Can Staffys do damage...?

Hello all. Please excuse me if this is a stupid question. I grew up with German Shepherds...and my family has had the breed for generations, so I'm not familiar with the Staffy at all.

I've heard the bad press about APBTs and I'm not a fan of the dog due to its reputation, but like the Staffy because of its smaller size and it being different from the APBT. I would like to know the difference between APBTs and Staffys. Are they friendlier/less aggressive? Are they capable of doing damage to other dogs?

There are a lot of dogs on my block and I don't want this to be an issue. Thanks

it is a bit strange question but the best way to put it is you were brought up with gsd and you know what damage they could do to another dogs but they didnt due to the way they were brought up.
well the same goes for a staffordshire bull terrier bring it up right and you will have no more problems than with any other breed of dog.

Absolutely. Although some staffords can be dog aggressive (as can any dog of any breed), most are great as long as they are brought up properly - socialised at a young age & trained well. Yes, they can do damage - but a Jack Russell Terrier can do damage. So can a GSD. I know, I've had them in the past, and Dempsey's best friend is a GSD!

Any dog regardless of there breed can do damage they have teeth!!!!

Seeing as you know the german shep and grew up with them tbh i think you should know this seeing as the germsn shep went through the same media hype rubbish the staffy is suffering at the moment a long with k*** head owners that use and abuse this wounderful breed.

Deed not breed

If you don't like pit bulls because of their bad press then i don't understand how you can like a staff. If you are swayed by publicity, then perhaps a less known dog is better. I have known people to get rid because of peer pressure.

Pit Bulls and Staffords have very similar temperaments. If bred and raised properly, both breeds love people, friends and strangers alike, but can be aggressive towards other dogs (like any terrier can be). That said, my little monkey loves everyone and every thing and has not showed a shred of aggression in his life. And most the Pit Bulls that I have known were the same way. If you don't like Pit Bulls based solely on the media hype, then the Stafford is not the dog for you. They have a bad rep in certain media circles, as well, and you will get a lot of the same negative attention and bias with a Stafford as you would with a Pit Bull. German Shepherds are very strong dogs capable of doing serious damage. If that didn't worry you, you shouldn't be worried about the damage that a Stafford could do. If you treat and train a Stafford well, you will have a great friend for life. If you don't feel you can do that, please stay away from the breed.

Staffylover315 wrote:Hello all. Please excuse me if this is a stupid question. I grew up with German Shepherds...and my family has had the breed for generations, so I'm not familiar with the Staffy at all.

I've heard the bad press about APBTs and I'm not a fan of the dog due to its reputation, but like the Staffy because of its smaller size and it being different from the APBT. I would like to know the difference between APBTs and Staffys. Are they friendlier/less aggressive? Are they capable of doing damage to other dogs?

There are a lot of dogs on my block and I don't want this to be an issue. Thanks

very disappointing to hear that your yet another one who judges by what you hear and not at all on experience, the pitbull the staff the rottweiler is no more dangerous than GSD you know and love and yet here you are hating on a breed you obviousely know nothing about.
When i was a child a GSD almost took my right ear off, i never approached the dog i was only walking past, you can still very much see the scaring behind my ear, I have a scar old puncture wound under the tattoo on my left wrist from a border collie, i have a scar on the right side of my chin from a jackrussell....I have nothing against the breeds and that is from actual experiences with these breeds not just hear say, which is what your going on.
Theres this old man who used to have a dog named tiny he was a yorkshire terrier cross so lovely so placid to everything and everyone, he died after literally having his guts torn out by a GSD out side a pub he never made it to the vets.

I have three and I get treated the same as people with pits but ignorant people. Honestly the only aggressive pit I have met is the one in the paper or on the news (in other words - made up by media). I have done extensive research due to all the negativity I get and can honestly say the pits and staffs have some of the most stable personalities of any breed. They both rank higher than the GSD. Now, I personally prefer the staffs but only because they are a bit smaller and don't take as much space on the couch so I can have more of them. I used to be more swayed by other people's perceptions, but now I don't give a rats *. Still is irritating when people act rediculous though. These are great dogs. I have had all sorts, but this is by far my favorite breed that I have owned.

Any dog can do damage.

Bigger dogs potentially can do more damage than a smaller dog.

Particular breeds may do more damage than another breed. The GSD had very bad press years ago and is a large dog. How much damage do you think a GSD could do if it REALLY wanted to?

All dogs can do damage, but depending on the size, strength and breed the potential for more damage is there depending on these things.

But in short, the Staff is very similar to a Pitbull, were bred for the same things I believe (Bull baiting, bear baiting, dog fighting) and have very strong jaws. So yes, they can do damage but as above..if brought up correct, socialised etc there shouldn't be a problem.

And by the way, Staffies and Pitbulls were bred NOT to be aggressive towards people so they could split fights up without getting bit.

F A O equi and rogue

iv noticed a couple of the replys have been a bit off putting and non helpfull please can we stick to the question asked and not jump down new members throats this forum is friendly and educational .
so please keep this in mind in the future before posting.

I've heard the bad press about APBTs and I'm not a fan of the dog due to its reputation

I think it's silly judging a dog breed when you haven't met one, there are good examples and bad examples in every breed, just as we have good and bad people.
No dog, regardless of their breed will attack for no reason. There will always be a reason, a trigger. To you it may seem that that pitbull in the news stories 'just snapped' but in the dogs mind it's puppies were in danger, someone was on his territory, it had a horrible owner that beat it and made it very nervous or it could just have been having a bad day and it's warning signs-growling, hackles raised and white 'bugging' eyes were misread or ignored and unfortunately for a dog-any dog- having a bad day can have very bad consequences due to all those sharp teeth.

I would like to know the difference between APBTs and Staffys. Are they friendlier/less aggressive? Are they capable of doing damage to other dogs?

The staffordshire bull terrier and the american pitbull terrier are both in the same group known as bull and terriers, descended from the old time bulldogs and ratting and hunting terriers. They inherited the tenacity of the bulldog and the drive and snap of the terrier. It is this terrier drive coupled with the bulldog power, so different from the ponderous modern day mastiffs that makes these breeds so unique. They can be lethal in the wrong hands, but only because many do not understand their requirements. The same as a German Shepard and a doberman can be lethal if people do not realise they are guardian breeds. Both breeds are terriers and they need activity and frequent exercise to be happy. Apbt are very happy as working dogs and take very well to dog sports and hunting. Slightly smaller and stockier staffies -generally- do not have as much drive as pitbulls but lots are happy to compete in fly ball, weight pulling etc. Apbt are very similar to staffies in personality, all the pitbulls I have met have been completely staffy-like, of course it depends on the unique dog but both breeds are happy go lucky, chilled out with occasional bursts of mania where they run around/get overexcited for no reason. I have also noticed this behaviour in ambulls and bull terriers. Both breeds adore people and are happiest when with their family. Both breeds generally are not dog dogs but most will still get along with other dogs if correctly socialized. Even so some staffies may not like other dogs even when socialized but this doesn't mean they will attack them, they will most likely ignore them and rebuke any attempts to play. Staffordshire bull terriers and American pitbull terriers are not born aggressive, there is no secret code word to suddenly 'trigger' them. They will be a product of their upbringing the same as any other dog. Most make poor watch and guard dogs due to their people loving nature. A burgler breaking in would be a new face to lick!
Are staffies and apbt capable of doing damage to other dogs? Of course. But so am I. Both breeds have a bulldogs bite strength and sharp terrier teeth so a dog that messes with one will most likely come off worse. But they don't have 'locking' jaws and they are not a large breed of dog. A rottweiler or a german shepard to compare has a much more powerful bite force and more weight behind it.
American pitbull terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers are both in the same group, yes but they are also in the same group as the Boston terrier and Bull terrier. They are similar-but comparing them is like comparing a labrador retriever to a golden retriver. Both are medium sized gundogs but both are uniquely different.

The bottom line here is that it doesn't matter what breed of dog you have, as long as you raise it properly and train it well, you shouldn't have a problem. This is the same for a chihuahua, yorkie, rottie, mastiff, lab, pitbull, staff and every dog in between. Honestly, do your research, make sure you understand what staffs need (companionship, lots of exercise etc), and you can go forward with the knowledge that yes, in some ways, they are a demanding breed, but if you train them well, and have the patience to get through the 6-15ish month 'teenage' stage, you'll have a loyal friend. Good luck

Wind up I reakon

I can't add any more to what everyone else has said, I may be biased here but I think they're the best breed ever to own temperament wise as long as they are raised properly. Even the Kennel Club state that "his genuine love of children is well known".
Here, have a look!
http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/public/breed/display.aspx?id=3080

Andy wrote:Wind up I reakon

Me too !! I've just been playing tonsil tennis with my little girl after going and checking she is ok with her mum on the bed making sure i've got some room left , rolled on her back little paws akimbo