Staffies

[wildcat69]

I have been a sfaffy owner for over 10 years and am utterly appauled at how the breed is being portraid in the media now.
They have always been a dog that attracts the undesirable aspect of the population but to see the amount being churned out now makes me want to cry......why do idiots think they can breed bitches with no thought for either her or the long term homes of whatever puppies she has.....i have seen far too many of these loyal little dogs stuck in kennels looking out from behind bars with such a sad unhappy look in their eyes it would melt any heart.....its not their fault that they look the way they do, they didnt ask to be brought into a world where they are abused and baited till their usefulness is over and then they are thrown aside without a second thought......the retail value of a staffy drops to 0 once they hit 6months old unless its a bitch who is then used to churn out puppies or a dog who is put to stud. A staffy is loyal and intelligent and would lay his life down for his owner but like any other puppy that takes hard work and dedication ......unfortunately staffy owners of today are usually youngsters with attitude who want a status symbol but are not willing to do any of the work it takes to give the dog a happy settled home...........

LEAVE this wonderful breed alone please

IF A STAFFY MUM COULD SPEAK


A Staffie mum said to her pups, “it’s almost time for you to be sold,
But not me my darlings, my fate will now change, as for breeding I’m now too old.I’ll be dumped very soon, of that I’m sure, hopefully at the pound,Where I’ll spend 7 days, waiting for the end, on a cold, damp, hard groundFor I’m just a Staffie, and homes are very fewNo-one wants a dog like this, a dog like me or youI’ll be just one of 68, that die on that same dayBut after a life of suffering, I am no longer afraidFor I will be taken, my suffering will end,Off to Rainbow Bridge, where my soul might mendThere I will play, and run and leapAnd wait for a human that will love me for keepsThere I’ll know happiness, no pain or fear,No abuse or neglect that I have suffered for so long hereBut for you my sweet pups, your life will be toughFor you’re all Staffies too and there’s already more than enough.You my son, will be bought by a fool,A status dog you’ll become because he thinks he’ll look coolYou’ll be trained to bite, attack and maulTo look scary and fearless but you’ll be just be a toolI’m sorry my boy but that’s how your fate is sealedUntil the day that you are seized and killedMy girl you’re so pretty, dainty and sweetBut the humans that buy you; will only want to breedYou’re destined to a life, similar to mineAbuse and neglect and beaten when you whineThey just want your puppies, to sell for a quick dimeMoney for suffering, an unscrupulous crimeBut u my sweet boy, the smallest of the lotYour suffering will be the worst, for you’ll be a bait dog
I can’t tell u what you’ll suffer for my heart just will not copeI just pray with all I have that you never lose hope.There is a better place out there, they call it Rainbow BridgeIt’s there that I will wait for you, with all my love to give""We used to be well looked after, they loved the Staffie breedBut now all they are interested in, is fighting, status and greed"



JUST A STAFFY CROSS


Today is just another day - to me they're all the same
I have the worst of genes you see, I bear the "Staffy" shame.The shame is in our numbers, there's thousands with no home. Thousands just like me you'll find, in kennels all alone. My mum was "just a Staffy", my father - well who knows?Mum, too, became unwanted, as the last puppy goes.And then begins the process, of money-making dealsA life of "moving on" unfolds, who cares how the Staffy feels?If you have the cash to hand, the Staffy pup is yours But that pup is getting bigger now, just look at those big paws. You brought me for your image, thought I'd make you look more toughBut you'll find my boisterous nature has already got too much.If you had thought to train me, with kindness and with praiseYou would have had a faithful friend to share your darkest days.I would lay down my life for you, but you simply cannot see You make sure you get your money back on what you paid for me. And on it goes, until one day, I'm no longer worth a dimeThe retail on an adult staff - not worth the waste of time.So what happens to a Staffy now? Do you really want to know? Do you care what will become of us, when we leave our final home? Have you ever thought to wonder, "Where is that Staffy now?"The "Staffy" has another name; he's become a "stray" somehow.Me, I was put into a car and driven far awayThe door held open, I jumped out, I thought to run and play.It was with joy and happy heart I turned to look for you You drove away with all my trust and a piece of my heart too. I wondered round for many days before I was brought here.Now I wait with heavy heart, trepidation and with fear.Seven days is all I have you see, seven days for you to claim
The little dog that you threw out, for which you have no shame. This is my last goodbye now my seven days are upIf only more thought had gone into the future of that pupAs the needle empties to my veins I lay down with one last sighI'm sorry I was born a Staffy, because it means that I must die.

[spittywillow]

you are upset at how staffies are portrayed, understandable, but maybe the

youngsters with attitude

are upset at how they are portrayed?
staffies are adorable dogs and can have a beautiful nature, but, unfortunately do have a tendancy to be nasty at a much increased rate than a lot of other dogs. how often do you see a dopey labrador in the news for mauling a child? and you can guarantee, some of those who do own labs, or any dog for that matter, not just staffies, aren't very kind people. it's not just staffies who land with problem owners!! any dog can and does!
before you think it, or put me down as biased, i do NOT own a staffie, never have, but NEITHER do i own a lab, my parents do, but my friends had an adorable staff, so i am completely neutral, but, from knowing what staffies can be pushed to, reasonably easily, if treated wrong, i would never own one. but wouldn't think twice about owning a lab, if my circumstances allowed, because of their reputation.
but then, any dog i suppose, if pushed so far, can snap. but unfortunatly for the poor wee staffies, their tolerance doesn't appear to be as much as another, more docile breed of dog.

[crustyroll]

Well said..... the majority of problem dogs are 'problem owners' and then the breed gets a bad name. I have met some wonderful staffy's and have never hesitated in giving them attention.

As an example, a staffy came running along the street with no owner and came to me with no hesitation. I took him in the car back to his address on his tag and he was an angel. Unfortunately the owner didn't seem that bothered that the dog had gotten out!

[mop top]

Very true, these poems bring me to tears everytime i read them, sadly though the audience you are appealing to have no consceince they only see a fast buck and are either too ignorant or short sighted to think about what really happens to their pups that they have sold to "really good homes"!

It really is time the goverment put some kind of ban on breeding of dogs without a breeders license or passports for dogs were introduced so that there was a paper trail for all dogs owned in the uk, there are far too many dogs shut away in sheds and back rooms being used as puppy factories to boost the benefits, pet dogs should be spayed to prevent unplanned litters and also problems later in life, it would also help greatly with the stray dog situation as many males stray because of the scent of a bitch in heat a few streets away. Why put a loved family dog at the risk of being hit by a car or attacked by other dogs when he is out on a jolly get rid of the bits and he wont have the desire to run away.

[wildcat69]

you are upset at how staffies are portrayed, understandable, but maybe the are upset at how they are portrayed?
staffies are adorable dogs and can have a beautiful nature, but, unfortunately do have a tendancy to be nasty at a much increased rate than a lot of other dogs. how often do you see a dopey labrador in the news for mauling a child? and you can guarantee, some of those who do own labs, or any dog for that matter, not just staffies, aren't very kind people. it's not just staffies who land with problem owners!! any dog can and does!
before you think it, or put me down as biased, i do NOT own a staffie, never have, but NEITHER do i own a lab, my parents do, but my friends had an adorable staff, so i am completely neutral, but, from knowing what staffies can be pushed to, reasonably easily, if treated wrong, i would never own one. but wouldn't think twice about owning a lab, if my circumstances allowed, because of their reputation.
but then, any dog i suppose, if pushed so far, can snap. but unfortunatly for the poor wee staffies, their tolerance doesn't appear to be as much as another, more docile breed of dog.

The staffy has more tolerance than most breeds....you DONT see labradors in the news for mauling children because the youth of today has no interest in a dog that doest look "HARD" in its leather harness and its big powerful jaws......

My point is .....labradors (for example ) are bought as a family pet.......staffies are bought for making a quick buck.

[spittywillow]

Each person is entitled to their own opinion. I do not agree that it's just staffies.

[wildcat69]

If i was to take it upon myself to champion every breed of dog that was exploited for money i would never rest......i chose the staffy as i know the breed and see with my own 2 eyes the amount of puppies "for sale" and the amount in rescue centres all over the uk.

You only have to log onto caithness.org to see the staffy breed is formost for sale......people who see a "smallish" dog for sale and in their ignorance think they can take one into their home and NOT train it.....i hear far too many times the age old saying ......"I will let her have a litter before she gets neutered " ............why !!!

The staffy is seen as a quick way to make money.....any "breeder" worth their salt would know there are far too many pups and youngsters looking for homes ....

Every "breeder" should be licenced and all puppies born in this country by law should be micro chipped with the breeders details.....THAT act alone would STOP dogs being dumped as people would have to take responsibility.

[Theerah0166]

Every rescue center in the country is stuffed full of Staffies this is a fact and the majority will never find a home. Whilst I personally am not a lover of the breed - or any of the bull breeds for that matter - I accept that there are people who are and are responsible owners. However many of the "responsible" owners still keep breeding from their beloved Tyson, Bruno, Rocky etc in the belief that their dog is perfect, and well it may be when it is at home and under control, but too many are allowed to stray and breed indescriminately. Once a pup is sold the breeder has no control over what happens to the pup (regardless of breed) and many end up in the wrong hands. A blanket ban on dog breeding across the board should be enforced for ALL breeds for a year and anyone caught with a pup prosecuted - minimum fine of £1k - or a jail term of 6 months. Breeders fined a minimum of £5k. This would clear the rescues of those genuinely wanting a Staffie, and help find genuine homes for other breeds/older dogs.

[wildcat69]

A blanket ban on dog breeding across the board should be enforced for ALL breeds for a year and anyone caught with a pup prosecuted - minimum fine of £1k - or a jail term of 6 months. Breeders fined a minimum of £5k.

In an ideal world that would work short term BUT this is not an ideal world......every single pup born should be microchipped and registered to the "breeder"...........the cost of microchiping the puppies would deter most just looking for a quick cash injection.

You have to actually see a staffy behind bars to understand all this breed wants is a comfy bed, a decent walk EVERY day and a family to love it.....they are not demanding dogs and are absolutely superb with children......any dog is capable of maiming a child......they are NOT top of the list of dogs that are most prone to aggression......but because they are put into the hands of YOBS with a god complex even one report is splashed across the headlines...........i think you will find the number of staffy attacks is a lot less than other " less aggressive " breeds.......

[Stefan]

Have two Staffy crosses, both rescues, both deaf... being a dog trainer I know all too well how many people have problems with Labradors, but that is only because the lab owners will pay somebody to help them with their problems, the Staffy owners often won't. I've probably seen 10 labs before I've seen a Staffy but at the end of the day they can both present with problems due to their owners.
Wouldn't want to miss my Staffy crosses, both wonderful dogs, but the breed will use their teeth a lot more easily than many other breeds. A retriever dog like the lab was bred for being careful with the teeth, the Staffy was bred to use them... in all boils down to the owner in the end and how responsible they are....
I would love to see a ban on dog breeding without a license, breeders having to apply for a license and puppies being chipped with the breeders details will make people think twice if they want that kind of responsibility.
Too many people use dogs to make quick money. It's irresponsible regardless of the breed.

[therealducati]

The two poems bought a tear to my eye, and I consider myself to be a fairly unemotional person. I have never owned a Staffy but love them (especially the way their head falls in half when they yawn!) and have never met a nasty one. This maybe because all the owners were lovely people who cared about their dogs.

I always think that the attitude to so-called dangerous dogs is a bit unfair and down to the size and power of the dog rather than it's actual intent. For example a Yorky (no offence to Yorky owners, it's just a wee dog to use as an example) could be a complete pyschopath, but, because it is unlikely to kill anyone, it gets away with it. A Rotty, Doberman, Staffy or GSD can lose control for a fraction of a second, often after severe provocation, and be put down immediately.

BTW with regard to labs being nice dogs, whilst this is undoubtably normally true (and again, I have personally never met a nasty one) does anyone remember the case of the woman in France who was the first full face transplant? Her injuries were caused by a labrador.

Yet another BTW, does anyone know what happened to Lennox, the dog in Ulster who was on death row?

[unicorn]

Lennox's appeal has been put off again until September I think it is, very sad for that por dog, he will never be the dog his family loved again, I think the authorities are trying to mess him up so much now to say told you so...
I think all pups should be chipped as a standard rule before leaving a breeder, it would make so much difference if people thought the 50 or so pups they churned out may appear on their doorstep one by one.
As an aside, the worst dogs I ever found for being aggressive while out with my old boxer were actually black labs, I don't know if it was because he was white but he was always on the lead when other dogs were about and I lost count of the times he was attacked, spaniels being a close second. His reply was to pee on them which I never understood but my lord it made the owners mad!! classic really when their dogs were trying to maul him and he was on the lead and theirs were not!

[wildcat69]

we could sit and debate which dogs are "dangerous" and which are safe till the proverbial cows come home. For every breed in existance at least one of all breeds has bitten at one point or another.

the point i am trying to make is the amount of staffys being bred soley for money.....IF the general public did not look for the "good deal" then less people would look at that lovely family pet and see pound signs in her eyes.....you get what you pay for in all walks of life so if you pay x amount for a dog which has been chosen from a litter kept in unsanitary conditions and are handed a timid unhealthy puppy then you really do get what you pay for !!! WALK away from anybody who does not offer full aftercare and please do your homework......the staffy is probably the most loyal companion you can have but he needs care and attention or he WILL become unmanagable...( like any other dog )............please do NOT buy a puppy from these people that are back yard breeders and we may then stop the disgusting amount that end up in kennels .......

[scottyjock]

Any breed can attack a child, including Labradors:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...e-Harbour.html

However, what we do need to distinsguish between, is, aggression towards people and aggression towards dogs and other animals, they are entirely different conditions. So a dog that attacks a child, may not want to attack other dogs and vice versa.

During my career, before retirement, i have had many animals rushed into my surgery after being attacked by Staffy's. I do think that Staffys have a predisposition for aggression towards other dogs, i have seen it too many times for it not to be TIC. Some of these Staffs have been owned by so called Sink Estate Youths and some have been owned by very nice, respectable, families. I'm afraid that my findings are that Staffy's are no more likely to attack humans or children than any other breed, however, i do feel they are more likely to attack other dogs than other breeds.

[GetWithTheTimes]

i do feel they are more likely to attack other dogs than other breeds.

i have a staffy cross and know plenty owners of staffies, i dont find them aggressive at all and my dog doesnt show aggression to any dog unless that dog has shown aggression to him for example if another dog starts growling and barking at my dog he will growl and bark back but then i get the dirty looks because my dog is seen as aggressive and out of control when he barks back at a dog but they dont see their dog as aggressive when their dog barks and growls at my dog just because of the breed. i wish people would learn to control their dogs and stop thinking their dog isnt aggressive just because its a lab or a terrier or yorkie. i will admit they obviously can do alot of damage with their jaws but dont see why they should be treated like wild animals because of this, if trained properly they wont be aggressive same with all the annoying yappy horrible little ankle biters which in my opinion have alot more aggression issues than staffies they just cant cause as much damage so you dont hear about terrier attacks on the news you hear about the staffy ones because they have a worse bite, but its not their fault they are the way they are i wouldnt trade my staffie cross for anything staffies are a good breed of dog they just need trained and socialised and walked regular like any other dog

[scottyjock]

i have a staffy cross and know plenty owners of staffies, i dont find them aggressive at all and my dog doesnt show aggression to any dog unless that dog has shown aggression to him for example if another dog starts growling and barking at my dog he will growl and bark back but then i get the dirty looks because my dog is seen as aggressive and out of control when he barks back at a dog but they dont see their dog as aggressive when their dog barks and growls at my dog just because of the breed. i wish people would learn to control their dogs and stop thinking their dog isnt aggressive just because its a lab or a terrier or yorkie. i will admit they obviously can do alot of damage with their jaws but dont see why they should be treated like wild animals because of this, if trained properly they wont be aggressive same with all the annoying yappy horrible little ankle biters which in my opinion have alot more aggression issues than staffies they just cant cause as much damage so you dont hear about terrier attacks on the news you hear about the staffy ones because they have a worse bite, but its not their fault they are the way they are i wouldnt trade my staffie cross for anything staffies are a good breed of dog they just need trained and socialised and walked regular like any other dog

I agree, i don't think ALL Staffy's are aggressive with other dogs, i said i feel that they are more likely to be.
It is, in part how you bring them up, however, genetics also plays a part.

Like i said earlier, i have known some very experienced dog handlers and some very loving, respectable families own Staffy's that have been dog aggressive, so it can't ALL be how you bring them up, it comes down to breeding, genetics and inhereted traits too.

Good for you for doing well with your dogs.

[GetWithTheTimes]

Like i said earlier, i have known some very experienced dog handlers and some very loving, respectable families own Staffy's that have been dog aggressive, so it can't ALL be how you bring them up, it comes down to breeding, genetics and inhereted traits too.

Good for you for doing well with your dogs.

yes like collies always try to round things up

unfortunately these muscle breeds are used in dogfighting and as weapons by irresponsible owners and in turn making them seem more vicious as they are tagged fighting dogs, i just think its sad how dogs like the staffy and pitbull get all the bad rap when there are plenty other dogs used for fighting that just dont look as fierce so people think they are cute rather than nasty like the japanese fighting dog the akita or the tosa which are just as capable of mauling people but they dont look as vicious and wouldnt get the same negative response about them as the staffy or pitbulls do

[scottyjock]

Exactly, the Tosa and Pitbull etc are now banned, however, there are a few others that need looking at closely, including the Akita. Maybe because the gene pool is relatively small in the newer breeds to these shores that some of these dog aggressive traits are coming through in a more alarming manner.

People who own Staffy's, like yourself, are fully aware of the reputation and therefore should be working twice as hard to restore the dogs rep IMO. As you say, your dogs are fine with other dogs, however, you know your breed, you know the pitfalls, whereas some others do not. So to my mind, it would do your breed a huge amount of good if owners like you, walked passed little yappy dogs, heads up ignoring them, not, as has been mentioned in this thread, pulling your dog back to stop it from retaliating.


It is a fact of life that little dogs can be yappy and sometimes very 'terrierlike', so i'm afraid it is up to you owners to set the record straight. You also need to determine when a small dog is actually being aggressive and when it is trying to sound aggressive but is just trying to scare the bigger dog away because it is frightened. Most breeds of dog will know the difference, but their owners do not.

Owning trophy dogs has always gone in cycles, when i started in practice it was the GSD, then the Dobermann, then the Rotty, then the Pitt, now the staff/akita/amstaff/American Bulldog/Canecorse etc etc, so what is said at the start of this thread is not news and if you went to any animal shelter in the 70's/80's/90's they were full of Greyhounds, lurchers and GSD's, now they are full of staffy's.

You sound like a person who knows his breed and his breeds history very well, however, i have just seen too many staffy's attack other dogs for no reason, no questions asked when they have never been mistreated, or been near a fighting pit for it to be only bad ownership.

[GetWithTheTimes]

You sound like a person who knows his breed and his breeds history very well, however, i have just seen too many staffy's attack other dogs for no reason, no questions asked when they have never been mistreated, or been near a fighting pit for it to be only bad ownership.

yes i agree its in their genes to use their teeth but in general they are nice dogs, i am moving to the country soon and will be looking for a second dog, got my eyes on a blue or black thai ridgeback but the only breeders i can find are in holland, france and in germany for some reason, high maintenance dog i know and it can jump a good 6ft or so but such a lovely breed practically unchanged for hundreds of years they were used as hunting dogs, costly tho 1500 euros and thats not including flights and transporting the dog so will be a while before i saved enough lol

[scottyjock]

yes i agree its in their genes to use their teeth but in general they are nice dogs,

With people, usually great little dogs

Well i never, a Thai Ridgeback?

Never saw any of those in practice, although, as in all Ridgebacks you need to be aware of the Dermoid Sinus and imperforate anus (can i say anus on here?)

Loving, loyal dogs with their families, some can be a little spooky with strangers, but i am sure you know all that.