Staffy or Border Terrier for a family dog?

[user1489844432]

I am looking for a family dog and I am torn between Staffy and Border Terrier. Both on Mumsnet and in real life I get lots of recommendations for both.

We have 4.5yo child at home and whilst I grew up with dogs that was over 20years ago. So I wouldn't say we are hugely experienced dog owners but not first timers neither.

I expect to give a dog about an hour exercise a day between two/three walks an more over the weekend. We also have a small garden.

Any recommendations which breed would be better in our circumstances?

Doberman?

Border - they're definitely towards the easier end of terrier stubbornness

Also consider Norfolk terrier (an at watch breed), Norwich terrier (a vulnerable native breed) - both of which are quite hard to find but are typically incredibly good natured. Also their distant cousin the Cairns terrier

My rescue staffies are brilliant with my dgc. They are known to be great family dogs. However, they need firm handling, absolutely consistent boundaries and the children need to respect the dog too.
I don’t think they are a breed for inexperienced owners, especially a male as they are larger and stronger.
Border Terriers can have a high prey drive so can be difficult to recall if chasing rabbits or squirrels. Saying that, they can be incredibly sweet and have personality.
Both need a fair amount of exercise.
Staffie puppies are renowned for chewing and are not fussy about what - shoes, toys, doorframes, doors- they need a fair bit of company.

Border terrier.

staffie. Borders can be lovely but it’s not that consistent. I’ve had 2 lovely ones and a not lovely one. Loved very much but hard work, embarrassing, tricky, easily distracted and the trainer eventually said to live with it! Only ever known wonderful Staffies.

Grew up with border terriers, they were amazing. I'd get one from 'show' stock as our first was and she was the perfect dog. Our second was also lovely and affectionate, but was from working/farm stock and highly strung!

Staffies can be funny with other dogs - ours is friendly but overbearing, others can be more reactive. She’s a rescue that we fostered so we knew what we were getting ourselves into, but worth thinking about how often they’ll come into contact with other dogs and how readily you can socialise them with other dogs if you get a puppy.

With a child as young as 4 I’d probably go border terrier. Staffies can be bouncy!

We have 2 staffies and would recommend them for your situation. Ours get a couple of walks a day, about 20-30 mins in the morning and usually about 45 mins in the evening, sometimes more. It is enough for them, they are calm in the house and love people.

Whippet

I know it wasn't on the list, but the easiest most loving dogs you could wish for. Great with kids too. Also consider a rescue greyhound. Greyhound owners are the only people I've met who think whippets are "energetic" by comparison.

Both breeds are 35mph couch potatoes.

Another vote for rescue greyhound as an amazing, easy, lazy dog.

Border , we have one . First family dog and she's just so lovely . We went through a breeder who knew what she was doing , KC registered and all health checked . Kids adore her .

I have to say I don't understand this recommendation at all or why it's constantly trotted out on here.

Many rescue/ex-racer greyhounds have never lived in houses and have never been around children in their lives. They have ridiculously high prey drives so need to be leashed and sometimes muzzled in public. They're frequently not house trained and often have very sensitive stomachs as well.

They're not really the breed for children as they're not especially playful and can't be let off lead on walks to play and run, and at home they just want to sleep. They may be amazing for older people or busy folks who work a lot but as a family pet? I don't get it.

Where do you live?
Middle of the city, small town, edge of small town, countryside?

They will chase rabbits. We lived in the countryside and ours would disappear over the horizon after a hare and reappear muddy and tired two days later.

OP did ask for other recommendation, but I think it's a stretch to go from the two small terrier breeds she is considering to something as large as a greyhound!

Whippet maybe, as they're only about 50% taller than the dogs she's considering

The one of this type that's the same size is an Italian greyhound

I’ve got a border (wanted something small but energetic, labs are too big for me these days!). He’s utterly fantastic: clever, affectionate and a real clown, he makes me laugh every day. My house and garden are small but as long as he’s had a good run — recall great with consistent training, although yeah… squirrels 😅 — he loves to snooze for hours.

Do you live in a relatively rural area? I would say that they (or mine, anyway) need thickets to root in, holes to dig in and logs to jump over. If you can provide that, even if it’s homemade stuff eg sandpit, they’re in heaven. Mine comes to work with me when I’m in a large country garden and he is never happier, it’s like Alton Towers for a terrier! He caught and killed his first rabbit there last week, I didn’t know whether to be proud or appalled! The client was pleased as they ate all his chrysanthemums 😏

I have a staffy with five children. He's fantastic with the kids. I call him the most energetic lazy dog. At home he loves sleeping, but will be full of beans when family visit and loves going on a hike. He's happy with an hour's walk a day and some tennis ball throwing in the garden. But as others have said he's not keen on other (mainly smaller/yappier) dogs.
Just to add he's never been a chewer even though I was expecting it. But I'm a sahm so I think the difference may lie there that he's never really on his own other than the school run or occasionally a few hours while I pop out.

I'd go with a boarder , I have know lots of both breeds and on the whole boarders seem to be the most consistent regarding training/ friendliness.
Pp is right they really thrive in wooded areas where they can snuffle round for ages

Best dogs in the world....

Staffie. Absolutely! Wonderful dogs with children.

I grew up with Staffies and adore them - they are brilliant with kids. As PPs have said, they can be awkward around other dogs, partly bc they are v protective of their people.

Our Border Terrier was fantastic with DC.

Only downside is that they do need hand stripping regularly.

They really are!

Border

Many thanks for all responses so far. I live in a large city and the only animals around are foxes, squirrels and cats.

All the Borders I know will absolutely chase cats and squirrels! But then so will most dogs, really - they love small furry things