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How to change my mind about Staffies?or should I?

25 replies

Ishouldprobablywax · 30/08/2010 01:21

I do want to get a dog from dogs trust in the next year.
My ideal dog would be a cocker spaniel, I think they're lovely and I think it would be a good match.
However, alot of dogs are staffies or staffie crosses and I am pretty wary of them. They get alot of bad press and I could not own a dog that I couldn't trust with my nieces nephews etc.
I know I could just go to a breeder and get a cocker but I feel a bit funny buying a dog when there are plenty about that need homes anyway and 90% of those where I live are staffies.
Any advice?

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ShinyAndNew · 30/08/2010 01:25

Do some reading outside of the tabloid papers. The reputation they have earned is completely undeserved. It's caused only by the type of owner the breed attracts (i.e yobs and eejits). SBT are great family pets. I'll find you some links in mo.

Ishouldprobablywax · 30/08/2010 01:28

Cheers shiney- don't worry I don't believe everything I see,I just want to be absolutely certain iyswim?

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LuckySalem · 30/08/2010 01:30

Staffies nicknames are nanny dogs. Before they were used for dog fighting and as a status symbol they were bought SPECIFICALL as a family pet.

Visit your local centre and ask them to bring you a PROVEN staffie, spend 5 mins in it's presence and I REALLY believe that that dog will change your mind.

Or google staffy smile. I'll never understand someone who can be scared of a good ol' staffy smile Grin

Ishouldprobablywax · 30/08/2010 01:34

Excuse my ignorance but what does 'proven' mean?

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Vallhala · 30/08/2010 01:35

For a start, please read the thread on here "I think my dog is pg" (or similar, I may have paraphrased).

Then take it from me, a rescuer with kids who had a SBT X in the home from the day they were born and who has fostered SBTs amongst others, a well trained, loved and cared for dog is just that, regardless of his breed. Same with people really. Huntley was a man who murdered two children but does that stop you getting into bed with your DH at night just because he's a man? (Sorry if you're single or not straight but you get my point I hope!).

Have a word with rescue, all types, not just the big ones but nationally rehoming independents and local small ones too. meet their dogs and hear it from the experts.

ANY dog can be aggressive. There are several SBTs in the rescue I help out at and do you know what? They are all terribly affectionate... but one of the rescue's Jack Russells is a little bugger and has been known to snap.

Think too about those of us who DO or HAVE owned SBTs and who have children. Do you honestly think we'd have a dog which was untrustworthy around our kids?

What you read in the papers are the rare, very rare in fact, terrible cases - recent cases over the past years have often been those where the dog is not properly treated or not in the care of the actual owner but grandparents.

Did you not read about me and my SBT x and foster Staffie in the Telegraph, Mail and Sun?

No... you wouldn't, because like thousands of other families who own or foster SBTs NOTHING BAD HAS HAPPENED! And nothing bad happening doesn't make the newspapers!

Seriously, go chat with an independent no kill rescue which homechecks (for YOUR sake as much as the dogs, to get the right match), vaccinates, chips, neuters and offers lifetime support and which will take the dog back at any stage in his life if you can't keep him. Let the experts guide you. :)

ShinyAndNew · 30/08/2010 01:36

Yes, the Staffy smile. I always thought were quite ugly dogs until I saw one smile. I have been in love ever since. I went to rescue one, however, and came with a fluffy white terrier x, who I love dearly, because he was the right the dog for our family at that pound at the time. And I feared if I waited and left him there he would be pts, as his 'days were up' with the pound. I didn't ask what that meant.

I still need a staffy though, so we are looking into re-homing another dog after x-mas.

Op - trust what the rescuers tell you. A staffy may or may not be right for you. But a proper rescue center will match you with the right dog.

LuckySalem · 30/08/2010 01:37

PROVEN with people/dogs/cats etc etc.

IE: has come from a home (not a pound) and they have all the history on it and know exactly how it will react.

Vallhala · 30/08/2010 01:37

PS I advised you to read the other thread so you can see how many of these dogs, healthy and friendly, are killed each week in pounds because people don't look further than the bad press and think that they must all be evil.

LuckySalem · 30/08/2010 01:38

If you want us to look for a dog for you come to

www.forum.animallifelinuk.org.... We are working with rescues all over the UK and will help match you to the right dog for you depending on your circumstances.

Ishouldprobablywax · 30/08/2010 01:46

Thanks everyone- sorry my first Lang isn't English so wasn't sure how a dog was proven!
I did watch the panorama on poor staffies and that's what set my mind going!
Is dogs trust a good place to find a dog?I hate these killing places.it's just too sad.
I definitly agree with your metaphor Valhalla - I believe it applies to races and gender etc so why not doggies!

I have heard that staffs can be alot like schauzers temperent wise? I used to have a schnauzer and was truly a brilliant dog :) obv all dogs are different though!

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Ishouldprobablywax · 30/08/2010 01:48

Can you repost that last link lucky? I can't seem to get it to open?
Thanks for all of the links everyone

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Vallhala · 30/08/2010 01:50

Dogs Trust is probably not a bad place to start as they homecheck etc etc and they also tend to "cherry-pick* - ie they chose the easier/younger dogs to take in and reject those which are harder to home, leaving independent rescue to deal with those, sadly.

On another note, for a lady whose first language isn't English, you're brilliant! I wish I could communicate even as 100th as well in a foreign language. :)

LuckySalem · 30/08/2010 01:52

Dogs trust are good yeh, just make sure they tell you ALL about the dogs. Ask every question that you need to ask.

www.forum.animallifelineuk.org

hope it works this time for you.

Ishouldprobablywax · 30/08/2010 01:59

That's great thanks lucky!
Ooh val you made me blush! I've been here a while but some words can't be google-translated haha!

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Laska · 30/08/2010 08:14

I think it's fab that you're considering a staffy.

I'm a german shepherd person and never liked staffies all that much - too small and barrelly looking for my liking! Then I transported one that was 6m old into a rescue. The loveliest little pup - when I went to put the lead on him he hit the floor crawling with fear Sad - but despite the horrors he must have suffered in his short life, he was full of wags, licks and couldn't nestle in close enough to me. He was adorable.

From then on, I've seen them in a new light - they're so forgiving, and they just adore people, often in spite of being very badly treated.

As well as looking in your local Dogs Trust, you could also try some smaller rescues, some of which will have fostered the dogs as they don't have kennels or only limited kennel space. Finding a staffy or staffy-x who has been fostered with kids and other dogs would give you an indication of how they are when they are in a home - often a better indication than when you just see a dog in kennels.

This site www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php? will give you info on rescues and also have sections where you can see dogs available for homing. You can also search on breed rescues if you wanted to check out cocker spaniels too.

4andnotout · 30/08/2010 08:31

I have a staffy, she is beautiful (have many pictures of her staffy smile :) ) I watched the panorama programme and cried all of the way through Blush

DinahRod · 30/08/2010 08:41

Dh had a SBT before I met him and she was a lovely lovely dog, very eager to please and, as someone said, very forgiving. She was very gentle and clever (used to sniff out hidden toys and followed a whole set of commands). I would have been perfectly at ease with her around the children, much more so that the PIL carpet-rug Yorkshire terrorists terriers.

My take on staffies when seen out and about is look at the owner.

Good luck in finding your dog.

BeerTricksPotter · 30/08/2010 08:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

spikeycow · 30/08/2010 09:21

Not being horrible but I wouldn't bother to persuade you of anything. What if you do get a Staffy and then there's another headline, will you start getting twitchy? What happens to the dog then? You haven't got a clue about the breed so I'd leave it if I were you

WoodRose · 30/08/2010 09:49

If you are keen on a cocker spaniel, have a look at the breed rescues. You will find contact details for specific breed rescues on the Kennel Club website. Also, have a look at Many Tears Rescue. They often have cockers available for rehoming. Although they are based in Wales, they have fosterers all over the country. Good luck!

Amanderrr · 31/08/2010 13:14

I have a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. He's about 12 years old now and he's never been any trouble at all (Although he did eat our Christmas turkey once). He has a lovely temperament and loves cuddles.

They're not naturally aggressive dogs and they're great with children. I got my Staffie when DS1 was 5 and DS2 was 2 and the three of them used to run around the house and garden like loons chasing each other.

There's a lovely little Staffie pup looking for a home at my nearest rescue centre here (Sox. About two thirds of the page down). He hasn't had the best start in life having been stuffed in a locker and found by a caretaker. I'd take him myself but I have four already. I think DP would leave if I got anymore dogs.

Please consider a Staffie as there are so many of them in kennels.

Ephiny · 08/09/2010 17:02

If you're in London, Battersea seems to be 90% full of Staffies recently, I get the impression they'd be delighted if someone wanted to give one a good home.

I've never had one myself (though I have a Rottie, so know what you mean about bad press!) but those I know are lovely dogs and great with children, a really good mix of energetic/playful and gentle/affectionate, which I think is typical of the breed.

QueenofDreams · 08/09/2010 17:09

I grew up with Staffies as my mum used to breed them. However this was in a different country where they are viewed a lot differently to here. I was surprised at the negativity surrounding them here in the UK.

Basically a staffy is a really strong dog, its jaws are very powerful so if they DO attack they can do a lot of damage. But the key with them (and any breed to be honest) is good training and knowing how to handle them. Generally staffies have a really good temperament, although they can be boisterous (which is where good training is essential) We only ever had one staffy that my mum couldn't handle and he had come from a bad background and had never been trained.

They have bad press because of idiots who buy them as an accessory to make them look tough, but have no idea how to handle them.

PussinJimmyChoos · 08/09/2010 17:12

My Gran has had two Staffies and both fab with kids..imo its down to their training

Current Staffie is very good with DS (4) and will just walk off if fed up with him.

Having said that, I never leave them alone together. Not because I don't trust the dog, but I don't trust DS to read the body language of the dog saying they have had enough

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