or doors that lead into the garden, particularly at the bottom, where the gap from floor to gate should be no more than 5cm (2in).
Also bear in mind that the name Terrier comes from the word ‘terrain’, which means of the ground – these dogs enjoy digging, so protect any valuable plants. Check that you don’t have any plants which are poisonous to dogs and be careful when using weed-killers and other chemicals. Cocoa mulch is also potentially dangerous if eaten.
Inside
You need to make the inside of your house puppy-proof, too. If you want to confine your puppy to certain rooms or the ground floor only, you could invest in a child-safety gate which can be placed in doorways or at the bottom of the stairs. Walk around your home, checking out the following:
Wires Puppies adore wires, so carefully check out any places where they may have access to loose wires, cables or electrical equipment and make sure that they are secure and out of harm’s way.
Harmful substances Most of us keep bleach in the downstairs toilet or floor cleaner under the sink in the kitchen. Your new puppy will be quite happy to use these products as his playthings, so it is very important to make sure that any household cleaning materials and chemicals are well out of his reach or shut away securely in cupboards. Child safety locks fitted to cupboard doors are always a good option.
This puppy has plenty of room to play, as well as fresh water and toys in a secure place.
Chewing Tell the whole family to start keeping things tidy and not to leave anything that they value lying around, especially on the floor. You can try telling your new puppy that the designer trainer he has just eaten cost a lot of money or that the shredded paper at his feet was, in fact, a particularly important document, but he will not understand. Puppies love chewing and there is hardly anything they will not consider, so put things away or place them out of reach.
Puppies are happy to play in their crates for a while. It also gives them time to relax and sleep in their own den if they want.
Essential equipment
You will need to purchase some of the following items of equipment before you bring your new Stafford puppy home.
Crate and bedding
A crate is a metal or plastic ‘home’, and although some people think that crates are cruel prisons for dogs, this is far from the truth. When used correctly, they can help a puppy to settle into his new surroundings quickly. A crate will give him a sense of security, and it will enable you to housetrain him and make him feel secure. Most puppies soon learn that the crate is their own private place, where they can sleep peacefully and escape from family life if they want to.
You can buy crates from dog shows, pet shops or via the internet. Remember that your puppy, who may fit in your hands now, will grow quickly, so buy a crate with plenty of room for your adult Stafford. Crates are great for travelling. They generally fit quite snugly in cars, and your dog will feel secure and safe.
Bedding comes in a variety of types, and specially made bedding can be obtained from the same sources as your crate. You may want to consider buying waterproof bedding for a new puppy as accidents will happen. However, a good blanket or two from your bed is just as good and this will allow the puppy to use his ‘den-building’ instincts, which survive in all dogs.
Playpens
Another great buy, which is particularly helpful when you are housetraining your puppy, is a wire playpen (a three-sided fireguard will also do the trick). It can easily be placed against a wall and will make a great (and cheap) alternative to an indoor crate. Do make sure that the sides of the playpen can be altered, to give your puppy enough room to sleep as well as a small play area.
His crate and playpen can be placed by your outside door and he should be encouraged to go outside in the garden to toilet from day one.
Remember, however, that your puppy should never be left in this confined environment for long periods, although it is perfect for night-times and those times during the day when you need to know where he is and to put him where he can see you. Puppies are like toddlers, so use that as your rule of thumb.
All puppies love to chew – even a cardboard tube or box can become a plaything.
Toys
All puppies love to chew and there is a good reason for this. Chewing is good not only for their mental wellbeing but can also physically aid the teething process. Remember that puppies are not dissimilar to babies, and the distraction of a few hard toys can avoid boredom. They also mean that your sofa and chair legs may remain intact. Staffords have a particularly strong chewing instinct, and therefore their toys should be chosen very carefully for maximum safety. Choose good-quality hard toys and try to avoid the cute furry ones, which will be demolished quickly and any fur or stuffing may be swallowed. Similarly, don’t buy squeaky toys, which can soon be dismantled and contain small parts that are potentially very dangerous.
Choose good-quality toys for young puppies, who will spend many happy hours playing.
Get your new puppy acquainted with a soft ‘puppy’ collar. You should be able to insert three fingers if it is fit comfortably.
Collar and lead
For the first few weeks, you will be advised not to take your puppy out on a lead in public places. There are two reasons for this good advice: firstly, it is sensible to make sure that he has had all his vaccinations before venturing out into public places where other dogs have been. Your vet will be able to advise you on this (see page 102).
Secondly, a puppy’s body in the first few months is growing fast and damage can occur to his immature bones if exercise is too rigorous. Having said this, however, it is a good idea to get your pup acquainted with wearing a collar as soon as possible. At first, buy a soft puppy collar and lead. There are many good collars designed for puppies. Make sure that the collar is soft – nylon is ideal – and a good fit; you should be able to comfortably fit your finger between the collar and the puppy’s neck.
Don’t worry if he fusses a little at first. He may try and scratch at the collar, or roll around as if trying to remove it. This is because it feels alien to him (imagine what it feels like when you wear a new hat or piece of jewellery for the first time). Leave him to it as this reaction won’t last long, sometimes only minutes.
Food and food bowls
Metal bowls are advisable,
