Staffy Mix Puppy Needs Training and Health Advice? (Vet Answered)

Hi Daniel! Getting a puppy is so exciting! And it’s great that you’re on the ball right away with making sure you’re prepared. With the types of dogs you’ve had in the past, you’ll no doubt be familiar with many of the potential issues that can come from having a large and boisterous pup in your life, but it’s always a good idea to make sure you are tailoring your plan to the individual puppy. There are a few things that I would like to get out of the way first. You can never predict the temperament and behavior of a dog based purely on the breed, HOWEVER, it is foolish to not take breed into consideration when preparing yourself for training. Temperament and behavior is widely thought to be a culmination of breed and genetics + early life experience + and training, socialization, and upbringing. So ignoring breed is essentially ignoring ⅓ of that recipe, so it is important to be aware of the history of the breeds involved, as well as your pup’s parents if possible. You may hear some people say that Cane Corsos are aggressive and standoffish, or that Staffys are aggressive towards other dogs. However, I would advise you to ignore 99% of these sentiments! The Cane Corso was originally bred as Roman war dogs, for hunting and guarding. The breed almost became extinct, but was revived in the mid 1900s and has become a popular pet for individuals and families. Their breed history does come through in that they are known to be a bit headstrong and loyal to a fault, sometimes becoming over-protective of their families or a single individual. For these reasons, early socialisation with people and dogs is essential, as is strong, firm leadership, and establishing children in a leadership role from day one. I don’t tend to recommend this breed to families with very small children as they can sometimes become overprotective of littlies, or see them as competitors for attention. Staffys have come from a line of dogs that were used in bull-baiting and dog fighting, which shines through with their tenacious nature. They are also very loving and loyal family dogs, which, if not well controlled, can become a little too much for some people, as they jump and lick and occasionally play bite. Again, early socialization is key, and I would strongly encourage you to get your puppy meeting older dogs that can teach them doggy-manners while they are still young. While training to sit, come, and stay are very important, when it comes to any dog with powerful jaws, the first things I want to establish from the start is to allow hands in mouths, to have food and toys taken away (and given back!). If you take things away without returning them, this can teach them to resource guard. The key is to show them that you can take things away without fear of losing them. Get children to lead the way at feeding times so the pup learns that they control food. Being a female pup, you will likely be spared the additional challenge of the ‘teenage’ years; think terrible twos but with testosterone. I do recommend spaying female dogs, and for a dog of this size, I would advise spaying between the first and second seasons. This allows her to fully mature, but minimize the risks of health issues like mammary tumors and womb infections, as well as potential behavioral issues caused by hormonal fluctuations. Talk to your vet about this, or you can go to Pangolia.com to book an appointment for an online consultation with one of the vets. Essentially, this crossbreed is no more likely to be aggressive or dangerous than any other breed, provided that you start early with training and socialization. The key thing to remember is that this dog will have powerful jaws, so the potential to cause harm is greater that in a dog with a smaller mouth or weaker jaws, which is why it is particularly important to establish rules and boundaries early on. Remember that dogs thrive with consistency and boundaries, but get confused and stressed when one person says one thing, while the other says something else. I have attached the links to my 10 Commandments for Raising Puppies at the end, which hopefully will also be helpful. Best of luck with your new family member! Dr Karyn https://www.dogster.com/doggos-weekly/commandments-for-successful-puppy-parenting-part-one https://www.dogster.com/doggos-weekly/commandments-for-successful-puppy-parenting-part-two