Staffie/horse owners

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TheoryX1

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Sorry about the title, but we have just acquired a rather sweet staffie. Never in a million years did I think I would end up with one, and its rather a long story, but I certainly did not wake up this morning think I am going to have a staffie by the end of this evening, but I seem to have one now!

Anyway, first of all I am sure there are staffie owners on here, so first of all any advice on owning and caring for them will be appreciated. I have had dogs before, GSDs, so know how to deal with dogs etc, plus I was married to a professional dog trainer before I met my current OH. Havent had one of these though. Also, are they good with horses, as he will be going up to the yard when he has settled in with us. Our horses are used to dogs so no issues with horses themselves.

The poor little lad was poorly treated and is rather thin, but he is just so sweet and loving and also extremely well trained. So any advice or help would be hugely appreciated.
 
Lovely caring breed I have 2 of them a boy and a girl both love kids, they can be nutty tho lol and do strange things its a staffie thing lol can be energetic so need lots of walks and build him up using pasta and rice along with normal biscuit and wet food and he will be built up in no time :)
 
Ex-foster daughter took on and rehomed a staffy to be a friend to her Dalmation :) The Staffy is a sweet and lovely girl, but does get unsettled easily (could be because she has had a few moves) She is not as keen on exercise as the dalmation and tends to want to cut the walk shorter. She is less of a food thief than the dalmation (but then I think anyone would be :eek:) She has a lovely sweet tempremant and has been fairly easily trained (will come back to pieces of cheese :) ) Easily socialised and happily accompanies daughter and dalmation to visit friends :)
 
They are wonderful pets and the media has totally misrepresented them. You obviously have experience with dogs so i would say just do what you have done before! Every single staffy i have known has been fine with horses.

Enjoy your lovely rescue dog, it wont be long till he/she has wormed into your heart!
 
MillyMoomie said:
They are wonderful pets and the media has totally misrepresented them. You obviously have experience with dogs so i would say just do what you have done before! Every single staffy i have known has been fine with horses.

Enjoy your lovely rescue dog, it wont be long till he/she has wormed into your heart!
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This... but if he isn't a rescue off somewhere you know a full history, I'd keep more in mind the fact he's a rescue rather than a staffie :)
 
We have a rescue stuffy, the best wee dogs in the world, so well behaved and loyal never leaves my side.

When we got her she was dog aggressive, we had to muzzle her. 6 months of training she does not even look at another dog and is best buds with our other dog. All the want to do is please you. I think someone had encouraged her before to fight so she did and now because we discouraged her she no longer fights, she just ignores strange dogs. Has zero interest in them all she cares about is where I am she like my shadow follows me everywhere

She adores people and wags her tail like crazy if anyone even gives her a sideways glance.

As for horses, not interested sits outside my horses stable and ignores him some times if he grumpy he will shove her out the way , away from his stable door, she don't care she just moves. I ride in the school tell her to wait in corner and she just sits there and watches till I tell her otherwise. Never chased horses, doesn't even acknowledge them.

Good on you for giving one of these super dogs a second chance in life with love and not fear.

Be warned - you will be addicted, I bet this wont be your last staffie :D. Hooked for life I tell thee.......
 
Can't take mine up to the horses as she gets much too excited and won't stop barking around them resulting in the horses trying to strike out or kick her, they also chase her much to the dogs delight. Very friendly dogs but barmy :)
 
Staffies get a bad name because it's now so difficult (illegal I think?) for junkies to own pitbulls, so they have staffies instead. They train them to be scary and to attack so as to protect their drug stash and to make sure no one 'messes with them'.

Before junkies started owning them they were known as nanny dogs, because they are so wonderful with children and animals, very loyal dogs. They get very attached to their human, so do become unsettled or upset easily if things around them change etc.

Enjoy your wee dog, although you haven't mentioned how old it is, I always say every puppy is a blank canvas, and the way it turns out is determined by the owner. Regardless of age, let it gain enough trust in you and it will be so easy to mould it's behaviour and personality to suit your life :)
 
Hes a sweetie. My daughter, Mini TX works part-time in a big pet store locally, her boyfriend also works there. Boyfriend called us around 3.00 pm today that he had a distraught lady in with her staffie. Short story long, ex husband owned him, abused and mistreated him which upset her children by him. The last straw was when she found out yesterday he was sleeping in an outside toilet with no bed in this weather. They had a row and he turned up at her home today and dumped him on her. She cant keep him as in rented property where the landlord wont allow pets. The RSPCA has been innundated in our area and no other local dog charities would take him, the local dog warden said have him PTS as the only people would want him would be druggies or people who wanted to train him for fighting.

She struck lucky when she walked into that store today. I havent wanted a dog at all, but he is a little honey. Currently have a houseful who have come to see him and bless hm, he is lapping it up. So, yes, he is being treated as a rescue.
 
TheoryX1 said:
Hes a sweetie. My daughter, Mini TX works part-time in a big pet store locally, her boyfriend also works there. Boyfriend called us around 3.00 pm today that he had a distraught lady in with her staffie. Short story long, ex husband owned him, abused and mistreated him which upset her children by him. The last straw was when she found out yesterday he was sleeping in an outside toilet with no bed in this weather. They had a row and he turned up at her home today and dumped him on her. She cant keep him as in rented property where the landlord wont allow pets. The RSPCA has been innundated in our area and no other local dog charities would take him, the local dog warden said have him PTS as the only people would want him would be druggies or people who wanted to train him for fighting.

She struck lucky when she walked into that store today. I havent wanted a dog at all, but he is a little honey. Currently have a houseful who have come to see him and bless hm, he is lapping it up. So, yes, he is being treated as a rescue.
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I volunteer with staffie rescue Scotland, you truly are a staffie a angel, thank you for giving this boy a chance. He would most likely of been PTS the warden was correct. It's amazing how quickly staffies adapt to their new life, al his horrible memories will be very soon forgotten and all he will know is happiness , I bet he becomes the loyalist dog you have ever met.

You have brought a smile to my face, knowing he is warm in your house instead of cold, alone and wondering what he did wrong.

I salut you :D
 
Ludoctro said:
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I volunteer with staffie rescue Scotland, you truly are a staffie a angel, thank you for giving this boy a chance. He would most likely of been PTS the warden was correct. It's amazing how quickly staffies adapt to their new life, al his horrible memories will be very soon forgotten and all he will know is happiness , I bet he becomes the loyalist dog you have ever met.

You have brought a smile to my face, knowing he is warm in your house instead of cold, alone and wondering what he did wrong.

I salut you :D
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Ah thanks Ludoctro, he has extremely quickly acquired a lovely big warm bed under the radiator in my utility room, some reindeer horn to chew upon and is lapping up some mega attention from Mini TX's friends who have filled my house up. He is the ugliest little thing imaginable and to be fair I would not have chosen to buy a staffie, as although I love dogs, I havent wanted one since I lost my bitch a few year ago. Strange things do happen. He's got a home for life now though. The poor little thing is just over a year old and I gather we are his 3rd home already.
 
I had a staffie many years ago. She was the most wonderful dog, loyal, faithful and funny. She ran at my horses side out hacking and ratted in the stables, and when I grew up she faithfully guarded and played with my children.

They can't bear cold - yours must be so happy to be rescued!
 
I'm so glad he's found a home with you. I have 2 Staffies and they are fine with horses although they give Harvey a very wide berth ad he loves chasing dogs!
They are fabulous dogs :)
 
I love staffs but they can chew almost anything, think of a chainsaw on legs and you won't be far off. Providing you haven't any social issues with other dogs/animals then you shouldn't have too many issues. I've found they live for food, hate the wet and cold unless its a muddy puddle that they choose to lie in and are generally daft as brushes. Another tip, if you let them off the lead and they run back to you, be aware that generally they will bowl you over like a skittle, they don't seem to have the concept of going around or stopping!
 
Crumpet said:
Another tip, if you let them off the lead and they run back to you, be aware that generally they will bowl you over like a skittle, they don't seem to have the concept of going around or stopping!
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:D ha ha i thought this was just my dog ... every single walk i get knocked flying by her!! i notice she is excellent at swerving tree's in her way though!!! :rolleyes:

OP .. i am so happy to read this thread .. you have just got yourself a new best friend ..good on you, enjoy her cos she is going to make you laugh every single day (and also probably despair!! ;) ) xx
 
Well done OP :) I have 2 ex pound rescue staffies. Fantastic dogs. So loyal and loving. One used to want to chase the horses but that is now cured. The other was always good with them.

They are the best dogs you could wish to meet :)
 
Both my staffs come to the yard with me , mainly my girl though as my boy is a bit daft! Ruby is great round the horses, treats them with respect and keeps her distance. Did get a bit barky once when she didnt approve of the attention I was giving one of the horses. Unfortunately she got zapped by the leccy fence which has traumatised her so she refuses to go for nice walks anywhere near the fields now!

Iggy just wants to play with the horses and doesn't have much sense but he will cme u with ruby when no one else is around and they love racing round after each other.
 
We have a staffie. Got him as a puppy when my son was 3, now he is 6 and they r best friends! He is very loyal, loves his family and even cuddles in with the cat. He is fine around the horses. Only bad point is he gets over excited when people come to visit as he loves people so much. Even if I'm out the room for 5 mins I get a big welcome when I get back lol
 
Our Staff X Lab is incredibly handsome, clever and friendly. He's quite excitable around horses- jumps up at them and starts barking but he doesn't meet them much so it's probably very exciting for him when he does!
Any pics of your lovely new dog OP?
 
Mine is lovely and very sensitive. She just wants to be with us all the time, she's a real part of the family. She loves the kids too.
 
I have one from a rescue, she is the best dog and is actually fine with the horses now since I thought she'd never be trusted with them. I think she learned a lot of respect when my mare kicked her in the head :eek: But now she'd fine and just stands in the yard chasing her tail for hours on end - which she also does at home, strange dog, but we love her and that's that!
 
my staffie hates horses! I think it's because there so big they intimidate him. but his perfecto with people and he adores my 4yo son, infact would even go as far as he worships the ground my son walks on.
clever dogs but they must like horses be shown who's boss as there quite a dominant breed.
love Staffies though, hardy,loyal handsome dogs! too many people have so much negative to say about the breed but in the right hands they make fantastic pets :)
 
they do get a bad rep all of the time but i have found them to be the most loving dogs just slightly bonkers taking mine up to the yard is a bit of a no no as she doesnt shut up barking at them!
 
Mine is wonderful, she is the perfect dog with the most perfect temperment. She hates the cold and rain and seems to wear a coat for much of the winter. She was super well trained, but it did take a while for commands to sink in as she's not a naturally bright dog. I've never been able to stop her trying to lick hands/faces/arms, she just loves it :D
 
Roz84 you made me giggle my girl loves to standing the middle of the floor chasing her tail, for no apparent reason , daft as a brush.
 
Mine is great around the horses, she too was an unexpected rescue arrival having resolutely decided not to get anothernrescue dog....I have had 4 staffies now, never liked them years ago now I would not have any other breed. Make sure she has a crate that is covered 3 sides so she has a safety net to go into. I am sure u know what u arendoing asnubhave had dogs before but be aware that many passers by still in this age react different to staffies than other breeds so no off lead action for a few months until you are absolutely entirely confident in her social skills, protrct yourself against any elahorate accusations. Mine is at work with me all day every day & adores socialising however my last 1 endednup being muzzled at all times, we didnt know her history whereas this girl we do. Photos!
 
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