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.

You tend to meet the same dogs a lot...once you've met them a few times they're not unknown are they.

I wouldn't just assume that every dog that you meet even if off lead is up for rough play, but if you know it's ok, then I do.

I used to worry a lot about my dogs nuttiness when playing, but one of the trainers said to me that the way dogs learn if their behaviour is acceptable or not is being around other dogs, and reading their body language in response to their actions. They quickly learn the difference between yes I want to play body language and get the hell out of my face you nutter body language. A dog who hasn't been well socialised won't be able to read the body language and is therefore more likely to put his foot in it in a canine way and get himself bitten, or to misread other dogs body language as agressive and start a fight himself.

I don't really post but couldn't resist...

I have two staffies... And a chihuahua!

They get on like a house on fire and its actually interesting the way they interact (never left unsupervised though, simply because we don't want to risk the chihuahua getting slept on top of by a lazy staffy)

If you have ever seen two staffies play together you will know what I mean by it is rough play, they do not and have never attempted to include the chihuahua in this, if he goes over they actually stop. When they are playing with the chihuahua it is a totally different type of play, as someone else mentioned they roll onto their backs, mouth open, strange noises while the chihuahua jumps all over them!

I would personally say that not socialising a staffie with other dogs is one of the reasons for some of the breeds dog aggression, I actually find it appalling anyone would suggest not socialising a staffy.

I would LOVE to see a staffy play with a chihuahua. Mine really wanted to play with the rabbits at pets at home but they ignored her. She keeps trying to play with my cats and they swipe her. She is definitely able to grade her response according to how little or vulnerable she thinks her playmate is - if she sees small children she rolls on her back.

I agree, anyone who would chose NOT to socialise their dog, of any breed, unless it had a long and ingrained history of dog aggression, should not be having a dog.

I’ve had a staffie from a pup until almost 16 and now have a rescue 5 year old staffie and they both love playing with other dogs. I socialise with friends with dogs and have no issues at all. People avoid me at times when my dog doesn’t even look or bark in their direction but that’s their issue not mine.