Great dane x staffie puppies, advice?

sazziecee

Hi

my husbands best friends 2 dogs have just had puppies, mum is a staffie (possibly a cross with another bull terrier type dog) and dad is a great dane.

DH really wants a dog and has done for ages, but I can't say it was a breed I was considering. We have not committed to anything yet, they are only 4 days old at the moment anyway.

With cross breeds, is the temperament from one breed often more obvious, or is there really no way of telling?

I am aware with the great dane in the mix, he/she could grow VERY large, so more expense with food, collars, price of spay/neuter etc

About our household:
There is me,OH 2 x DS's (7 and 9) and DSD that stays every other weekend.
OH works full time , I only work 2 hours a day mon-friday.
We have 2 cats.
OH has had dogs before, I had a puppy about 10 years ago but he was rehomed after a couple of months due to a change in circumstances. I am more of a cat person but would be happy to have a dog, if it was going to get on with kids and cats

Any advice appreciated, even if you are telling me not to do it

PRINCESSX87

If the dog was a great dane & mother was a staffy type then you might have one large well built dog on your hands, Saying that, It can go either way.

Any breed of dog can have pro's & con's, But i would read up on both breeds to know just what your letting yourself in for. This is an error many people make when looking for a pup. Do your homework & be sure this is a breed or two you can handle whilst having younger children in the house.

Good puppy classes, Further training will benefit you in the long run, But can you offer the time for this?

Cost's will vary alot in your first year!

Price will depend on:-

Age of neutering

Fleaing / Worming will cost more

Food, Depends on what the dog will be fed, I find dry much cheaper, Plus my staffy hates wet!

Most collars, leads, Bowls ect can be found cheaper online.

HannahIOW

How is it even physically possible for a great dane to breed with a staffie? Sorry just can't imagine how that would work lol.

hoogervaaner

The advice to read up about both breeds is spot on. I have two GSD x greyhound rescue boys who are brothers. One is very greyhound in his ways the other takes very much after the GSD side, although they look very similar. They are both taller than either a greyhound or GSD and are powerfully built, having an understanding of both breeds (lots of reading and talking to people) has really aided harmony in our household.

I would guess and it is only a guess that you may end up with a large powerful dog. I have found that my dogs have to be on their best behaviour with people at all times. Some people see a little bouncy fluffly wuffly dog as cute but if my boys bounced about and jumped up at people I doubt the reaction would be the same. I'd be prepared for lots of training and a few horrible looks if your pup does what any pup does and gets a bit over excited.

Mupette

not being funny, but whats the realistic chance that in the new year when you get 'it' that you'll need to rehome due to costs

puppy999

OMG that poor staffie ......I have a friend who as Great Danes and she rescues dogs you can contact her this is her web site
gizootyshowdogs.webs.com
But no matter what breed all puppys are hard work....... my friend as 2 mongrels and coc 1 lab ...she as just got a lab puppy and she is finding it really hard work ...... she as borrowed a big cage as the others r trying to kill it ...............
I hav a 2yr Akita and hav had no probs with him when he wz 12mths I got a Saimese and a Raggdoll then I got a Tonkanese (9mth now) and he is brill ............. but from being 15wks he as gone on very long walks............and thou some staffie's are brill you have the ones that are'nt and they do have a bad name.......... and it makes me wonder why as this friend of your OH put those 2 breeds together.......
All the best what ever you decied .....lol

gettingready

HannahIOW wrote: »

How is it even physically possible for a great dane to breed with a staffie? Sorry just can't imagine how that would work lol.

Exactly my first thought....

My second - what a terrible, irresponsible thing to do to allow those 2 to mate/breed from them.

Why people do that? No doubt it was "pups will sell at Xmas" kind of plan?

Jesussssssssssss, I could honestly murder some people, pedigree dogs end up in shelters - why people CREATE more mix breeds? They always end up worse of than any other pedigree pups..... Poor mum/poor dad and very, very poor puppies...

My advice to OP - purely based on yoru post alone, please do not take this or any other dog on...

PRINCESSX87

gettingready wrote: »

Exactly my first thought....

My second - what a terrible, irresponsible thing to do to allow those 2 to mate/breed from them.

Why people do that? No doubt it was "pups will sell at Xmas" kind of plan?

Jesussssssssssss, I could honestly murder some people, pedigree dogs end up in shelters - why people CREATE more mix breeds? They always end up worse of than any other pedigree pups..... Poor mum/poor dad and very, very poor puppies...

My advice to OP - purely based on yoru post alone, please do not take this or any other dog on...

If you are still interested in getting a dog, Why not contact a local pound or rescue? They will be able to find you a dog / breed that you could fit into your lifestyle. I'm worried with a breed like a great dane, You children could be put at risk due to the size & build!

Again like other posters have put, Some staff's have a good name, They like human affection & children, However, There is many that dont! I know because i have a staffy just like this.

If your a cat person, Then maybe getting a small breed dog would be better suited! Something like a yorkie, Shi-tzu, Pom..?

sazziecee

Mupette wrote: »

not being funny, but whats the realistic chance that in the new year when you get 'it' that you'll need to rehome due to costs

Fair enough, however the reason I rehomed the previous pup were not to do with costs, they were to do with a change in my work hours and he went from being left for 3-4 hours a day, to being left for 8 hours or more.
Also I got him at 16 weeks and his previous owner had been a gym fanatic who used to use the puppy to wrestle... and would go running with the pup.
The pup would not walk, if I walked anywhere it wanted to run. It also had a water phobia, I live on an Island and needed to pass a bridge to walk to town, he refused. This was a quite large labrador so not like I could just carry him.
It all got too much for me and I rehomed him to a lovely family in Norfolk who lived on a farm.
Anyway this was over 10 years ago now, I am a different person now and would perservere.

I will have a serious think about it all. I have always said if I got a dog it would be a greyhound, but OH won't entertain it, plus there is the issue of my cats.

The mother and father dogs are both owned by the same person, I am not sure whether the breeding was accidental or deliberate. The !!!!! is on her 3rd litter though and I did say to my OH that I hope his friend gets them both neutered with the money he gets for the puppies...

PRINCESSX87

The mother and father dogs are both owned by the same person, I am not sure whether the breeding was accidental or deliberate. The !!!!! is on her 3rd litter though and I did say to my OH that I hope his friend gets them both neutered with the money he gets for the puppies...[/QUOTE]

So without being rude here, These people are clearly using both dogs as a cash point. Ok, You could have 1 accident, But on her 3rd litter!!??

I would stay well clear, These people clearly need educating in the first instance. But..I'm going to stick to my guns, If you want a dog that will fit into your lifestyle, Go with a rescue. That way if it doesn't work out they will take the dog back!

Also, It would be cheaper on your cost's, Because most of the dogs have been spayed / Neutered, De-flea'd, Wormed.

sazziecee

first litter with the great dane as the father, not sure on the previous 2 litters.