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?

Our pug is the most amazing family dog. He truly is the perfect dog 🥰He LOVES kids, all people, dogs, loves long walks and drives, but can be left alone for several hours, playful and loving but sleeps a lot (usually on the electric blanket), no prey drive and we have lots of other pets he ignores, very food orientated so extremely easy to train and knows lots of tricks. But we were very lucky because he was bred by someone we knew (through my daughter's music teacher) and he is a very healthy example of the breed - no breathing issues with long legs and slim built. He's perfect 😍

Border Terrier, Staffies can be lovely dogs but can be very strong & have the risk they can pull you over.

Please read up on the health challenges of brachycephalic dogs thoroughly before considering owning one. Insurance premiums are likely to be high.

Both Borders and Staffies are fairly robust, health-wise, as are most terriers

Staffie every time

Staffie. Every time!

Staffy! Wonderful with children and very loyal. She's great with other dogs and cats even though we don't have any. Goes to doggy daycare once a week and there's about 7/8 staffies there - lots of people say they aren't good with other dogs but I don't think that's always the case and depends on how they're socialised when young.

I really like idea of staffy but I am very concerned about their powerful jaws. I read couple months ago in the newspapers about an accident where staffy was sleeping and a child startled the dog whilst playing. One bite made a significant damage, link below. It goes without a question it wasn't the dogs fault at all and it is parents responsibility to keep children and dog safe at all times.

Nevertheless accidents happen like below or perhaps whilst playing and whilst any dog would bite in a situation like below I assume it would be far less dangerous if it was border terrier for example.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/toddler-dog-attack-staffordshire-bull-b2060710.html

When our sons were little we always trained the dogs never to sleep in the middle of the floor, only in their beds. The boys knew that the dogs beds were no go areas. Helps prevent the dogs being startled and keeps both dogs and kids safe.

I wouldn't let my 4-year-olf to a friend's house with a Staffy. Sorry, I know they are meant to be amazing family fogs, but they have been involved in many fatal attacks. So you have to bear in mind that other parents may not want to send their kids to your house for playdates.

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dogs*

This is also my concern

We have a staffy, he is the absolute epitome of why they're known as the nanny dogs. Lazy as anything, soft as butter, immaculate manners. He has been very well trained from a pup and we keep consistent boundaries - but that should be the case with ANY dog. My DD(10) absolutely worships the ground he walks on and he'd do anything for her. They really are the perfect family dog if you can look past people (who usually have no experience of the breed) being judgmental

This is simply not true. There aren’t enough fatal dog attacks per year for them to have been involved in “many”.

Staffie every time. Amazing family dogs. My girl loves peacefully with my chickens, cats and children.

Border terrier every time. So wonderful with kids, friendly, funny and loyal. Mine is great with other dogs too. Easy to pick up and carry if necessary. Smaller poos!!

I hate this rebranding as “staffie”. It’s a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Border Terriers all the way. Had three - fantastic little dogs. Both very different in temperament (I second what someone said above about farm/breeder stock). Wonderful with kids.

Have you thought about other terrier breeds? Jack Russells and yorkies can make great family pets. They need training and socialising but that's true of all dogs.

Otherwise other small breeds such as bichon frise or a poodle are generally biddable and friendly dogs.

The only border terriers I have known were very stubborn.

I wouldn't go for a staffie for the reasons you've outlined.

I wasn't the person who recommended a rescue greyhound, though I do have one, so I feel the need to put in a good word for them! It's true that the ex racers have only ever lived in kennels, but most transition to home life relatively easily with a little time and patience, certainly much less effort than would be required with a puppy of another breed! Similarly while they haven't been formally toilet trained, most are 'clean' in kennels and are able to transfer this to the home environment fairly easily and instinctively - ours was toilet trained essentially from day 1 without any active training, we had at most 1 or 2 (wee) accidents in the first week while he was settling in and then he was perfect.

It's true that it is difficult to train them to a level of recall where you can feel comfortable letting them off lead in e.g. busy public parks, but then again most of the 'family-friendly' dog breeds we see in the park are not trained to that level either, as evidenced by the fact that they are in the face of my on-lead dog almost daily and can't be called off by their owners. When greyhounds do have chance to run off-lead in a secure space, it is a truly amazing sight!

Prey drive - only a very small minority of greyhounds are prey-driven to the extent that they require muzzling, and a rescue can easily match a lower-drive dog with first-time owners or a family with young kids. My dog totally ignores cats and squirrels if he is on lead. Meanwhile I frequently see squirrels, ducks etc. being terrorised by off-lead spaniels...

Playfulness - they are not typically 'playful' in the sense that they will play tug of war or chase a ball (though the odd ones will), but they are dopey and goofy and silly and provide hours of entertainment (mine loves throwing his soft toys around). They have so many quirky mannerisms that are fun to observe. They will never be able/willing to go for miles like a border collie, but they can definitely be acclimatised to longer and more intrepid walks if that is what the owners want to do. Equally, if the weather is crap and they only get toilet breaks or a quick round the block for a day or two, they are totally fine with that and will happily sleep the day away. Ours walked beautifully on a loose lead from day one. I don't know how that isn't the perfect family dog, or at least close to it!

Sorry as this post isn't really directed at you or even at the OP, but I feel duty-bound to counter the misconceptions in case anyone else is reading and is put off!

I've never been particularly keen on SBT's anyway but I would absolutely never get one now.

I see so many adverts for 'Staffie x American bully' and similar - plenty of people are breeding them together. I think in a few years it's going to be impossible to tell the bloodline of lots of 'SBT's'.