Advice needed

eternal_angel

hiya,i hope someone can help me!im wanting a staffy,its 6 mths old and the owners (they are oldish) dont have the time and energy for him anymore!!my problem is i have a 3 yr old long haired cat aswell!!she is a rescue cat so i dont want her leaving home ect cos a dog has come into her home ect!!and also dont want her injured or worse!!i do have kids ranging from 9 to 16 but understand that staffys are ok wi kids anyway!!can anyone advise me please???

foreign_correspondent

well, as with any dog it depends whether it is cat friendly or not.

Any breed of dog can either love cats, hate them, or be indifferent depending on the individual and his experiences and prey drive.

If you get a dog that really wants to, it could do your cat serious damage.

Personally, I think the safest thing is to go to a rescue and get a dog that has been cat tested and assessed as cat friendly (even getting a pup does not guarantee it will grow into a cat-friendlydog, an older tested dog is safer)

Alternatively maybe you could get rescue back up in rehiming this dog, wich may mean that they could help you with cat testing, and if it didnt work out you would not be stuck with a dog you could not keep.

Shame the orignial owners are yet more people who have unwisely bought a young dog which they cannot cope with.

Where abouts in the country are you?

bluestaff

hi we av a staff he is 10yrs now but when you take him a walk you'd think he were still a pup. Before we got him we had another staffy we lost him when he was 14yrs they are very loveable but then i suppose its how you bring them up ours were brought up with the children. As for money wise they've only ever cost us the booster jab every year plus when they are wormed. Food wise always had dried Bakers till i saw a thread were someone had tesco value so tried it and no problems, infact last time at the vets she commentented how nice his coat is and how healthy for a staff of his age and asked what i fed him on.

Mutter_2

"it desn't follow that because a dog is agressive to other dogs, that it will be agressive to people. "

[/quote]


Oh so that's ok then.

I take my calm dog for a walk in the park. He doesn't even look at other dogs, he just wants to sniff and walk.
Along comes a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, to give them the correct title, often owned in pairs, and attacks my dog without provocation As long as it is not agressive to humans, it doesn't matter?
Staffordshire Bull Terriers, generally speaking are not "other dog friendly". Yes some are but most are not.
What is contributing to the problem is that so many are being crossed with other breeds, often Boxers ,to produce something resembling a Pitbull in appearance and unfortunately in temperament.

It's a total misconception that only yer skinny little youth trying to cultivate a hardman image is the only problem owner of these dogs.

I witnessed a couple plus their grown up daughter arrive at a park along with 3 SBT's on thick, strap like leads.
Later, as no one else was about (I was observing from my car), they released the dogs to have a run. A woman with two Spinone dogs then appeared from behind the hedge and all hell was let loose.
The family were desperate to catch their dogs, accompanied with screaming in panic, which thankfully they did without damage. They then left the park very quickly.
Had they attacked the Spinones, there is absolutely nothing the owner could have done about it, either to protect them or legally.

We all know there's a huge problem with the sheer number of SBT's in rescue kennels, far more than will ever be found homes. In my opinion, only the very best in temperament should be spared,with the rest culled. So many are listed as not suitable for children or other pets in the house.

Hah! I was just looking on a rescue site and there in breed and colour was a dog like mine. Age nine and very nervous it said. I was interested in this little fellow, till I read on to see that he bites anyone and everyone it would seem. Oh and the fosterer of this dog says it sits happily with her two year old grandson:eek: It is deaf as mine is, but cries for company, the fosterer dealt with this by first crating and when that did'nt work squirting with water.
Put that one to sleep too along with the fosterer.http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=46987 his name is Bud.

Have gone OT but back to the OP. Please ensure that the rescue, show you that your potential adoptee SBT is shown off the lead and reacting to strange dogs. To have an aggressive dog must be Hell.

Sorry for grammatical and quote mess up, computer being awkward today.

mrcol1000

What a load of rubbish mutter is saying. My staffordshire bull terrier is terrifed of other dogs because she has been attacked twice by other dogs off leads. A labador and a small mongrel dog. They have been off the lead and their owners nowhere to be seen while my dog on the lead and i have to try and fight them off and deal with a dog thrashing away on a lead defending itself.
My staff is lovely around people and other dogs who are friendly to her. The problem is that she has big teeth and has big muscles.

The reason there is so many staffs in kennels because they have a bad reputation and they are a fashion accessory for certain people. All types of dogs in kennels are listed as not cat friendly or not children friendly.

At the end of the day breed has little to do with how a dog acts. Its all down to training and how the dog is treated. My dog is well trained and treated well and responds as a friendly happy dog but then other people don't train their dog and these people are couples, teenagers, old people and all kinds of people.

eternal_angel

hi again,thanks for the help!i have registered with a rescue place called mutts in distress!!but most rescue places have told me that they cabnnot be certain a dog will be ok with a cat unless its come from a house with a cat!!in most cases the rescue s only know what they are told!!!so im stumped!!!

Mutter_2

mrcol1000 wrote: »

What a load of rubbish mutter is saying. My staffordshire bull terrier is terrifed of other dogs because she has been attacked twice by other dogs off leads. A labador and a small mongrel dog. They have been off the lead and their owners nowhere to be seen while my dog on the lead and i have to try and fight them off and deal with a dog thrashing away on a lead defending itself.
My staff is lovely around people and other dogs who are friendly to her. The problem is that she has big teeth and has big muscles.

The reason there is so many staffs in kennels because they have a bad reputation and they are a fashion accessory for certain people. All types of dogs in kennels are listed as not cat friendly or not children friendly.

At the end of the day breed has little to do with how a dog acts. Its all down to training and how the dog is treated. My dog is well trained and treated well and responds as a friendly happy dog but then other people don't train their dog and these people are couples, teenagers, old people and all kinds of people.

Try reading my post again.
I said some not all. The not all then would include yours then .Right?
It would also include one of the two that I walk with. One a cross, and one pedigree who's only fault is jumping up with muddy feet.

As for me speaking rubbish. Well that is your opinion just as I have mine. That is the nature of forums.
If you wish to post where no one disagrees with you, may I suggest a forum dedicated to Staffordshire Bull Terriers?
It was refreshing to see on the first page, many owners singing the praises of their SBT's or other breeds, but recognising that they sometimes need to be watched regarding other dogs.
They are the truely responsible dog owners.
Those who say SBT's can do no wrong remind me of parents who go storming into their kid's teacher when the child is served with detention!!

sparkle03

Mutter wrote: »

"it desn't follow that because a dog is agressive to other dogs, that it will be agressive to people. "

Oh so that's ok then.

I take my calm dog for a walk in the park. He doesn't even look at other dogs, he just wants to sniff and walk.
Along comes a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, to give them the correct title, often owned in pairs, and attacks my dog without provocation As long as it is not agressive to humans, it doesn't matter?
Staffordshire Bull Terriers, generally speaking are not "other dog friendly". Yes some are but most are not.
What is contributing to the problem is that so many are being crossed with other breeds, often Boxers ,to produce something resembling a Pitbull in appearance and unfortunately in temperament.

It's a total misconception that only yer skinny little youth trying to cultivate a hardman image is the only problem owner of these dogs.

I witnessed a couple plus their grown up daughter arrive at a park along with 3 SBT's on thick, strap like leads.
Later, as no one else was about (I was observing from my car), they released the dogs to have a run. A woman with two Spinone dogs then appeared from behind the hedge and all hell was let loose.
The family were desperate to catch their dogs, accompanied with screaming in panic, which thankfully they did without damage. They then left the park very quickly.
Had they attacked the Spinones, there is absolutely nothing the owner could have done about it, either to protect them or legally.

We all know there's a huge problem with the sheer number of SBT's in rescue kennels, far more than will ever be found homes. In my opinion, only the very best in temperament should be spared,with the rest culled. So many are listed as not suitable for children or other pets in the house.

Hah! I was just looking on a rescue site and there in breed and colour was a dog like mine. Age nine and very nervous it said. I was interested in this little fellow, till I read on to see that he bites anyone and everyone it would seem. Oh and the fosterer of this dog says it sits happily with her two year old grandson:eek: It is deaf as mine is, but cries for company, the fosterer dealt with this by first crating and when that did'nt work squirting with water.
Put that one to sleep too along with the fosterer.http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=46987 his name is Bud.

Have gone OT but back to the OP. Please ensure that the rescue, show you that your potential adoptee SBT is shown off the lead and reacting to strange dogs. To have an aggressive dog must be Hell.

Sorry for grammatical and quote mess up, computer being awkward today.[/quote]

I dont think anyone meant it as you are taking it, We all know its not ok for a dog to attack another dog! I think the point was that staffys have a bad reputation for attacking humans? Its not often you hear a news report about any dog attacking another dog!
I also have two staffys, both wonderful still young - Brandy is 2 and a half and Roxy is 8months! I have never had a problem with my dogs attacking other dogs, But both of my dogs have been attacked. Brandy on more than one occasion! When Brandy was attacked by a German Shepard, she didnt react at all, just lay there taking it, so my OH had to stop the attack and needed stitches in his arm. The owner said 'oh he gets frightened as he was attacked when he was a pup and I shouldnt really let him off the lead'! The thing is though, if the owner knew this then the dog should have been kept on the lead. I think we need responsible dog owners and less predjudice againt the animals - we dont blame the dog - just the man who failed his dog by not looking after him properly!

MrsTinks

eternal_angel wrote: »

hi again,thanks for the help!i have registered with a rescue place called mutts in distress!!but most rescue places have told me that they cabnnot be certain a dog will be ok with a cat unless its come from a house with a cat!!in most cases the rescue s only know what they are told!!!so im stumped!!!

Try the breed rescues if you haven't already:
South Eastern Stafford Rescuetel: 01227 471 647 Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescuetel: 01204 573 942 Leicester Stafford Rescuetel: 01664 840 570 East & West Sussex SBT Rescuetel: 01273 418 081 North Eastern SBT Rescuetel: 01388 608 763

UKTigerlily

Hiya, congrats on deciding to home a (hopefully) rescue Staff, there's thousands in rescue through no fault of their own. On Friday i'm adopting a Stafford x & cannot wait! I think a rescue dog is best, it *should* come neutered (If old enough), vaccinated, microchipped, wormed & flea treated & sometimes insured for a few weeks, very MSE!

They'll have done behavioural checks & in many cases they will know how it is with cats/dogs/kids etc. The rescue mine is coming from has a few Staffies & crosses looking for homes, one is only a year old. If you did get a Pup there's no guarantee how it'd turn out, but make sure to see at least the Mum & the Dad if possible & to ask about both temperaments & how any previous litters have turned out health & temperament wise.

Insurance is probably the biggest cost, mine is a fortune but will give £3million in public liability & £12,000 a year for life cover for Vet bills. £100 a month should be fine, but of course if you do agility or flyball, obedience etc it adds up.

I have plans to take mine to hydrotherapy once a week (Assuming she takes to it, won't force her) from January @ £15 per week lol & I want to do flyball &/or agility also but can't find any close enough. She'll be starting obedience & heelwork to music too!

Good luck & keep us informed, can't remember what else you asked but £100 is fine & please please get it insured on a for life policy x