Is dog aggression an inherent trait?

Hi there,

I've recently been seriously considering the idea of owning a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Although my family have owned dogs throughout my life, including a terrier-mix, this will be the first dog of my own. We've never had a SBT before, but I've been able to interact with quite a few and their sweet temperaments have drawn me to the breed.

The SBT seems to match my lifestyle quite well. However, I do have one main concern - dog aggression. I'd love to hear your thoughts on whether this is an inherent trait in the breed or something that can be addressed through proper socialisation. Have any of you had to deal with it?

Thanks for taking the time to read. I look forward to hearing your responses.

Hi & welcome.

No simple answer, I'm afraid. Yes, dog aggression can be inherited. Yes, it can be controlled with careful training & socialisation.

BUT. It's also true that SOME Staffords retain that fighting trait they were bred for. Not many, nowadays, but some. Some 40 years ago my Stafford, Bandit, showed dog aggression from about 8 or 9 months old, but that was a long time ago & the aggression has pretty much been bred out. However, you will still find the odd feisty dog & you just need to 'know' your dog & keep control.

Having said that, they are almost 100% human friendly & make wonderful companions if trained properly.

Have you looked at any breeders yet?

Thanks so much for the response!

I haven't begun my search for breeders yet as I'm still undecided on whether I'll ultimately choose a Staffy or another breed. With that said, I do think it would be useful for me to get in contact with one to gain a better understanding of the breed.

I’m currently in the research phase and finding it challenging to pick just one breed since there are so many that interest me. Staffies always seem to be one of the options I come back to though.

It's often the way that something draws us back to what we really want!

If you need any help, just shout!