Team Stafford v Team Lab

[Glitchymn1]

Recently lost my beloved Labrador. Have been very depressed as a result not eating/sleeping, (I think understandably) and time is a healer.

DH is pushing for another dog, (a kind push) he thinks it’ll lift my spirits. We will get another dog eventually but I just need some more time to process it.

During discussions I said don’t think I can handle getting another Lab or Golden. The mobility issues are a factor these started from a young age and affected my dog’s whole life.
DH had to lift him into the car during the latter years, I couldn’t take him out alone as a result.

Plus he was one of a kind and I don’t think it’s fair to put those expectations on to a new dog, simply because it’s the same breed?

I suggested a Staffordshire bull terrier- likely a rescue. He doesn’t think they’re the right fit, nervous, scatty, unaffectionate, prone to separation anxiety, they shake. (My friend had one and he is very stable, loving, no anxiety, but is she just lucky!)

If you have a Stafford, talk to me about him/her, bonus points for photos! Which team are you?

Lab any day

So sorry for your loss.

What I would say is don't write off retriever breeds (Goldies/Labs etc) just because yours had mobility issues. I've had Goldies my whole life (20 years breeding, and years before that my mum bred Goldies). None of ours ever have mobility issues - even my 12 year old Goldie is able to do 2hrs walking a day. Mobility issues are almost always down to poor breeding. Vet every breeder to ensure you find the bitch/sire with the best hip and elbow scores you possibly can.

Staffs are lovely dogs. But if a retriever worked for you before, and the only thing stopping you is concern about joints/dysplasia etc, then it's more about finding a good breeder than anything else IMO.

Lab!!!!!

@LandSharksAnonymous Thank you.

I honestly think I have developed an awful anxiety surrounding the mobility issues and I can’t seem to shake it. He tore his cruciate, had a TPLO with a top orthopaedic vet, laser, lots of medication but he was never the same.
He was a happy boy, but no doubt it affected his life. He was 14 when he passed, so not young.

I did my research (or so I thought, vet at the time told me paperwork can be faked and suspected he’d been passed along from another breeder- he was bigger than he should have been so we suspected he was older than what was on his paperwork).
His parents had good hip and elbow scores, perhaps he was just unlucky, I’ll never know poor boy.
I was hoping to rescue, but that means I’d never know the history, which is even more unnerving. I do tend to overthink! as you can probably tell. 😩

And just to add he has IBS and constant ear infections. Maybe it was the breeding, I can remember she told me she had to cover his food in chicken noodle soup so he would eat it- despite it giving him diarrhoea. I just changed his food and he was fine- had bouts because he would steal food / vacuum pavements but aside from that fine.

I hesitate to post this because I no doubt will get people telling me that I am marginalising a breed. However, the problem with Staffords, especially ones that are not from reputable breeders, is that they are prone to dog on dog aggression. It's very rare that a proper Stafford would be human aggressive but a lot of them are aggressive to other dogs. I've known multiple of them and all of them were at best dog intolerant and at worst, dog aggressive.

I knew one that was fine with other dogs although she played a little rough. Until she decided one day that she wasn't fine after all and nearly killed a small dog, leaving it with terrible injuries. Her owner couldn't get her to let go of the other dog until he wrapped the lead around her neck and held on. It was awful. And she wasn't one of the bully types either. She was a proper, KC registered Stafford. People may say this can happen with any dog and it could. But Staffords were originally bred for aggression towards other animals including dogs and when a dog reaches maturity in particular, it can surface. The dog I just described was around 18 months or 2 years old when she nearly killed another dog. Not all Staffords will do this, of course. Maybe not even most of them. But you might not know if yours will until it does so.

For that reason I would never consider them which is a shame because they are an ideal size. If I did get one I would be considering my breeder VERY carefully. I would never go for a rescue Stafford unless the dog was at least 3 years old to ensure it is fully mature so any potential dog aggression issues should have already been noticed.

If you want a retriever but are worried about mobility issues, I'd be looking at reputable breeders that health test and I would be considering the lineage and how prevalent joint issues are in the dogs family line. If the breeder can't provide this for you, I would walk away. Another thing with mobility issues is that a Stafford type dog in a rescue centre is extremely likely to be poorly bred which raises their predisposition to mobility issues so you may not avoid mobility issues by avoiding a retriever anyway.

@brownbear201 I had another school friend, so going back decades I admit. She had a few Staffs, Pom’s, cats and rabbits - all free running around the house. Never ended badly to my knowledge.
Staffs seem ok with cats on the whole? but I agree not many seem to like other dogs from what I’ve seen- I’ve walked a few of them.

We also have DD age 9, so it’s not a decision I would be able to take lightly. I would have to know the background, had the dog been brought up with children from a pup and the reason for rehoming. I’m probably looking for a unicorn aren’t I.

A few years ago we considered adopting another lab (with existing lab) but none of them were child friendly- something I found very odd.

DH is adamant he wants us to have a puppy, due to DD and for me to train the dog (I’m not a dog whisperer! I think it’s the lick of the draw). *Luck!😂

I value all opinions, have a lot to think about. So thank you.

Interestingly poll is at:
31% Staff
Lab 46%
Golden 23%

My family had a staffy and she was a wonderful dog. She used to let my much smaller dogs eat her dinner even through she could have bitten them in half!

Children from the local neighbourhood used to knock the front door and ask to take her on a walk. She’d go with them happily and was no bother.

Staffies can definitely be aggressive towards other dogs but all dogs can be like this.

I say go and meet some of the dogs at the local shelter - you maybe surprised and even come home with a mongrel or something you just didn’t imagine.

She sounds like a lovely dog @Wishihadanalgorithm

I’ve volunteered at a local shelter dog walking and making donations and Christmas doggy dinners . Sadly most of the dogs seemed to be age 12 plus children, so not sure we would have much luck. I suppose they have to be careful. It was the height of the XL ban so there were so many of those bull type breeds at the time (I have to say they seemed like lovely dogs) sadly it seems to be the pocket bullies being dumped now.

Yes, I've known Staffs that have lived with other dogs. The staff I described that tried to kill a small dog lived with two poodles. Never behaved aggressively towards them as far as I knew.

I'm not saying don't get a Staff. I believe for the right people they are lovely dogs. But you need to go in with your eyes wide open with any breed and with bull breeds dog aggression can be a concern. I don't know where you live, of course, but in much of the UK, dogs are everywhere. It's very hard to manage a dog that is aggressive or even intolerant to other dogs and it can take a lot of the enjoyment out of owning a dog. I have a small terrier who is not aggressive but is selective with other dogs. It still makes walking him a nightmare and a criteria for my next dog was that it had to be a breed predisposed to being friendly to other dogs.

My Lab loved everyone, aside from
cats come to think of it. He was such an easy boy, I never had to worry about children rushing up to him etc. The biggest worry was he would turn around and knock one over. He was never food aggressive, didn’t guard toys, he was perfect.

I’m in Wales and yes, dogs are everywhere. I’ve never had to deal with dog on dog aggression with any of the dogs we have owned.
I wouldn’t say I’m a very firm owner either, so there are certain needs I would never consider. What a quandary!

Get a Staffy! They are very affectionate, and don't listen to 'bull dogs can be aggressive'....Absolute cobblers! any dog breed can be aggressive if it has bad experiences with bad owners.
I lost my staffy two years ago, I miss her every day.

@Glitchymn1 if a lab speaks to you but you are really worried about potential mobility issues, perhaps try your local breed club? They usually have links to specific breed rescues (or cover it themselvs). That way you can get an older dog, whose history is known, and you can have greater confidence it may not have joint issues (at least not until it gets older?).

My local breed club for Goldies often has adult Goldies on and they tend to be very carefully about vetting families (i.e. not placing dogs in environments where they might not 'mesh') and are honest about the dogs history (i.e. if it can't live with kids, or another dog etc).

I am so sorry about your boy though - it's awful to watch a much loved family member suffer.

We had a golden retriever and she was amazing. Bitches tend to be smaller and she was quite lightweight. She never developed any problems with mobility.

I’ll just put this out there, we now have a poodle. I never thought I would get a poodle but after a lot of research, a poodle sounded like a great fit for us. I think the stupid poodle haircuts put me off. However, it turns out that you can cut a poodle the same all over and they look like a normal dog. We have no regrets, she’s perfect.

Team Stafford all day long.
I don't recognize a Stafford in your breed description. Please go for a well bred health tested puppy. There are virtually zero full Staffords in rescue..... I was lucky with my first 2, but looked for a year to get my third, countrywide.
Best advice is contact your Local breed club via kc website and ask for good breeders with planned litters. Be prepared to wait.
Avoid blues (you won't get any blue breeders recommended through above advice anyway).
Don't go for a badly bred or sbt x . The real thing should be confident, reliable, happy, athletic, up for anything, positive, human friendly and bombproof dogs.
Photo of Arthur attached who fits all of the above criteria and is now a Grade 5 agility dog.

Yes, I definitely wouldn't take mine for a free for all with unknown dogs. Mine go on the lead if other dogs are around and they are trained to focus on me and ignore everything else.
We have lots of friends dogs that we walk with and never any issues.

Just because a dog comes from a good breeder doesn't mean it won't be dog aggressive. It's in the DNA, but 2 of my 3 are dog friendly and the other one was too until she had one too many dogs barging in her space and she started taking a defensive approach, which is why I'm super vigilant now.

We had a lab and a staffy x, lost the lab a few years ago to cancer but still have the staffy x.

From my experience they are completely different, the lab was bouncy, friendly, hairy and loved everyone. Our staff x is more determined, very opinionated, loves us with every fibre of his being (some SA issues), he’s the best dog in the world but much more effort than the lab.

He loves people and is generally fine with dogs but went through a stage of being reactive after he was attacked, he’s ok now but he is a strong dog with a powerful jaw so I know I need to be more careful than if he was a smaller dog.

His energy when he was younger was off the scale, he’s pretty chill now and the loveliest boy, but he has been hard work to train.

Then again he’s a cross and a rescue, so if you got one as a puppy and met the parents it could be completely different.

I am biased as I lost my beautiful staffie cross girl this week, but they are wonderful dogs. She was my soul dog, gentle and fun and loved just being with her people, loved the car, loved the vet, only ever had an anxiety issue with fireworks. I had a lab growing up and they are great too.

I think in your case OP, maybe speak to a few rescues with an open mind. Maybe they'll have a staffie/lab mix needing a home, you never know. Good luck either way, the grief is horrific and I hope it helps.

Thank you all.

@Perseimmion DM had a poodle when I was a baby, he was very good. She always had the ‘lamb cut’ rather than that big bobble on their head haha!

@Abc1weabc1 Wow- well done Arthur! That’s quite the haul!

@LolaJ87 Thank you. I’m sorry for your loss, they bring so much to our lives don’t they and life is that bit emptier without them.

@SnugGreenPanda Our Lab was so easy, I never had to worry, fireworks, vets, other dogs didn’t bother him, nothing did. He wasn’t reactive, fine with food- we were in a pub once and he had a bone of some kind/treat bone and we needed to move tables (he was too engrossed to listen), so I just reached down and took the bone off him and I can recall the bloke next to us gasping and saying “wow, you wouldn’t do that to mine, he’d have your hand off”.

@Georgepaws I’m so sorry for your loss.

@LandSharksAnonymous I have done as you suggested, found two clubs- one SBT and one Lab club, I’m in no rush so we shall wait and see.
DH is more inclined towards a pup due to DD. But I know how bitey puppies can be, I wore flips flops to view them and it was like a swarm of piranhas, I left bleeding and pondering if labs were a good idea.
Our other dogs had cancer, kidney disease, dementia so it felt more like a kindness when the time came, they weren’t quite with it, not eating/drinking/ being sick. Lab was fine mentally and physically - aside from those bloody back legs. Affected his toileting, unable to stand/ falling over. He would have good days and bad, then more bad.
I know if I rehome an older dog, potentially I’m saying good bye in a few short years. I had a look in champ dogs yesterday- which is where I got my Lab. I just don’t know what to do. Lots to consider.

I have known many lovely labs but our staffie x rescue dog was an absolute legend who brightened so many lives. She was fabulous with all dogs and people, especially children. She was extremely loving and enthusiastic and is sorely missed.

Could you get a lab, but in a different colour to the one you had previously? That’s what a friend did.

Team lab

I have had and have staffs. They are absolutely brilliant!

Velcro dogs, affectionate, eager to please, cuddly, love people (not other dogs so much). Farty, daft, easy to train, loyal, funny.

I'd never consider another breed.

Dog tax photo below! This is my 8yr old, I rehomed her last September.

The fluff round her chops is because she'd just destroyed a dog toy!

Lovely dogs, all of them. The fluff made me laugh!

@DinoLil Did you mean farty? 😳or is that a typo… our lab was a gent in that department. Gave me a laugh either way, much needed!