To have fallen in love with Staffies?

[WellAlwaysHaveParis]

I went to a dog show earlier today, and loads of people had come with their dogs to spend the day there.

I met some people with Staffies, and the dogs were absolutely beautiful. One of them was so calm and quiet, and she would just let people pet her and stroke her, and the other one was a bit overexcited and would jump up and lick everyone who stroked him 😍

I’ve never had a dog before, as we’ve always had cats, but I’d love to have a dog one day.

I’d definitely get a rescue dog, as we’ve always had cats from rescue centres, but the idea of having a big rescue dog like a Staffie worries me a bit, as I’m not sure how I’d train it. I know Staffies have a bit of a bad reputation, but I’ve heard lovely things about them and would really love one one day. I just wouldn’t know where to start with training one and looking after one as I’ve never had dogs before.

Would I be unreasonable to think about getting one at some point? Does anyone on here have one?

(Part of this thread is a ploy to ask for your Staffie photos 😍)

"Of course they can be pleasant, like all animals. But have you see them when they change out of this to undiluted aggression and wanting to cause harm - its scary."

No, no I haven't seen that, in all my years of owning them and being around them.

The lab who attacked my SBT and caused wounds requiring overnight stay, ABs and stitches though? Saw it then for sure.

Everlasting, that's heartbreaking but Matilda looks very happy now, one lucky dog, she's absolutely beautiful, I Iove blues!

YANBU. I have a tiny staffie girl who is 13 now. She is beautiful in her square headed way, full of kisses and joy. She still runs around like an idiot despite her advancing years - so much fun and character.

She has lived with both of my boys being brought home as babies. The only reason I wouldn't leave them with her alone up until around 6 months ago (youngest is 6) is because she will literally pin you down and kiss you when the mood takes her, and I wouldn't like them to drown.

We've had other dogs, and she has always lived with cats. No aggression at all. On a walk once when she was a lot younger, she was attacked by a cat - it dropped from a wall onto her back and clung onto her - she was covered in deep scratches. She just cried and looked at me to remove the beast.

They are the best dogs.

Oh tiger, that's one lovely looking boy there too! Those eyes!

Heartbreaking that we don't have them long enough

My staffie is a rescue and she’s fab, she doesn’t like hedgehogs, but that’s our responsibility to police!

She’s as soft as butter, amazing with our two young children (we’re not stupid and are always aware). She just lets them do pretty much what they like; she’s been fab for gently teaching them how to respect animals; she’s so understanding and patient.

I love her to pieces. She’s such a softy, woofs at anyone through the window, but as soon as she meets them she just licks them to death. She’s terrified of cardboard boxes and balloons poor soul, so we pander to her needs and open packages upstairs, the children don’t bring party balloons home, bless them.

I enrolled her on the doggy good citizens award, she did the bronze and silver. She is very well behaved and good on her lead. She doesn’t pull and is generally lovely to walk. Very easy to train with cut up hotdogs! She sometimes won’t come back if off the lead and another dog is around; she gets excited and wants to play. So whenever other dogs are around she stays on her lead until we know the other owners are happy.

My beautiful girl is 11 soon and as you can tell, she’s a very special part of our family. Here’s a few of my favourite photos, plus one of her on ‘guard duty’.

Things mine have been scared of:

Thunder
Fireworks
Rain (none have ever liked the rain)
Puddles (had to carry her over them)
Ducks (one pecked her tail)
Sticks
Cats
Frost (hurt her feet)
Flies
Spiders
Fluff
Cheese

MIL used to have a cat called Max. Max was virtually fearless. One time he was outside and came across a Staffie walking on a lead. The Staffie wanted to make friends. Max hissed and swiped the Staffie across the nose. The poor dog yelped and then took off down the street with his mother running after him yelling, "Clifford! Get back here!"

We have two. Both rescue. One is 8 and one is 4. They are the most beautiful and gentle creatures. They are wannabe lap dogs who fart a lot. My favourite breed (along with Rottweiler and GSD). We've had all of them, around kids.

The only dog that has ever hurt me was a friends jack Russell.

Softest dogs ever. Eldest cat puts his head in her mouth and she just stands there as if to say 'yeah, cute party trick, next?'. And when they play fight (generally instigated by DCat) he'll sink his teeth into her and she just takes it and licks him. Both cats adore her. I've known a few Staffs and they've all been total softies. Best dogs ever. (And I'm not a drug dealer!)

Yourdaughter mine does the window thing too, and has regular passers by who look for her and wave :)

Oh, and she gets scared by other cats on our walks
And can fart pure mustard gas.

Dastardly mine was also scared of fireworks and thunder. Along with balloons, puddles, geese/swans and if you shook open a bin bag! Also large Xmas ornaments in peoples gardens like Santa's sleigh etc.
In my experience Staffies are big babies. Even my vet said the same

Ugly fierce looking brutes. I wouldn't go near one, those jaws could kill a small child.

Not for me. I can't relax with the fact IF they do turn (and I concede it's extremely rare) they are capable of inflicting horrific wounds.

Re fireworks and thunder, she will come and look for me and I have to stop whatever I'm doing and swaddle her in to a dog rectangle with her blankie. Going to try one of those thundershirts you can get. Another thing I've tried is turning a coffee table upside down, cusion the bottom and put a blanket on the top, like a fort

Gorgeous dogs. My four are all mixed breed former-street-dog rescues, as are my two long-term fosters, but I'd love a staffy.

I've known too many aggressive Jack Russells and I was badly bitten by my cousin's toy poodle as a child.

A friend has one and he is the most ridiculously stupid funny dog ever. I couldn't imagine he knows how to hurt someone but no dog should ever be trusted.

We tried a thunder shirt, he was scared of that!

My mums Stafford. Another rescue who is scared of any loud noise but is getting better when we use his thunder jacket. He is still young but when my mum had a knee replacement he used to sit and wait at the top of the stairs until she had managed to get to the bottom and only then would he come down the stairs.
He loves my great nephew but we watch all the time and make sure he can escape now my great nephew is toddling.

Staffies are the best. They have a bad rep due to bad owners. This is my baby.

Loving seeing all these pics of everyone's staffies

You know, I'm not even surprised it's scared of the thundershirt! I like how even when they are scared of something they still seem calm and sort of alright, just Not Very Happy, other dogs, generally ime, get a bit too skittish when scared of something which gets me a bit nervous.

Many years ago we rescued a 2 year old Staffy from Battersea. She was the most lovely dog. I would never leave any dog alone with a child but whilst we had her our daughter was born and she was great with her. My children have only ever been nipped at by Yorkshire Terriers and Chihuahua's.

She didn't particularly like other dogs though and would get scared when approached and would then growl. They are known for this but having said that I've met tonnes recently who are absolutely fine with other dogs.

I always thought Staffies were the only breed we would have but we recently rehomed a Frenchie. I was worried about my children being pulled by a Staffie when walking on the lead or ending up so another that doesn't like other dogs. Thankfully Frenchies are just as loving, if not more loving, than Staffies.

They're lovely dogs. Our rescue girl has a few issues with some other dogs but she's absolutely fantastic with adults and children.