Staffies

Ruby_Moon

UKTigerlily wrote: »

How can it be right to breed these poor Dogs when thousands more must die as homes aren't available?

Also, with reference to the above part of your post you seem to forget that these poor dogs did have homes because how else would they have become rescue dogs? Its still puppies that people want.
If rescue centres are full of Staffies and I want a labrador, what then? I must have a Staffie?
Its a problem that will never go away until the monetry gain is taken away.
Actually wanting more breeders will solve the problem because that will drive the price of a dog down and make it less profitable for the 'farmer' types.
Maybe you could campaign for a regulated price list?

foreign_correspondent

Why do people assume it is either a rescue or a pup?

Why not go for a rescue pup?

Sadly, the dogs coming into rescue often include pregnant b1tches, and staffie pups do come up in rescue very often. Also, there are a lot of dogs under a year old that come in when people find normal puppy behaviour is too much for them (sadly, often because they were under-prepared for the realities of having a puppy).
Some examples here:
http://www.dogsblog.com/luna-5/

http://www.dogsblog.com/bruno-43/

http://www.dogsblog.com/tyger-2/

http://www.dogsblog.com/amelie-5-month-old-female-staffordshire-bull-terrier/

Many dogs end up in rescue through no fault of their own, eg. when owners work patterns change - often these have had a decent enough start in life, and are ready house-trained, used to living with kids, or cats, or being left alone for a few hours.

A mature sensible dog is actually a far easier option for many people, and you can teach an old dog new tricks - when I got my dog she was about five, and has learnt so much since then - from basic obedience, through to tricks.

Whilst of course if no one bred there would eventually be a shortage of dogs, there is no risk of this at them moment, or indeed in the near future. Sadly. we are vastly overpopulated with dogs, and staffies in particular - indeed, last year there were about 8,000 more dogs than there were homes for - and these dogs were put to sleep. A large number of these unwanted dogs are staffies, so the risk is clearly over-breeding, not shortage of dogs!

lostinrates

I love reading about people who have obviously had the right dog member of their family. Its incredibly special when it happensnand some breeds of dogs suit a huge range of people, but the reason it worls like magic for some is they have found a dog (or a breed) which works for them and their situation.

An importnt thing when looking for a dog, both for you and the dog, is that you are a good fit. The breed which suits your best friend/parents/brother.ex partner/neihbour may or may not be that breed....or indeed a breed at all.

There is such a huge variety of breeds that it is possible to find and amazing fit. There are odd ones out: where a working breed fits into a less busy household for example, but the odds of it working are less, and the odds of it working like magic, almost effortlesly, are less good.

I have only known one staffie and not very well, but she was sweet, the breed I long to own I never will because my lifestyle is all worng for it. When I walk round discover dogs I want so many I can't list them all, but the thing is, while my heart ooohs and ahhs, my head makes a calculation of whether this dog is going to really be right for me, and whether I can easily be the best owner for the dog. I love the gun dogs I walk, but I'd be the wrong owner for them...sure I could do a reasonable job, but it wouldn't work like it does with the breed I was brought up with or the breed I have.

Of course choose the right individual, and I just love these tales above, because the fit sounds right.

gettingready

I just got an email from a friend who volunteers for a German Shepherd Rescue - they were called to collect a dog who's owners did nto want it any more. It turned out to be a GS/Staff cross, 6 montsh old. They took the dog and are looking for a home for him. The dog is in Essex - if anyone is looking for a young dog (6 months) and can offer a home to this baby, please pm me.

What I do not get is why anyone would breed dogs that are mix of any 2 breeds?

If anyone ever looks on Gumtree's pet section... shi-poo (shitzu and poodle) etc etc being offered as "new breed" for masses of money.

I wish all back street breeders would just stop.

Sorry, only posted here as the dog I was emailed about is half staff.....

lostinrates

gettingready wrote: »

What I do not get is why anyone would breed dogs that are mix of any 2 breeds?

If anyone ever looks on Gumtree's pet section... shi-poo (shitzu and poodle) etc etc being offered as "new breed" for masses of money.

I wish all back street breeders would just stop.
..

All breeds started as a mix of other breeds, and before that types. Usually though this is to be fit for a specific purpose poorly catered for by existing breeds (and of course, in the past we had lesser knowledge of breeds from other parts of the world that might hve suited). They weren't just mixed for a cute name, although some were created for a cute look.

I think in somecases permitted outcrosses could improve health of a breed, by enlarging the gene pool and I stand somewhat alone in wishing we could register partbreds, for this reason amoung others.

Ruby_Moon

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Why do people assume it is either a rescue or a pup?

Why not go for a rescue pup?

Sadly, the dogs coming into rescue often include pregnant b1tches, and staffie pups do come up in rescue very often. Also, there are a lot of dogs under a year old that come in when people find normal puppy behaviour is too much for them (sadly, often because they were under-prepared for the realities of having a puppy).
Some examples here:
http://www.dogsblog.com/luna-5/

http://www.dogsblog.com/bruno-43/

http://www.dogsblog.com/tyger-2/

http://www.dogsblog.com/amelie-5-month-old-female-staffordshire-bull-terrier/

Many dogs end up in rescue through no fault of their own, eg. when owners work patterns change - often these have had a decent enough start in life, and are ready house-trained, used to living with kids, or cats, or being left alone for a few hours.

A mature sensible dog is actually a far easier option for many people, and you can teach an old dog new tricks - when I got my dog she was about five, and has learnt so much since then - from basic obedience, through to tricks.

Whilst of course if no one bred there would eventually be a shortage of dogs, there is no risk of this at them moment, or indeed in the near future. Sadly. we are vastly overpopulated with dogs, and staffies in particular - indeed, last year there were about 8,000 more dogs than there were homes for - and these dogs were put to sleep. A large number of these unwanted dogs are staffies, so the risk is clearly over-breeding, not shortage of dogs!

How many times do you have to ask the same question when I have seen so many answers given?
The main reason (and one that should be good enough for you) is that people want a pup that they have chosen from birth who they know has not picked up or been taught any bad habits, especially when they have children.
Even if anyone is lucky enough to even find a new born pup in rescue, the rescue owners are so strict with some of their rules that a pup very rarely gets given to families with children.
ETA. Your examples are not puppies and they are all Staffies. 99 people out of 100 do not want a Staffie no matter how good their reputation is. It isn't because they are bad or mean or are likely to bite the kids, we know that they are nice, gentle dogs but its because of how they look. They have a harsh look as do most bull terriers and many people do not like the strong jaw look of a staffie. They don't give the feeling of being a 'cuddly' dog.
Sorry if that doesn't sit well with you but I don't see why people should take on a Staffie just because they are lots of them to be had.

bozzy120

Fire_Fox wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00nts91/Wonderland_Series_2_Seven_Pups_for_Seven_People/

Just watched this Poor Boycie, so so, sad, such an awful start in life for the little man to be shut in a room all day every day at only 10 weeks old.

Such a shame these lovely dogs have ended up with the stigma of being vicious, dangerous dogs when previously they were quoted as 'Nanny dogs' due to being so good with children. How could they have been given this nickname if they weren't so good with children, unfortunately it's the hands these dogs end up in that makes them into the unpredictable dogs that we see so often in the news. If labradors became the new 'fashion' then I'm pretty sure we would be seeing the same from them.

Arghhh...it makes me so angry

CaroLondon

Good Morning,

Thanks for all of your responses, I guess a lot of people don’t realise how much work a dog (whatever the breed) is. I will have to watch that programme on I player later on (don’t think they will let me at work!)

I have to agree about the new "designer" dogs though, labradoodles, cockerpoos etc. the price of these dogs is amazing, £700 quid for what is basically a mongrel, crazy!

C_Mababejive

Unfortunately,many lickle staffies are bought by chavs who ill treat them and drag them round as some kind of status symbol before tiring of them and booting them out into the back yard to bark,poo and pee all over the place. No wonder they get angry.

I'd recommend a greyhound rescue dawg. They are such gentle and graceful creatures and far less likely to rip your throat out.

bramble1

tandraig wrote: »

er - how can a staffie be a working dog? they were bred to fight? first bulls then other dogs. both activities are banned now. what exactly is he/she working at? or have i got your post completely wrong? bramble1?
staffies were bred as fighting dogs - but they lived with owners families - so dogs who were aggressive with kids werent bred from. or put down. this resulted in a breed which were great with people - especially kids - but aggressive towards other dogs.
my Anni was ok with other dogs unless they were aggressive - i had to intervene in a couple of occasions but she didnt actually harm the other dogs - just pinned them to ground or in one case a fence. and that was only because she and I felt threatened. she was good with other dogs - in fact - she loved this mongrel who lived up the road from us! I used to wrap up a box of markies for him every christmas (from anni) cos he used to come courting her! and she was spayed! they obviously liked each other - it was sweet to watch!

I think you mistunderstand, my point was we couldn't have gone to a resuce centre to get a dog, because ours is a working dog, we need a gun dog and couldn't risk adopting a dog that could turn out to be gun shy, scared of tractors and other farm machinery, our dog is a pet but he also serves a purpose, some people do have to buy from breeders, adoption isn't always an option unfortunately.