I'm used to Labs but what about a Staffie?

[Lockey]

Hello, I am a semi experienced dog owner living in a village location with 2 children 6&4. I socialise dogs for hearing dogs and have had a number of labs and a few spaniels over the last three years. We have been thinking about getting our own dog for a while and a friend in the village has a litter of staffs. The mother (bitch) is super, and I have always been a lab girl through and through, but the more I think about a staffie, I am tempted... Short coat, great with kids, good size etc etc. Obviously a concern is how the dog would get on with other dogs and I would socialise it alot, and plan to have hearing dogs coming and going, but is it going to struggle with new dogs coming and going?

I keep thinking that I won't get a staffie pup (I'd get pick of litter) but something inside keeps making me think about them. I am used to lab puppies so I don't think it is just the puppy pull going on.

Is there anyone out there who has had both Staff and Lab and can give any words of wisdom?

Thanks!

well I have a staff & a GSD, and they get on fine. v v well in fact and did from day one really - althou we got them 6 months apart. the staffy doesn't need any more socialising esp. we have a staffy bitch, they do really really chew thou.

My lovely Staffy got on great with my mums lab, which is surprising as my mums lab is scared of pretty much any other animal that comes into the house, even rabbits . But she accepted the Staffy after a few meetings.

The staffy herself, never showed any agression towards anything. Having said that she was involved in an accident and died whilst in the care of someone else (I was on holiday with the dds) when she was just 6 months old, so I don't know how she would have been as an adult.

They are great dogs though. I'd love another. Infact me and dd1 have hatched a sneaky plan to get DH to fall so smittenly in love with our terrier (rescued a few months ago) that he will allow us to have another dog. We plan on rescuing a Staffy.

I have a friend who breeds Staffies.

They are known to have a tendancy to not always be great with other dogs, even if socilaised well. They can bear grudges, so once they get into a spat with another dog, they will keep on until they feel it is resolved, which can become serious and result in the dogs having to be kept seprate. If people have existing dogs, for that reason, my friend always recomends keeping opposite sexes together, as they are less likely to have problems. So, if you have a dog, get a bitch, if you have a bitch, get a dog. (although not clear if you still have another dog.

One thing that is extremely important with Staffies is health testing. The parents should be tested for L2-HGA (and at least Hereditary cataracts as well. L2-Hga ia a very serious condition which affects the central nervous system and can result int he puppy having to be put to sleep as early as six months old. Parent can be carriers even if not affected (as the condition is recessive) so the old 'parents are both healthy' is not a good enough reason not to health test. Dogs with L2-HGA can also become aggressive, so obviously testing is even more important if you have children.

Negatives aside, Staffies are great, enthusiatic dogs renowned to be great with children. In fact, the onyl breed the KC has ever suggested are good with children.

Just to add to Midori's post, if you know the registered names of the dam and sire then the KC website allows you to search for their screening results.

I have an 11 year old male lab X and a 5 year old staffy X.Both are rescue dogs. The lab we got as a puppy, the staff was 2 yrs old. They are both neutered. They get on really well, but my lab is a very submissive male and she rules the roost.

My staffy wouldn't hurt a fly and makes no cmplaints when other dogs come into the house.

Satffs need alot of exercise and need chew toys which don't disintergrate. However, she is soooo affectionate and the short hair is fantastic compared to the lab whose hair gets everywhere.

Thanks for all of your advice, I think I have decided not to take the staff and will continue working with the labs.

That being said, Midori1999's post about staffs being the only breed KC suggest are good with children still makes me consider getting one in the future - it is such a shame that so many people have such a poor opinion of staffs.

My Gran has a staffie and she is fabulous with my DS - 3.5yrs. If he gives her a biscuit, she is so so gentle and its as if she knows be careful, its a little hand and not an adult hand - its lovely to see.

Having said that though, I will not leave them alone together at all. Not because I don't trust the dog, but because I don't trust my toddler - kids just don't realise that they can be annoying a dog - he will want to smooth her when she is asleep, or if she is sat in the garden, he likes to pretend she is a horse or if its hot and he tries to cuddle her - all of this is meant well of course, but I'd still rather err on the side of caution. I'd be the same with any breed of dog though, not just a staffie

Oh and she is not sociable with other dogs. My Gran had a staffie previous to this one and while she tolerated other dogs more than the current one, she would not have weclomed them in the house

I think its great that you socialise hearing dogs as I'm on the (very long ) waiting list for one. Been waiting 15 months now...