Hi there, I've made the decision to give a home to a twelve week old Staffie x Boxer. I won't be getting him until Thursday.
I know raw feeding is recommended a lot but I'd like to stick to dry feeding. I also know some dry goods are full of rubbish and I would like some recommendations of the best brand to feed him.
I am already looking into obedience/socialising classes. I have a large house with a high fence grass back garden with a Yale locked gate. I also have a large front garden. Just up the road is a huge huge grass park and a trail along a canal.
My plan is to have him in the kitchen initially. It's just floor boards as I am waiting on flooring. It also has direct access to the back garden so I can take him straight out for toilet training.
I have owned a Staffie before but only for a short time as sadly someone stole her from my garden. I know they have loads of energy and are very intelligent. I also know that if they get bored they can become destructive. So I would like to have some toy recommendations and treat ones too, to reward him for toilet training etc.
I am a little unsure on the discipline. I know and never would hit a dog or shout at one. Other than that I'm not really sure so am going to do lots of research but again would like some advice. I did have a behaviouralist with my previous Staffie for a very long story where in summary the person that I got her from was a fosterer and regimes her as the rescue was going to put her down. They believed she was untrainable. I refused to let them take her until they proved she was. So they sent a behaviouralist that totally disagreed with them and she was mine. I trained her very easily.
Anyways the behaviouralist told me some advice that I think is probably outdated now. Things like to not let the dog go in the house first. If jumping up turn your back to them.
Finally I am going to register him with my local vets pet care plan which for a set amount each month covers all vaccinations, flea and worming, health checks and microchip. Insurance wise I'd like some advice on the kind of policy I should consider.
And any other advice please, I really want to give this pup a great home and be a good responsible owner.