Gummed by a Staffy, I'm becoming a convert!

[Llewellyn]

I used to be afraid of staffies with good reason, I used to live in Wolves (wolverhampton) chav avec staffy central. Anyway recently went to the local dogs home to dole out some doggy fuss (I do it once a month just go and fuss random dogs) and their was a lovely staffy being walked who came over to give us big cuddles and licked everybody in sight and was being rehomed . (walls crumbling)

Anyway our next door neighbour has just got a staffy bitch and despite the fact his dog training is 'interesting'. We regualarly have to listen to it being taught to bark and it pulls like a train which he does nothing about or the fact he let it off the lead before he knew it had any recall.
But apart from this it is a lovely dog full of bouncy love. Still puppy like despite being 12 months still tries to puppy play mouthing with your (are staffies slow to develop mentally) arm which by the time it is that big is not really what anybody needs and as the guy was saying nothing I said NO to it and eventually it got the idea. And by the time it had jumped up at OH a gazillion times and OH had turned away it was behaving quite well!
However it is walked on a running lead and he is saving up for a harness, oh and is going to breed from her to calm her down (OH suggested spaying may have the same effect as would just her getting a bit older, he was very calm)

But point of thread was just to say I am becoming a convert to the breed (not the chavs) and I hereby apologise for the pre-judgements I have held in the past.

Quick question it was biting my arm quite hard (in a playful way) Pippin is hoping to invite the new neighbour on a playdate with her. Does the strength of the jaw in Staffies mean their play bites are harder if you see what I mean? Pippin is a delicate little thing and compared to a muscled staffy. I mean this in the way of I might play rugby with OH as he is muscly it would hurt but doesn't mean I wouldn't play but wouldn't play everyday. Are they compatible playmates as they both appear to be socially 'stunted' and both still behave like puppies despite being fully grown.

 

[Caz89]

I have a staffie and a chihuhua x lassoapso (sp) the little one hangs off of the staffies mouth bites her legs, launches at her and Roxy the staffy just puts her paw on her back to hold her down

 

[posie_honey]

dont' worry - i'd put my money on speed (cocker) over power (staffy) tehehe
i'm sure pippin will be fine they soon squeek or retaliate if it hurts and sort out teh pecking order
i also love staffies btw - always have - as you say - very friendly and happy dogs but i'm not sure the local keeper would let me go beating with them!!

 

[doris2008]

Oh I am glad you are being converted!
Staffies are amazing dogs when bought up by people with even an iota of common sense. They arent called nannie dogs for no reason!
I had my staff as a pup and he was socialised from day one. Hes fab with people, dogs, horses, kids, everyone.
He does play fight - but he never bites. If he thinks hes gone too far he will stop and lick your face instead! Interestingly my OH's children attempt occasionally to play rought with him and he absolutley wont have it. He wont play with them in that way at all. He will tolerate all manner of things being done to him and will sit and look at me a bit like
It disgusts me how they are used as a status symbol and I really fear for the future of the breed as when treated normally, they are such fantastic pets.

Daft as a brush...

 

[Berbert Sherbert]

Staffies are just the best. I have one pure bred and one cross. They are both so full of life (and mischeif!) I wouldn't be without them - but if anyone knows how i can stop the older one from chewing the house up on random occaisions i'd love to hear from you!

I agree with them being the best dogs to have with kids too - they know their boundaries on that front, they play lovely with kids and only rough with each other.