Staffies

foreign_correspondent

Working dogs do turn up in rescue, sadly, just like any others - granted, you may have a better chance of getting a dog from known working stock from a breed rescue, but my last terrier had been worked, then her owner split up with his wife, and no-one wanted her.

Likewise, my mum has a young rescue lurcher that could make a very good worker - and, amongst other working strains, Hancock lurchers, (collie/grey) specifically bred for working, and identified by their ear tattoos very often turn up in rescue.

Back to the Staffy issue - I did read somewhere that one of the RSPCA brances has started waiving their rehoming fee on Staffs - I am not sure what I think of this, as on the one hand if it gets more staffs nice homes, than great - but on the other, if people cannot afford the modest rehoming fee for a neutered, vaccinated and flead/wormed dog, then can they afford the dog? And will these dogs be seen as being somehow devalued, easy come, easy go, if people have paid nothing for them?

getcarter

Personally, I love staffies

I am looking around for a new rescue staffy, hoping to find a nice small female that will get on with my male dog (not a staffy by the way), my staffie female is as soft as butter!

cannyscot_2

We rescued a staffy cross this year. It has not been all plain sailing. He has ahad a bad time and so is scaredof things-other dogs especially -it shows as fear aggression. He is growly but lets the kids maul him/stick their head in his mouth etc etc. He is very protective of us and thats where the problem lies -he reacts to the postie other dogs etc whom he thinks are approaching us . He is super loyal and a really loving dog. Upside is I feel pretty safe walking him and I think he would protect my teenager when she is in the house by herslef. Downside is that some folk dont like it when he growls. Some people are terrified of dogs. A woman at the bus stop the other day jumped back from him and was acting weirdly-he obviously growled as he went into protect me mode- so guess we made her worse probably. First time I reasied that whole thing about if your scared the dog knows it etc is right.

He is a bit clingy and so follows you everywhere and it took months to be able to leave him.

It wasn't the easy option but then we missed the puppy bit of peeing and pooing everywhere.

wizard3891

getcarter wrote: »

Personally, I love staffies

I am looking around for a new rescue staffy, hoping to find a nice small female that will get on with my male dog (not a staffy by the way), my staffie female is as soft as butter!

http://www.mayhewanimalhome.org/

Try here, We raised money for this home this month and they always have staffies

mrcol1000

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Back to the Staffy issue - I did read somewhere that one of the RSPCA brances has started waiving their rehoming fee on Staffs - I am not sure what I think of this, as on the one hand if it gets more staffs nice homes, than great - but on the other, if people cannot afford the modest rehoming fee for a neutered, vaccinated and flead/wormed dog, then can they afford the dog? And will these dogs be seen as being somehow devalued, easy come, easy go, if people have paid nothing for them?

I agree compeltely. If RSPCA do that then its no different to your neighbour asking if you want to take one of the puppies their dog has had. There are other ways to persuade people to take Staffies than this. When we went to RSPCA we decided we did not want a Staff but we were asked to give one just a look as they thought it would be the perfect dog for our lifestyle and she came bounding into the room and started licking our faces then sat down on our feet and we knew she was the perfect dog.

I haven't heard of RSCPA doing this but it wouldn't suprise me. I know RSPCA in some areas offer free neutering of Staffs and pit bulls to everyone regardless of their status to try and reduce the numbers being ditched.

foreign_correspondent

I think the free neutering for bull breeds is a great idea, and I am in two minds about the waived rehoming fee - in a way, if it encourages people to rescue a staffy then brilliant, and they may decide to go for a staffie needing a home, rather than giving trade to the local hobby/backyard breeder, which is good too... I think it is different to a neighbour giving dogs away, as at least the RSPCA will homecheck and neuter.... I dont know - sometimes needs must...

Rochelle

I personally believe " there is no such thing as a bad dog but just a bad owner"
I have 2 gorgeous staffies they are the most loving soft and playful dogs i have ever had and are fab with children.
Any dog can kill if taught to and i am sick and tired of staffies geting a bad name when it is all down to the stupid ignorant owners and not the innocent dog that has been trained wrong.

When i was looking into getting my second staffie i 2 could not think of getting a rescue as i dont feel i could correct any serious problems it may have so i went back to my original kenel club responsible breeder to get my second gal.
With kids they are so gentle and fab and some how they seem to know that they have to be gentle with them and they are.
Could never have any ankle biting little dogs give me a loving cuddly staffy any day

foreign_correspondent

Rochelle, I understand your concerns, but you can get some very steady, well behaved dogs of all breeds from rescue, and a good rescue will have a very good idea of any dogs temprement before rehoming - pups also turn up in rescue, especially staffy pups, sadly.

Minxy_Bella

I've got an 18 week old Staffie boy and he's a joy!

However, I was most disheartened at our first puppy class to be told that the biggest problem that I would face is other peoples' attitudes to him and that I would never be able to let him off the lead in public in case there was an 'incident'.

I am trying to socialise him as well as I possibly can but I find that other people often veer away from us. He has been attacked by dogs several times - him on the lead, them off - and not once has the owner apologised to me. Unreal!

tandraig

I just had to accept that my normally loving laid back staffy would retaliate if attacked by other dogs. she never instigated a fight but if she was with me then she would react very very aggressively to another dog approaching too close and snarling. if she was with OH she wouldnt react unless SHE was bitten.mostly if the other dog just did the bum-sniffing thing she would just stand there and look a bit bemused!