Could you talk to me about your staffies and children?

[lottielob]

Hi,
We have found a KC registered staffy puppy through a reputable breeder. We have three children, 2, 7 and 10 and just want to know other people's experiences of getting a staffy puppy with young children. We are experienced with dogs and puppies (and are going in to dog ownership with our eyes wide open), so it is particularly the breed I'm thinking about. I was excited but now a little worried because other people's responses have been really negative when we said it was a staffy. Thanks so much

I've known plenty of staffies and every single one has been soft as muck especially with babies and kids. They are extremely excitable as puppies though.

The problem is a "bully type bite" will cause more damage than many other dogs.

In my line of work I see a lot of dog reactive staffies but not sure how representative that is in society.

THE BEST FAMILY DOGS EVER... gentle, loyal, easy to look after.

My Mum - who researches everything to the nth degree - chose one for us when we were 8 - 6 - 3 and he was fabulous. So so tolerant. We all wept copiously when he left us 14 years later. Utterly loving

Thanks for all thoughts and viewpoints. We are planning on going ahead now, have been reading up on socialisation during lockdown as that will be trickier than normal!

We socialised a puppy in the first lockdown, and honestly it was fine. I say this every time but it's about exposure, not socialising. Introduce your puppy safely to as many sights, sounds, noises and smells as possible. Queues are great for seeing lots of different people. Parks and playing fields have never been busier (noises of footballs and yelling kids and all the rest of it). Get your puppy onto as many different surfaces as you can - mud, gravel, manhole covers, long grass, short grass, sand, tarmac, paving, anything. Hang around on bus routes and by train lines. Drop pan lids indoors. Play loud music - walk past a busker, if you see one. And don't forget to handle your puppy so he or she will be happy with a vet exam - it also helps to get them comfortable on a raised surface.

www.doglistener.co.uk/choosing/staffie.shtml

It was the Staffordshire potters than really took this breed to a whole different level.

The Potters were not rich; in fact, they were very poor. They bred these dogs to earn further income from selling and fighting them. Often they had large families, that could see ten or twelve children in a one or two room hovel. In these circumstances, it would have been impossible to keep an aggressive fighting dog that also showed aggression to children or adults.

It is believed that for over fifty years, these early breeders killed every dog that showed the slightest aggression to any human, of any age. This action effectively eradicated inter-human aggression from this breed. Fortunately, these traits still stand today in the purebred Staffordshire.

Well, I have only known one staffy that wasn’t great with children (extremely nervous, not aggressive), but that staffy had been relentlessly abused by young children; chased around, climbed on, poked, pulled around etc.

I think it’s a rare staffy that is aggressive to people but unfortunately I would also agree with others that can the breed can be dog aggressive.
Though I also have to say that the most dog aggressive dogs I have encountered have not been Staffies.

It is true that they are overrepresented in bite fatalities.
But at the risk of sounding snobby, poverty appears to be a large risk factor in fatal dog attacks and staffies are very popular with very poor communities.

A very interesting article Didyou

From the article:

So why has the breed got such a bad name with regard to human aggression?

It is simple. It's the Staffie's misfortune to resemble breeds that can be inter-human aggressive.

It is also unfortunate that when Staffy's are crossed with other breeds they tend to resemble the Staffordshire, more than the dogs they are crossed with.

That could be anything from a Whippet, Collie, Labrador or Mastiff. Once you cross the Staffie you are effectively adding other genetic and breed behaviours to the offspring.

This can have the effect of watering down or removing the strong anti-aggressive human bond, which can result in dogs that can become aggressive to people and children.

@Strugglingtodomybest
Yes I thoroughly researched staffies before taking on our rescue. We have been very fortunate with our dog (staffie mix). If I had young children I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Pedigree Staffie from a well known/respected breeder. However, I would be weary of mixed/mongrel staffies.

I grew up with staffies and they were incredible and loving. I think of them so fondly to the point I’m happy when I see one out and about. There is usually a background story about the staffies you may have seen in the papers, but explaining their background isn’t advantageous to the newspaper’s sales.

I wouldn’t hesitate to get a staffie.

Didyou my first was a pedigree and he was fantastic with my kids. He changed a lot of people's opinions on Staffies I was told.

I have 2 rescues now who look like pure staffs, but I can't be sure. My kids are teenagers now though, so it's been no problem to talk to them about not annoying the dogs and to look out for warnings, ie, if the dog growls, leave it alone.

Op there will be loads of young dogs in rescues now and soon because of the lock down puppy fad. I'm not preaching about rescue over puppy as I'd get a puppy myself, but I'm saying so because I have very young children and wanted to avoid the initial puppy stage. We just got a 1 year golden and she does not nip, chew and is fully toilet trained. She's old enough to be trained but still have the playful puppy side. Its been a joy and not hard work at all.

As for staffs. I absolutely love them. Grew up with 2. Had I not had a cat I'd have got one. One we had was ok with us children he knew but very nervous around unknown children and aggressive to other dogs. the other was fine with everyone. I have known others who have been lovely and gentle. As others have said they have endless energy, mine have been the most active and also destructive dogs iv known.

Many years ago knew a Staffie breeder who showed at Crufts successfully. He had about 8 dogs at one time and would walk them all off lead through the church yard down to the river (very popular with tourists so busy). They were so well behaved, loved meeting people and in those days had not been labelled problem dogs. Used to love meeting him, having a chat and lots of doggy cuddles.

We have a staff and four children. She 15 and has been the best dog with the kids I couldn't recommend the breed enough. The bond between her and the kids is just lovely.

My parents have a staffy who adores my DC. When they are tiny I bring them round in the car seat, let him sniff and wander off. He ignores my one year old (unless he's eating - and then he will sit under the highchair waiting for scraps) but he's glued to my four year old. They lay on the sofa together, he doesn't pull if my four year old is holding the lead when we go for walks.

Although I'd still never leave my parents dog with the children because as lovely as he is, he's still a dog. He's also 14 now and wants a quieter life!

L

I think the points made about staffy crosses being labelled as staffy is valid too.
The following dogs are listed as staffy x Labrador, staffy x ridgeback and staffy x collie.
But I think most people would look at them and think just ‘staffy’

snap, are those dogs labelled as those crosses by somebody who knows their breeding, or a best guess by a dog rescue?

I have had a staffie and a pit staff cross a long time ago... actually were both from rspca rehome centres

They were both absolutely lovely dogs and loved children... and I had no problem at all with them. My eldest son remembers her well and we still have a photo of her on the fridge... she used to sleep under his cot when he was a baby and come and get me if he cried

All on pets4homes as private rehomes @GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman

Cheers, @Snaplittledragon

Thanks. Some really interesting experiences and reading too. I've ordered a training book and reading around this forum for ideas on training and socialisation!

I grew up with staffs who were the most gentle loving dogs. There are so many staffs in rescue centres desperate for a home. Please adopt, don't shop and perpetuate the money making breeding cycle

OP: When you do get your staff, please come back on here and tell us all about him/her.

I love staffies - I've never met one that wasn't soft as butter around people/children.

I hope we get photos!