Staffys - tell me honestly, do they deserve such a bad rep

[tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz]

Evening all

So we're looking for a dog to adopt and the rescues we're watching seem to have lots of staffys (why is this?!) We're considering going to see one this weekend (x with Shar Pei). He's four and according to the rescue shows no health or personality concerns associated with this breed and is pretty much a staffy through and through.

I've always loved this breed but DH is wary due to their rep.

Can you tell me honestly what they're like? I read something interesting on BBC which said they are actually s breed the kennel club recommends around young kids so that was a surprise!

Also a good friend of mine was attacked by one a few years ago requiring stitches and although I haven't asked her yet - I'm s bit worried what her reply would be tbh - I'm concerned she may refuse to walk her dog with us/come to her home. This is really niggling me enough to not consider him

We had one as a kid. She was the softest dog ever. My friends family also had one and she was the same. They used to be referred to as nanny dogs for kids. Ours was lovely but we had her from a pup and she was brought up around children.

I've never met a staffy who didn't absolutely love people.

However, they do have a reputation for being dog reactive/aggressive and in all honesty, that would make me think twice about the breed. Owning a reactive dog is really, really hard work.

I had two bitches. They came from different breeders. One a brindle and one a black. Always happy and daft as a brush in the house.
The brindle was a joy. She was kind and sweet. To this day I still call her my best friend.
The black one... well.. she was absolutely beautiful to look at - a fine example of the breed. People would stop and admire her. She was loyal and sweet, but for some unexplained reason she had an intolerance for some other dogs. Not all dogs, but mainly big ones, and she would launch into the air to attack them.
Both girls adored children.

They both died in 2019, and I was heartbroken. The black one developed a tumour on her liver and it caused dementia making her moods even worse.
They both lived to 15 going on 16.

Both dogs were treated so well and so loved valued in our family and yet so different.

I saw both sets of parents with both girls and they were with me from 8 weeks onwards, same house same treatment and yet so different.

I would like to add that I am looking for a rescue and I am thinking of getting another Staff.

There are so many in rescues because they are a breed churned out by people who think they can make a quick buck, or who haven't bothered to have them neutered or who don't know any better, unfortunately. They certainly are lovely friendly dogs to people when they have been socialised properly, but yes agree with a pp that the dog to dog aggression can be a problem.

My brother had two, both from The Dogs Trust. Both soft as butter. One was an escape artist and kept running off, but that was his quirk (he needed a harness and long line tbh but not my dog!).

DB had a son when they were both elderly dogs and they adapted beautifully to a child in the house.

I'd have one tomorrow

They’re very gentle with humans, don’t love other dogs. I’ve a staffie x and she’s the softest creature ever. Happiest when stretched out against a human. 🥰🐕

This is interesting, because I've been wondering why so many staffies in rescues. My friend offered up a plausible theory that they were bought as a tough guy accessory that the owners get fed up of and give up. But every staffie or pitbull I've ever known has been like an absolute baby.

Staffies are lovely dogs, but the Shar Pei cross would put me right off. Shar Peis are a guardian breed, need very careful socialisation and training, and I wouldn't contemplate one that I hadn't raised from a puppy. Actually I wouldn't even consider a puppy.

They aren’t my cuppa but that’s down to looks, I have no concerns about their temperament as a breed. I do think they can be more dog reactive than some breeds though
I might be more concerned about one crossed with a Shar Pei as that’s quite a stubborn breed that isn’t known for being friendly.

I love staffys and no, they don't deserve their reputation. However I have recently met a couple who are extremely reactive (and came from rescues) and that's so difficult. One attacked my dog and did some damage. I think the issue with rescue Staffys is that you have no real means of knowing - that's the same with all rescues of course, but staffys can do a lot of damage to other dogs. I'd check this out very carefully and would only adopt if the dog has been in foster with other dogs. I wouldn't willingly take on another reactive dog.

Total love bugs, I'd have one in a heartbeat. My labs best friend is a lab Staffie cross.

Staffs are lovely. My staff was so fab with people, really tolerant and heart of gold. Sadly oiks who have badly behaved ones (caused by their owner) have given them their reputation and are also the reason there's a lot in rescue.
Any dog in rescue should be considered very carefully/get to know as you don't know their history which is really the difference between a good dog and a dodgy one.

I’ve known several and found the soft as butter with humans but potentially reactive to other dogs thing to be true also.

It depends on breeding and how their owners raised them (same with any breed really).

The staffy we know is the softest thing and amazing around children. He seems to want to look after children and keep them safe, he’s just lovely. Really well trained and great with other dogs.

Around here they are the ones mostly trotting offlead next to their owners (a mix of ages, from older couples to young men, families….), friendly, well trained, patient with bouncy puppies like mine. In 15 years of dog ownership I’ve only ever had one go for my own dog, but it didn’t get near because the owner had it on a lead and under control.
For contrast, smaller dogs and Poodle crosses have been arsey towards my dogs far, far more often and owners have shrugged it off.
My favourites are the blue/grey ones, they are like friendly little seals!
A relative had one, a rescue and he was the Best Dog. Not brought up with children, but infinite patience and calmness around them. They did careful introductions with other dogs and no problems there, either, but they did keep him on lead in unknown places as if an arsey dog goes for a Staffy then it’s typically the Staffy that gets the blame and they didn’t want to risk that
He had a little leather harness with brass fixings and he looked like he should be trotting next to Bill Sykes in a production of Oliver!

My neighbour of old had one. Much loved family dog. One day, out of nowhere, he broke though the fence, raced though a garden, across a road, attacked and killed a small dog being walked by an 11 year old girl. Nobody will forget screams from the child, and the sounds of the dog being killed. The child was also in extreme danger as her dog was on a leash and she was trying to save it.

When it goes wrong with that breed it goes spectacularly wrong. It seems to be always unpredictible and almost impossible to stop once it starts.

We dont live there anymore, not because of them but it is a relief.

I love them, they bussle around (if that is a word!) but they are known to not be great with other dogs. Our last dog was dog reactive. We took her to a dog behaviorist and they concluded she couldnt read other dogs very well and didnt like them sniffing around her.

It was a similar breed to a staffy and we spent the next 10 years being very very careful. She didnt go out looking for trouble and kept herself to herself unless another dog started on her. It almost always the bigger dogs fault regardless, staffys, dobbies, rotties, huskies - they will all be blamed.

My old dog was attacked 4 times in her life, 3 times by staffies. She didn't approach them they just went for her☹️

My family has always had them. They are kind, family friendly, loyal and loving.
I miss mine terribly he died many years ago. People can be frightened of them (due to bad owners and stereotypes) but mine wouldn’t have a hurt a fly.

@Saucery

Around here they are the ones mostly trotting offlead next to their owners (a mix of ages, from older couples to young men, families….), friendly, well trained, patient with bouncy puppies like mine. In 15 years of dog ownership I’ve only ever had one go for my own dog, but it didn’t get near because the owner had it on a lead and under control. For contrast, smaller dogs and Poodle crosses have been arsey towards my dogs far, far more often and owners have shrugged it off. My favourites are the blue/grey ones, they are like friendly little seals! A relative had one, a rescue and he was the Best Dog. Not brought up with children, but infinite patience and calmness around them. They did careful introductions with other dogs and no problems there, either, but they did keep him on lead in unknown places as if an arsey dog goes for a Staffy then it’s typically the Staffy that gets the blame and they didn’t want to risk that He had a little leather harness with brass fixings and he looked like he should be trotting next to Bill Sykes in a production of Oliver!

Bill Sykes, the vicious violent thug who trained his dog to terrify people? Not a great rec!

They’re lovely, I would have loved one but we needed a slightly more independent breed, we sometimes babysit a friends Staffy, he is a total cuddle monster.

I got a Staffie X from a rescue home. She was around a year when I got her, already had a 2yo dog who she gets on well with after a few displays of dominance.
She's lovely with humans, but is mental around other dogs and small animals. She's sadly killed cats and foxes in our own garden, once some chickens when off lead - she ran off, ignoring recall and out of hearing and sight. I have hardly let her off lead since (excepting deserted beaches about three times). She's also broken her own foot chasing squirrels

Having said that she's an absolute softie in the house, just lies down to sleep all day and I've had two children since and she's never shown one single morsel of anything other than respect and love (mainly disinterest to be fair) towards them.

I would in theory have another Staffie but I wouldn't seek one out iykwim.

Mine was a cross with a Labrador and Alsatian with a bit of Lurcher thrown in and was so gentle and did love other dogs.
She was never happier than running with her doggy friends or meeting new ones.
Or just out and about going to new places

No they don't deserve their bad rep.

They adore people. Mine is my Velcro dog.

He is slightly reactive to some big male dogs, he wasn't socialised as a puppy before I adopted him.

He's great with my small terriers though. And I've fostered puppies and female dogs with him in the house.

He's a x though. With something much larger than a staffy. I've never met a staffy that didn't love people tbh