In my opinion, Staffordshire Bull Terriers should always be regarded as a fighting breed. It's nothing to do with overbreeding (although poor selection of dogs based on looks not temperment is certainly a factor). They were created to mainly be pit dogs, have drive, and be game.

They are a poor choice for people who want them to attack other people. A yorkshire terrier would probably do more harm. With regards to other dogs a responsible staffy owner should always err on the side of caution given the nature of their heritage. Also this goes for the idiot owners of other breeds who say 'my dog wont bite'. I don't give a flying **** if your dog bites or not. I know that my dogs ancestors bit other dogs to kill and may kill yours. You be responsible with yours because I guarantee that I will be with mine. You can never be sure how your dog will behave with strange, or even familiar dogs. You can guess but you can never be sure. Some may regard this as macho but it's not. It's being realistic.

It's also important to realise Staffords play rough with other dogs and people. If anyone walked into Tracies house while Saffy and Bandit were playing they'd think we were running some weird dog fighting ring. Often non-staffy owners (and even some staffy owners) confuse rough play with aggression.

The key to understanding the Stafford is understanding what their job was. Socialisation etc. is vital, probably more so than with most breeds. My question to Tuti though is this. Is it really Staffords that are the problem or is it poorly socialised dogs of any breed?

I would also add that I think most Staffy owners would apprieciate other dog owners asking if their dog was ok with other dogs in an non-antagonistic way rather than just wandering up to let their dog have a sniff and getting upset when the staffy shows it's teeth.

Graeme

Posted while I was replying.

Graeme

Hi Graeme... you hit the nail on the head

Yes I think poorly socialised dogs are a massive problem BUT poorly socialised staffies even more because, as you say, they have a history which most other dogs don't.

What you say about biting to kill is what scares me the most. From the little I have read about staffies my dog's reaction to an attack is a surefire way of getting killed by a staff whereas most other dogs would back off if the attacked dog showed submission. That's probably another reason I tend to be more careful around staffs than any other breed....

Many Staffords can be dog aggressive it stands to reason since their original purpose was being bred for dog fighting. I dont see aggression in a Stafford as a bad trait and I would not want to try correct this behaviour as that is what makes him who he is; correcting it or trying to breed it out takes away from the dogs personality and you would loose part of him in the process. You would not try to train a larador to stop retrieving etc...I am afraid it is just something as a Stafford owner you have to accept and also for other owners to realise a dog aggressive dog does not mean an all round aggressive dog.

There is a differnce though between an aggressive dog and one that lunges at other dogs squealing and so forth. Staffords were never supposed to be social with other dogs or mingle in crowds of dogs at the park and people who want a dog that can do that should never go for a Stafford. While there are many that are good with other dogs you should always be aware what breed you buy and what it's original purpose was and in turn what it's personality is likely to be like.

In short, dog aggression is part of owning a Stafford there are no two ways about it. They are excellent people dogs but in general not great with other dogs although I think many of the dogs today in the show ring seem to be a lot less volatile than they were years back from what I have been hearing. I knew what I was buying when I took on my two and I accepted that part of their personality was that they may not be great with other dogs, which they are not, I am responsible and I deal with it so it does not pose a problem for me. As I said if people want a dog to paly with others at the park or to be friendly with others then a Stafford should not be first choice.

I see how you feel...I guess cuz mine are big dogs I just think they can take anything other dogs have to throw at them...I'm lucky to in that mine are such clowns, if another dog gets aggressive, Keena seems to do all she can to bring it around, as if she is tryin to make it giggle!...lol...My dogs would be great for someone to socialise a more aggressive dog with I think.

I think also that I have zero fear with dogs too to extent I will pet every dog I see even if I don't know it and it is unattended, which is silly Iknow, but I think dogs can pick up on that.

There is a similar debate going on elsewhere and I thought this point very relevant:

"The traits that make up a staffords temperament are I believe inherited not learned behaviours. If you cannot accept the stafford for what it is have another breed - do not take risks, respect your breed and understand it. To desensitize or re-condition a stafford interferes with its instinctive traits, yes you can replace a behaviour but often the result is to add one which is undesired"

I always take every dog as i meet it, whether staffy or collie they all can be dog aggressive. When out i will always put my dogs onlead when we meet other dogs not because i'm bothered by a certain breed, but because i love my dogs too much. If a westie came running over and started a fight (it wouldn't stand a chance) but my dogs would get blamed because of there breeds.
It's something we live with because of the love of are chosen breed.

coudndt agree more with Graeme and Laura.

Owning a dog aggressive male staff ( not through my own doing- but I probably dont help the situation sometimes)

Its a fact of life with him - I know that unknown approaching dogs are always a problem for Bruno - however unknown approaching humans especially kids are no problem at all.

I think the point whch most responsible staffie owners make when saying "they are great with kids" great family dogs etc - is that they are... they are real people dogs - love to be with people and really are not fussed with other dogs - in my opinion they would rather be with people !! Thats what these people are trying to get across because we get so many people dragging their children away from our dogs on a daily basis when given the opportiunity its nice to be able to say - he loves kids, he is very calm etc etc.

I always where possibl will allow kids & adults etc to stop and pat bruno cos he is such a good dog with people and I want to educate people on that ..

However where other dogs are concerned I would rather that people dragged their dogs away as it saves me a confrontation that will 9 out of 10 times end aggressively.

Its a shame that so many staffies end up in the wrong hands and to be even more controversial as a staffie owner I dont myself like to see staffies with big brass buckled harnesses etc as I think it just reinforces the mean look and sadly people will judge them on that...No offence to anyone who has their staffie in this get up - I just dont like it.

Tuti - at the end of the day everyone is entitled to their opinion, mostly I think the problem is due to a lack of socialisation or the wrong sort of socialisation but also many staffs just dont like other animals..and thats the way it is. However I would always argue the point that they are fab with people and would always push that.

Its like anything else - in the wrong hands it becomes a very sad situation and thats why there is sooo many staffies in rescue - and as cute as staffie puppies are - we really dont need anymore.

Dani

Exactly laura thats probably why candy is fine with other dogs and buds isnt .Theres something in his make up, not his socialisation that makes him hate other male dogs.lol he's probably proetecting his harem!!
On the whole most of the staffs i see round here are fine,and to be honest the choc lab milo that i looked after for a friend for a while was far more dog aggressive due to poor breeding and early socialisation than any staffie seen

abbie is male staffie agresive always has been any other breed she is ok she just doesnt like male staffies