American Pit Bull Terriers/American Staffordshire Terriers

by Stahlkuppe, Joe; Earle-Bridges, Michele

• ISBN13: 9780764110528
• ISBN10: 0764110527
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-09-01
• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Inc

Summary

These sturdy canines require rigorous training, but can become faithful companions or dauntless guard dogs. Books in Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals series present basic information for new or soon-to-be owners. Advice and instruction covers feeding, housing, health care, training, grooming, and much more. Texts emphasize pet care basics and are easy for all readers to understand. All books in this series are filled with high quality full-color photos and instructive line drawings.

Author Biography

Joe Stahlkuppe is a widely read pet columnist, author, and freelance feature writer. A long-time fan of purebred dogs, he has written several Barron's Pet Owner's Manuals. He lives on a small farm near Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife Cathie. He divides his time between his granddaughter, Ann Catherine (who shares his love for pets), and his work as Community Affairs Director for HumaneSocietyAdoptions.com, an international online company that helps homeless pets find homes and petless people find pets. Joe, a licensed clergyman, is also the host of a long-running talk radio show about pets, PetsAmericaLive.

Table of Contents

Introduction	5	(1)
The Common Misconception	5	(1)
The Fighting Dog Heritage	5	(1)
Their Recent Bad Reputation and How It Happened	5	(2)
A Canine Loose Cannon?	7	(3)
The UKC Standard for the APBT	10	(1)
The AKC Standard for the Amstaff	10	(3)
History of the APBT/Amstaff	13	(8)
The Bulldog	13	(1)
The Terrier	14	(1)
The Bull-and-Terrier Breeds	14	(1)
The Fighters	15	(3)
Finding the Right Name	18	(3)
Should You Own an APBT/Amstaff?	21	(8)
Basic Dog Owner Responsibilities	21	(1)
Responsibilities Specific to APBT/Amstaff Owners	21	(1)
Should an APBT/Amstaff Be Your First Dog?	21	(1)
Male or Female?	22	(1)
Puppy or Older Dog?	22	(1)
Checklist: Is the APBT/Amstaff Right for You?	23	(2)
APBT or Amstaff?	25	(1)
Are You Ready for an APBT/Amstaff?	26	(1)
Checklist: The Right Preparation	27	(2)
Considerations Before Buying	29	(8)
The Right Attitude	29	(1)
What You Should Expect	29	(1)
Guarantees	30	(1)
Selecting the Right Puppy	30	(1)
Before You Bring Your Puppy Home	31	(3)
How-To: Puppy Proofing	34	(3)
Bringing Your APBT/Amstaff Home	37	(8)
First Things First	37	(1)
Socialization	37	(1)
Adjustment Time	38	(1)
The Cage/Crate/Carrier	39	(3)
Helping Your Pup Settle In	42	(3)
Understanding Your APBT/Amstaff	45	(8)
The APBT/Amstaff as Canine Companion	45	(1)
The APBT/Amstaff and Children	46	(1)
The APBT/Amstaff and Other Dogs	47	(2)
The APBT/Amstaff and Other Pets	49	(1)
The APBT/Amstaff and Guests in the Home	49	(1)
The APBT/Amstaff and Strangers	50	(1)
Understanding Aggression	51	(2)
Caring for Your APBT/Amstaff	53	(8)
Being Responsible for Your Pet	53	(1)
Keeping Your APBT/Amstaff Out of Harm's Way	53	(1)
Exercise	54	(1)
Grooming	54	(1)
Traveling with Your Pet	55	(4)
Leaving Your Dog Behind When You Travel	59	(2)
Feeding Your APBT/Amstaff	61	(8)
Balance--The Basis of Proper Nutrition	61	(1)
The Building Blocks of a Good Diet	62	(1)
Feeding APBT/Amstaff Puppies (Under Two Years Old)	63	(1)
Feeding the Adult APBT/Amstaff (Two to Eight Years Old)	63	(1)
Feeding the Older APBT/Amstaff (Over Eight Years Old)	63	(1)
Feeding Spayed Females and Neutered Males	64	(1)
When You Change Dog Foods	65	(1)
Different Types of Dog Food	66	(3)
Training Your APBT/Amstaff	69	(20)
Train Your Dog or It Will Train You!	69	(2)
Pack Behavior and Your APBT/Amstaff	71	(1)
Build on the Mother Dog's Training Model	72	(1)
How Dog Training Works	73	(1)
Housebreaking	73	(3)
Basic Training	76	(1)
The Essentials of Training Your Puppy	77	(1)
The Right Training Equipment	78	(1)
The Five Key Commands	79	(6)
Obedience Classes	85	(1)
How-To: Housebreaking	86	(3)
Medical Care	89	(19)
Developing a Wellness Plan for Your Dog	89	(1)
A Health-Care Team	89	(1)
Preventing Accidents	90	(1)
Preventing Illnesses	90	(1)
Common Ailments in the APBT/Amstaff	91	(3)
Other Possible Health Problems	94	(4)
Parasites	98	(2)
Checklist: Safely Removing a Tick from Your Dog	100	(1)
Emergency Care	101	(1)
Areas Requiring Lifelong Attention	102	(4)
Administering Medicine	106	(1)
Checklist: Helping an Injured Pet	106	(1)
When Your APBT/Amstaff Grows Older	107	(1)
Information	108	(2)
Index	110