Staffy/Staffy cross Rescue Pup - Advice?

Next week am picking up an 8 week old staffy (possibly staffy cross but crossed with what, we dunno ) from a local rescue centre. Have had staffs or bullies all my life. But never had a rescue dog.

We're told the pups went into the centre on Friday - without mum who has stayed with the owners. Owners claimed she got out when in season and was got up the duff by some randomer. We're sort of doubting - think it's a backstreet breeder who ended up with a lot of pups she couldn't sell as the pups do look like... well, staffs (my other 2 staffs both came to us at 8 weeks). Vet at rescue says they're healthy but so full of worms it's been really gross, apparently.

The worms could explain why they are undersized - they look tiny. But the rescue feel sure they are 8 weeks.

Either way, they're not a cruelty case as such and hopefully not too damaged by a dodgy start to life. Although it's impossible to know.

The only thing worrying me is I have never had a rescue dog. Any advice would be gratefully received.

i have never rescued but a lot on here have so some one will be along to help,to be honest i would'nt worry to much as being pups they should act just like normal pups would do,full of mischief

If they left there mum between 7-8 weeks they will be similar to any other puppy this age doesn't sound like they were traumatised in any way

I think that's great you getting a puppy from a rescue, you will have to show some photos of him/her, I would just treat them exactly the same as you would any other puppy

Agree should be no different from any other pup; we had Madge from rescue at 3 months, as in your case the whole litter was left at the rescue. She has shown no problems so hopefully your new pup will be fine.

At that age you have the socialization part of personality building on your side, but of course genetics will always play a part in temperament too, so if Mum or Dad did have any problems with aggression, shyness etc you may just need to work a little more in certain areas to get on too of the training - as you would with all puppies. Have you seen your puppy already? What do their personalities seem like at the moment?

Thanks for the lovely welcome, everyone. Can't wait to have a pic to show you all - here's a pic of our beautiful 14 year old bullie who died in Sept= she had dementia for the last few years of her life, was blind and going deaf but happy in herself til this summer when she started to go downhill .


Rachel, we weren't allowed to touch or pick them up as they were being wormed (and apparently they are all riddled with worms which might explain why they look so small). But I spent as long as I could watching them. They were all coming up to the glass, tails wagging furiously, all jumping up and when we appeared seemed more interested in us than anything else that was going on. I tried to stir them up a couple of times; talking in a silly voice, etc just to see how they reacted and they went nuts! So they do seem to like people.  

I was hoping to pick one that seemed about 'average' if you know what I mean - not the runty one or the boss!  And the one whose markings we liked the most and was also a bitch happened to still be not reserved and also seemed 'about in the middle'.

Thinking about it, both my old staffs were unknowns, really - although we met mum in one case and mum and dad in the other - you never really know their temprements as breeders will always say they're great.  Socialisation is the key thing, eh? Will take her to the rescue's socialisation classes and then keep going as best we can. Our first staffy back in the 1980s, we made the mistake of not socialising her properly and that led to a dog that was brilliant in every other way except being able to let her off the lead, or walk her where there were a lot of other dogs. So with our next staff we went out of our way to socialise him: took him everywhere with us in the car and before his last injections, carried him round. It worked. He was always brilliant with other dogs.

We're going to see pup again on Thursday when they will let us give her a squidge.

Sorry to hear about your old girl - heartbreaking! She was gorgeous love EBT's! Totally agree, my girl came to me at (roughly) 3 having had LOTS of puppies, minimal training a very little socialization. She's been a challenge but she's just wonderful, a very kind and calm little soul.

It sounds like you're very experienced and picked the right pup for you may well be why they're a bit dinky, bet you can't wait to give them some loves! What a lucky puppy

People here will help in any way they can sorry for ur loss all the best with ur wee pup

We're getting an 8 week staffy puppy from a rescue centre tomorrow! So excited. We had to put our last staffy Jake to sleep a month ago and he was a rescue and was perfect..we got him as an adult so really excited about getting a puppy. We're calling her Ruby and when I work out how to put pics on I'll share some of her. Good luck with the rescue and I'm sure you'll be delighted Jake was a typical staff and just full of love - rescue or not they're the best dogs around!

Sorry just realised this is from October! Hope your new addition has settled in.

No worries, and welcome Angieeee! Bet you're so excited! Time goes fast though.

Our little girl will be 6 months old at the end of this week. She may be nearly fully grown height-wise (I know my other staffies took about 18 months to fill out...) but is only the size of a big Jack Russell. Although she looks like a staff so is essentially a mini staffy! Quite appropriate after our late mini bull.

When we picked her up the rescue said the vet had said she was a jack russell/staffy cross, and so it seems to be. Sometimes you can just about see the JRT in her... She is feisty as hell and much more vocal than any staffy we have had. But very affectionate. She has developed these spots on her white coat and more appear all the time - apparently a JRT thing. But she still looks and acts 98% staff! Rescue were told by the feckless eejit that 'bred' her, that she 'probably' got pregnant by a neighbour or someone's jack russell. I think they may have been breeding this cross deliberately.

Hope you get as much love and fun from your rescue!

I'm sure I will thanks Charmy!

Hi, we got a a staffy x mastiff at a yr from a rescue centre. I think at such a young age she will be fine. Our boy had a weird temperment at first but he was older and had already missed out on a yr of social training. At 8 weeks old she is ready to learn and it wont take long for her to settle. We are 2 years in with our rescue boss and u would never know he was.