Confused about well ummm.. ALOT

[Angel2211]

I got my Amstaff Bindi 3 weeks ago as a birthday gift from my husband and instantly she knew she was my puppy, where ever I go she goes. If she doesn't she cries until i get home or if she can see me but can't get into me she cries. Im new to this breed and have a tonne of questions even though i researched very thoroughly before choosing her breed. She can't handle being on the floor while im in bed so we've set up her blanket on the end of the bed and she sleeps on my feet which stops her crying and waking up our 2 year old. However she has really dry cracked paw pads. So onto the internet i go remembering that i'd seen "paw balm" somewhere, during my search for that (and me being super easily distracted) I came across alot of websites that said commercial dry food was bad for dogs, so i read up on that and found a home made meal recipe that i could make and feed to both my dogs. The first thing i did when i came to this site was read the sticky on the poisons for dogs post. And now im worried about the recipe i make up for Bindi. She's not exactly keen to eat it whilst Chevy loves it, she'll eat the meat and leave ALL the vegies in her bowl, she goes back through the day and nibbles at the vegies until they are all gone then i give her some more. I'm now worried though that it might be something in the recipe that might be turning her off it OR if it's just that it's a new addition to her diet and she's just getting use to it.
What i make her is the following:
2.5kgs of ground beef or chicken, 3/4 cup canola Oil, 4 Cloves Garlic, 32 Cups water, 2kgs mixed vegies (I just bought mixed frozen vegies but made sure there was no onion), 2 Cans Red Kidney Beans, 1.3kgs Oatmeal (from health store) & 6 Eggs.
The recipe stated to cook the meal but the lady at the health food store told me not to cook the meal and that she should have an all raw meat diet (leaving me yet again confused), She also said that the one thing the recipe was lacking was Omega 3 and to add cod liver oil to her food which i haven't done yet because i forgot how much she told me to add to it so i haven't added it yet. She also provided me with another recipe called "healthy Powder" 2 Cups Brewers Yeast, 1 cup Lecithin granules, 1/4 cup Kelp Powder, 9 grams Calcium & 1 gram ground Vitamin C. But to also make sure she has plenty of chews and rawhides aswell. She also advised me to add some MSM to her food and said if she was itching that i could put MSM (or Yellow Sulpher) onto my hands and just dust it up her coat lightly to help with fleas but that the garlic in her meal would also help with that, as when i got Bindi she came home with fleas and i'm having a super hard time getting rid of them with organic or natural methods, even though im treating her, Chevy the 2 cats, her bedding and the floor and my bedding aswell.

Well i "WAS" confident that this would be the best diet for her but after reading some of the posts on here i am now truely confused on what is the best thing for my Bindi to be eating, I know no chocolate & no onions but now im worried about the frozen mixed vegies and the garlic in her diet.
I currently prepare her meals, Make her own pet soap (which isn't working out to be honest lol) She's scratching her hind as if she has fleas but we search her constantly and can't see them, we treat her with Eucalyptus oil diluted in water, Her soap is made of Glycerine base with lavender, Patchouli, Cedarwood & tea tree oil. ( i didn't have eucalyptus oil when i made her soap and im currently waiting on getting some pennyroyal essential oil for making her next soap).

So my main concerns for her at the moment are:
Is her diet up to scratch or does it need to be changed?
Is that dosage of garlic helpful or harmful to her?
Is it possible for her to suffer stress or anxiety or any other damage if she's away from me for too long?
Is he scratching possibly from something else besides fleas?
If it's fleas is there another option to treat her as opposed to chemical ridden treatments? Would MSM powder really work?
Is MSM powder good their diet and if so in what dosage per meal or kg's of dog?

and finally the one thing that started me off on all this in the first place (see told you i got easily distracted):p
What's the best thing for her dry paws? (preferrably not booties but will get them if i have to)

Sorry it's such a long post guys with alot of questions that probably should be common sense, but I just want what's best for her and i thought this was it but now im having serious doubts that im doing the right thing and i'd rather ask early then hurt her for my ignorance.

[lindsayanng]

ok.. WOAH!!

so for dry paws, theres something out there called BAG BALM. you can find it at ANY pharmacy and SOME pet stores. Its just a super moisturizer, and it's so safe that we used it on our cat's teats while she was lactating for her kittens and the kittens we ingesting some and it was ok, per our vet.

THAT is a good option for that.. as for your other troubles, i can not answer your dietary needs, but i do know that NOT ALL comercial food is bad. You can spend some money and get a GOOD QUALITY dry food for your dog that is 100% safe. I like the EVO, Innova, and Solid Gold Brands. Innova is one of the FEW brands that had NO RECALL when all that disaster was happening because they do not use any "fillers" but instead whole grains and such..

The other thing i would like to answer is your question about separation anxiety. You NEED to nip that in the bud NOW before it does cause some severe issues with you, and your family. SOme dogs can become VERY territorial once that CLAIM you as theirs. Now, since you dog is a puppy, he hasnt claimed you yet, but he will as soon as he hits the "teenage" stage and he will start bullying anyone he doesnt want near you, including family members.

Your dog needs to learn that you love him, but he also needs to learn that you STILL love him even when you are away. Trust me, there are going to be times where you do not want a big ol dog everywhere you go all the time. You need to train him to be able to sit nicely in another room while you are working, or watch you walk out the door without flipping out.

Tough love will be the best way to do this. Google "dog training separation anxiety" and you will get LOTS of training tools to help with this.. I thinky ou said he was 9 weeks, correct? So he's young for basic trainings like sit and stay, but not too young to learn that being separated from you is not the end of the world.

You seem like a great puppy momma, but you are going to have to let go of some of your worries and practice some tough love, other wise you might end up with a dog that can hurt your child.. Have you ever seen a show on animal planet called "Its me or the dog"? A LOT of the stories on there start the way yours did.

[Julia423]

As far as flea treatment, I've used Frontline purchased from my vet for years now...no health problems, no fleas. It's a good product. I'd be more leery of the MSM (yellow sulfur)...I'd not use it topically or in the diet. Frontline (or the like) is more effective and a diet with sufficient protein should not require the addition of sulfur...enough dietary sulfur should be present in the amino acids present in the protein source. Congratulations on your new addition! You sound like a very caring pet parent!

[lindsayanng]

oh yea.. i forgot about that too.. most dogs can take frontline without ANY ill effects, andsome that do have effects are not that bad.. Some have a slight skin reaction, but in all frontline is a GREAT product and just about all vet, shelters, and kennels use it.

[Angel2211]

Thanks for the quick reply. I haven't actually seen any of those brands around here im from a small country town but i'll see if i can find someone to order some of them in for me :)

For a moment there I actually thought i was reading a transcript of what my husband Shaun had lectured me on only an hour ago about tough love.
We actually did have trouble with Bindi tonight with one of our children. We've got 4 kids 13yrs, 12yrs, 6yrs and 2yrs next month. Bindi was sleeping and got a fright when our 2yr old Xander, sat near her and she flung around and gave a warning nip to him, problem was it was extremely close to his eye. I took off like a bullet after her and i think out of pure fright for what could of happened to Xander i gave Bindi a smack on the bottom, she wasn't too happy went crook & actually barked at me, the cat who is guarding 4 precious little 5 week old kittens got a fright and started attacking the puppy just as Shaun came out and put Bindi outside. I've been sitting here most of the night trying to work out was it a warning or was it a nasty streak in her (she's 13 weeks old), whether i should keep her or for the safety of our children find a new home for her, I love her to bits already and it would kill me to get rid of her but the kids have to come first. Shaun convinced me she's only a puppy and she just needs to learn right from wrong. He then went on to lecture me on his exact words and now yours "tough love". I've already managed to teach her to sit and am currently working on stay & lay down, which is taking a bit longer. I use treats to train her with and Shaun said to me no it's in your tone of voice and show her your the boss and don't let her boss you. As he said she's an Amstaff she's going to be strong so i do need to have control. He then used his tough love (voice tone, body language etc.) and he had her laying down AND staying in a matter of a few minutes. BUT when i tried to do the exact same thing she just jumped all over me. We had our Rottie to puppy pre-school 10 years ago and it worked wonders i've been using those same methods but maybe i actually need to take her there aswell.

She does already growl at strangers and doesn't leave my side. She stood between me and a salesman at the door the other day, pushed her paws up to his got her chest on the ground her butt up in the air and growled for the whole time he was there until he walked out of her site. We've had pets in the past but they're usually family pets that Shaun disiplines and at the end of the day their loyalties are to him before anyone else so this is all EXTREMELY new to me to have a pet so loyal to me that it can be hard to use tough love and not just give into them, I'm worried she'll hate me for being hard on her.

I'll be honest i have seen the show It's me or the dog BUT I didn't watch it too carefully because i never thought i'd be one of these "mushy" pet owners lol I have always loved my animals and would do anything for them, but i don't know what it is about this staffy she's just turned me mushy i even call her now saying "Bindi, come to mummy" which just wasn't me till she came along.

Thanks heaps for your help i'll definately google her anxiety and nip it in the bud ASAP :p

[Angel2211]

Thanks i'll grab some frontline from the vets in the morning, at least that way i'll know if it is fleas, she bites, nibbles and scratches her hind and we can't find anything so atleast if i use a proven method it will either cure her of the fleas or rule it out of the equation of what's itching her.

Thanks :D

[lindsayanng]

"She does already growl at strangers and doesn't leave my side. She stood between me and a salesman at the door the other day, pushed her paws up to his got her chest on the ground her butt up in the air and growled for the whole time he was there until he walked out of her site. We've had pets in the past but they're usually family pets that Shaun disiplines and at the end of the day their loyalties are to him before anyone else so this is all EXTREMELY new to me to have a pet so loyal to me that it can be hard to use tough love and not just give into them, I'm worried she'll hate me for being hard on her."

right noe, i think the separation anxiety is one thing but what you posted abov is a VERY dangerous situation, and if it isn't controled NOW, you are going to ahve some issues with your dog and not only strangers, but your own husband!

Basically, you dog feels that he is the leader and he has to protect you. YOU need to be the leader. there are a few ways of doing this, some people agree and other do not.. but yourself AND your husband have to partake in disciplining the dog, otherwise on days when you husband is not around, your dog will try to take over.. i learned this the hard way.

One thing that Cesar Millian says (the dog whisperer) is to FEEL that you are the pack leader. Dogs can sense fear, anxiety, and confidence. you NEED to be confident when you are in a situation that you NEED to control. So if you dog does something bad, like nips at your son you can do one of two things. You can take the more passive approach, or the proactive approach

The passive approach works liek this. If you dog nips or bites, you YELP really loud and then get up and walk away and have no eye contact with the dog for a while. You dog WANTS to please you (his packmate) and if he were with another dog, that is what they would do. This usually only works on play biting though and if he continues to bit at you as you try to walk away you need to take the proactive approach.

Basically, if the dog continues after you, you grab him by the scruff (the loose skin right under the back of his head) and hold him down to the floor and kind of GROWL the word NO. Again, you are showing yourself as a fellow pack mate, but NOW you are showing yourself as the ALPHA DOG.. And most people who have dogs that are trained will tell you that youwill get NO WHERE if you (the owner) are not the alpha dog.

You just need ot be consitant with EVERYTHING you decide to do. Socializing him with other animals and people would not be a bad idea either. Like i said, with big dogs, you kind of have more of a responsibility to have them well trained. If you dog lunges are barks, it will be labled a dangerous dog, even if it is only barking and lunging to play.. it's sad, but its very common with most big breeds.

Watch that show again, you will learn A LOT about family dynamics and dogs.. Dogs ALWAYS need to be on the BOTTOM of the family ladder. Even though they are part of the family, everyone else has to come before the dog..

[lindsayanng]

oh yea, and as for the school, its not a bad idea, but i think you KNOW what you are doing, but you have to believe it.. You husband WAS CONFIDENT.. you have to have that too.. and show it CONSTANTLY.. even when it comes to affection, you do it on your terms.

[Macawpower58]

Hi, and welcome to petlovers. I can not help on the diet ingredients, but be very careful. Those who feed an all raw diet need to educate themselves intensely. It is easy to miss a key ingredient, or overfeed another. We do have some raw feeders on the board, hopefully they'll read this thread and have some input. I also like the high quality kibbles, such as Solid Gold, Origen, Innova, Timberwolf Organics, Merreck........just to name a few.

I agree with Lindsay on the spoiling. Your nurturing unwanted behavior by allowing her crying to get her where she wants to be, in bed with you for example. If you decide she is to sleep with you, that's fine. But, it must be your decision, and not the dogs. I'd advise teaching her the bed is yours for now, and allowing her access to it after she stops crying to get there. Being separated from you will not cause her stress, nor damage. Catering to her 'wanting' to be near you, may.

I also second the Bag Balm, I got mine at walmart. It works well.

Once again, your shampoo is out of my area of expertise. I only bath when absolutely necessary, and use a good dog shampoo. Frequent bathing can deplete the natural oils that are so essential for good coat health.

[Angel2211]

Now im even more confused, I understand 100% what you're saying Lindsayanng, but what is worrying me now is you mentioned the only word i HATE to see in the same sentence as a pet "Dangerous" especially being a mother. When we had Doohan at pre-school we were taught to turn our backs if he jumped and taught to teach our children not to stare at a dog etc. Xander is only 2 and it's hard to teach him this just yet although if he is near Bindi we monitor him intensely and distract him when he looks her in the ey for too long. Would you agree with Shaun that she's just a puppy and needs to learn right from wrong or when you mention dangerous, do you think she could be a danger to my children even if i do train her, or the training should teach her, her place in our household at the bottom of the pack.
I've read about the "pack" and how simple things like never feeding your pet their meal before your's helps and how a little thing like never let them walk through a door before you, always make them wait outside till you walk in and then give them "permission" to come in, helps. I have been doing these things.
Your advice on the proactive approach is exactly what Shaun did. He stood there made her lay down, pointed his finger on the ground in front of her nose, raised his voice a little changed his tone when he said "lay down" when she did that he he clicked his fingers and told her to stay and it did work. So i guess i'll have him train me how he does it. He trained our Rottie and got Doohan to the stage where Shaun didn't even have to speak a command to him it was all done through different methods, a clap, a slap of the thigh, a click of the fingers etc. And even though he was a Rottie, turned out the be one of those 1 in a lifetime dogs that was just brilliant and as a family pet never caused us any of these concerns. Shaun did the same with Bindi tonight so im guessing just patience with her for those commands and ALOT of quick work to adjust her pack position and hopefully that will help *crosses fingers*. I do already take her to the park, train station etc. trying to familiarise her with any situation she might be put in, in her lifetime so that she's used to it and i read Amstaff's can be dog aggressive so at every opportunity i can i take her to different friends houses that have dogs trying to socialise her in that regard, so far she's pretty good with that side of it, next is to get them to bring their dogs here to our house get her use to that side of it.

Dumb Question time: Are Kibbles just dry dog food, Im in australia and it's not a term i've heard used or are they a treat type of food?
And i'll start shutting my bedroom door and leaving her in the loungeroom and not cater to her wanting to get onto my bed as of tonight, that should give me long enough to "chew proof" the lounge room as best i can.
As for bathing them to often and taking away all their oils, i learnt that the hard way with our Rottie who I (like an idiot) bathed every single day. Going to puppy preschool they could smell him coming a mile away and always welcomed us before we entered the room. He always looked lovely and shiny and smelt divine. But they explained to us there that we were doing more harm then good to him. The only reason im bathing Bindi every 3rd day atm is to try to ease her itching. I'll try frontline if that doesnt help her i'll take her to the vet, it's only in one area so it might not even be fleas *shrugs*.

[Macawpower58]

I don't see her exact age in your post. How old is she?

Several things you mention worry me also. For one, allowing her to stand and growl at the delivery man, is wrong. She as a pup, has no right to show aggression to someone you, her alpha, are talking to. When she does this, push her into a sit, sternly tell her no. Pups should not growl period, which is why I'm asking her age. Do not nurture this defensive behavior. Pups should be social to strangers. It is the rare puppy who is not. Socialize her more. It is not protection you are seeing with her growling at this young an age, it is more likely fear, possessiveness and/or nerves.

As for her snapping at your son. I agree with your hubby, she is young, and knows no better. She views your son as a litter mate. You must teach her he is also above her in the pack. With you monitoring, have your son eat in front of her, she is not allowed to beg, nor share. Alpha's eat before lesser pack members. Teach her to move out of his way. Make her wait as he goes through a door. She must learn never to rush, and push him out of the way.

A lot of your problems can be solved by simple teaching her the rules. You, you hubby, and children all are higher in the pack than she is. She must give way to all of you. Do not allow her to climb on your lap if your son is there. She must wait until you invite her. Do not allow her to push between you and any other member of your family. She must wait until invited.

Patiently and gently show her how things are to be done. Growling at people is cute in a puppy, not so in an adult dog. Do not praise, nor pet her at these times. Have her sit, or go and lie down. Her job is not your guard. Your job is to keep her safe. Take away her acting as a leader. She is not one.

Good luck on your new pup.

[lindsayanng]

I dont think you dog is actually DANGEROUS, but it can EASILY be a dangerous situation if you baby him too much. If your dog, AT ALL, feels that it is the leader, you can have a serious situation. So you, your kids AND your hubby have to be leader.

As for the eating YOU eat before the dog.. even if you are not hungry, a trick a saw is when you feed them, pick the bowls up off the floor, pour the food, and then when the dog is looking at you pick up the food and act like you are eating it. It sounds silly, but dogs know when people are eating, thats how they know how to beg.. so if you get to eat "his food" before him, that measn you have control.. same with going out of the house first, ect.. You can pretend feed your 2 year old too before the dog so he knows that even the child is above him in the line of things.. and you can treat it like a game, "trick the doggy" and pretend eating or something.

You basically dont want your dog to push your 2 year old off you lap because HE WANTS ATTENTION NOW.. and you DEFINITELY dont want your dog barking or snapping everytime your husband goes to touch you. This is how these things start though. Tough love is what its all about.

Kibble is just the term we use for the hard, dry food..

You can get a QUALITY brand kibble and if you want to spoil him a little, mix it with some moist canned food and it will be just as safe or even MORE safe as home made meals.. It is VERY involved to make your own dog dinners because they require so much.

[Angel2211]

Thanks Macaw, she's 13 weeks old. Im glad you mentioned it as not being protective because after only have her for a few weeks i thought it strange she'd be "that" protective too. I've spoken to people i know who have them about it and their response was "ah their loyal dogs and they protect what's theirs". But i did feel it was too early for signs of protectiveness. Within 5 days of me getting her she plonked her butt at my feet and growled at workers on the footpath and that did strike me as not normal. Xander does eat in front of her and if we catch Bindi leaning in for his food she is told no. Problem is both Shaun and I watch her like a hawk around the baby and we both tend to say it at the same time, so maybe that might be confusing her aswell. I'm so glad you agree with Shaun about her just being a puppy, it's a very daunting position to be in wondering if it's just that she's being a puppy or if it could possibly be something more. She didn't mark Xander tonight so i think it was just a warning but i was worried if it were more then being a puppy then if there were a next time he might not be so lucky. As for climbing on my lap when my son is there (i can already image what i'll get as a reply here *hides in the corner) she doesn't actually climb on my lap, she cries to be picked up and i pick her up *cringes* BUT i definately will stop that now after reading your advice and i wont give into her crying to be picked up.
And i will also nip her growling at strangers in the bud too. Even in a puppy i don't find it particularly cute. I know she's going to be a very strong adult pup one day and the most important time in her life is right now, and i appreciate all the advice given to me here already on this forum and will be giving her a shock to the system in the morning when she wakes up to a whole new set of house rules. Thanks for putting my mind at ease that it is just her being a puppy and your advice on socialising her with the children so they'll be safe.

Thanks Lindsayanng, I love the idea of "trick the puppy" and i guarantee so will Xander:p , I never even thought of pretending to eat her food, I do feed her, her food then take it off her, give it back, take it again later and same with her bones, so she is use to it incase one of our kids or someone elses child ever does take her food. And no i don't want her to bark or snap at shaun, he loves his dogs BUT they never ever come first so i'd hate to be Bindi if she did try that trick on him lmao.

[Macawpower58]

Thanks Macaw, she's 13 weeks old. Im glad you mentioned it as not being protective because after only have her for a few weeks i thought it strange she'd be "that" protective too. I've spoken to people i know who have them about it and their response was "ah their loyal dogs and they protect what's theirs". But i did feel it was too early for signs of protectiveness. Within 5 days of me getting her she plonked her butt at my feet and growled at workers on the footpath and that did strike me as not normal. Xander does eat in front of her and if we catch Bindi leaning in for his food she is told no. Problem is both Shaun and I watch her like a hawk around the baby and we both tend to say it at the same time, so maybe that might be confusing her aswell. I'm so glad you agree with Shaun about her just being a puppy, it's a very daunting position to be in wondering if it's just that she's being a puppy or if it could possibly be something more. She didn't mark Xander tonight so i think it was just a warning but i was worried if it were more then being a puppy then if there were a next time he might not be so lucky. As for climbing on my lap when my son is there (i can already image what i'll get as a reply here *hides in the corner) she doesn't actually climb on my lap, she cries to be picked up and i pick her up *cringes* BUT i definately will stop that now after reading your advice and i wont give into her crying to be picked up.
And i will also nip her growling at strangers in the bud too. Even in a puppy i don't find it particularly cute. I know she's going to be a very strong adult pup one day and the most important time in her life is right now, and i appreciate all the advice given to me here already on this forum and will be giving her a shock to the system in the morning when she wakes up to a whole new set of house rules. Thanks for putting my mind at ease that it is just her being a puppy and your advice on socialising her with the children so they'll be safe.

Thanks Lindsayanng, I love the idea of "trick the puppy" and i guarantee so will Xander:p , I never even thought of pretending to eat her food, I do feed her, her food then take it off her, give it back, take it again later and same with her bones, so she is use to it incase one of our kids or someone elses child ever does take her food. And no i don't want her to bark or snap at shaun, he loves his dogs BUT they never ever come first so i'd hate to be Bindi if she did try that trick on him lmao.

Your welcome.

Remember, don't panic, raising a pup is as raising a child.

Show her the rules. You may need to show her many, many times. Some pups learn quickly, others are slightly dense...:rolleyes:

Be patient, consistent, and fair. Use motivation (treats) to teach her the basics, such as sit, down, and come. You can guide her into each exercise with the food, then reward with a ''good sit". She's young yet for strict obedience, but gentle guiding is fine. The more you lead, the more she'll follow.

Remember also, everything she has is from you. She owns nothing in your house, not a toy, nor piece of furniture. Never give in to puppy demands for attention, toys, or food. If she learns all comes from you, she'll not become a tyrant as she grows.

Enjoy her.

[Angel2211]

[QUOTE=Macawpower58]Your welcome.

Remember, don't panic, raising a pup is as raising a child.

Show her the rules. You may need to show her many, many times. Some pups learn quickly, others are slightly dense...:rolleyes:

QUOTE]

OMG i nearly wet myself when i read your first line, I've got 4 children, the 2 youngest boys walk all over me, what hope does poor little bindi have lmao.

My father in law just popped in for a quick minute and Bindi was jumping all over him, so i thought oh well gotta start some where so i asked him to walk away from her and i did the same, that didn't work. So i got her by the loose skin at the back of her neck as lindsay suggested and held her on the floor while i said no to her, I had to do that 3 times but then she just layed there and we got to chat for a few minutes in peace, I'm so happy that she responded to it :)

[lindsayanng]

You seem to have a good handle on HOW and WHY.. its probably just going to be hard on you to ignore a cute little whimpering puppy.. i mean, i have a BEAGLE puppy.. its almost IMPOSSIBLE to say no to those eyes!!

but anyways, i think you have a LOT going for youand this puppy.. you guys will definitely turn out to be a great happy family!

[5kidsnadog]

Here are some things I would try:
1) Google the term "NILIF", which means "Nothing in Life is Free". You will find more information on this that way -- you are already doing some of it when you say you eat first, wait to go through doorways, etc. NILIF gives you a plan for how to establish yourself in your every day life as the leader for your dog. When you have a dog such as Bindi, it is an every day assertion that you are going to need to be making.
2) I would purchase a crate. There may be some dissension here on this group about this ;) , but I think when you have small children, you need a safe place to contain the dog when you can't have your eyes on her. I don't use the crate at our house for much other than separating my dog from my youngest son when I can't be watching like a hawk - i.e. - making dinner, running to the mailbox, etc. I even put a lock on mine because my youngest is somewhat of a challenge and if I put Finn in the crate with a bone or treat, I don't want him to bumble in there and set the dog off protecting his treat. I would suggest that you keep Bindi in the crate at night rather than on your bed. You may want to put it in your room so that she knows that you are near and will sleep better. It may be a struggle at first as you transition from sleeping on the bed to sleeping alone, but establishing order in your house will be very important with a dog such as yours that will grow up to be very strong.
3) When Bindi is out of the crate during the day, would you consider tethering her to you? This just involves putting a leash on her and then attaching the leash to your waist. This is a good way to monitor her behavior (i.e. - make sure she's not chewing something she shouldn't), and also to establish that leader-follower relationship that you want to foster. It will also keep her from being able to interact with your Xander in any other way than positive, because she will always be monitored closely by you.
4) Get her into puppy classes ASAP. I think you and she would benefit from this. It will help cement the leadership role in your mind, as well as give you useful, everyday, practical ways to interact with her. It will also keep her well socialized in a more controlled environment.
5) As far as the home cooked food, I think there are groups on Yahoo that you could join to learn more about this. There are various groups who home cook, I think there's a raw diet group, a BARF group, etc. You could also probably buy some books online that would help as well...

Hope this helps...!

[RedTucker]

Try an internet search for PetDeli -maybe you'll find something interesting. They sell organic & holistic dog food. I'm not 100% committed to the "organic" trend but I took a look at the ingredients of a few of the products and they looked pretty good to me. Can't tell about pricing. Not sure what the conversion rate of US $$ is to AU $$. They do deliver free in a limited area but they also offer other options for outlying regions. I'm all for a dry kibble as long as they have good quality ingredients. I love the convenience and I've never had any problems with my pups teeth but its mainly up to personal preference.

Good Luck with your pup. American Staffordshires have gotten a bad reputation in the U.S. but most agree its because of irresponsible owners and you certainly don't fall into that category. Consistent discipline/training is the key.

[Angel2211]

Thanks 5kids, i'll head off in a sec and google Nilf, and make up a plan for the whole family. I've been explaining things to my 6year old Rhys. We've been out in the backyard with Bindi playing and when she starts jumping Rhys & I have been turning our backs on her, raising our hands out of her reach and not looking at her and it only takes a few seconds for her to stop jumping.
A crate might be what i need, normally with our pets we make their "safe place" in the laundry and our kids know when they're in there it's off limits to all of us. However my daughters cat (who was suppose to be male and i don't look in that area to know any better) had 4 kittens so they are currently safe housed in there. So i might need to investigate a crate for her where Bindi know's is her safe place to go and have some peace and i can put her so i know that everyone is safe, the kids and Bindi too. I know 2 year olds aren't always angels towards pets.
I would consider tethering her to me if it would help her. I am currently having trouble with her being seperated from me, would tethering her to me encourage her in this regard?
I'm heading to the vets today to grab some frontline so i'll ask when they are holding the next puppy pre-school course and book her in for that.
Thanks heaps for your great advice and the ideas' for internet searches i'll check those out too.

Redtucker I know oh too well the problem with irresponsible owners giving breeds a bad name. We put up with it for 10 years with our Rottie simply because of his breed. At one stage Shaun's parents threatened to ring welfare on us and have our kids taken off us because of him, they were petrified of him. However slowly (extremely slowly) over a period of 3 years they got use to him and in the end fell in love with him as much as we did. We put up with people critisizing us for years about how little we care for our children to have a dog that would put them in such danger. We fought tooth and nail for our rottie because we knew he wasn't a danger and in the end so did shaun's parents. When i researched the Amstaff i did read all the bad publicity but im much wiser to know it's the home in which they are raised that makes the dog not so much the breed, even though i still stay cautious with all animals around the kids regardless of who's dog or it's breed. My animals are precious to me but my children are priceless.

[krazy4birds]

I am in awe of most of this because I have had only 3 dogs in my life and never had any issues but I can vouch for the crate. It is a life saver when you need one. So I definatelly agree on the crating....Just my 2 cents. lol

[PatchO'Pits]

Great advice is already posted

Welcome to the forum

Here is some info on puppy training and socialization for you
http://forums.petlovers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9801

Enjoy the pup