Newbie on Edge

Hi to everyone! Very glad to have found this wonderful resource. I also must admit to my ignorance. I thought Staffordshire terriers were dangerous and unpredictable. I know better now and I am trying to decide whether my family is Staffy material. My wife and I are both retired. I mostly get around in a motorized wheelchair or a scooter and my wife has almost daily migraine. We love dogs and have always owned one or five. Currently we own a 12 yr. old blind male Shih Tzu and a 15+ yr old small female terrier mix. We recently lost our goofball of a English Cocker Spaniel who passed away about 2 months ago leaving us with a gaping whole in our hearts. My wife is looking for a walking companion and I want a pal who would love to play fetch all day in our backyard. What do you think? Is it a good fit?
And maybe you can dispel something I read about Staffy's. Can they, properly motivated, leap/climb over a 6 foot fence or dig under it and escape? We live in the southeastern USA with a nice fenced yard and soft sandy soil. We have a pet door out to it. Would it be safe to leave our Staffy to come and go as it pleased?

I would love to hear what you think!
Cheers to all,
Steve

Hi,
I'm very new to staffies so cannot comment on their escaping capabilities.
However I can vouch for great people here, always ready to help.
So a very warm welcome to you

Before i got my mia she used to go over a 6 ft fence
If your dog is happy enough wouldn't sew him escaping and theres a female in season.

Hi &

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Yes they can jump a 6ft fence when in their prime though I would say most wouldn't and some are very capable diggers too. I think it all depends on location really, if it's not busy or surrounded by other gardens then not such a worry.

Staffies do make excellent companions as they are very human oriented but they also need good exercise, without good exercise they can become, what shall I say, mischievous.

Do you know anyone that has one so that you can get first hand experience?

Welcome to the forum btw

Thank you for your responses Ian, after considering your post I feel it's not a good idea for us. We are in a location and in a situation where it could easily become a problem. For one thing a schoolyard is right over the fence on one side of our yard. I could never relax knowing my dog was capable of scaling my fence and ending up romping with the kids on the other side. So it really doesn't look good for us. Such a pity

I'm not sure the height is a problem as opposed to getting underneath the fence.

Before finally deciding not to go for a Staff see what others here think, I'm certainly not an expert and only offer a personal view

Exercise is a major part of a staffies everyday routine and they can be tenacious ,,,,, an older rescue one would be an option as they wouldnt want to be jumping fences and would not need so much exercise but they are so loving and would be a fab companion to you both. Hiya and welcome Steve do stay and ask as many questions as you like xx

Staffies are brilliant they are ideal easy to train intelligent and the best dog you could ever own .xxx

Yes I would be more concerned with digging under the fence than going over it,but without seeing it for myself it must be left to your judgement.
Welcome to the forum from Tess and myself.

Well what's enough exercise?  I know that I plan to take walks through our quiet neighborhood twice a day and I would be using my motorized scooter or chair.  I used to do that with our Cocker and he'd come home with his tounge hanging to the floor.  Would that do the trick with a Staffordshire?  I've seen how loving and gentle they are but would I still to worry about him even after good workouts?

Walks with you in a scooter are definitely good provided you can get a good 45 mins maybe twice a day and some off leash time too. I don't know if you're thinking of a puppy but as raised above, perhaps an older Staffy would be ideal. An older one wouldn't need quiet as much stimulation, be calmer and would be more laid back than a youngster.

Food for thought I guess

Hi from me and mine too!

Inez Maria wrote:Exercise is a major part of a staffies everyday routine and they can be tenacious ,,,,, an older rescue one would be an option as they wouldnt want to be jumping fences and would not need so much exercise but they are so loving and would be a fab companion to you both.

I completely agree with Inez. There are staffies and staffies. Although most are fairly energetic and athletic, they do vary and that's really something you'll find out as they grow. Getting and adult dog from a shelter sounds a good option for you, as you'll be able to pick one that suits your specific needs. Older dogs can be a lot less demanding but still have all the wonderful staffie traits.

So don't dismiss staffies in general, just young lively ones. Good luck finding your perfect match!

Welcome to the forum. Good luck finding the right dog for you. I think if you supervised & played in your garden with a well walked dog who is bonded to you, escaping would not be an issue. My dogs like to dig sometimes but only really do it in one earthy area

Thank you everyone! I have a lot to think over.

Please ask any questions if they come up. Of course all dogs are individuals but there are breed traits

hia from me and Sasha