Anyone adopted an adult staffie from a rescue?

[SouthernComforts]

If so can you share your experience?

I'm seriously considering this. I now have the time, money, space, energy and love for a rescue dog and I know the shelters are desperate for staffie lovers.

TIA.

I haven't but a friend has - she has a lovely Staffie girl - I don't know details of what she's like but I think it's been a very positive experience.

The only thing the lady said is that people do tend to avoid her when they see her with a Staffie (who is a "pretty" Staffie not a really scary looking one, if you see what I mean). The lady is middle-aged, normal looking person so she's not the stereotypical chav with a staff, but she says it is more difficult to chat with people when out walking, as they are a bit wary of her dog on first meeting. It's a terrible shame but perhaps something to take into consideration.

I'm sure most rescues, especially smaller ones, would also be happy for you to foster - that way you could see how it goes before committing for ever.

Thanks Lady. Where I live that would be a bonus .

I know the shelter I will be using. It has a good reputation and the write ups for the dogs online seem very honest.

I haven't done this but I just want to say well done you. I look at some of the lovely dogs on the rescue sites and feel it is so sad that the staffies are overlooked. My heart sinks when I see yet another family with a designer puppy. I think fostering sounds like a good idea but I know the rescues also welcome help with walking volunteers so you might be able to get an idea about bonding before you take the plunge. And again, well done you.

I have a rescue staffie and she is lovely! She is very affectionate and good fun. I think it's true what they say about staffies, they are very loyal. I love her to bits.

She was about 2 years old when she came to us. She had been picked up off the street, was quite thin and had a few flesh wounds .

I would say the main issue we have with her is that she is not friendly toward other dogs. She is scared of certain breeds and can bark or behave aggressively towards them. I have developed a way of managing that, but don't think she will ever be 'cured'. She likes to play with people, but doesn't play with other dogs.

We took her to some training classes in the beginning. She had obviously lived in a house with people before, but didn't seem to have been trained much.

She was very nervous when she first came to us. It took time for her to calm down, more than a year. OK maybe calm is the wrong word, like all terriers she is very energetic.

I love her to bits! Honestly, do it, it's really rewarding.

I did years ago. She was lovely with people, but did not like other dogs. She was a stray so they had no history on her. They are lovely, lovely dogs, I would love to have another one one day.

The not liking other dogs seems to be a common thing. Luckily I live close to the moors so there are tons of places I could take a dog where there is no other animals around. Plus walking locally on lead obviously.

I have a SBT from our local pound and we've had him for about four years now. As he was picked up wandering the streets we don't know anything about his background or even how old he is. He's a great dog. Very affectionate and brilliant with children. We have other dogs and they all get on well and he's fine with other dogs when we're out.

We rescued a 2yr old staff cross a month a go and he is brilliant. I was weary but the progress he has made is amazing. Dobt worry if people cross the road as if to 'avoid' you. It may be that they have an uncontrollable dog and dont want the agro or maybe they are just plain stupid and see the dog before the owner. (Which really grates me) but id def recommend a staffy.
problem is until society changes tgeir view to these kinds of dogs they will always have a bad rep. It our job as responsible owners to train them well and show the world how good they are.
I find other dog walkers are not vothered by staffs especially if they themselves are educated. We went a massive walk where loads of dogs go- let him off to play and i swear he was better behaved than most other dogs. But what pissed me off was a man with his family (no dog) other dogs were off lead and his kids were runnibg around- soon as he seen our pooch he hit panic mode. Made us feel crap. I was raging but then maybe they had bad experience with a staff who knows.

Anyway get a staff rescue they are amazing xx

I met a beauty today. She's trained, 4 years old, walked beautifully for us. Was abused by a previous owner but not aggressive or timid.

I've filled in the adoption forms. Going back Monday to walk her again, then home check and vet check and she's ours

Ahh, how exciting!

Yay! Good for you! We adopted our staffie girl 2 years ago, fantastic with all humans not good with other dogs. She was used for breeding then dumped, emaciated and was due to be pts but a staffie rescue spotted her and brought her up from London and nursed her back to health, we love her!!

I must warn you of Staffie Farts....very toxic!!

Good for you Southern!

Oh how exciting for you!

We got our staffy girl from a rescue 8 years ago when she was 2 or 3 years old.

I can't lie, she did have a few errrrm problems when we first got her - but that was to do with her previous treatment rather than her breed iykwim. We got a behaviourist in and I think it was also partly to do with her age at the time too, very exuberant! But with a bit of consistency and patience she learned very quickly. Staffs are ime very willing to please and very food motivated, but they do need strong leadership. Once my ddog realised the boundaries and that I was there to protect her - rather than the other way round - then she visibly relaxed and became a happier settled girl.

She instantly fitted in with me and DH, like she had been our dog from day one. So loving, so trusting and everybody fell in love with her. She is also convinced that she is a lapdog I just adore her. So do my dds - she has just been amazing with them from the moment they came along.

You wouldn't guess it, but I have found that they are extremely emotionally sensitive. When she has been naughty just plain ignoring her, or sending her to her basket with no attention really does work best.

I'm rambling now, congratulations on your new addition. Staffs are wonderful wonderful family dogs and it's so nice to see them being given a chance.

That's lovely news, southern put up some pics ASAP!

Oh god, I've just realised my post sounded very negative I didn't mean it to, I was just making you aware of the (few!) settling in problems we had with our girl and what worked best for us! Honestly, she has been one of the best things that has happened to us and we constantly remark on how she is a dog in a million and we will never find another quite like her.

And by strong leadership I obviously don't mean being an aggressive or shitty owner but by being firm and making them aware of boundaries.....

goes and takes size sevens out of mouth-

Awh Claimed shes a sweetie!

It's ok cuddles I don't expect it to be a perfect transition, she's been at the rescue a long time.

Do any of you know of any staff proof dog toys?

Kong extreme are what I used to have for my old girl.

I don't know if antler is ok for staffies? Their bite might be too strong and cause splintering? My friends EBTxGSD loves them.

Black kongs, boomer balls, antlers and nylabones are all my staffie have not destroyed anything made of fluffy stuff or rubber are destroyed in seconds!

Yes, I have a rescued SBT. She's snoring loudly on the sofa next to me...
A wonderful dog, very rewarding. A real, real character, amazingly affectionate, intelligent. Very outgoing. Quite needy.

I would recommend fostering first of all, particularly if you're looking at getting a younger staffy. They are fabulous, wonderful dogs, but if you're someone who likes reserved dogs, they may not be for you. They are often very boisterous as youngsters - not to everyone's liking.

Yes, some people have foolish misconceptions about them. Some people are snobs but I'm quite posh and throw a mean withering stare. Others will fawn over your dog and tell you how cute (s)he is, etc.

Have a go at fostering and take it from there. I really hope it goes well.

Yes to everything July said!

4 is a lovely age too, just starting to mature. We have a kong and an antler for our old girl, but she's never really been into toys really. Except for her ball, she just loves playing fetch with her ball.

I hope all goes well today!

I had to register to respond to this. We lost our lovely staffie cross girl a month ago. I cannot express what a wonderful dog she was but I'll try. She was the best friend I've ever had, sweet, loving, funny and absolutely full of joy. She was great with other dogs, let children prod her about and we could, and did, take her everywhere with us.
She had her naughty moments. I think she was crossed with a whippet so the chasing instinct was quite strong, but the staffy side, I think, makes a dog desperate to please and she would be very sorry when she did things like get stuck in a bush after chasing rabbits.
Kong toys were the best, and posh tennis balls. Cheap balls were dispatched in one bite.
We got her as an adult from a rescue and had her for 5 and a half years. Miss her terribly.

This is my baby. She is fantastic with dd, and even loves our cat. She is a perfect all round family pet. She's is not destructive, she is calm indoors as long as she has plenty of excercise, great with other dogs, she's just fantastic. She didn't have a great start, but I think it makes her even more loving. I can't imagine a better dog.

HI, well done, there are so many staffies out there that need a loving home, and I was 'that' person that believed all the hype until I had one.

Rescued Kenny when he was about 2 - also found wandering streets, starving in a bad way. I want to echo cuddles and say although I totally adore him and he has been the making of our family, he definitely had some ishoos and it has taken me maybe 18 months to get on top of them. He still has terrible separation anxiety (he ripped all the plastic off this inside of our upvc front door, breaking 2 teeth and covering himself in blood) and we have to get him sat on the occasions that we can't take him with us. Fortunately we can take him most places.

He walks brilliantly on the lead now, after quite a bit of training, and is ok with other dogs if he and they are off the lead, (which I think is quite common) but can be quite dog reactive if on the lead and the other dog is very loud/reactive. However, he isn't aggressive, just massively exuberant and wanting to play, but in a staffy this can sound as though they want to rip your throat out, and most owners understandably run a mile, so I tend to keep him on the lead unless the coast is clear, more for other people than for his sake iyswim.

All this being said, I would recommend staffies to anyone with kids, they are so loyal and loving and full of fun. I make sure that Kenny goes on his bed when people first arrive because he is so eager to greet them that he could easily knock a small child, elderly person over with his effusive love! As soon as he is calm I let him greet them; it's so sweet to watch him 'twitching' to get off his bed, but being so eager to behave that he stays!

He is truly a very loving, beautifully natured dog; everyone who meets him, even those who don't like dogs and especially staffies, fall in love with him. As long as you don't mind hard work and perseverance, and toxic, choking, room clearing farts on occasion, you will never, ever regret getting a staffy.

Lots of lovely stories and pics! My phone keeps saying the file is too large when I try to upload a pic grrr. She's a brindle

I went to the rescue again today and we had a long walk. She only reacted to dogs that barked at her, others she completely ignored.

Had to stop myself buying treats and new bed today. Still waiting for a phone call to arrange the home check. I'm sure it will be fine but I don't want to tempt fate.