Where are all the Staffs?

[TooSmallForTheMembrane]

I regularly peruse P4H, not because I would buy a dog from there, but I just like looking at pictures of puppies and seeing what’s available and popular locally (yes I need to get out more probably!).

I’ve noticed that all of a sudden there are almost no adverts for SBTs and loads for American Bullies? And the staffies that are available are now the very squat, muscular type, not the longer/leaner more athletic sort. And they are all blue! It’s bizarre! What happened to the classic brindle colouring?

Is it just me or are they disappearing?

I'm not sure there are that many Staffies in rescues either. I keep an eye on the Battersea dogs up for rehoming (I got my lovely Staffie cross from them 6 years ago, when Staffies were frequently on their list). For the last 2 years at least there have hardly been any Staffs- it is almost entirely XL American bullies and greyhounds (makes me think another dog track must have closed down).

Staffs have become very middle-class, didn't you get the memo? 😂

Love our rescue Staff, although she does fart a lot.

Supply and demand.

The demand was for blues. So blues were bred and brindles had a decline in demand.

The demand switched from Staffie to Akita/Husky/Malamute/Bully XL/insert other entirely inappropriate animal here. So fewer Staffies of any kind were bred.

In that period, the existing Staffies reached the end of their lifespans. With lower demand, there was no incentive for back yard breeders to produce more litters.

When the fashion moves to some other unfortunate breed, then people will be saying 'why don't you see so many xxx for sale these days?'

It also happens with reputable breeders.

It’s VERY hard to rescue a staffy with children. Best thing is to contact the SBT club secretary and ask them to put you in touch with a reputable breeder.

Latest foster pup a staff. I think he’s found a home here 🐶❤️

He’s beautiful, just look at those little paws.
I’ve had terriers all my life. Not Staffies as my breed is one of the At Risk ones but it’s meant it’s always terrier days at championship shows or terrier specific club shows for my bunch. It’s always been the case, really very noticeable, especially at the Terrier Club shows that the rings with almost all the rings with families attending with children are round are the Staffie rings, toddlers, babies in prams up to teenagers. Brilliant family dogs, unlike my Skyes who’ll sit glowering suspiciously in a corner at anyone who they haven’t decided is a friend of at least five years of trying to coax them. 😂

If you’re in a position to offer an older dog (or two, they are often bonded pairs) a home, Senior Staffy Club has taken in a lot of dogs already this year.

Anyone considering offering a home to a rescue, do please look at Staffies. It’s so sad to see so many needing a loving family. They are great little dogs, so smart and full of character.

My parents bought their Staffie in 1974, way before they were well known or ‘muscle’ dogs. A tall, red chap, with big ears. He was the loveliest (if too smart for his own good) dog a family could wish for. He used to spend Saturday afternoons sitting at the boundary of the village cricket ground, watching my dad keep wicket. And then he would raid the leftovers after the cricket tea!

We have working Labs now, but Staffies have a special place in my heart.

“Too smart” is not a phrase I would associate with any staffie I’ve ever met. Thick as mince cuddlemonsters is closer to my experience 😆

All of my three have been super smart, hence they are my breed of choice for agility.

SBT are amazing dogs and make a great family pet. My parents have 2, both getting old now (I lived with them so they still feel like mine too!) and they are the most beautiful temperament.

It’s just a shame that they have a bad rep because of idiots that owned them, I suppose because they are a “tough looking” dog. Which makes sense as to why they are now replaced by these XL bully dogs.

It does however seem that not many kennels will rehome staffies to people with children, which is a shame. I wonder if it’s because they’re such a strong dog.

My parents dog, absolutely beautiful and so gentle used to think he was like a feather. When really in his heyday, he weighed 4.5 stone all in muscle and his big dopey head 🥰

Gorgeous dog. As an agility judge I’ve seen a fair few do amazingly well in the ring. I love watching them work. We live in gun dog country so anything that isn’t a lab, WCS or now poodle cross is rare. My terrier is a one off. Down the road used to be staffie country. It’s now XL bully for all the reasons above.

Staffies can be extremely sweet dogs, but I wouldn’t have them around children

I wouldn’t have any muscular breed with such a strong jaw around young kids. I don’t trust any dog, but the damage done can vary in severity between breeds. Some terrier breeds are also nippy with a nasty bite and can do serious damage.

To my knowledge, a toy poodle has never killed a
child. Staffies have.

I absolutely would not be getting a rescue staffy with children under 10.

I have a Staffy x Border Collie, rescue who is clever and the biggest cuddlebug you ever did see. Love her to bits.

So many young XL bullies and cane corsos now being dumped or sold for £200. It's so sad.

Some of the biggest bite risks I’ve encountered have been spaniels and a Labrador. Really serious bites too (seen first hand).

The staffies I’ve known have been wonderful. Deed not breed as they say. All dogs have the capacity to kill a child if they bite them in the wrong place. Sadly the demographic who tend to breed and own big powerful dogs do them no favours.

If I had the space I’d love a Rottweiler. Wonderful dogs. Smart, trainable, affectionate if bred and raised correctly.

How old are your children OP? I think Staffies are fine for anything older than a pre teen

Look up registered breeders in your area.

I got caught in the crossfire between my collie and a female Staff. Got bit on the thigh and the pain was so horrendous I could barely walk.
They have huge strength in their Jaws.

To be fair, my own dog started it and I believed the owner (elderly gent) when he said he was so shocked as she had never done that before.

I wouldn’t have those either with young children. I was attacked by a highly strung show cocker as a child.

i have admitted Staffies are sweet dogs. I have also acknowledged how fucking powerful they can be.

Why do these threads always fill up with people completely ignoring traits in some breeds that make them more likely to cause damage, sometimes fatal damage?

Look at the list of fatal dog attacks. Staffies are heavily overrepresented. They may have had dickhead owners, but they or their child would still be alive had they selected a maltese or something else cat sized. They never do though.

a butter knife can you if used incorrectly. But a carving knife will do more damage.

bizarre

We've had our staff from a pup she was a rescue dog. She's lovely with our 4 dc she's currently lying next to our 6 year old wearing a beaded necklace she put on her 😂, they have grown up together and I think that's the difference I'd not have an older rescue staff around children or any rescue dog for that matter.

Although I do agree with the poster upthread she isn't intelligent she's barely learnt a thing in 11 years! She's lovely but a moron 😂

SBT are one of only 2 breeds (out of more than 200) that are recommended as being especially good with children, by the kennel club.
That's why I chose the breed originally as my 2 sons were very full on with each other, and I needed a dog that wouldn't be overwhelmed by their loudness.
Obviously if you cross a stafford with something else you can end up with anything temperament wise, just like any other crossbreed.

We have a lot of XL bullies round here too. Maybe we will see you at a show sometime.....we are doing KC and UKA shows. I also compete with my older SBT in UKA select height and kc anysize

Agreed. People get them as status symbols then realise it’s ALOT of dog to take on. They drool, they’re expensive, insurance is sky high, they often don’t like other dogs, they’re powerful, they often pull, pita at the vet, also can be very nervous.

Yes I’ve noticed this. I had my lovely staffy girl put to sleep yesterday. She was brindle and long legged/athletic but still quite small. She was nearly 16. The blue ones have health issues