Staffie breed advice?

clairibel

Hi,

I know all dogs are different but we have been offered the chance of a staffie pup from a friend, pups are not born yet.

I have no idea about the breed but have been told they are great dogs. We have a staffie cross but she is more whippet than staffie apart from her coloring. We are looking for a new dog to add to our family and have been given this opportunity and we can have pick of the litter, mum is small staffie and dad is normal size.

Just wondering does this breed have characteristics. I am open to opinions as i have googled but would like to hear from real people with real staffies. I would just like to have an informed choice before i go and see them and want them all.

Thanks.

miradene

Hi

My mum and dad have had a few staffies over the years. They have been very faithful family dogs and have been great with the children (age 7+). I would never leave a child alone with one though...
The last staffie was really friendly and even 'shadowed' my collie dog and copied his behaviour. She was not too keen if other dogs came up to her when out for a walk.

I know staffies have a bad reputation but I am a staffie fan. I believe it is how they are brought up.

meritaten

I love staffies and we had a lovely lady called Anni when my kids were small (actually I had the two boys after we got the dog). They were known as Nanny dogs for a good reason! endlessly patient with babies, toddlers, small children and everyone else (the exceptions being those the dog considered a threat to her 'charges'). I soon learned I could trust her with the kids, as she seemed to consider her job to be looking after them! she would sit for hours when they were in the carrycot just watching them and if one of them so much as whimpered, she would immediately fetch me!
That dog allowed herself to be dressed in baby clothes (and taken for a walk), had her toenails painted sparkly purple and other colours, and bedecked with enough jewellery to sink a boat!
she was very protective of me and the kids - but apparently thought OH was big enough to look after himself!
I could never work out whether she was a genius or thick! wouldnt learn tricks like my springer did - but had nice 'manners' and until the end of her life a very clean dog!
Would I have another Staffy if I were fit enough? In a second! they truly are lovely kind gentle dogs (with thier humans)! Though I do have to say that while she liked cats, hamsters and gerbils well enough - she didnt much like other dogs and wasnt above starting a fight! except with the mongrel up the road who she fell in love with! That was so funny but its another long story!

tizerbelle

Staffies are great dogs by nature and if well-trained, fantastic. (Their problem is they have been landed with a bad reputation because numptys decided they are a status dog but either don't train them or deliberately mis-treat them).

In short staffies absolutely love life and people (and by people I mean everyone in the whole wide world, whether they've met them or not) and based on the one I met yesterday they love knees as well! They aren't necessarily bothered by / interested in other dogs. Although I do know a few staffs that extend their love of everything to other dogs as well.

meritaten

I may have given the wrong impression about Anni and other dogs - when she was out with OH she was friendly to the world, his wife and thier dog! When out with ME or the kids however - she was in bodyguard mode! there was an exclusion zone of around 6 feet and NO MALES OR DOGS were allowed! Women and kids were welcomed and she was happy to get petted by them! I once looked down while waiting to cross the road and she was happily licking this toddlers face! luckily he was chuckling and his mum was ok about it!
I think if you know the pups mum and she is a nice dog - and you bring the pup up properly - then you will have an excellent family pet!

akin_drum

As previously said, a dog's behaviour and temperament is largely determined by their upbringing. Staffies can be lovely, loyal, friendly pets. However, I have noticed that many of them are not 'dog friendly' so consideration must be given to early, positive and consistent socialisation with other dogs to avoid this.

ali-t

My own experience of them is that they are very couthy dogs, love to snuggle in and fart like troopers. Mine makes the weirdest snorty and squeaky pig noises but only ever barks a couple of times a year. She is very clean, friendly, sociable with all humans but doesn't like other dogs. She is very food oriented and has a tendency to put on weight to the point she looks like a hippo.

She was an absolute horror as a pup and chewed through everything, was a nightmare to housetrain and was mental until she turned one and the training seemed to sink in as she grew up. In contrast my rott boy was a gem of a pup, very biddable and easy to train but now as an adult is a stinky, woofing, beligerent horror!

Lozzy88

I have 2 staffies at the moment and had one growing up, they are such a lovely breed of dog especially when trained well but they are just basically like big babys love to be on your knee or just close to you. Mine also very rarely bark i have a b!tch and a dog and they are great with my young daughter.

Totally agree with ali-t they do make the weirdest noises at times mine sound like they are sighing sometimes like UUUUUHHHHH very odd also the farts are fricking awful, my b!tch is also fat even tho she gets the same food/exercise/play time as my boy dog, but i dont tell her she might get a complex.

Oliver14

meritaten wrote: »

They were known as Nanny dogs for a good reason!!

Thats actually a big Myth if you repeat something enough eventually people will believe it.This myth of the Child loving fighting dog has also spread to Pit bulls in America. It was perpetuated by Lillian Rant in the Staffordshire Terriers - owners companion. No dog is a Nanny dog and you should be careful with all dogs around Children. Staffies are no more superior than other breeds with Children.

Not saying that staffies cant be good with children just that the Nanny dog myth puts people into a false sense of security.

An interesting article here
http://thenannydogblog.blogspot.com/

clairibel

Thanks everyone, this is interesting information and is food for thought.

We have new neighbours and they have 2 staffies and the female is also very rotund also and she doesn't like our female.

Glad to have a real insight into the breed :beer:

gettingready

Oliver14 wrote: »

An interesting article here
http://thenannydogblog.blogspot.com/

Thanks for posting this, seen it before and could not find again. Cheers.