Question for staffie owners

[paddythepooch]

Can I start by saying I'm very fond of staffies. But had an encounter with an owner today which made me want to hear doghouse staffie owners' views.

She said to me that several trainers had told her never to allow her staff to play with other dogs. She was adamant that this wasn't specific to her dog but to all staffs. Sounds absolute nonsense to me but should depend on the individual dog.

She spoke to me like I was an absolute idiot for not knowing this and I should therefore never let me dog approach an off lead staffie. I don't want to start avoid staffs - me and pooch like them.

Am annoyed as so called trainers giving a whole breed a bad name.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

The lady was an idiot. The trainer was worse.

My grumpy terrier loves playing with staffies, they are the only kind of dog I can freely let him play with without micro managing him so that he does not inadvertently start a fight.

Some staffies will react badly to other dogs if they are not socialised properly, but then so will some labs, some collies, some springers and so on.

[MeerkatMerkin]

No, she's wrong. I had a dog aggressive staffy, he couldn't go off-lead as he would attack other dogs, but that doesn't apply to the entire breed. Most staffies are sociable and playful around other dogs.

If she doesn't want her dog playing with other dogs (for whatever reason?!) then she should be the one to keep hers on the lead.

[Ullena]

Ditzylab luffs staffies!

[ClaimedByMe]

My rescue staffy is dog aggressive so she never gets off lead to play with other dogs I now know loads of staffies and mines is the only dog aggressive one the rest are all playful and a few are never on lead.

[paddythepooch]

Thanks all. Knew this was mad in my heart. Especially sad as her dog was enjoying the play as far as I could tell from body language. Pooch usually v good at telling if the other dog wants to play and pottering on if it doesn't.

Am v annoyed at so called trainers saying this.

[trashcanjunkie]

pah! people speak some utter tosh sometimes don't they? We have a staffie who is amazing at play with other dogs. He has special modes for the different dogs he plays with. Puppies get 'charles lying on the floor with back legs out flat, mouth wide open and strange noises' older bolshier dogs get 'charles leaping and crocodile snapping without connecting and running like a lunatic' or 'standing on back legs whilst boxing with front paws' He's very tolerant if other dogs get it wrong sometimes too, and either takes himself off, or turns to stone.

[Leafleaflea]

Staffies CAN have a propensity for aggression towards other dogs, depending on where they're from and how they're bred.

They can also have a quite distinctively bouncy and slightly rough playing style IME which some dogs take exception to and could easily be mistaken for aggression by someone who doesn't understand dog body language.

[NotSoNervous]

That's a load of BULL! My boy is 13 and doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body. He's never been on a lead and whenever he sees other dog he'll have a l

[NotSoNervous]

Have a little play then look to chase his ball again.

Some people really piss me off where staffie are concerned, there like any other dog it's how they've been bred and raised

[LifeIsBetterInFlipFlops]

The thing is, those Staffies that are aggressive are worse than aggressive labs, collies etc because of their physiology - their jaw bones are so short and strong and the muscle bulk of the build means that they do a lot more harm than other dogs, if they are aggressively inclined.

[trashcanjunkie]

leaflea that is absolute rubbish I'm afraid. They have exactly the same as any other dog. In past times staffies were used as 'nanny' dogs to stay home and care for very young children whilst their parents went to work. I'm not stupid, and recognise that if something goes wrong, staffies have the right 'equipment' to do serious damage, but that is NOT down to their breeding, it's socialisation and treatment from the owner.

[NotSoNervous]

There are staffies that are aggressive FlipFlop but that doesn't mean every staffie out there is

[LifeIsBetterInFlipFlops]

Thanks Notso, I know that, and that's why I specifically said, 'those Staffies that are aggressive'.

[Twattybollocks]

Mine is fine with other dogs, but she can be overly playful and tends to mosh jump on other dogs heads. Most of the dogs round here are resigned to her nutty ways but there is a Lhasa apso who won't put up with it at all and snaps at her. She never takes exception to it and just runs off to bounce elsewhere.

[Leafleaflea]

I didn't say ALL Staffies are dodgy with other dogs. Stop foaming and read what I said.

I said they CAN be offish with other dogs IF THEY ARE BADLY BRED. Yes, any badly bred dog can be aggressive or have temperament issues but lets not forget Staffies were bred to fight and to be extremely tenacious. The fact is, a dodgy Staffie is a far more effective and efficient fighter than most other breeds, in the same way that a Working Collie is going to be better at herding sheep.

Oh, and the "Nanny Dog" thing is a myth.

If you honestly think that the only thing that affects a dogs temperament is socialisation and training then you don't know what you're talking about I'm afraid.

[Leafleaflea]

Sorry, I'm laughing at Staffies being used to "care for very young children while their parents were at work".

Changed nappies did they? Rustled up a spot of lunch for these very young children?

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Staffies were originally bred for bull baiting, actually, Leaflea. They were later used for dog fighting, but that is not what they were originally bred for.

[Spero]

Bollocks!! I was told it was important to socialise my staffy ASAP as they do have more of a tendency to be dog aggressive - which I thinkis fair enough, they are terriers after all.

Took mine to puppy training class and she is now two and only once have I ever had any trouble from her - for some reason she took a sudden dislike to another female staffy, not quite sure what happened but she had a quick scrap, over in 10 seconds and came when I called.

Only other problems have been other dogs going for her - once a lab, two other times smaller terrier dogs.

She either bounds up to play or avoids.

And she does the crocodile snap whilst playing.

[Leafleaflea]

They wouldn't have been used for something they were useless at though would they?? They must have shown some sort of aptitude for fighting other dogs. Otherwise why not use a different breed?

And presumably the ones who were the best at it got bred from, and the ones who weren't, didn't.

Look, I've got nothing against Staffies. But the "pro" people get as silly about things as the more rabid "antis".

It's wrong to assume that every Staffie is necessarily aggressive but its equally wrong to ignore certain facts and try to pretend that they're a) All as harmless as fluffy bunny rabbits and b) All born with identical, clone-ish temperaments and that the ones who ARE more dodgy with other dogs are simply that way because of their upbringing.

[Spero]

I have no problem with accepting that staffies are more likely to be dog aggressive Han other breeds. But from what I have experienced this can be overcome by good consistent training and socialisation.

Without a doubt, the breed of which I am wariest are Jack Russells which seem universally aggressive and territorial.

[trashcanjunkie]

one of the reasons staffies are used for fighting is because they have the ability to heal from dreadful wounds. If you have much experience with staffies you must surely see that it is down to socialisation, unless there's a 'wiring' issue - which is just as likely to happen to any breed of dog.

I'm not saying they are harmless bunny rabbits, but it's unfair to generalise like that.

[higgle]

Sadly mine is very grumpy with other dogs and I can't trust him not to start fighting. He is rescue, 9 and a bit arthritic so I'm not sure he can be changed. Apparently 2 years in kennels waiting for a home made him wary of other dogs, so it is not his fault.

[tabulahrasa]

'I have no problem with accepting that staffies are more likely to be dog aggressive Han other breeds. But from what I have experienced this can be overcome by good consistent training and socialisation.'

That.

I love Staffies...but they do have a bit of a tendency towards dog aggression, in the same way that collies have a bit of a tendency to round things up.

With training and socialisation it shouldn't be an issue though and there's no reason in the world that dogs shouldn't be allowed to play with them, staffies or collies, lol.

[Whoknowswhocares]

My trainer advocates that NO dog of any breed should be allowed to rough play with other dogs (especially unknown ones met at the park etc) as it can get a dog into trouble and cause bad behaviour, loss of recall, potential fights etc etc
I'm still trying to decide if I want to follow that advice. My golden retreiver is friendly to the point of annoying to dogs sometimes (only 4 months ATM tho so will hopefully calm down!) and I don't want to be the owner of the dog who everyone avoids due to the rude over exuberance of their dog.
Thoughts anyone?

[Spero]

All I can say is that play has never gone badly for my dog. Sometimes she is very keen to play with other dogs that ignore her but I will call her over and she comes back. Maybe I am just lucky with this particular dog but I do think a lot of it is down to training. She is desperate to please as she gets a lot of positive attention.

Just got back from a big park where she had a great run around with 3 different smaller terriers, then she desperately tried to get a labs attention but he was fixated on his ball. She only plays really rough with a collie she knows who can definitely handle it.