meet though. Never have been much of an animal lover, so I’m not to sure how I’d fit in with this group. Those people with the big nasty attack dogs always scare me a little. It’s not so much the animal I worry about however, it’s really the owners that concern me. What would posses someone to want to own an animal that could kill you while you sleep is truly beyond me.

Animal Therapist

Apparently animals make great therapists. Hmm, maybe they meant animals are good therapy. That whole unconditional love and admiration thing. Not like the animals have much choice. Seems like a pretty one sided relationship to me. Well hopefully all the animal experts are right and there is some good (therapeutic or otherwise) to living with animals. I hope so, otherwise I may soon be the one in need of a therapist. Preferably a human one.

For more on animals visit http://www.animalswildonline.com or read other animal articles at http://foolishmumbles.com/category/animals/

Identification of a Staffordshire bull terrier isn’t difficult. You do not need an expert eye for this. This dog is burly and powerfully built. You would surely notice its broad head, thick neck and deep chest. The potent jaws with great muscles and undersized droopy ears complete the body contours of this English breed.

photo credit: markhillary

A Staffordshire bull terrier might be black, brindle, white or a reddish tan. The original name of this particular breed of dogs was bull terrier. Later, it was changed to its present name. However, do not get it confused with an American Pit Bull Terrier. Although they look similar any lover of either breed could not mistake one for the other.

When you bring home a dog, you want it as your lovable pet. A ‘Staffy’ is not only devoted to you; it also possesses a very friendly spirit and a love of children that has given the nickname of the “nanny dog”.

These dogs are fighters by nature and are aggressive too with other dogs. Therefore, it is to be borne in mind to keep away your ’staffy’ from other same sex dogs. It becomes a mandatory rule for the ‘un-neutered’ male dogs. Therefore, always keep a strict vigil over cohabitation of your ‘Staffy’ and its companions. Two Staffies should never be left alone for long periods.

While breeding a Staffordshire bull terrier, the most important consideration you have to make is its temperament. Remember, that the objective of breeding is to improve the breed. Merely because a SBT is KC registered does not mean it should be bred. The temperament of a Staffordshire bull terrier is its greatest asset so breeding should be done keeping in mind the temperament of the parents.

There are also many health concerns that should be taken into consideration and dogs should be health tested before going ahead with breeding.

The breed standard of Staffordshire bull terrier

The Standard refers to the ‘blueprint’ of Staffordshire bull terrier. This is actually the ideal representative of the breed. There are some particular features, which do not tally with the idea of a Staffordshire bull terrier. Like, white and liver colors are strictly non-acceptable ones for the ‘ideal’ breed.

Keeping within the ideal standard there are some attributes that should be avoided when pairing dogs. Strictly, avoid a pink nose. The eye color is preferably black. Avoid a pink pair of eyes, unless they are enclosed with a white coat with short ears. Complete drop or full prick will be considered a defect. The ‘model’ tallness (at shoulder) and related weight is 14 to 16 inches/28 to 38 pounds (bitches, 24 to 34 pounds). Go for tight and clean lips. A tail that is too stretched or badly curled is an imperfection and the legs should be parallel when viewed from behind.

photo credit: markhillary

Of course, these are attributes that are desired when showing Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and again to meet the idea standards of the breed. Any dog that is born with these traits are loving and adorable pets just like all the rest.

Remember, a ‘Staffy Bull’, is very intelligent, brave and a faithful dog. It could become an indispensable part of your family if trained well.

Mal Keenan is editor and publisher of Staffordshire Bull Terriers Website.

Visit his Staffordshire Bull Terrier forum for more info on the dog breed and to meet with other Staffy lovers:
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Forum