A reasonably well balanced article about Staffys!

I read the article too, and agree.
Saw an item on the news about the greyhound thing: apparently those statistics might not be what they seem. They interviewed someone who runs a local greyhound rescue, who explained that all the dogs' microchips remain registered with the rescue centre as their owner, just in case of future problems. They have rehomed an awful lot of greyhounds...all officially still living there if you go by the microchip records. <g>
 
Ah I hadn't thought of a local rescue centre! All my 4 are still chipped to the charities they come from, so it makes sense - saves me moving house I suppose :p :)
 
Not just well balanced, but an incisive view of the adornments that many seem to require. I've never really had much to do with the breed, but I suppose that I've fallen in to the trap of considering them by their current reputation. Previously, and over many years, every Staff that I've ever met has had a 'Hail fellow, well met' approach to life, and has been nothing short of a delight. Previously, all those Staffs around which I've formed an opinion, have been near ideal and genuine, family pets. The culture and the narrow minded aura which has surrounded them, has done the breed no good, at all.

There was an interesting point made within the article that Doberman's were the previous 'ard man's choice of dog, and before that it was GSDs. Both breeds have fallen out of favour and are no longer the Chav's choice, and as a breed, we can only hope that the same 'fate' befalls the Staff.

There's no question, that when they're aggressive, they will have a power and a single minded approach which will make them more than just 'A bit of a handful', and with breed selection, that needs to be considered. Though it's rare, Staffs do have the capacity to be extremely dangerous, and it's that capacity which has drawn the attention of idiots.

I wonder what will be the next 'selected' breed which is used to support an image. With internet facilities, there are breeds now being selected which make even an irate Staff seem as a puppy. The proletariat have yet to make their choice, and we can await their decisions, with dread.

Alec.
 
I thought it was an excellent article and went a long way to prove that they dont deserve the reputation the media give them, Ive known quite a few and even fostered one when their owner was in hospital, they have all been a delight with not a bad bone in their bodies and although they wouldn't be my breed of choice I would have happily kept my foster if the owner hadnt wanted her back.

There are a few breeds which could well be the next chav dog of choice and I just hope the breeders of these dogs keep them out of the chavs hands, some of these dogs in the wrong hands would be lethal for man and beast. These are foreign breeds and used for dog fighting and guarding and some of them are huge, they certainly dont belong in this country.
 
Oh God I have a staffy x and a dobie. What does that say about me! Love them. For me they are the best dogs going. I also have a soft spot for feisty little terriers though and have 3 of those.
 
I knew the exact article you were referring to before opening this thread - I'm really developing a soft spot for staffs. Every one I've met has been a sweetheart. There's one that visits my local pub (with her owner, I may add!) and she bimbles about until she meets someone she likes, then will rest her head on your knee for the rest of the evening. You'd need to have a heart of stone not to like her!
 
Many years ago I had a staffy. At the time I wasnt in a position to have a puppy but desperately wanted a dog and went to the local rescue. My wish list was simple, a youngish, mid size dog that would be OK with my, then 10 year old son. The only one they had that matched that description was a young staffy girl, handed in because her owner was ill. No idea if that was true or not but I had Emily (I renamed her and wanted a pretty, girly name for her) for 11 years and she never put a paw wrong. She was great with our resident cat and OK with other dogs if she was off her lead, a bit feisty of she was on lead. This was nearly 20 years ago before they acquired their 'reputation'. We meet lots of staffies whilst walking our current dogs and sadly the owners all feel obliged to put them on their leads when they see other dogs, aware that most people see them as a problem. I always invite them to leave them loose, assuming they know they are OK with others and its lovely to see them play. Lovely little dogs and great characters.
 
I'm sat on the sofa now with my staffy X sprawled over me sound asleep and snoring his head off. He is the cuddliest softest dog I've ever had, not a bad bone in his body type, great with kids. We got him from rspca centre after we was abandoned there in a cardboard box.
Would rescue another. Ours has had his microchip changed into our name though by the rspca
 
I see more and more families and, how do I put this, more respectable members of society with Staffies in our area. My neighbours have 2 little girls and a wonderful Staffie who the kids grew up with and adore. They also have a Border terrier and when the dogs are walked the BC is in a muzzle and harness and the Staff just trots a long with a grin on his face.

We've recently taken on a Staff x Boxer from a rescue, 7 months old and we're his 4th home. He's been badly treated, has damage to his face from being kicked as a small puppy and had cigarette burns all over him when the rescue got him. He is just awesome. Affectionate, trainable, intelligent. He's missing huge chunks of the early training but is improving every day and meets every new task with enthusiasm. We adore him and he gets on brilliantly with our older dog who is also Boxer x.

We took him to the pub we visit regularly with our other dog and there was a family there. When the mum asked what he was we said Staffy x and she instantly asked if that meant he was vicious and would he bite her? By the end of the night the kids were rolling about on the floor with him being licked to death and the Mum thought he was super. It saddens me though that the first reaction to a friendly puppy is fear and distrust.

I hope that article does reach people, if it makes one person think about a Staff or go to a rescue then great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top