Staffies! Info wanted. Questions

Okay so I have never really 'looked into' staffies that much as an option for my next dog as I had a couple of other breeds in my head already....

But I have been looking on rescue sites and talking to a colleague at work who has a staffie and as staffies (including puppies) are all over these rescue sites I thought I would ask about them in case the breed was an option for me

(Also I met a staffie yesterday called Boris and he was an adorable happy thing!)

Sooo my main questions are....
(Some of these will only apply to older dogs (I would get a staffie puppy) and ignore my ignorance if I ask any 'stupid' questions, it is just a breed I have never looked into before)

How are they with other dogs? (I already have a smallish dog and walk where there are lots of other dogs).

Are they happy enough being left for a few hours at a time?

Are they easily trainable?

What is their activity level like inside and out?

Do you feel safe when out walking with them?

Do people give you a hard time when out with them?

Are they good with kids?

Anything else?

And add pics!

The only staffy I know well is my sister's dog. They sort of 'rescued' it inasmuch as it was her husband's son's dog and he had two dogs and was moving to where he could only take one.

This dog is now my brother in laws best buddy. He is retired from long service in the Met (Serious Crime Ops) after a bike accident. It wasn't 'wild' when they got it but it hadn't been properly trained either. It is now! It is a delight.

When I stayed with them several times last summer I'd say I couldn't take 'Munchie' out at the same time as Bella because I didn't think I'd be able to handle both of them on leads in view of the difference in size (Bella's a tiny minpin) they convinced me I could take Munchie without a lead. So I did and he was the most perfectly trained dog I've ever had the pleasure to walk. Sat down at every kerb before crossing the road - came back instantly when called (in fact would not go too far into the woods or fields ahead of me - would stop and wait for me to catch up).

Would run up to other dogs but not RIGHT IN THEIR FACES and just run back again. Totally non aggressive - ignores the two manic barking boxers the other side of their back fence (wish I could say Bella ignored them too but she didn't!) shared all his toys, beds and food with Bella - in short just a big old softy!

Gets long walks every day but is very happy to just doss about with you watching TV or sitting outside too.

Will get some pics of him. I am happy to hear you are considering giving a staffy a home.

I knew nothing about the breed but would say from my experience of Munch that they are loyal family dogs.

I have a Staffy x, probably 3/4 . . she is indifferent to kids, not eager to go & greet them, not fussed if they come to see her, she seems not bothered either way but most are fantastic with kids & one of only 2 breeds the KC mention as being good with them.

Mine seems fairly intelligent & they like their food so I would say they are easy to train but remember that means you may accidentally train a Pup without meaning to in bad habits too!

I get no negative comments, there has occasionally been people cross the road but they probably were going to anyway & I have no need to feel safe with mine but i'm sure she'd defend me if needed as would most dogs.

Mine can be left no problem but I did get an older rescue, a Pup wouldn't be able to be left much at all at first, idk how they are as a breed as my neighbours 2yr old one would howl & bark all the time.

Mine isn't keen on other dogs but socialised & bred well & given lots of chances to mix they should be fine, just remember if challenged they may well react & can do considerable damage. Most Staffs I know seem to be good with other dogs tho.

other dogs
They are not always great with other dogs but I have owned a good few that have been fantastic with other dogs

I have heard some people say they can be destrctive but I have never had one that has been any different to other dogs so, I guess they can be destrctive if bored but they are fine when left alone at home if they have had company the rest of the time

Fantastic with children and also usually with old people also

They are one of the easiest breed to train as they want to please so much

I have never thought about being safe with them but know they would protect me with their lives but not really good guard dogs for your property

They can be accused of being high energy because they get very excited when you come home but steady training will sort this out.

People tend not to give you a hard time but will cross the road when you approach

If someone has an off lead dog running around mad and you ask them to call their dog back or your dog defends its self then you will get abuse and told you should not be out in a public place with a dangerouse dog.

With other dogs


With children not there own


With other dogs


Playing flirt pole

Lovely pics. My BiL says his staffy will never start a fight but will defend himself if he is attacked.

That's from my experience of the breed, I know all dogs are different. And I've used kaya for some examples but she is a cross although she shows more staffy traits than anything x

Hi, In my opinion staffies are great....which is why I chose to have one. If you get a puppy you need to really read up up on positive early socialisation and training.
Tonks, is five years old now and I made sure her socialisation and training was really thorough. Even the same breed of dog will have differences in personality between dog to dog but this is my experience of Tonks.

How are they with other dogs? Fantastic and very steady. I made sure that she met loads of types of dogs as a pup and that going on a walk wasn't just an excuse to bundle and play with any dog around, and she also went to an APDT training class for the first two years of her life. She has been attacked a couple of times but not retaliated. She tends to wonder off if other dogs have a pop at her and has only ever taken a dislike to one dog who had a go at her as soon as they met, but she continued on a walk with it doing her own thing and ignoring it.

Are they happy enough being left for a few hours at a time. Yes. Tonks can be left for five hours, but this was introduced gradually and we used a crate when she was little....but she was only ever in this for up to 2 hours.
Are they easily trainable?

What is their activity level like inside and out? Inside the house....couch potatoe. Outside, sprints about the place and loves chasing scents. She could deal with a two hour walk every day but, now I have two young children, also manages with an hours walk a day or a half hour on lead. She won't go out in the rain and would rather not have a walk on wet days.

Do you feel safe when out walking with them? I feel as safe with her as I would do with out her. She is mega friendly and I don't think she would protect me against an attacker, but I don't expect her to either.

Do people give you a hard time when out with them?
Yes! You have to be prepared for abuse and looks, and people pulling their kids and dogs away BUT you'll find people either love them or hate them...and you also have the pleasure of changing people's minds if you raise a well behaved pet.


Are they good with kids? Tonks is fantastic with our children, 2,3,9,14 and 16 years....but you can't just expect any dog to like children. We made sure we closely monitored their interactions when she was growing up and made sure no one was getting over excited and their was no rough/fighting play allowed. She adores children so much that we have to put her on head collar if visiting children are at our house as she cannot resist trying to lick them. She is weighs 4 stoned would easily knock a child over.. Then stand on them repeatedly as is jumping around trying to lick them to say sorry. She is exceptionally tolerant, has never so much as growled at a child (or adult), even though our children like on her....which she seems to like as she shows no stress behaviours and tends to fall asleep when they do this. If she doesn't like something they are doing she will keep licking them until they fall over or just walk away. Obviously I don't let them keep doing something she doesn't like

Anything else? I absolutely love the breed, and think that I will always have at least one and will probably always have dogs with at least a little bit of staffie in them. With the laws the way they are at the moment I feel anyone who is going to have a staffie or a staffie cross has to make sure their dog is beyond reproach ....but the same could be said for any breed.

And add pics! [/QUOTE]

I have two staffords
Meg isn't great with other dogs but Tyler is fantastic.
Both love people and kids especially,my O/H is on crutches at the moment and has his leg in plaster,both have been extremely calm and gentle around him.

Mine have never been destructive and are quite happy to be left for a few hours on there own.

We have had the odd comment about the breed but we always ensure both are onlead and well behaved in public and give others a positive image of the breed.
Mine let us know if anyone is about and bark when the door goes but they soon make friends with whoever visits

They are a super all round family dog

I can't add to anything that has been said. But I can endorse everything above. I am now on my second Stafford, and couldn't be happier. They are absolutely as mad as a box of frogs. Their nick name is The Nanny dog, but I think The Clown dog would be just as appropriate.

Beautiful dogs Leadstaffs and Tangutica.

OMG this thread has almost moved me to tears! So many positive experiences of staffies.

I have a staffie x - he's challenging! He had a hard time prior to being rescued and spent 6 months in rescue kennels. BUT is well and truly loved and worth every moment of time I spend training with him. I don't need to watch the telly anymore I can just sit and watch him get himself into a mess!

to answer your questions and this obviously is my experience:-


How are they with other dogs? (I already have a smallish dog and walk where there are lots of other dogs).

He is not great with other dogs - suffers with anxiety and frustration so I do have to be careful with him. Mine is very self-contained and a loner kind of dog.

Are they happy enough being left for a few hours at a time?

He's happy as larry when we go out - never destroys anything, doesn't bark or whine.


Are they easily trainable? Mine has been the easiest dog ever to train. Within 2-3 minutes I can get him to learn new tricks, he's incredible.

What is their activity level like inside and out? He likes a good offlead run and is happy with a walk around the village on his lead. He chases his boomer ball (an absolute must for staffies!) in the fields

Do you feel safe when out walking with them? Yes I do now - I keep an eye out all the time.

Do people give you a hard time when out with them?
Yes - I do think that if I left my house with a samurai sword in each hand, explosives strapped to my body and the bodies of small children from earlier hunts thrown over my shoulders they wouldn't be less scared!

Are they good with kids? As far as I know yes - I don't have any, but he always wags his tail in their company.

Anything else? Be prepared for a lot of entertainment and get a boomer ball from Amazon - lifesaver!