There are a lot of staffies around here, but not many get walked, so we don't see them often.

My friend has 4, and they are great with other dogs, and kids - as she has 5 kids.

But there is a bitch across the road, who for some reason is never on a lead, who has attacked quite a few dogs.

LS and Foxy I have also met a few really nice staffies... and that's just the thing... when they're nice, they're the sweetest dogs ever, but the nasty ones I have met have been pretty scary and it's really put me off

Jen that's true too... I suppose it's the same as the "all dalmatians go blind" thing it's so stupid.

some one has said that to me recently with the fire works...a woman on our walk with a rottie got shouted at by another rottie owner as her dog is scared of others as it was attacked when younger and was told she should be ashamed of herself for having a scared rottie!!!!!!

Sadly we have a lot of this in my area

A Staffie to me is the same as any other dog...some are aggresive some arn't!

And alot of the owners are lovely and some arn't...

Keena's best buddy for 5 or 6 months before we moved was a Staffie, they wrestled non stop and not once did it get ugly, Keena played with him from about 3 months old to 9 months and I was never worried...

One time I met a guy with a Staffie who warned me he was a little aggressive but that most of it was noise and I told him not to worry...By this time Keena was grown...She is a major peace keeper so if the Staffie had of thrown it's toys out it's pram I know she wouldn't have retaliated...They ended up getting on fine...Most likely because once I told the owner that my dog and I wasn't easily flustered they relaxed and so the dog probably did too and we were able to stand and chat.

What is going down the lead is alot to do with it and what attitude is coming from the other owner and dog etc...If people and dogs all just stay relaxed I always think everything will be fine.

Sadly in my area too. Only the other week a Staffy who lives near me bit a chunk out of the gas mans hand. Now this dog is only 10 months old and I knew from the day that the family got the dog that their sons were going to make him into a "hard" dog. Now the poor thing is facing being PTS because "chavs" brought it up.

But this hasnt changed my opinion on Staffies. Staffies are like any other dog in that they need proper socialisation from the beginning, although I do believe Staffys do need more socialisation than some other breeds.

thats the way to be mys you know dont show fear with any dog! cus they are ******s and will pick up on this! if only you got more stafford owners who dont raise there dogs to be dog agressive!
Ive meet loads of staffies and mine love them and they love mine to and play with each other! when im walking its normally spainels and collies who bite my bessie, who just thinks they are playing (silly girl lol)

best way to be MYS x

hi tuti! i think with every dog training and breeding is key...get the two right and yuo will have a great dog!!!

Same applies to this thread anyone who makes personal remarks will be banned.

In addition do not swear, even bleated out swearwords are not acceptable every 2nd post!

Mys I wish I could be so relaxed - I'm just too much of a worrier though - Maybe cos Archie is so little and such a pushover - if he gets attacked he rolls over and makes it easier for them and he is so little - one bite and that's it

I think like Saz and Roxy say staffs do need careful socialisation... I just get really shocked when staffy owners tell other people, they are lovely dogs, great family dogs etc... shouldn't they be telling them about socialising and training carefully?

For example I am always struck by Kazz's posts - she is so careful to avoid fights between her dogs... isn't that how it should be?