Hi all :)

Hi

We'd been thinking about getting a dog for a while and last week visited a local RSPCA centre to see dogs available. There seemed to be mostly 'trophy' dogs such as Staffies, Akitas and the odd Jack Russell in there but one girl caught our eye.

Misty was an 18 month old brindle and white bitch who had been dumped by her owners a month before. Shockingly this young dog has already had multiple litters (you could tell by the droppy underbelly) the RSPCA workers told us despite her previous life she had a really lovely nature and couldn't understand why she was getting overlooked.

I'll admit I wasn't sure about adopting a staffy, the breed just didn't appeal to me at all. I have a partner and two children aged 11 and 15 years but after reading too many horror stories in the papers about mauling children I wasn't so sure this was the right dog for us at all. However we took Misty out twice in the local walking area and she seemed really relaxed with all of us. We decided to reserve her as despite her breed she seemed to be such a lovely dog.

I had doubt in my mind because of what breed she was and not completely convinced we were doing the right thing. I came home and researched the breed as much as I could on the net and found this place which I am sure will be a godsend over the years to come.

Yesterday 'Sasha' came home with us. The quiet lovely natured dog we had met in the kennel was good as gold in the car home but as soon as she arrived she'd jumped up to everyone in the house, tried to lick from cups, jumping up to the kitchen worktops, grabbed 'Dads' slippers, jumped up on the sofa, let off some really bad stinkys much to the amusement of my son and peed on the living room carpet. Sasha carried a bad doggy smell with her so we bathed her; the water ran brown from the dirt! Trying to shower down a bolting Staffy is no fun at all I'm sure you all know! After the bath when I saw all the debris and hair over our bathroom and kitchen floors I nearly cried thinking what had I done. Sasha seemed crazy.

At nighttime her bed was all set up in the kitchen we have put up a stairgate to stop her roaming the house as I wasn't sure about housetraining and didn't want to take the chance. She whimpered and whined although I tried the best I could to wear her out with playing ball and going for short walks to get used to the area. I'm not sure whether I did the right thing but I slept downstairs on the sofa whilst she slept in the kitchen. Everytime she got up at the stairgate and whimpered I told her to go to bed and lie down. Eventually she did (thank god she did I feel like the walking dead today!)

In the morning there was no mess from during the night which was good. I was convinced it was going to be from being in kennels. It was raining heavily and she just stood at the door. I tried several times to get her out but she didn't go. I fed her and shortly after took her for a walk in the piddling rain at 6am in the morning (good job no one was around to see me in the morning- bad hair and no make up haha) No joy with the toileting so came back home and was back out again a short while after and hoorah! toileting result and finally after the mornings events she has eventually settled down in her bed to sleep.

Happy days

Hi &

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Don't worry I'm sure she will settle in a bit. They do need alot of exercise, normally two walks a day for 45 minutes each. Good job on the rescue

welcome to the life of owning a Staffy!!

I have a rescue and I promise she will settle in time when you have a routin up and running! Nice one for rescuing and please have a good nose around the site and you will see how the media portray the breed is utter nonsense!

Welcome from me and Moo

Hi & welcome to the forum.

Sasha10 wrote:Yesterday 'Sasha' came home with us. The quiet lovely natured dog we had met in the kennel was good as gold in the car home but as soon as she arrived she'd jumped up to everyone in the house, tried to lick from cups, jumping up to the kitchen worktops, grabbed 'Dads' slippers, jumped up on the sofa, let off some really bad stinkys much to the amusement of my son and peed on the living room carpet. Sasha carried a bad doggy smell with her so we bathed her; the water ran brown from the dirt! Trying to shower down a bolting Staffy is no fun at all I'm sure you all know! After the bath when I saw all the debris and hair over our bathroom and kitchen floors I nearly cried thinking what had I done. Sasha seemed crazy.

So, she's found you out already! Seriously, with a bit of training she'll be good as gold. Don't forget that she's been in kennels without real affection or attention for quite a while, it must seem like all her christmasses have come at once! She'll be on a high for a few days but should start to calm down a bit once she realises she's there to stay!

Sasha10 wrote: I'm not sure whether I did the right thing but I slept downstairs on the sofa whilst she slept in the kitchen. Everytime she got up at the stairgate and whimpered I told her to go to bed and lie down. Eventually she did (thank god she did I feel like the walking dead today!)

If I were you I'd go to bed & leave her to whimper. If you sleep on the sofa she'll expect you to always do it & it'll be harder for you in the long run!

She sounds a sweetie, though. Any chance of some pics?

welcome

sounds like your having fun,i think though with the rain it's the breed not liking the water my 2 refuse to go out if it's raining but love to play in the sea and river,a routine is key though will give her purpose after such a rough start she'll learn quickly that your love is for keeps and reward you each day by learning something new they like a challenge,as for sleeping though she's just found company so will find separation a little tricky but as a previous comment said best to leave well alone and resist the urge to tend to the whining,good luck with her put in the time and you'll have the best possible family dog i wouldn't change my 2 for the world.

Hi and welcome to the forum from Rocky and me.

Well done for rescuing, Rocky is also from a rescue centre so we know exactly where you are coming from.

It may take a while for her to settle in but you will get there. Please be patient with the training and consistent, you must all stick to the same procedure with this. Good luck and have fun.

Any questions please just ask.

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Well done to you for rescuing, Sasha is a lucky girl.

I can understand how overwhelmed you must feel, and wondering whether you've done the right thing is probably something that everyone who has rescued has thought at least once. This is a MASSIVE change for her, and it will take her a while to settle in and find her feet.

Don't rush her, just set firm rules and boundaries and be consistent with training and it will all work out. Don't judge her on her first couple of weeks at home with you, she's just had the rug pulled out from under her, again, and needs time to adjust, just as we would.

Good luck, and we are here anytime for advice or a chat or just someone to moan at when it seems a bit much.

Stick with it, it'll be worth it

Hello and welcome from me the wife and marley

Hi and welcome from me and the kids, great job on the rescue !! Nothing more to add other than keep up with the work and I'm sure you will have the best rewards back with a good dog and some real staffy love , and that's one thing money can't buy ...........wel unless you bought the dog in the first place

hia from me and my sasha!
well done you on the rescue im sure you'll be rewarded with many staffy kisses and loves!

Hi and welcome from me and Buster.

As said before, she will settle soon, it is all new to her. With regards to the staffies and children - I have two young children (5 and almost 2) and Buster is perfect with them both. The papers like to make them out to be horrible monsters, but honestly they are so loving and loyal!

Congratulations on your new family member, and well done for rescuing

Hi and welcome. Thought you might get akick out of this:
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t19407-so-you-think-you-want-a-stafford#277177

Hi & welcome to the forum ><

Hi and welcome from me, Millie and Bella.
Congrats on your new addition. Like everyone has said, I'm sure she will settle soon. Would love to see some pics of her

Hi

Thank you all for a lovely welcome. Here is Sasha.....

Awww she is lovely looking girl

Hi

Just wanted to add I took the advice about leaving her to whine at night to get her to settle. I was so tired last night that I don't think I could have got out of bed even if I wanted to! There were a few whimpers at the gate but she settled in her bed almost straight away plus there was no mess to clean up in the morning either so super impressed

I have had a few incidents with growling too she had a shoe this morning and my son thought he would lie down on the floor, obviously Sasha thought he was playing and when he went to get up she had hold of his dressing gown belt. I must admit it's a little scary having a strange dog growling at you, I said drop but it thought I was playing tug of war. I eventually got her to leave alone by shaking a tin with buttons in.

She walks lovely on the lead and knows 'heel', 'wait' and 'sit' (well sometimes) she doesn't understand 'paw' need to try with 'drop' and 'leave' which she does sometimes with toys in the garden but with incidents with the shoe and my son's belt I'm not sure.

Oh and have realised the heavy snoring, grunts and snorts are part of the deal too