Intelligent?

When you talk to people about Staffys they always talk about them asif they are one of the dumbest breeds you can get and yet this is so far from the truth, something which does annoy me a little really.

Statment from KC Standards page for staffordshire bull terrier.

Characteristics
Traditionally of indomitable courage and tenacity. Highly intelligent and affectionate especially with children.

Source - http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/87

I might actually print this page off a few times have it laminated and take a copy everywhere I go, so next time somebody makes out like staffs are dumb or dangerous baby eaters I can show them the true characteristics of a staff.

Joke of it is its normally someone who has a dog and done no training with their dog so they carnt even get it to sit let alone all the tricks Molly can do. Sometimes feel like saying well Molly has been trained to do these commands: sit, down, stay, back, leave, drop, here, gentle, talk, pretty (Sit Pretty), over (Rollover), spin (Clockwise), circle (Anti-clockwise), shake, other-one (Other leg shake), high five. Whats your been trained to do pull on the lead while walking and how to bark at other dogs walking past?

Cool idea.

Lola can do high five, a little like give paw but a bit higher, it's so cute.

Louise C wrote:Cool idea.

Lola can do high five, a little like give paw but a bit higher, it's so cute.

Oh of course missed shake, other-one (Shake with other leg) and high-five in my rant, although high five is one she is not very good with as we dont do it enough, all the other she is really good at though.

When it comes to putting her harness on you just ask her to "shake an the other-one", and makes it so easy to put it on lol.

johneva wrote:

Louise C wrote:Cool idea.

Lola can do high five, a little like give paw but a bit higher, it's so cute.

Oh of course missed shake, other-one (Shake with other leg) and high-five in my rant, although high five is one she is not very good with as we dont do it enough, all the other she is really good at though.

When it comes to putting her harness on you just ask her to "shake an the other-one", and makes it so easy to put it on lol.

Awww what a clever girl she is

In my experience I've found staffords to be far more intelligent than many of the traditionally 'intelligent' breeds, ie border collies/german shepherds etc.

The only problem with their intelligence is that they have to see a reason for doing things.........

Tell a Border collie to jump & it says "How high?"
Tell a Stafford to jump & it says "Why, what's in it for me?"

Caryll wrote:In my experience I've found staffords to be far more intelligent than many of the traditionally 'intelligent' breeds, ie border collies/german shepherds etc.

The only problem with their intelligence is that they have to see a reason for doing things.........

Tell a Border collie to jump & it says "How high?"
Tell a Stafford to jump & it says "Why, what's in it for me?"

That is so so true, if you dont have a treat or a toy or something of interest to her then its quite likely she will just not do it. She is better than she used to be though aslong as there is nothing to interesting around she will still do as she is told. But unfortunatly if there is something more interesting round then got no hope.

I've found them very eager to please and quick to learn as long as they love, respect and trust you. There will always be stupid people though.

Caryll wrote:In my experience I've found staffords to be far more intelligent than many of the traditionally 'intelligent' breeds, ie border collies/german shepherds etc.

The only problem with their intelligence is that they have to see a reason for doing things.........

Tell a Border collie to jump & it says "How high?"
Tell a Stafford to jump & it says "Why, what's in it for me?"

perfect comparison! that is why Russell won't do any of his tricks when I don't have a treat or toy in my hand haha, we'll get there I suppose.

PS I wouldn't call it a problem... I see it as being even more intelligent!

i certainly wouldn't call staffs 'dumb' i would say they are very intelligent breed but in a different way like caryll said they are very independent and are very eager to please. I'm quite proud that i have taught harv who is 6 months to:

Sit, stay, paw (both) high five (both) wave, up, jump, lie down, spin, speak, wait etc Although i think he is a clever lad for his age!

Caryll wrote:In my experience I've found staffords to be far more intelligent than many of the traditionally 'intelligent' breeds, ie border collies/german shepherds etc.

The only problem with their intelligence is that they have to see a reason for doing things.........

Tell a Border collie to jump & it says "How high?"
Tell a Stafford to jump & it says "Why, what's in it for me?"

Oh so very true.

Throw something for Lola and she will fetch for about 3 or 4 times, then looks as if to say "get it yourself"

Louise C wrote:

Caryll wrote:In my experience I've found staffords to be far more intelligent than many of the traditionally 'intelligent' breeds, ie border collies/german shepherds etc.

The only problem with their intelligence is that they have to see a reason for doing things.........

Tell a Border collie to jump & it says "How high?"
Tell a Stafford to jump & it says "Why, what's in it for me?"

Oh so very true.

Throw something for Lola and she will fetch for about 3 or 4 times, then looks as if to say "get it yourself"

LMAO

ella wrote:i certainly wouldn't call staffs 'dumb' i would say they are very intelligent breed but in a different way like caryll said they are very independent and are very eager to please. I'm quite proud that i have taught harv who is 6 months to:

Sit, stay, paw (both) high five (both) wave, up, jump, lie down, spin, speak, wait etc Although i think he is a clever lad for his age!

Thats exactly my point though alot of people makeout like staffys have no intelligence, they were breed for fighting so that must mean they are dumb type of attitude. An have the opinion all they are any good for is fighting ect.

A guy who lives down the road to us made me angry the other day whenever we walk past he always gives Molly some fuss and attention but the other day he started going on about how his lab attacked another dog at the park and almost sounded pleased with himself an then started going on about how he had been on the internet researching staffs and other aggressive dogs as he wants to get something like that so he can use it for protection when he gets old.

I was so angry with what he was saying and could not belive he was saying the things he was.

Saxon is 9 months, but we've only had him for 4 months. In that time we've taught him not to pull so much on lead (he only pulls when he sees something interesting), to put on his harness, sit, stay, leave it, back, paw, other paw, high five (you put two hands out and he jumps up and slaps both hands five), roll over/over and gentle (gently take a treat). I taught him to roll over in about 20 minutes so I'm sure if we really worked on him we could train him so much more. He never barks at the door bell/a knock on the door or at other dogs on the street. The only time I've ever heard him bark is when Bowie wouldn't play with him.

CatStina wrote:Saxon is 9 months, but we've only had him for 4 months. In that time we've taught him not to pull so much on lead (he only pulls when he sees something interesting), to put on his harness, sit, stay, leave it, back, paw, other paw, high five (you put two hands out and he jumps up and slaps both hands five), roll over/over and gentle (gently take a treat). I taught him to roll over in about 20 minutes so I'm sure if we really worked on him we could train him so much more. He never barks at the door bell/a knock on the door or at other dogs on the street. The only time I've ever heard him bark is when Bowie wouldn't play with him.

See another perfect example of why Staffys should be acknowledged more for the intelligence, they are actually a great dog to have if well looked after and well trained yet the reputation of them is quite the opposite, thanks to some people who get Staffys for the wrong reason.

Blue is 14 weeks and he has mastered sit,down, paw,high five,wait and roll over and he will do any of these without a treat.It is a bit odd but Blue decides how long the training session will last.When he's done he let's me know and we take a break.I think they are a very smart breed but it does seem they are a little less eager to please than some breeds.

rocky does alot, but recently wen i use to say sit then lay down he now just lays down and its hard for him to sit then cus he knows hes just jumped past the middle man and wants his treat grrr greedy boy

dkay72 wrote:rocky does alot, but recently wen i use to say sit then lay down he now just lays down and its hard for him to sit then cus he knows hes just jumped past the middle man and wants his treat grrr greedy boy

I know that practice well!

hopefully should have my boy back at weekend janey the sale of my dads house is on hold thru paperwork ect so im gonna move back in there get some temp furniture and think about my future

Thats great news. What are parents for Xx

exactley happy days the worst thing is thow i should never of moved out

You live and learn!

not me i live my life on the edge !!!!!!!

i wish woody would high five! he's too intelligent for his own good altho can do a good "dumb act". he knows where that pet shop is and he aint moving til weve been in it! he knows where his pal izzy lives and takes me in that direction if i let him! far from dumb

i think buster had bigger brain then me some times

Caryll wrote:In my experience I've found staffords to be far more intelligent than many of the traditionally 'intelligent' breeds, ie border collies/german shepherds etc.

The only problem with their intelligence is that they have to see a reason for doing things.........

Tell a Border collie to jump & it says "How high?"
Tell a Stafford to jump & it says "Why, what's in it for me?"

So true of Ripley....she looks for the treat first. Little Madam.

So far she knows
• sit
•paw
•down
•sleep
•paw
•leave
•away. (she goes to her mat)
•bed
•walk...she walks on her back legs
• watch me

Staffys dumb!?!? please! Lol .. I call my vin the 'artful dodger of the dog world lol, he can get anything he wants sneakily w.out been caught! Haha.
Skye learnt sit and paw just by watching vinnie when she was 9wks old!!
Vinnie can do :-
Sit
Stay
Leave
Drop it
Here
Paw
Rollover
Down
Crawl
Round (twist round)
And he is brilliant with kids! We have none in the house but when small kids wanna fuss him, he plonks his bum and laps it up lol.

Skye can do - (still learning bless her)
Sit
Paw
Down
Rollover

I say: very smart!

Great training and fantasticly smart!

I've taught Bella to sleep really well ... sometimes I dont have to say anything and she sleeps all day!