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

Crazy, my dog was also once attacked by a Labrador! It was not a bad attack but it just jumped on her suddenly.

Why the sarcasm? This was a big male labrador, bigger than my dog and could have done some serious damage. And my dog didn't even react.

Why is ok for some breeds of dog to attack and not others? You clearly don't like staffies

@DedalusBloom

Bill Sykes had an English Bull Terrier

I know, but it’s a lot harder to find one of those trained to stage standard if you’re putting on a production of Oliver, particularly an AmDram one. Staffies often substituted.

Mine being the puppy's bed

Owner of a rescue staffie x sharpei here. He is the most loving loyal soppy dog who adores his family. But- anyone who is not family, forget it.

He's not great with other dogs, very unpredictable and could do real damage if he feels they are a threat. Same with other humans, we have to keep him locked in another room if we have visitors since he went for my husbands friend, in his head he was just defending his family.

I love Staffies and have never met a nasty one, but this particular cross - I'm afraid that as much as I love my boy it would be a no unless you are a very experienced dog owner and Are prepared to put in a lot of work, and even then you have to be constantly on high alert for anything they might see as a threat.

Lovely to see pics of all the beautiful Staffies, and lovely story about Jasper - yes as a PP pointed out Bullseye was an EBT but I’m sure Jasper played the role marvellously!
We’ve always had Staffies, as almost everyone else has mentioned they are usually people dogs and not always keen on other dogs and animals. We had one who as a pup was attacked twice by a neighbours spaniel as we walked past, this set him up for a lifetime of being very defensive when out on the lead and he never enjoyed walks unless we took him somewhere quiet.
Our current girl was born in a rescue, we adopted her at 8 weeks. She is a delight, the most gentle soul who loves people and animals. I know you shouldn’t have favourites but I think she’s my special dog in life.
@Hop27 does your pup swim in the pool? Our girl loves chasing around the edge when we’re in, but won’t have a dip even when it’s boiling hot in summer. She loves the hosepipe to cool down.

@DontKnowWhatToThink7

It wasn’t sarcasm? As you can see when I posted upthread I had a rescue staffie. She was attacked by a Labrador one day when we were out, I just thought it was weird because lots on here have also said their dogs were attacked by labradors but they’re not really known as aggressive dogs, yet apparently they must attack other dogs a lot for us all to have had that experience. Everyone I’ve told was surprised ‘your staffie got bit by a Labrador?’ As if it was unusual.

I think the main problem is that if they do decide to attack, the damage they can do with those 'locking jaws' is immense. That would put me off having them around children.

[quote Kanaloa]@DontKnowWhatToThink7

It wasn’t sarcasm? As you can see when I posted upthread I had a rescue staffie. She was attacked by a Labrador one day when we were out, I just thought it was weird because lots on here have also said their dogs were attacked by labradors but they’re not really known as aggressive dogs, yet apparently they must attack other dogs a lot for us all to have had that experience. Everyone I’ve told was surprised ‘your staffie got bit by a Labrador?’ As if it was unusual.[/quote]
Apologies, I've obviously read your post wrong. Sorry

@BasiliskStare

To be honest though *@tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz* - personally we have Border Terriers - such loyal and companionable little dogs - they love humans - will put up with manhandling by children & cute teddy bear faces . But they do not know they are little dogs - need walks. Apparently chap in charge of the Kennel club has lots of them.

Thanks Ballisk.

Border Terrier's are indeed gorgeous little things, I love a pooch with a fuzzy beard!

@supercalafragalistico

Owner of a rescue staffie x sharpei here. He is the most loving loyal soppy dog who adores his family. But- anyone who is not family, forget it.

He's not great with other dogs, very unpredictable and could do real damage if he feels they are a threat. Same with other humans, we have to keep him locked in another room if we have visitors since he went for my husbands friend, in his head he was just defending his family.

I love Staffies and have never met a nasty one, but this particular cross - I'm afraid that as much as I love my boy it would be a no unless you are a very experienced dog owner and Are prepared to put in a lot of work, and even then you have to be constantly on high alert for anything they might see as a threat.

Ahhh Super thanks so much for this, it's interesting to hear an owner of the x breeds perspective (think there may have been another up thread, apologies).

Our old Staffy girl was 16 when she died in June she was the best she really was but yes she was reactive with other dogs. We had to be careful when walking her.
She a was amazing with our four children and I would find her sat surrounded by teddies playing schools wearing a tie and socks... happy as Larry to be included in the game.
They are such loving dogs but there is a chance they might not like other dogs.
This is our new puppy. We chose him from a breeder that was also a dog trainer. The mum and dad are both very chilled non reactive dogs and we are going to really work on trying to help him socialise correctly with other dogs.

I’ll be honest and say I don’t think they are very attractive dogs - imo but I have a golden retriever. But I’ve met loads and they’ve always been friendly dogs and lovely companions for their owners.

@Etonmessisyum

I’ll be honest and say I don’t think they are very attractive dogs - imo but I have a golden retriever. But I’ve met loads and they’ve always been friendly dogs and lovely companions for their owners.

What does 'attractiveness' have to do with it?

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_dog_attacks_in_the_United_Kingdom

They have the reputation because they have been known to kill people. The only ones I’ve met have been lovely though.

@twiceasnice222

I think the main problem is that if they do decide to attack, the damage they can do with those 'locking jaws' is immense. That would put me off having them around children.

Their jaws don’t lock, they have perfectly normal dog jaws.

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_dog_attacks_in_the_United_Kingdom

They have the reputation because they have been known to kill people. The only ones I’ve met have been lovely though.

Except... most of those should say unidentified mongrel, they’re not staffies.

People identify anything shortcoated with a broad head as a staffy. But if you go and look at actual photos of dogs involved (not the stock photos usually used) and described at staffies, they’re not.

Staffy or seal?

@troppibambini6 your new pup is gorgeous, and very similar looking to my girl.
@Etonmessisyum Get in the bin! Staffies are VERY attractive, and don’t have the ‘clinkers’ problem you get with Goldies 🤢

As other people have said, I’d be more put off by the sharpei part, not because there’s anything inherently wrong with sharpeis (health issues aside) but they’re a trickier breed, staffies are really biddable, hundreds of years of selective breeding to make them that way, sharpeis are bred for almost the exact opposite trait.

However... if it’s a decent rescue, they should have a pretty good assessment of exactly what that particular dog is like rather than just breed traits.

@Orchid18 thank you and I'm biased but I think staffs are beautiful looking dogs although they will chew your house to pieces as puppies!

I don’t think they’re a dog you can own “casually” - you do need to have a certain amount of guard up a lot of the time, especially out of the house. Ours started constantly nosing her way into next door’s garden (still haven’t worked out how she does it as the gate is bolted) so now she is always supervised in the garden. On walks she darts off to chomp on random clumps of grass by the roadside without warning so you have to always be alert. She catches sight of squirrels and cats from a good distance and needs to be persuaded away from wanting to follow them. She can pass 50 bikes or 100 people without twitching but the 51st she might try to jump at (I think it’s if people make eye contact and she assumes they want to fuss her). She can greet other dogs but only for seconds because some don’t like her and react, or she starts trying to play with others and is too much of a lump for them. She is STRONG though manageable. And people are definitely intimidated by her just by looks so you have to be mindful.

I think that’s why in the hands of a conscientious owner they are wonderful dogs, but in the wrong hands without close watch and boundaries they can have major issues which contributes to their reputation. As had been said also, that reputation means even if they are not the instigator or come off worse from a situation, they will still often be blamed, which is one of the reasons I am so careful with her.

Er, my Goldie doesn’t have “clinkers” thank you!
It’s a different kind of hair to a Staff or Lab though, it kind of collects in swirls in the corners rather than sticks to things.
People do like different breeds for their looks, I prefer pointy snouts and longer legs on dogs so a Staffie wouldn’t be my choice but some of the photos on here are lovely and I have known some really friendly Staffs.
I think that many of them (as evidenced on here) can have issues with other dogs though

I have been brought up around staffys and absolutely love them. We have been thinking about getting a dog recently and no doubt about it we would get a staffy.

@troppibambini6 Ha ha - not the whole house but Grandpa's present under the Christmas Tree & Dh's new trainers - both chewed by eldest Border Terrier. Once he got older and we had little dog - both stopped chewing.

@tabulahrasa

Will rescue centres make that distinction?

These were all involved in fatal attacks and I can imagine them all being described as Staffies by rescue centres as they have been on the legal documentation and media coverage.