Staffie breed advice?

Myrtle77

blue_monkey wrote: »

What do we do with all the puppies that someone has made their dog have, anyway? The puppies are not going to stop, rehoming a stray s going to leave another pup who is going to end up needing rehoming.

The responsible of us dog owners will be having their dogs neutered which helps - however there are always going to be ignorant dog owners who think it cute for their dog to have pups, that is the fault of that person who wants one so it is not fair to have a go at them.

Whilst I agree with some of your points, there is also an issue of supply and demand here. Which is why it is both the breeder and buyer's responsibility when population increases. If people didn't purchase, people wouldn't breed them.

blue_monkey_2

Myrtle77 wrote: »

Whilst I agree with some of your points, there is also an issue of supply and demand here. Which is why it is both the breeder and buyer's responsibility when population increases. If people didn't purchase, people wouldn't breed them.

I think you are wrong, (ignorant) people would still breed them - and I actually think that 'breed' is the wrong word because they let their dog have pups through ignorance rather than as a conscious business decision, they are not chipped and vaccinated - they just love the idea of the little puppies running around, then they get bigger, no-one wants them and so they get dumped in shelters.

When I was growing up there were no end of 'bitzers' around, now it's staffies, they have replaced the bitzers that everyone seemed to have, now those people have got staffs instead because they are cheap to get hold of and they are small enough and do not shed so much hair - they are ideal for the home really but they have a name for themselves. If thugs did not have them we would not have these problems at all. If those people did not have a staff, they'd have something else, and that dog would still be having puppies - for the wrong reasons.

We looked for a while before we chose our Blue Staff and there were a few breeders that were KC registered in the area, one of them had registered 6 different litters in 6 weeks and 6 different breeds of dog from shitzu to boxers. That, in my eyes, is puppy farming and the KC seem quite happy with that. We did choose a KC registered litter but from someone who was not churning them out day in, day out. I still do not feel I had anything more than buying from 'someone' who had just let their dog get pregnant, we just paid more for her because she had a piece of paper. It did not make her a better dog. Initally I had query on her papers and I thought I had been shafted, but a guy who did our tests at training for the KC told me 'why worry, it's just a piece of paper' and he had a point really, she is just a member of our family, not a commodity. I think I'd rather have a pup from a family dog who is treated well around the home rather than from someone who treats their dog as a money maker. And sometimes it is through accidents that we get our dogs.

Our children will be older when ours 'go' and so then we will get a rescue dog because we would not have to worry about the kids running around. My friend with small children managed to get a rescue puppy and she has had horrendous problems with agression towards other dogs despite her being well socialised and mixing with dogs all the time and going to classes, it just happened all of a sudden and one day she turned and attacked another dog and has gone from there - you just cannot tell really.

And our 'accident dog' is far more loving and cuddly than our 'pedigree' dog. Our pedigree had an emergency spay so had someone bought her for bloodline to show or for breeding, she'd be next to useless now and would have more than likely died from not having the op (which cost £800) or would have been dumped too - and she is not even a year yet.

gemini12

I have not read all this thread but thought I would add my two pennorth anyway. We have fostered three Staffies and been involved with the rescue and rehoming of several more. The first foster we had had been taken to the vet to be put to sleep as he was said to have bitten his owner. He came to us after the vet rang the rescue we are involved with as they refused to put the dog to sleep. He proved himself to be a lovable "lap dog" who was rehomed to a family with older chidren and the last time we saw him over six months later was a much loved member of the family. Our second one came to us whilst his owner was held at Her Majestys pleasure, again a fab dog who never put a foot wron. The third was traumatised when she came as he had been crated for 23 hours a day and the child in the family had, we were told, been allwoed to bang on her crate. Once again she was lovely and very nearly stayed but a family was found and she is an adored family member.
I could go on but I am sure you will be bored by now. My point is that all these Staffies had been poorly treated but in the right environment with training and professional help as needed they are now wonderful pets for their new families.

If you take on the puppy make sure he/she is well socialised with other dogs. Many vets run sessions to assist with this, they are often free and then take them to a qualified trainer while they are little and get all the advice you can. This way you stand a very good chance of getting the dog you want. Good luck and I hope that if you decide to give a puppy a home you have many years os loving Staffie cuddles and smiles.
One last thought PLEASE PLEASE have him or her neutered.

cherry-pie_3

Hi clairibel

That's my little girl staffie in my avatar. She's nearly 2 now and she's a total softie, we absolutely love her to bits.
She has that typical big staffie smile and is always so happy to see you - even if you've only been out for an hour, bless her.
We had to put lots of work in with her at the start, put its really paid off (be prepared for holes in your walls too - but she's grown out of it now). She just wants lots of affection and fuss which is lovely, although at over 3 stone it does hurt when she jumps on your lap lol! :rotfl:

I've found our girl to be very intelligent too - she's only ever done one poo in the house :T - lots of wees back at the start but that was our fault when we had to leave her for longer periods.
Any questions, just ask.

All the best

cherry-pie

storm2284

wow i've seen a lot in this thread! staffs... mongrels?.. righto fair enough,
as far as my experience with the breed goes, i got a girl from a rescue on the last day of november 2009, i had just moved to a new area and had lost me previous dog to an ex partner, the dog came out of the kennel and a sight i wish to never see again, she had been bred from and dumped by the look of it, skin and bone with bad teeth and literally no toenails. with TLC and food she has turned out to be the best thing that has ever happened to me, very loyal and very protective of her space which suits me fine as i live alone.
a few months ago i came across a rescue, small time trying to help pound dogs get off death row and into a home, i applied to be a fosterer and home came tilly.... a SBT x (probably collie) not even year old, bouncy but a ray of sunshine, 10 minutes from walking into that room and not coming back out,
onto the unplanned rehome... Max came from a home that loved their dogs and were low key responsible breeders. due to a marriage breakdown 4 dogs needed homes, luckily 3 were sorted which left a big blue dog to be homed, having known the dog for a year i knew the inevitable was going to happen, yes he came home, and a sweeter more gentle dog i have never met, in fact all 3 that have come into my home although with quirks so to speak are all very loving animals,
as with other people i would never trust any dog alone with a child, that's simple common sense, BUT bad dogs are very rarely born, it's down to the husbandry, ok the odd rogue one will turn up, but it's the same with any other animal and people too
OP just be sure to understand if you do take on a puppy there will be mucky carpets, accidents and a lot of teaching to be done, if you are ready to give yourselves up to that fair play, as long as you are fairly strict in the training and the rules you'll have many years of happy ownership you just have to make sure you all know who is number 1 in the household
good luck!

madmexican

we nearly lost our dog to a staffie attack, in our own blimmin garden with a 3 ft fence. rescue dog, owners took it on from a neighbour that had lost interest in it, didnt realise it had got out and was roaming the streets.

they are now getting a dog trainer and a muzzle, so if you get the pup just train it from day one and no matter what dog you have just be a responsible owner, get insurance, dog proof garden, micro chip etc.

x

wilykit

hi op

Whenever i think of staffies I instantly think of the one my friend had that was called 'Tosh'.

To look at he was intimidating etc, but he was one the the sweetest and kind natured dogs I have ever met.

I agree when others say that it is how you raise them that makes them, I would just recommend some training when it is a pup..I have an English Bull Terrier who is also a strong breed and his previous owners never trained him and he can be a nightmare to walk sometimes!

dibuzz

cherry-pie wrote: »

Hi clairibel

That's my little girl staffie in my avatar. She's nearly 2 now and she's a total softie, we absolutely love her to bits.
She has that typical big staffie smile and is always so happy to see you - even if you've only been out for an hour, bless her.

This one?

ali-t

My girl has one spangled ear too. One sits normal and the other is at a jaunty angle!

clairibel

dibuzz wrote: »

This one?

Thanks what a lovely pic.

I am already a responsible dog owner and mum to a staff/whippet amongst other things cross (her mum and dad were both Heinz 57) she's 3 and we've had her from being a pup, she was from another accident believe it or not and she was the best £50 we have spent (the woman used all the money to get both her dogs neutered).

She was a little minx until she was about two and i used to think what have i let myself in for but now at three is a fab patient and loving dog. I've grown up with dogs so know a bit about them but just not ever really being in contact with staffies just wanted some breed characteristics really.

So thanks all you helpful staffie owners for enlightening me :T