Why are rescues full staffies? if they are supposedly such great family dogs?

[Hyacintharehighersincelasttime]

who gets them in the first place?

is this a status symbol dog whose appeal wears off?

[NaughtToThreeSadOnions]

they are status symbol dogs for idiots thhat abuse and mistreat them and because of that they have a bad reputstion.

The staffies that end up in rescues aren't the staffies that have ever been family dogs.

Families that have staffies dont get rid of them because they are brilliant family dogs.

Do you think that the ones in rescues come from families and they find out their not so send them to rescues. And this your proof they arent good family dogs?

[nrpmum]

They are overbred by back yard breeders. I have two currently, they are my breed of choice. I love them wholeheartedly, they love me.

Not a status symbol for me.

SBTs are great with people, not always so great with other dogs. You have to robustly socialise them as a puppy. They also play like a bull in a China shop.

Sadly the press vilify them.

[drinkswineoutofamug]

I love staffies! They are so playful. I have a dog who's best friends at the park are staffies. Unlike other dogs they don't mind if she plays a bit rough sometimes ( gets over excited) they also keep her out of trouble ( steering her away from skateboarders)
They are always smiling, can jump like a pole vaulter and sound like a steam train when worn out. Beautiful

[Hyacintharehighersincelasttime]

So the status symbol type dog ends up in rescue but they can be changed?
or they are too boisterous and end up in rescue?

[Hyacintharehighersincelasttime]

oh so they arent good with other dogs,?
bit like some jack russells?

[Hyacintharehighersincelasttime]

Funny to think staffies are actually terriers?

[Stormwhale]

I think they are often the dog people get without thinking it through. They are an impulse buy, easy to get cheaply, and then when these idiots realise what a responsibility any dog is, they dump them. For some reason they are the chosen breed for irresponsible people.

Having owned staffies, I would absolutely say it is not the fault of the dog. They are incredibly loving, sweet, wonderful family dogs. Perhaps if they were more expensive like French Bulldogs or similar and not so many backyard breeders were having litters, there wouldn't be so many in rescue.

[GarkandGookin]

I have a staffy from a rescue. From the way she is with people I think she was a grandad's dog who spent a lot of time with small children. She adores older men and little ones. Maybe he died or went into a home. Maybe the family rent so couldn't take her in. Either way she ended up terrified and confused in kennels at risk of being put down. She is no status dog.
Greedy types breed puppies to sell cheaply (although the law has changed on this I don't know how easily it can be enforced ). A family buys a puppy cheaply and a year or so later the landlord sells up. The only place they can find to rent doesn't take dogs so the dog ends up in rescue. I know of two families that has happened to recently. Nothing to do with status dogs.

[PixieDust26]

Staffies are beautiful dogs. Very loyal and calm natured and great family dogs. It's a shame some people use them as symbol dogs but that can be said about a lot of other dogs too. Doesn't mean they're bad dogs just put in the hands of the wrong people unfortunately.

[Hyacintharehighersincelasttime]

gosh, they are not cheap to buy

[Cyberworrier]

Some ‘nice’ staffies will end up in rescues for the same reason labradors, retrievers, any dogs end up there-bereavement, relationship break down. I have friends with a rescue staffy who is very friendly to everyone and another with a rescue staff who was a stray, who can be reactive to other dogs so she has to be careful walking him. He’s lovely with people and dogs he’s properly introduced to though.
Like all dogs, it’s the humans/prior experiences that’s the problem, not something innate in the dog. Staffy smiles are quite something!

[stayhomeclub]

They are over bred and cheap/easy to buy. They end up as whim purchases or in the hands of less than committed ‘revolving door’ owners.

They are always eager to please and so can be guided into undesirable behaviour by bad and abusive owners.

They can be boisterous (like any dog) and at this point once the puppy cuteness has worn off, less prepared or committed owners hand them into rescue or sell them on Facebook. And because of the sheer volume as the result of overbreeding they flood the rescues. You’ll see this with other breeds like huskies too.

For reference I’ve never owned a staffie but never met a ‘bad’ one, even if in my experience they aren’t always fond of other dogs.

[Hyacintharehighersincelasttime]

yup, the problem is they are now considered the best most popular breed, and so the breeders will up the game

[Stormwhale]

Yes they really are cheap to buy. People sell them round here for £50 a puppy.

[Hyacintharehighersincelasttime]

oh storm that is appalling

[Disfordarkchocolate]

When we looked in rescue centres about 50% of the dogs were staffie crosses not suitable for families. It was very sad, some friends at the time all loved the staffies and wouldn't have anything else.

[Stormwhale]

These aren't your kennel club breeders, they are idiots with dogs that they dont neuter and then sell the puppies to anyone to make quick money. They may get about £500 per litter, which isn't much but it's easy money.

[Skade]

I have a rescue staffy/mastiff cross - unfortunately the guy who ran the rescue actually ended up in prison for abusing the animals he was caring for :( and he was 5 when I got him so he really hadn't had a great life - he's covered in burn scars and was quite aggressive towards other dogs when he first came to us.

We have had him for 7 years now and he is an old man, but he truly is the loveliest dog. His dog aggression is long gone (we have two others as well now) with good socialisation and care. They really are the best dogs, I shall be devastated when he leaves me. Photo attached so you can all admire his gorgeousness - you can see his scars on his back, I will never understand how people can be so cruel.

[Sevo7]

They are extremely cheap to buy if the puppies aren’t registered. My friend bought an unregistered staffy a couple of years ago for £150 and I see them all the time for around £200. We have a pure bread blue and he was £1200 7 years ago! So they do vary wildly in price depending upon their breeding. They end up in rescue centres because idiots buy a puppy cheaply,don’t raise them properly and they become too boisterous,properly raised and trained staffys are wonderful dogs. Ours is the most laid back,trustworthy dog I’ve ever known.

[nrpmum]

Agree with Sevo

My blue was £1000, and my black was £700. Both KC registered, and I am very fussy where I get my pups. They both have excellent temperaments. Sadly my eldest has been attacked by another dog so is very wary of other dogs.

[Wolfiefan]

Another one who agrees with Sevo.
It’s not the dog’s fault or the breed’s fault. It’s the fault of the idiot people who get one on impulse, fail to train and look after it adequately, breed for some quick cash and dump.
A properly raised SBT is a lovely thing with the biggest laugh you will ever see.

[SauvingnonBlanketyBlanc]

They are beautiful gentle dogs,I've owned one and also a staffie cross.Very loving.

[picklemepopcorn]

Staffs are lovely! They are strong though, so need to be trained to walk nicely. Lots of rescues don't rehome to families with children anyway, not just staffies.

A rescue near me said something about all the entire staffies having bikes- they get around a bit. Everything accidentally bred seemed to have some staff in it!

[Madmarchpear]

I feel for the dogs but I have concerns about the risk of a breed so powerful and bred to inflict killer bites being minimised by well meaning owners. I think a lot of potential dog owners are put off by the "chav" association when picking a dog up from a home too.

[Sparechange]

I used to foster for a Staffie rescue

They are the go-to dogs for a certain segment of society because they are easy to buy down the pub, are the dog that everyone else in the neighbourhood has and are quite easy to own

But this segment of society is also the most likely to be insecurely housed, have fluctuating income and to have a lifestyle that is generally incompatible with dog ownership

Some get reluctantly handed in when the owner has to chose between being housed or having a dog; some get taken away by the authorities; some got handed in by the police because the owner was arrested and the dog couldn’t be left alone at home; some got given up when the owner got a partner who didn’t like dogs, or had a baby and didn’t have time for the dog; lots were found straying and no one knew if they had been dumped or had escaped from gardens

There is also the myth of the owner who gets a staffie as a status symbol and then dumps it when it turns out to be soppy and no good at fighting
We didn’t hear those stories, but it’s entirely possible those are some of the dumped dogs