But retrieving doesn't harm other dogs/people/<insert living thing here> does it? In the same vein then - we shouldn't put murderers and hooligans and animal abusers etc in jail, because it may be that it's their nature to do what they do, and that shouldn't be taken away from them???


Anyway - I can't speak much for staffords, as i really don't know many - but i can say that Graeme hit the nail on the head there - I know for a fact that Dudley behaves in a most unsociable manner around oher dogs. We are trying to train him out of this, but it is hard going - and I would personally rather that EVERYONE keeps their dogs on leads - as we areworried about him attacking some offlead dog. I really get angry when I see any dog offlead - it's not safe for anyone. We let Duds offlead in deserted parks etc - at the first sign of other life, he goes back on the lead - we are very careful that he never meets other dogs offlead - and that's because we don't know how he would react - so far he seems aggressive to all other dogs.

I don't think one can say it's just staffs - after all, Dud is a lab! I think this applies to any breed - however i also think that the more there are of a breed - the more bad press it is likely to have because of simple numbers - the moer of anything there is, the higher the risk of something happening.

*waffle over*

anyway - that's my two penneth... now I'm back to that bleeding essay! lol

xx

My staffords have been brilliant with kids BUT

Jas didn;t like most male dogs, he liked the male spaniel down the road and his best buddy at Dog Training was a lovely little black male cairn but any other male dog and he had to get in there first. He was only off lead when I was 100% sure no-one was around.

However both bitches were not dog aggressive at all they loved everyone and everything.

Aggression in a stafford is just something you have to be aware of when owning one, it kinda comes with the territory.

Respect the breed and you won't go far wrong.

Some general observations from me.

I don't think I'm any more cautious with Staffs about compared to any other breed. There are a few about where we walk, but none that Jake's played with that I can recall. Said 'hello' to one or two and been advised by there owner to steer clear of one or two.

I'm firmly of the opinion that fear/anxiety travels down the lead (Owner to dog.) and also, merely being on a lead can make a dog nervous/aggresive under cetain circumstances. Especially small dogs! Naturally, the owner is going to be concerned. Like Tuti said, one mouthfull..... also, like Mys said, us with bigger dogs can probably assume they're less of an 'easy target' for any badly socialised dog.

Just had another thought. Maybe the whole concept behind this thread is a self fulfilling prophecy! Goes like this.... Other dog owners see Staffy and go 'Uh oh! Potential trouble here!' Staffy on lead's owner goes 'Come on, they don't seem to like us!' Staffy thinks 'Hey, everyone's acting wierd! Maybe something's wrong! Bark bark bark etc.'...

Anyone still following the above waffle?

barn went through a fighting stage not to the extent that he would go out looking to fight, if a male dog wanted to play/sniff him and he did not want it then he would let him no it and some more, a little time out away from other dogs (about a month or so) and now he is as good as the rest/anyother breed, but if you think about it when he was going fighty it would be verry easy to make it a fighty dog if thats what i wanted to do

like people say

you can make the dog into what you want with proper training

and

its the way you bring them up

i think thats not 100% if a dog wants to run away when off lead or bark all the time or even fight with other dogs then thats what he will do
Shane

I think that could have a lot to do with it. (Not that he's a pushover, I'm sure he's really butch when he puts his mind to it! )

I'm very wary of most dogs bigger than Pickles, never used to be but I think as he gets older and having him attacked by a big dog a few months ago has changed how I see him. He's just a little old man and any dog bigger than him could quite easily rip his head off.

In answer to your original question, I don't think it can be trained out of them. You can socialise them well and bring them up properly but I think Staffys will always be prone to dog aggression than most other non bull breeds.

Now heres where I get shot down. I used to be a massive fan of the SBT, when we got Woody we had a Staffy in mind too but luck would have it we got him before we found one that took our fancy. They used to be one of my top 3 breeds but I've realised recently that they're not the breed for me, think I've had it too easy for too long.
The prejudice is unbelieveable, I never look down on any breed of dog as I think each should be judged on it's own merits. But reading on here some of the remarks some people get just for owning a SBT is unreal. Their breeding (I believe) means there will always be that element of doubt when around other dogs. These 2 facts alone has changed my mind about owning one of these dogs and instead I tend to lean towards other Bull breeds with less of a stigma attached.

I will always love Staffys and who knows one day I might be in a position where I feel able to cope with one, but for now I'll just have to admire from a far.

Oh why do the good posts start when I am at work

Tuti you couldn't offend me if you wanted to

I have Staffs two actually and have had Staffs since the late 70's, so have experience of "MY" dogs rather than the breed. And I have to say I do not blame you putting Archie on the lead when you see a Staff coming I do the same.
However I also put them on lead when I see any dog coming - why because not everyone (me included) appreciates Staffies running up to them/their dog, and also because not everyone's dogs are "good with other dogs" mine are. But not with all dogs.

And I am always careful when mine do play with other dogs because anything can turn a disagreement into a full scale "fight" with a Staff - a point some people who get them do not always realise, also I never let my two play with dogs when they are together - they become a "pack" and some poor unsuspecting dog could end up seriously hurt if they fell out, as could mine.

The people that were with the pup were obviously trying to do the right thing the sad thing is as you maybe discovered later some people considerit "clever" to have a Staff that goes for everything - its not but you can't change human nature in that. And they rarely realise Staff "encouraged" to be nasty is a handful most of those silly people then can't handle. It sounds a little like the pup was not being "socialised properly hence forth the "lunging at Archie" its the type of behaviour you do not allow regardless of your breed.

Same as at Discover dogs but Staffs do get "worked up" and do have a tendency to do that type of thing. Its a breed thing you have to remember Staffs were bred to fight - same as Labs were bred to retrieve

No matter how hard we try to "subdue" their nature it is always there you must think of a Staff as a fighting dog the majority of which who wear a "cloak" displaying the "behaviour "we want" were as in reality they are a wolf in sheeps clothing. You cannot be lulled in a false sense of security. If you own a Staff you have to understand what they are capable of, as owners of blood hounds realise once there dogs gets a scent there a good chance they will be off.

And the man with the pup showed common sense something tells me he has owned Staffs before - that sounds like a thing a Staffie owner would say.
But regardless of what he does he still has a Staff and with a Staff you take care.
And YES you are right Staffs need loads of socialisation and training. And some can be "not good with other dogs" but you choose your breed and understand your responsibility.

I've had a lot off staffy owners telling me that it's all lies, and that staffs have a bad reputation for no reason but somehow I don't think that's true.
Surely because of how they've been bred they still have aggression in their temperament which cannot always be erased?
Or can it be erased with training?

The people telling you that Staffs have a bad reputation for no reason are wrong Staffs have a reputation but that does not make it a bad reputation it is something that is in their blood you can't stop a fish from swimming but you can restrict the size of the bowl and you can't stop a Staff from having "fighting history" but you can restrict their behaviour.
You can socialise, socalise, socalise but at the end of the day you may have to be a owner of a dog that does not "TOLERATE" other dogs.

And I don't think its a mixed up post I woul be "careful" over the amount of damage a Staff could do to my Staff. Its only reasonable to be "aware of what could happen."

And Nope no offended.

Karen

I have a Stafford X Bulldog, shes a sweet little thing

I said I was never going to go down the route of owning a Stafford
My little girl is the most lovable dog, shes never ever shown a dislike for any other dog, even in the early days of introducing her to my 'pack' were there ever any fall outs between her or my others

I don't know if this is because shes a cross and has mainly 'Bulldog' traits. Maybe I have just been extremely lucky with her, I just do not know?

But I would'nt swap or change her for anything in this world, shes a real little gem of a dog who has made me realise that over the years maybe even I have been guilty of being just a little bit 'breedist' towards the Stafford, if thats the right words.

I have always liked the Stafford but I always thought after being raised with them, that they were'nt the breed for me, how wrong was I?......My little Daisy has made me realise a great deal about this lovely wonderful breed, I had things so dreadfully wrong.

[QUOTE=Jenny]I dont worry when i see another staffie, i see each dog as an individual regardless of breed,

I totally agree Jenny, I've had Staffies for nearly 20 yrs and I am aware of ANY dog we meet regardless of breed. I know of a male Staffie who had to be rehomed after a nasty attack on HIM by a Yorkshire Terrier!! Funny as it may sound it really freaked him out.....................

I don't have nor have I ever had SBT's.....if only. They and EBT's are my fave bully breeds. There is a lad where I live called Duke who is really friendly and Roxy, my 9 y/old bitch is besotted with him. A couple of nights ago I met a 14 week old SBT pup who was a delight. I've never met an aggressive one. I think one trait they have which gives people the wrong impression of them, is their very gutteral growl. A couple of staffies playing sounds like doggy WWIII

Hi

Yes the first thing I tell people about Staffs is "if you are right for the breed you will never consider changing but if you are wrong your new addition won't last the year. They are great dogs but not for everyone and everyone is not right for Staffs"

Catch 22

But I am pleased they aren't a breed for everyone because unless you are willing to put in the time energy and effort you are not worthy of my breed - whoever you are.

And they are great family dogs but not suitable for every family.
They are lovely dogs but some people think they are ugly - I know its unbelievable but its true.

Now you've had chance to digest that information I will say to me they are the perfect breed. But I am willing to take the rough with the smooth. And I have never met anyone who is "out and out Staffie hater" in fact most people stand in the park and say things like "I can't stand Staffies, can you they are nasty?" when I point out there dog is at that moment playing with a Staff mine they normally say "apart from yours or something similar" or one lady still to this day refuses to believe my two are Staffs To her they are the "nice little black dogs"

Karen