Advice required

Heya folks,

Well my girlfriend and I have settled into the new house and pretty soon we're gonna be looking for a new addition, a pup for the household. This is where we're currently not quite on the same page....

me personally? Would absolutely love a staffy. I love the breed as a whole and think would suit myself down to the ground but my gf is a little hesitant as firstly she herself has never owned a dog and tends to read alot in the papers -.-

We've been down to a couple of the local dogs home to try and grasp some form of concept over alot of breeds and read online as much as we possibly can and although she is starting to come around to the breed, can't really get a grasp on it very well so hopefully you can answer some questions we have about the breed as your prob the best people to ask, owning them already

How boisterous is the breed? From what we've seen and read it can be down to the individual dog. Laura is quite shy and doesn't cope with dogs coming "at" her very well which usually results in the dog doing it even more so. Are they hard to control as Laura is a bit of a soft touch with animals and won't assert herself (except when it comes to putting me in my place surprisingly )

How much do they shed? I've read that its little/moderate twice a year, Laura recently found out she was asthmatic and allergic to gerbil hair, so this could play a heavy part in our decision with regards to choice of breed.

On a whole, how dog aggressive is the breed? Again, I know this comes down to the individual dog, the upbringing and the parents but can anyone shed any light. Most of our friends/family have dogs and this would again play a key part. I don't think Laura would be able to control any situation that was to arise and it would be more ideal a situation if it wasn't DA as plans would be for it to socialize with us.

How bad do you guys get social stigma from people? I myself tend not to be phased from peoples viewpoints as such but I wouldn't want to put Laura in the position where every time she went out she had a negative response from people. I know the breed has had bad press due to it being brought up in the wrong hands, but as far as I'm concerned as long as any animal is brought up correctly it can be loving and attentive.

Abit of an essay I know and am sorry but really trying to make sure this could be the correct breed for us before making the decision.

I had reservations about the breed too. I got my boy 3 years ago this Christmas and haven't looked back!

Boisterous - Yes, they can be little whirlwinds, bit of you traim it well, it will calm down when told. Aggressive, only of its raised to be so. They don't shed alot of hair, it is a seasonal thing. I have four children - a ten year old, 6 year old twins and a four month old baby. My boy Charlie is amazing with all of them. He loves all people. He's not a fan of little dogs because they always snap at him, but he loves to play with dogs his size or bigger. He can be dominant, but again, a firm word from me and he will back off. You do need to be firm with them, someone who is a soft touch will be walked all over by a dominant staff. If you have lots of time to exercise them, the patience to train them and can be a strong, confident handler, you'll love having a staffy. There are some idiots out there who mutter/cross the road/pick up their handbag dog when they see us, but I couldn't care less. There are more people who love the breed than those that don't

All I can advise is that a staff is very loyal loving and very much a people dog. They need a lot of exercise so make sure you have time for that.
They can be boisterous especially as pups, so maybe an older rescue may be an option.
All said no dog is "aggressive" as such its how they are interacted and socialised as pups that stands them in good stead for the future.
I hope you find your forever Staff as they are a fabulous breed. 

Snoozes wrote:How boisterous is the breed? From what we've seen and read it can be down to the individual dog. Laura is quite shy and doesn't cope with dogs coming "at" her very well which usually results in the dog doing it even more so. Are they hard to control as Laura is a bit of a soft touch with animals and won't assert herself (except when it comes to putting me in my place surprisingly )

All pups, of all breeds are boisterous. So, it depends, really, on whether you'll be getting a puppy or an older rescue dog?

Despite their strength (and reputation  ) they are actually a very sensitive breed. They respond best with calm, quiet & persistent training. Harsh or physical punishment will often produce a fearful or anxious dog. Read up a bit about positive reinforcement methods & you'll find that the dog will respond well to both of you!

Snoozes wrote:
How much do they shed? I've read that its little/moderate twice a year, Laura recently found out she was asthmatic and allergic to gerbil hair, so this could play a heavy part in our decision with regards to choice of breed.

Some more than others is all I can really say. They are very short coated (in fact their bellies are often almost bare) and shed less than some breeds, but not really more than average.

Snoozes wrote:On a whole, how dog aggressive is the breed? Again, I know this comes down to the individual dog, the upbringing and the parents but can anyone shed any light. Most of our friends/family have dogs and this would again play a key part. I don't think Laura would be able to control any situation that was to arise and it would be more ideal a situation if it wasn't DA as plans would be for it to socialize with us.

The vast majority of well brought up staffords are fantastic with people and yes, especially with children. Some are a bit iffy with other dogs, but you can get round that with the right training. That's something we can help you with!

Most stafford pups, if socialised properly, will be fine with other dogs, but they do tend to play hard. But even da dogs can be lived with, with very little problem once you know what you're doing.

Snoozes wrote:
How bad do you guys get social stigma from people? I myself tend not to be phased from peoples viewpoints as such but I wouldn't want to put Laura in the position where every time she went out she had a negative response from people. I know the breed has had bad press due to it being brought up in the wrong hands, but as far as I'm concerned as long as any animal is brought up correctly it can be loving and attentive.

I won't lie to you here...you will get some negative reactions. But if you look at it from the view that if your stafford is well behaved & friendly, he/she can change people's views on staffords, then you'll be ok!

Caryll has pretty much said it all really and a lot of personality plays a part , both of mine were naughty as pups but only in a puppy way , Tilly is a very very gentle girl and the perfect introduction for anyone to the breed , Tommy is a little more of a handful but still a very loving and loyal dog , we just have to be a lot more firmer with him , but it suits his character and I wouldn't be without either of them for all of the world

How boisterous is the breed? From what we've seen and read it can be down to the individual dog. Laura is quite shy and doesn't cope with dogs coming "at" her very well which usually results in the dog doing it even more so. Are they hard to control as Laura is a bit of a soft touch with animals and won't assert herself (except when it comes to putting me in my place surprisingly )

I agree with all said above but just wanted to add, Axl was a great pup we exercised him and trained him and now when we're not outdoors he's usually belly up snoring on the sofa. Outside he wants to sniff everything and is pretty active but that's what I'd expect from any dog Inside he's quiet and content. I think with the right amount of exercise and the correct training Staffords are like any other breed and happy to sit on your lap and snooze... yes they are lap dogs by the way they don't know their size lol! As for whether they are hard to train, they are actually very bright and extremely easy to train in my opinion

On a whole, how dog aggressive is the breed? Again, I know this comes down to the individual dog, the upbringing and the parents but can anyone shed any light. Most of our friends/family have dogs and this would again play a key part. I don't think Laura would be able to control any situation that was to arise and it would be more ideal a situation if it wasn't DA as plans would be for it to socialize with us.

Staffords play hard and some dogs don't like that so I think if you're mindful of that and intervene when you see that play may be getting out of hand you'll be fine. Socialisation is very important for the breed as well, they should be socialised as much as possible at a young age. If they are socialised well and you are aware of their "play hard" attitude and that you can't just leave them to get on with it when playing, then I don't think you'll have any problems.

How bad do you guys get social stigma from people? I myself tend not to be phased from peoples viewpoints as such but I wouldn't want to put Laura in the position where every time she went out she had a negative response from people. I know the breed has had bad press due to it being brought up in the wrong hands, but as far as I'm concerned as long as any animal is brought up correctly it can be loving and attentive.

I haven't suffered at all personally, most people see Axl's tail wag like crazy and his stupid "seal" pose and they usually respond with an "ahhhh" or the like. I think it very much depends on your attitude as an owner and the training you have given your dog, if people see you are responsible and friendly (I always say "hello" to people out on walks) then they will usually be okay. I have had one or two odd looks but as soon as I say hello they usually smile back.

Overall, in my opinion staffys are the most loving, loyal and sweet silly breeds you can get, you'll never go back once you have one they really do steal your heart!

Pixee is a resuce and my first ever staffie, I have grown up with dogs, and I will say this, Pixee is the best. I cant add anymore as all is said in the above. They are very much people dogs. Its true they do very much steal your heart !

This may be a little controversial, but i'd like to preface the following by saying it's written by a person who very much loves their dog, and wouldnt exchange him for anything in the world.

I have not found staffies to be easy.

There are easier breeds to give a home to, both due to some of their in-bred characteristics and to the inevitable (mostly ignorant) condemnation by others that you meet when out walking. It's right to look at this objectively; no place for the rose-tinted specs. I certainly wasnt thinking of getting a staffie and probably would not have done so if 30 out of the 40 dogs at the rescue in Glasgow hadnt been staffies and crying out for a chance in life (which they richly deserve). Never mind about the partner being scared, *I* was scared in the early days! Let me be honest. He was manic. He also has very big teeth. He didnt know where he was to start with - who could blame him? He had been 8 months in the rescue and was still less than 2 years old. He would charge about the house like the demented bull in a china shop. He never ever was intentionally aggressive, but his over-exuberance could draw blood on fingers or ankles if you werent quick enough to deflect him. (I am certain that this was not intentional because if it were, we would have been in the A&E). Now, I hasten to add, Douglas has utterly calmed down. We have spent three quarters of a year just being quiet, using a lot of affection, doing training, just getting him to understand where his home is and that he is safe. He is a happy dog.

I have no worries about Douglas with people, including children (though no dog should ever be left alone with a small child, whether staffie or not), though he is not good with other dogs. This is likely to be due to some essential socialisation that he should have had in puppyhood that I assume never happened. Other people's staffies may not have this problem. We try our best, but I'm not hopeful that this can ever be resolved and so Douglas has to be on lead more than I would like (and certainly more than he would like) when we're out walking. He's ok with some dogs, but seems to have a particular dislike of black labs. He is not ok with cats, sheep, squirrels and rabbits. Clearly it would be embarrassing at the very least if he were to rip the throat out of some of these. Staffies were bred to be tenacious little killers, so their malevolent interest in cute, fluffy animals cannot be surprising.

There are plenty of positives, but this forum is awash with descriptions of these. A more loyal and affectionate dog I think you will not find.

It's ok, obviously, to get a puppy, but there are so many in the rescue that, to me, it seemed the right thing to do. If you decide to go ahead, here is my list of seven things that I know now that I wish I knew then (ie, when I first brought the dog home from the rescue)

1. Dont think we need to 'start as we mean to go on'. The dog needs time to settle in his new home. Leave it a little while to start training, let him absorb where he is. If it takes quite a little while for him to learn the basic commands, give him as long as he needs.

2. Dont be afraid to tell others to leave the dog alone. Not everyone dislikes staffies and sometimes their attentions can be overwhelming and unhelpful. The key thing to do is to stop your dog from making a mistake. Dont allow him to be in a situation where he can do this. As all staffie-owners know, in the event of any bad interaction with other dog/person, it's 'always the staffie's fault'.

3. Dont despair. It gets better.

4. He is not the dog now that he will be when he settles down. How he was immediately out of the rescue is not what he's really like.

5. If you have sanded wooden floors that you're proud of, you'd better do something to protect them.

6. Trust takes a long time to build. Think 6 months.

7. Trust goes both ways. He gets more privileges (eg, going off lead sometimes) as you learn to trust him, but he also is learning that he can trust you.

Despite all of the above, staffies are lovely dogs and most people on this forum, me included, love their dogs to bits. However, there may be easier types....

Despite all of the above, staffies are lovely dogs and most people on this forum, me included, love their dogs to bits. However, there may be easier types....

I have to strongly disagree I'm afraid  Everything you've described above, although very good, applies to EVERY dog not just staffies.  If anything I think that Staffies are easier to rescue than most because of their love of humans and their eagerness to please.

When my oh convinced me to get a dog (We always had cats) the last thing I thought I would do was have a staffie. I was very much like your oh and had only heard the bad things about the breed. However my oh saw Bailey on a rescue site and very reluctantly I went to see him- the rest is history, he was 6 months old and I fell in love with him. He DID take getting used to, they do get vocal, he has a noise for everything, and he does have his mad half hour when he runs about like a demon. Never having had a dog before this was all new and a learning curve for us as well as Bailey.
For example I go to bed early as i am up at 4am, Bailey would come into the bedroom when my oh came to bed and jump all over me, we taught him to be "calm" at "beddy" time, and now he creeps upstairs and lays down quietly so "mum" doesn’t get woken up.
Also peoples reaction to him can be strange, on the whole I have been quite surprised at the positive things people say about him, we are always stopped on our walks and have chats with people saying how its such a shame they have such bad press. BUT I have seen people dragging their dogs and children away from him, although there is no need for them to do so.
One piece of advice given to us from the rescue centre was= a staffie might not start a fight but he sure as hell can finish it- in the year we have had Bailey he has meet one dog that he has fought with, it WAS very scarey,and I managed to break it up quickly , no real damage done to either dog, so I keep him on lead unless we are alone or has meet other dogs, its better safe than sorry, because although Bailey never starts trouble, if another dog shows aggression to him he would fight.
Having said that he is my little boy, all the family love him, including my sisters lurcher, I could not imagine life without him.

To Debs01, yes I'm sorry, this is just my personal experience. I do appreciate that your Axl may have been easier and I expect you are more experienced than me. The key difference between staffies and many other dog-types is that staffies have the dental equipment to cause really deep damage if they want to. The look of them is scary to some people. I love to look into Douglas's multi-coloured mouth when he yawns, and to marvel at the fearsome teeth, stretched out like the jagged peaks of the himalayas. However, when mothers snatch away their children from our path, I know that others dont quite share the same appreciation. I dont think that happens if you have a spaniel, for example.

Not too much I can really add to the comments above, it may also be a good idea for you both to have a read through the Staffy Diary Section to give yourselves an idea of what day to day life is like having a Staffy around the home. Personally I couldn't recommend a better breed of dog to have as a family pet:

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f73-your-staffordshire-bull-terrier-s-diary

With ref to both deb01 and yeahbuts posts. You will find that with any dog breed some will be easier to handle.  One, lets say for example a Jack Russell, could be so easy and yet another could be that bit harder, generally its down to the owner to make sure when out on walks, that its under control in certain situations.  As to dental equipment and the damage staffies can do, to a degree yes, but any other dog breed can do just as much damage too, you just dont hear about those ones and there lies the problem with why our staffies have such a bad name, they the first to be on the headlines! Hence the reason people will cross the roads, and scare their kids into thinking our staffies are monsters, and other dog breeds are kind when in fact its not the case.  I am only stating the facts in a nice friendly way.[/b]

No, dogs do differ in the bite pressure they exert, so it cannot be the case that 'any other dog can do just as much damage', all things being equal. Pressure is proportional to the size of the dog, the width of its skull and the development of the cheek muscles. I dont know how scientific this is, but a little searching found this chart on wiki-answers:

Pit Bull Bite: 235 pounds of force
German Shepherd: 238-750lbs pounds of force
Rottweiler: 328 -350lbs pounds of force
Lion: 691 pounds of force
Hyena: 1000 pounds of force

So a Staffie, being smaller than a pitbull, may have a bite somewhere below 235 pounds per square inch. All this goes to prove that it's certainly better to be bitten by a staffie than a hyena, but probably better to be bitten by a chihuahua than a staffie. Not many hyenas round these parts.....

yeahbut wrote: Not many hyenas round these parts.....

janey has a hyena cross - name of Moo! 

Without dragging this off topic any further I do understand what you are saying but its rare that a Staffie will bite a human, its proven that you are more likely to be bitten by a labrador than a staffie.

The reason people think they bite more than they actually do is because the few that have bitten have had their story flogged to death in the newspapers (which I might add always has an underlying story to it, i.e. animal abuse, neglect, unwell), not to say that those stories arn't tragic I don't want to trivalise it as any loss of life due to a dog attack is horrendous. However, I think we can all agree that newspapers, unfortunately, are doing their best to demonise the SBT. So talking about bite ratios while it might be interesting, you probably have more chance of being bitten by a lion than a staffie in the UK  

Debs01 wrote:Without dragging this off topic any further :)I do understand what you are saying but its rare that a Staffie will bite a human, its proven that you are more likely to be bitten by a labrador than a staffie.  

The reason people think they bite more than they actually do is because the few that have bitten have had their story flogged to death in the newspapers (which I might add always has an underlying story to it, i.e. animal abuse, neglect, unwell), not to say that those stories arn't tragic I don't want to trivalise it as any loss of life due to a dog attack is horrendous.  However, I think we can all agree that newspapers, unfortunately, are doing their best to demonise the SBT.  So talking about bite ratios while it might be interesting, you probably have more chance of being bitten by a lion than a staffie in the UK    

This is just what I was trying to say in my post. My brother has been bitten in the face by a lab. It does not matter how much the force of the bite is, the fact is, another breed bitten. My son nearly had his ear taken off by a spring spaniel. My hubby has been bitten by an Belgian Shepherd Dog, and has been attacked by Bernese Mountain Dogs, need I say more? They are not shown in the news, hence the reason once again staffies are targeted!!!!!!!!! Its just so upsetting that these staffies are being targeted left and right. As said before, each dog breed comes with his own characteristics and its down to the owners to make sure its not out of control in situations. I have a picture on my phone that I just cant load up, its a spilt picture of two persons in one, with a staffie, spilt into two, one is a loving owner and a loving staffie, the other is well need I say more about those halfs?

All great advice above, cannot really add much to it, but really, they are a beautiful breed, very loving, active, and great to be around, with lots of training they are just amazing! And don't be put off by peoples comments or looks, everyone has their own opinion, each to their own! Good luck and keep us updated!

Yeahbut - A great honest post and yes there are some things relevant to the breed in there but your post is much more relevant to a person considering getting a dog from a rescue , and that would be any dog, regardless of breed.


It goes without saying that a staffy has the tools in the box and a playful nip may be a little more painful than one from a lab or a spaniel but thats about it , good training is the key.

The first thought should be "Is the breed right for me" , and once you have decided that , then is the time to weigh up the pros and cons of pup or rescue  

We chose the pup route only as first time round my daughter had never had a pup in her life and I believe it should be an experience all kids get to have like xmas and birthdays , we didn't research the breed as we had family experience of a beautiful girl ( Jess ) through my cousin that I knew and loved as a gentle loving girl for about 10  long years that loved to snuggle, she was a private rehomer at around 2 , and also knew that she didn't have a love for many other dogs . It was very very clear to me from the start that there is a massive separation between human aggression ( non existent in staffs ) and dog aggression ( its an individual thing that can be helped or hopefully avoided with socialising and training but never be under the impression that these 2 things will guarantee you the correct result )

Just want to say many thanks to everyone regarding the advice. Was good to see some give the non rose tinted which was helpful!

We've been down to speak with various dogs home in the area but although we said about arranging visitors and walkers when we'd both be in work, all the homes said no go as far as adoption was concerned as it was outside of their conditions.

Unfortunately due to my shifts being 4x4 it would mean that the once every couple of weeks the dog would be alone just over the times they prefer so we wouldn't be considered an option. Seems a shame really.

We are now considering a puppy, I know some of you on here would possibly cruisify me for it but I'm not too worried about some mess in the kitchen if it's alone for 3 hours one day in afew weeks and we're goin to look at a dog door as the Garden is well secured as we dog sit whenever I'm off work anyway for a family member.

We're trying to work it so the puppy is picked up when I'm on my weekend shifts, so for the first couple of weeks it shouldn't be on its own rarely ever with Laura working Mon-Fri and family have said they can help out, but I don't think we should rely and impose on them for us to have a dog.

She's come around to the idea of a staff, watched that snippet on wonders of dogs do 3 on bbc where the vet commended them, so we'll have to see what happens in the next few weeks.