Fed up with people slagging off my new Staffy pup!

Caroline_a

OP, getting away from the anti/pro Staffie postings, if you have your perfect pup, then that's great. But if I were you I would ensure that you train her from day 1 - take her to training classes, develop dog obedience as a new hobby, teach her tricks so that whatever you tell her to do she will do without question.

I have a very large shaggy, mostly black German Shepherd. If you didn't know him and saw him, you'd think he was the Hound of the Baskervilles. If you did know him, you'd realise that he's more like Lassie crossed with Scooby Doo. He is the most gentle, relaxed boy and will do what I ask of him happily, is totally safe around other dogs, people, children. However, I spent hours and hours training him when he was young. Yes he went through a teenage stage, but since he's turned 2 he's been fantastic.

People will generalise, so prove them wrong!

fairymoneysaver

Personally I am not fond of staffys but I am aware many people are rescuing these dogs and I take my hat off to them.
But and this is just one experience - there is a lady in the next street who has had dogs for years who I would call a responsible owner and had 2 dogs, she then bought a staffy pup and paid a LOT of money for it. One day out of the blue it attacked one of her other dogs very badly. She still has the staffy but sadly I am very wary of it now especially if I am out with my dogs. So even getting from a 'reputable' breeder may not be enough nowadays

scheming_gypsy

Jenjenf21 wrote: »

One person got on Google straight away to look for news reports on these dogs attacking children/people. ....

Next time point them to this link http://www.sbtfun.com/nanny.html

warehouse wrote: »

It's not a "Staffy" it's a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. They were bred to be fighting dogs. Giving them a fluffy name doesn't hide the fact that they can kill a child if the mood takes them.

yes, were. but strangely enough they were bred to fight bulls, not other dogs or humans.
The reason you see so many reports about them killing children is that it's more exciting to stick with one dog. You never hear about poodles or border collies killing kids because they don't have bad press

The reason that so many are in rescues are because they don't live up to the image of being a devil dog that is happy to fight, not because they're dangerous.

kizkiz wrote: »

Ever tried to remove a staff from someones appendage? I have, and there was no way it was letting go. They lock their jaws and stay put.

ever fancied telling the truth and not something you read somewhere else?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=lock+jaw+myth&meta=&safe=active

scheming_gypsy

fairymoneysaver wrote: »

Personally I am not fond of staffys but I am aware many people are rescuing these dogs and I take my hat off to them.
But and this is just one experience - there is a lady in the next street who has had dogs for years who I would call a responsible owner and had 2 dogs, she then bought a staffy pup and paid a LOT of money for it. One day out of the blue it attacked one of her other dogs very badly. She still has the staffy but sadly I am very wary of it now especially if I am out with my dogs. So even getting from a 'reputable' breeder may not be enough nowadays

Is the staffy a female? most in house fights between dogs have nothing to do with their breed but the pecking order. A female dog will always go for the top dog status, so the 'attack' was a status issue and not because it's vicious.
Your dogs will probably be perfectly safe as she isn't (if it is a she) 'fighting' to be top dog.

dibuzz

I've had people cross the road when they've seen me walking my (rescue) staffy, some of them look embarrassed when she looks at them with a big grin and wagging her tail.
She is the softest dog I've ever known but even though we have managed to train her not to growl at other dogs which was a problem when we got her I won't let her off the lead and if/when I become a grandmother she will never be left alone with them.

My advice is enjoy your puppy and ignore silly comments but make sure she is taught how to behave.
There's not much you can do about your friend who won't bring her daughter round, maybe she will change her mind in time.

purple.sarah

vax2002 wrote: »

What is a staffy ?
A nickname for a mongrel based on a pit bull terrier ?

What are you on about? It's short for Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a breed recognised by the kennel club and legal in the UK. Not a pit bull terrier. Abbreviating the name is not an attempt to disguise the breed since most people realise Staffy is short for Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

fairymoneysaver

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Is the staffy a female? most in house fights between dogs have nothing to do with their breed but the pecking order. A female dog will always go for the top dog status, so the 'attack' was a status issue and not because it's vicious.
Your dogs will probably be perfectly safe as she isn't (if it is a she) 'fighting' to be top dog.

Ok thanks, yes it is a she. I do feel sorry for the attacked dog though as it has become very timid.

hartleysjam

JenJen, Tell them to shove off! i have a German Shepherd and If I had a pound for everytime I have heard 'i know someone that got attacked by one of them' & the amount of people with 'little' dogs that pick them up & turn their nose up at her when we walk by,I wouldn't be on this forum, I used to get ever so upset about it.
There is good and bad in every single breed in my lifetime growing up we had 3 GSD and now I have my one and not once have I ever been bitten, neither have i been bitten by Rotties, Dobermans,Staffs etc but I have been bitten by a king charles spaniel!
Honestly, the upset will where off, as long as you are happy and your pup is happy that is all that matters.
All the best to you hun
x

Jenjenf21

Thanks so much for your replies, it does make me feel better! I knew this would raise some sort of debate but it really saddens me that people feel its the actual dogs. Surley its down to the training etc.

Once shes had all her injections etc we will intergrate her asap. We will start taking her places with us holding her, carrying her to get her used to normal life outside the house and other dogs. And after Xmas (she'll be about 5 months) we will take her to classes to get used to other dogs etc. Shame we cant go earlier but she misses this term and because of xmas etc the next course isnt until early next year. But my fiancees mother has two dogs, both boys and our friends have 3 staffs which hopefully we can intergrate....

The way some people talk starts to make me doubt her and feel sad but i will prove you people wrong! Thank you for your support!

hartleysjam

I had a lot of hard work with my girl through the adolescent stage as she was an absolute bu99er and at points I was really panicky she would turn out to be the dog that people said she would be but guess what...she didn't.
I agree with the others that training classes are a great help