Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and it will need a job to do long before it needs long walks. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hereditary cataract (HC-HSF4-2)
• L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-2-HGA)
• Elbow dysplasia
• Hereditary eye disease screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme

From Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed information at https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/terrier/staffordshire-bull-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 11 to 17 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other medium breeds

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