The much maligned Staffordshire Bull Terrier

[Mrs Grumpy]

I admit to being more of a collie person myself, but there are so many of these poor dogs being overbred, sold to idiots and then ending up in rescue. Every staffie I have every met has been lovely and made the most interesting noises

I don't have any figures to hand, but my guess is that out of the 9,000 + healthy dogs that are killed every year simply because there is no room for them, the staffie would be the most likely to die.

West Norfold RSPCA

YouTube Video

We only have seven in looking for homes at present, but this is far more than any other breed and we are a very small rescue. In the overall scheme of things this is not many, but we know they are going to be longer term than any other dog, both in kennels and in a foster home.

[samuelellis]

I really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really want a Satffie and or an English bull as hey are utterly daft dosile creatures and loyal until the day is long but it would be too unfair to get one with the work patterns me and my better half have (plus she says they are ugly)

The daftest Staffie i came across was owned by a friend of my mums and was called......Pingu No dog that is called Pingu can ever me mean

[Sheets Tabuer]

Lovely dogs, I had two about 20 years ago before the chavs got hold of them, great personality.

My house was burgled and they were taken

[Mobile Chicane]

I'd love a Staffy, however my concerns over a 'rescue dog' are as to how well it has been socialised.

Friends have small children and I can't take the risk of the dog biting.

[MudSkipper]

I’ve always wanted a staff ever since I met one of my friends lovely dogs. They had 2 GSD and 2 staffs. Both of the staffs were rescue dogs, the female Sasha, he and his wife actually rescued her from someone’s garden as she was chained up covered in burns, under weight and with no shelter in the garden.
Each time I went round they used to put the dogs in the garden, mainly because Sasha wasn’t good around strangers. After a while I said it was unfair to keep putting the dogs out, so they started letting them in. The GSDs first were fine and the male staff, then it was time to meet Sasha. She was gorgeous, but very wary. I let her take her time to investigate me and after a while she let me smooth her…an hour later she was curled up on my feet not moving for anything.

She was my first encounter with a staffy and I’ve had a soft spot for them ever since. Hopefully one day soon we will own our own place or rent somewhere which will allow us to have a dog

[Mrs Grumpy]

Mobile Chicane said:

I'd love a Staffy, however my concerns over a 'rescue dog' are as to how well it has been socialised.

Friends have small children and I can't take the risk of the dog biting.

Many rescues (including ours) use foster homes where the foster carer has children. Dogs can be much better assessed that way

[Mrs Grumpy]

The sad reality of a staffie

Another two were pts in the pound this week.


Just A Staffie-cross

Today is another day to me they're all the same
I have the worst of genes you see, I bear the Staffie shame
The shame is in our numbers, there's thousands with no home
Thousands just like me you'll find in kennels all alone.

My mum was just a Staffie my father- well who knows?
Mum, too, became unwanted, as the last puppy goes.
And then begins the process, of money-making deals.
A life of moving on unfolds - who cares how Staffie feels?
lf you have the cash to hand, the Staffiepup is yours
But that pup is getting bigger now, just look at those big paws.

You bought me for your image, thought I'd make you look more tough.
But you'll find my boisterous nature has already got too much.
If you had thought to train me, with kindness and with praise.
You would have had a faithful friend to share the darkest of your days.
I would lay down my life for you, but you simply cannot see.
You make sure you get your money back on what you paid for me.

And on it goes, until one day, I'm no longer worth a dime.
The retail on an adult Staff - not worth the waste of time.
So what happens to the Staffie now? Do you really want to know?
Do you care what will become of us, when we leave our final home?

Have you ever thought to wonder, Where is that Staffie now?
The Staffie has another name; he's become stray somehow.
Me, I was put in the car and driven far away.
The door held open, I jumped out, I thought to run and play.
It was with joy and happy heart I turned to look for you.
You drove away with all my trust and a piece of my heart too.

I wandered round for many days before I was brought here.
Now I wait with heavy heart, trepidation and with fear.
Seven days is all I have you see, seven days for you to claim.
The little dog that you threw out, for which you have no shame.

This is my last goodbye now my seven days are up.
If only more thought had gone into the future of that pup.
As the needle empties to my veins I lay down with one last sigh.
I'm sorry I was born a Staffie because it means that I must DIE.

[okgo]

They are bought by pikies. Nice dog or not, you can't own one and not look like an urchin.

[Dan_1981]

So its true that rescue homes do routinely put to sleep healthy dogs?

I've often heard the rumour but never knew if it was true or not?

[anonymous-user]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Lovely dogs, I had two about 20 years ago before the chavs got hold of them, great personality.

My house was burgled and they were taken

st!! I cannot imagine what it must feel like to have your favourite friend taken.

[Munter]

Dan_1981 said:

So its true that rescue homes do routinely put to sleep healthy dogs?

I've often heard the rumour but never knew if it was true or not?

It's either that or let them starve in squalid conditions as there's not enough money to look after them all. If they can't all be kept in decent conditions with enough food something has to be done with them, and there's not a whole load of choices.

[Mrs Grumpy]

Dan_1981 said:

So its true that rescue homes do routinely put to sleep healthy dogs?

I've often heard the rumour but never knew if it was true or not?

Not so much rescues as the pounds. Often it is difficult to tell the difference as some of the pounds will rehome. Battersea is the pound for most of London for instance and do pts. As do the RSPCA.

Unfortunately it boils down to resources and I cannot blame them for that. They are not the ones causing the issue her. There is only a finite amount of funds and space available. If all that is taken up with harder to rehome staffies, then all the other dogs will die

[BOR]

It's a sad story. But it's difficult to see why a normal person would choose a dog like that over one of the many other breeds available. It's a bleak future for them.

[Myc]

BOR said:

It's a sad story. But it's difficult to see why a normal person would choose a dog like that over one of the many other breeds available. It's a bleak future for them.

I don't get your comment there I'm afraid and maybe I'm misinterpreting it but I would be interested to know why a "normal" person wouldn't choose a Staffie?

I have known many normal people with Staffies and from my experience and observations they appear to make a great family pet and be far more suited to the average family home environment than many of the breeds people commonly picked.

Edited by Myc on Wednesday 8th December 12:02

[Georgiegirl]

I really hate the image the staffie has and the awful people who have created it. The only ones I have ever known have been soft as anything, gorgeous dogs. I remember when we were looking there was a family at the rescue centre, and the kids were looking at one of the (many) staffs, I heard the woman say to the kids 'Oh no we don't want one of those horrible dogs, they're vicious'. I wish I had told her then and there what I thought but I settled for a good glare and made sure to make a fuss of the dog she rejected.
We ended up with a shar pei x staff, and it's interesting that when people ask what he is and I say staffie x, they back away and pull their dogs away, and if I say shar pei x they say oh what a lovely little dog isn't he sweet and let their dog play/children approach etc.

[Mr Will]

Myc said:

BOR said:

It's a sad story. But it's difficult to see why a normal person would choose a dog like that over one of the many other breeds available. It's a bleak future for them.

I don't get your comment there I'm afraid and maybe I'm misinterpreting it but I would be interested to know why a "normal" person wouldn't choose a Staffie?

I have known many normal people with Staffies and from my experience and observations they appear to make a great family pet and be far more suited to the average family home environment than many of the breeds people commonly pick.

I remember reading once that there are only two breeds which the kennel club recommend for houses with children, and Staffies are one of them.

[celticpilgrim]

My Harry was a staffie X from the dogs trust, and was one of the most faithful loving dogs you could meet. Gentle as anything, used to sleep in my arms at night. Lost him to prostate cancer 6 years back.

I would have a staffie or across, esp a rescue one, but our domestic setup at present means we would not pass a home visit, so when we lost Bobo, my GSD cross in the summer, we forked out for a pedigree lab (and are reaping the whirlwind)!!

It's such a shame abour the chav/drug dealer image, as i second the view about them being recommended as a dog for a house with children

[Newbey]

I used to help out at a local dog rescue place, over the last 18 months 9 out of every 10 dogs they had were staffies.

I came across some nice ones and some that were dangerous due to their upbringing.

As much as I love dogs I would never own a staffie. I have witnessed calm staffies flip to rage and on one occasion ripp apart a small westie.

Unfortunately for the dog they have become a cheap status symbol for wannabee gangsters.

[D1ngd0ng]

I looked after my sisters Staffie 2 years ago when she was on her jollies and fell in love, she has a wonderful playful personality. I wish my lab was as well behaved.

[king_of_herts]

Here's my two... Best dogs in the world, without a doubt the most loyal and child friendly breed ever. Fact.