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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have fallen in love with Staffies?

231 replies

WellAlwaysHaveParis · 01/09/2018 16:44

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 Grin😍)

OP posts:
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27
TooManyPaws · 01/09/2018 21:02

Most vicious dog I ever came across was the Jack Russell who used to be walked down our road. He had to be walked in a metal muzzle and he still tried desperately to attack my girls, who were four times his size.

Staffies? Soft and gentle unless badly treated and trained to be vicious rather than naturally so. I would never have a Jack Russell.

Pissedoffdotcom · 01/09/2018 21:06

tabulahrasa depends on the dog! I had a staff that was bloody huge. Majority of staffs now seem to be crosses & much taller than the traditional breed. But i concur that great danes are huge in comparison...with a shady history...yet nobody bashes them

maxthemartian · 01/09/2018 21:09

EverlastingGodstopper did Skye manage to recover any sight?

Nesssie · 01/09/2018 21:13

For all you staffie lovers I recommend you follow ‘The Blueboys’ on insta or Facebook. Ridiculously cute and they raise money for staffie rescues in Australia, America and U.K.

HotChoc10 · 01/09/2018 21:14

I was never really a dog person (much prefer cats) but my parents in law have a staffie who is just the most lovely affectionate thing. They also have a border collie who is nice enough but nowhere near as sweet imo.

Pissedoffdotcom · 01/09/2018 21:16

He isn't a staff (ambull x i reckon) but if you're on FB follow 'alex - life as an exempted dog' he is bloody brilliant. He is apparently type so his owners fought for him; his mum is disabled & walks him in a wheelchair. The stories are fab

Altwoo · 01/09/2018 21:18

I worked for a famous animal shelter, and staffies became by far my favourite breed. They are just the loveliest dogs - and many of those had had less than ideal starts in life. They just want cuddles

tenbob · 01/09/2018 21:21

I have fostered and owned lots of dogs
Staffies are by far and away my favourites

We have an elderly rescue one, and a young working lab
They both work as therapy dogs and are, if I say so myself, very well trained but the staff is the one who will sneak upstairs to sleep outside the DCs room even though she knows she shouldn't. She adores children and it's just joyful to see her playing with them

glenthebattleostrich · 01/09/2018 21:22

I think the reason people arseholes have them as fighting dogs or encourage them to be vicious is because they are so loyal to their human they will literally die horribly for them.

As a family we had staffs for years and they have been brilliant.

There is a blue girl who lives near me and her owner apologiaes a lot and asks you not to fuss her because if you have fussed her once, that is it. You are her best friend ever for life and she will not move past where you have seen her because she wants her fuss. It makes for very long walks!!!

workshyfop · 01/09/2018 21:25

YANBU. They are the most loving, caring dogs. They seem to know how you’re feeling before you do. And so patient with children. This is our rescue boy.

lifechangesforever · 01/09/2018 21:29

My brother had a staffie for 15 years, she was around 18/19 when she passed. She was the most wonderful dog and brilliant with his 2 children.

She had the most distinct bark, like a high pitched pig squeal. I loved her.

crazydoglady6867 · 01/09/2018 21:30

Best doggies in the whole world.

To have fallen in love with Staffies?
Shosha1 · 01/09/2018 21:33

Our girl, posing and wearing beads, courtesy of 21 month old DGD.
They sit together watching Gruffalo. 😁
Only time she has ever barked around her, was when my DS was tickling DGD and making her scream. Pup wasn’t happy as thought she was being hurt.

Usually wherever one I the other is.
And no, they are never left alone together, as good as she is with DGD, I wouldn’t risk it. Not because she is us Staffie, but because she is a dog.

To have fallen in love with Staffies?
To have fallen in love with Staffies?
buttybuttybutthole · 01/09/2018 21:38

I love this thread!

I have a staffy x lab. She is the most loyal affectionate intelligent dog, zero aggression, minds her own business. Almost human in her intuition.

Before I had her I was ignorant and scared of staffys. Now I notice them everywhere and always make an effort to fuss them!

polkadotpixie · 01/09/2018 21:42

YANBU!

I was scared of dogs my whole life. My husband nagged for a dog and I finally caved. We adopted a 5 year old male Staffy back in 2013 and honestly he has brought joy to my life in a way I could never have imagined

He is sweet, gentle, loving and hilarious. He wants nothing more than love and food (& constant belly rubs!)

He's scared of rain, the hoover, our pet tortoise and (believe it or not) kittens

He is the love of my life...don't tell my husband! 😂

buttybuttybutthole · 01/09/2018 21:43

It makes me smile hearing about them being scared of cats and kittens! Ours is scared of our cat and our rabbit.

GoatYoga · 01/09/2018 21:46

We are puppy sitting one for a couple of week. He is gorgeous and gets on well with the children and our other dogs.

He’s very well trained - much better than our dopey Labs and Newfie were at the same age.

Pissedoffdotcom · 01/09/2018 21:51

All of mine have tried to have the cat here...but the cat is a maine coon (spelling??) so waits patiently for them to get close then bops them one. They don't go back...

vintagesewingmachine · 01/09/2018 21:57

I will shortly go and turf our two Staffies out of the beds of our two children. The dogs go to bed with the children at their bedtime, then nip out in the garden last thing when we call them, then go back to sleep upstairs. The dogs have lovely, soft beds of their own....which are almost unused and likely heading for the local dog shelter. Our Staffies, couch potatoes like the rest of their breed, prefer the sofa in the kitchen; and the children's beds, at night!

thegardenfairy · 01/09/2018 22:01

Staffies are the same as any other breed. Some are brought up by owners who know what they are doing and are perfect dogs. Others who are brought up by idiots are the ones who who cause the prejudice toward the breed.

Any dog can be a great dog. It's the owners who fail

NasdaqYouTwat · 01/09/2018 22:02

@Allegorical

Many people don’t like them and they will judge. People will always be wary of you when you are walking them.

I don't own a Staffie (or any pet) but I don't see why anyone would care that a stranger is judging their choice of dog Confused

AnotherLurker02 · 01/09/2018 22:04

Lovely lovely dogs.
DH jokes that he was brought up by one. He's from a rural community, and each of the kids got sort of assigned a dog as a baby.
She slept by the side of his cot then in his bed every night (disclaimer nearly 40 odd years ago), used to push him along in his walker, then used to go out with him everyday when he was older riding on his bike etc etc. Nearly every single photo of DH when he was younger has her in it. We have had many dogs since, but he always says Staffies are the best.

tenbob · 01/09/2018 22:08

nasdaq

Sadly it happens
I've had someone rush up to me to tell me my dog is being attacked and they will be a witness for me - my lab and staffy were playing

I used to go running with both my dogs and people would regularly do a dramatic dive out of the way when the staff went past them but never ever for the lab

We are a 'naice' family but I definitely feel judged!

MyNameIsNotSteven · 01/09/2018 22:08

We had a Staffie when I was a kid. He was correctly loyal which resulting in him twice biting a friend who was just playing rough. He also became very growly/bristled at anyone who wasn't me or my gran when he got old - he hated my dad, his owner! He killed our chickens a couple of times - got out when he wasn't supposed to.

They are lovely dogs but don't underestimate them.

MyNameIsNotSteven · 01/09/2018 22:10

Correctly? Fiercely! (Cliche, I know, but literally true).