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The doghouse

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Original poster

Why are rescue centres full of staffies?

104 replies

lecce · 09/07/2013 21:09

Just that really. We are currently looking for a rescue dog and have no criteria other than that we have two dc aged 4& 6 and, having rarely sat on our own sofa together over the last 10 years , we would like something a fair bit smaller than the beautiful, sofa-hogging lurcher we recently had pts. We would also like a dog with more of a playful disposition than he had (he was a fantastic dog - not a criticism of him) and for the dog to be as young as possible, definitely no older than 2.

I have been ruling out staffies without really thinking about why. I suppose I had assumed they were aggressive. However, the more I look, the more it seems that we may be waiting a very long time for a dog unless we consider a staffy and I keep seeing all this stuff on websites about how unfair their reputation is.

Is it? Does anyone have any experience of this breed? Can they be great family pets?

OP posts:

sleepdodger · 09/07/2013 21:11

Many people will be along to tell you they're lovely friendly dogs with kids
But sadly, like many breeds they've been instead and many of them seem to suddenly turn...

shazbean · 09/07/2013 21:18

Staffies can be lovely dogs if you have them from pups but rescue centres we went to cannot guarantee their background.
They are a popular breed amongst young men and, without trying to be funny, within deprived areas.
People are much less likely to be able to afford to neuter the dogs and or breed them to make a bit of cash so rescue centres are brimful with them.
It's a real shame.

MacaYoniandCheese · 09/07/2013 21:19

They look very menacing and frightening. I know people say they're lovely but I think it's a pretty anti-social choice, TBH. I wouldn't let my children play at a friend's house if they owned one. There are weekly stories about them attacking small dogs and children....a particularly gruesome one last week .

jemstipp · 09/07/2013 21:21

That's just it, the stereotypes of the dog and the people who own them is enough unfortunately and with all the mis handling very hard to trust one that you haven't reared yourself and even then there are people who'd say stay well away.

Pantone363 · 09/07/2013 21:24

I would have one from a trusted breeder as a puppy. I wouldn't touch a rescue centre staffie with a barge pole.

Helpyourself · 09/07/2013 21:24

Get a female one as young as you can. I've never met a nasty one, but any dog, if brutalised can turn.
We have a Staffie I would and do trust 100%

shazbean · 09/07/2013 21:26

I won't tell you what breed I have then.

Helpyourself · 09/07/2013 21:27

shazbean

mrslaughan · 09/07/2013 21:29

My dog is best friends with 2 staffs - they are lovely and I often walk my dog with them with my 3 1/2 year old =- she loves them. Interestingly as boisterous as they are in playing with my dog and greeting me - they have never knocked her over, which I think shows a lovely awareness.

It is all about the dog and its upbringing. Don't judge a book by its cover.

BlueEyeshadow · 09/07/2013 21:30

One killed MIL's cat. Nuff said.

shazbean · 09/07/2013 21:32

I just really dislike that a whole breed of dog is vilified because of this kind of thing. I know there are dangerous breeds and of course any normal person would not choose to bring that into their home.
But the majority of dogs, whatever breed, if trained and treated correctly respond accordingly. And if you do happen to be unlucky enough to pick a wrong'un then you'll know fairly sharpish and be able to deal with it.

Magnificunt · 09/07/2013 21:33

We have a staffy we've had from a puppy, and she's great with my DC, and anyone else's. but as with ALL dogs, you can never be 100% sure, especially so with rescue dogs because you'll never be certain of their background.

SilkySocksSinkShips · 09/07/2013 21:34

They look menacing and frightening?! How can this look menacing! Like any dog, as long as they are being reared properly, with love and care, they make fantastic family dogs. They seem to be seen as a bit of a 'status' dog but, if going by my area, so are German shepherds with young people.

They do have a bad rep. Shame really. However, I've known of more jack russells attacking humans than staffies (in my local area). They are notoriously nippy.

imawigglyworm · 09/07/2013 21:35

They are stupidly over bred too. As too many people see it as quick easy money until they cant rehome them, then they end up in rescue centres.
As said above any dog without the correct training or care can end up being vicious unfortunately. But that doesn't mean ALL staffies are bad.

expatinscotland · 09/07/2013 21:36

Because it's seen as a chav dog.

Turniphead1 · 09/07/2013 21:37

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

shazbean · 09/07/2013 21:37

Exactly Silky.
We had Yorkies when I was growing up and they were fab but our neighbours one took a nice nip out of DDs knee and she is scared of them.

imawigglyworm · 09/07/2013 21:38

I was just about to mention Jack russells too sillysocks

expatinscotland · 09/07/2013 21:38

It's cross bred a lot, too, so you don't know what you're getting.

RandomMess · 09/07/2013 21:38

We've been looking at rehoming a dog, dh refuses to consider a staffie or similar looking breeds etc because "they are chav dogs" so yep the reputation of who owns them for him.

imawigglyworm · 09/07/2013 21:38

Sorry silky not silly opps

Turniphead1 · 09/07/2013 21:38

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

YoniRanger · 09/07/2013 21:39

I think all rescue dogs are a risk because you just don't know what's gone before.

My collie is generally a rug full of cuddles unless you touch his back then he will bite you in the face. I've had him 5 years and the list of things he can't stand has become shorter with buckets of love and patience but he will never be able to be around other dogs or traffic.

He was also at least 5 years older than the centre said he was. They promised me he was no trouble as I had tiny amounts of experience.

We are lucky to have land enough for him to live his last couple of years out in peace and quiet, dog king of all he surveys

imawigglyworm · 09/07/2013 21:42

Huskys are being overbred too atm and because people don't have the time to give them the care they need (ALOT of exercise and very strong dogs) they are ending up in resuces more and more too. There will always be a 'fad' dog back in the 80's it was german shepards/Alsatians.

MimsyBorogroves · 09/07/2013 21:45

There are so many in rescues because they're over-bred. Because they're affected by negative press, and so many people will hand them over if they start families, and not many people will rehome because of the bad press.

They are high energy dogs. They need proper training. They need to be socialised. They need to be walked. They need to be kept busy. Without those things they can be destructive, over boisterous...or worse.

There are some that will be dumped because they haven't made good fighting or guard dogs. Others may be dumped because they're past their use for breeding.

I have one. They're the only breed I would come close to trusting around children - the way they live alongside children is something I've not seen with dogs before - they are actively involved in the lives of "their" little people. They're fantastic, clever, happy dogs - but they need to be in the right hands as the potential they have for damage is larger than other smaller breeds.

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