the best breed bar none.  Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Just a shame they have so many owners and breeders who don't deserve, understand and who exploit and then abandone them to their fate.

I agree with Brainless. Staffs are one of my favourite breeds. Lovely, strong, loyal,and a nice size.with a big smile. But two many young teens think they look hard with a staff on a lead. So they buy a pup and treat it wrong, encouraging it to hold its bite and teaching it to be mean to other dogs. With local teens saying "my dog is bigger than yours". To make it worse theses bad dog owners then breed the dogs hoping for the biggest and baddest  to be there next dog to show off. So puppies are bred with behaviour problems and so you get the bad staff reputation that ruins the breed. But in the right hands bred and cared for by someone dedicated to the breed and only breeding sound dogs, the staff is one of the best pets to have , a great family pet, lovely show dog, and a best friend to everyone they meet.

> Just a shame they have so many owners and breeders who don't deserve, understand and who exploit and then abandon them to their fate

Soooo true, where I live in Essex the Staffy is the most popular dog around but sadly because of some of their owners encouraging their dogs to be vicious to other dogs there are now several local parks where I dare not walk my own dogs and have a 15 minute drive away to exercise mine everyday, always when a breed becomes over popular the wrong types start to ruin them :-(

have to agree with all of you staffs are brill dogs...... but i also agree that to many numptys own them and give the sbts a bad name.

I too am in Essex and sad to say apart from 1 if you see a staff you avoid it like the plague.  They are never on the lead even along the road and are actively encouraged to go attack other dogs by thier chavvy owners who breed and churn them out like rabbits.
My front door opens onto the pathway and  my front door is covered in scratches where they encourage thier staffs to try and fight with my dogs through the door.
I live alone with my daughter so no point reporting them as the last family that did ended up being hounded in fear from thier house.
Local vet says he sees a few injured dogs from staff attacks every week.
Very sad that this lovely breed of dog has been made into this by these idiots.
To walk my dogs I have to reverse my car as close to my back gate as I can, check the coast is clear and with heart in mouth rush my dogs straight into the car hoping one doesn't whiz round the corner, then drive 30 mins away to  exercise them.
Sadly my large dog is now very fear aggresive to other dogs because of the attacks she has had from staffs.  My JRT apart from once when he was thrown into the air I have managed to keep safe because I can pick him up out of the way.

we had 1 many years ago and she was an angel ....

but last week i was walking my puppy (12 week old shih tzu) and this staff came running out of its home (its owner standing at his door talking to some1) he started screaming at his dog to come back i quickly pulled my dog up ....that staff would of killed her !!!! ...he knew what she was like and should of had his gate closed ....i thought i was going to pass out !!! with the shock ......most of the staffs around here are agressive but thats because 1 family have breed them all :( and both of the dogs are agressive because of its owners !!! ...

What a shame bevb that you've had that experience, which part of Essex do you live in?

I too am in Essex, own 2 Staffords myself, and am pleased to say I have only come across well behaved Staffords (and owners!).  Though I'm obviously aware that there are far too many out there that aren't.

Despite thinking it would not be worth reporting, I would still encourage you to do it.  The last thing us responsible Stafford owners need are idiots who encourage their dogs to behave this way.

> Despite thinking it would not be worth reporting, I would still encourage you to do it.  The last thing us responsible Stafford owners need are idiots who encourage their dogs to behave this way.

I understand how bevb feels really, where I am in Dagenham the vast majority of Staffys are owned but young blokes in hoods and they can be quite intimidating when you cross their path so I avoid them like the plague to, its just the worst thing that could have happened to a breed, Staffys are a lovely breed but with these young blokes encouraging the dog aggressive side of them to come out to the fullest then it just means trouble for everyone who goes near, I look forward to the day when Staffys are not the most popular dog of the moment and are owned again mainly by genuine enthusiasts that fully understand them and train them to be happy well adjusted dogs they should be (as should all dogs), I would just feel sorry for the next breed that becomes over popular and abused yet again by the yobbo element that love to bring out their worst side :-(

Oooh I feel for you Papillon, used to live there myself about 7 years ago, so I can understand what you mean.

I agree, sadly their popularity is not doing the breed ANY favours whatsoever at the moment. 
Not doing much good for rescue charities either!

It's very worrying really, as I think it could get a lot worse before it gets better.  Wish there was more I could do.

> Oooh I feel for you Papillon, used to live there myself about 7 years ago, so I can understand what you mean

I would love to move away to but thats not possible for the foreseeable anyway, can you imagine how I stick out like a sore thumb with my breed around here lol,

I think the rescues have a major job on their hands until the Staffy becomes less popular, so sad really all those dogs that deserved so much better ending up in rescue because of some of the types that thought the dogs would make them look hard, such a shame :-(

What a shame bevb that you've had that experience, which part of Essex do you live in?

I too am in Essex, own 2 Staffords myself, and am pleased to say I have only come across well behaved Staffords (and owners!).  Though I'm obviously aware that there are far too many out there that aren't.

Despite thinking it would not be worth reporting, I would still encourage you to do it.  The last thing us responsible Stafford owners need are idiots who encourage their dogs to behave this way.

I am in Colchester, and the area I am in, believe me you wouldn't report them ever.  If you got one in trouble the rest would be after you and I live alone with my daughter so have her safety to consider too.

ive just seen on the news a staff and jackrussle have just killed a baby in walse :( omg !!!

> I am in Colchester, and the area I am in, believe me you wouldn't report them ever.  If you got one in trouble the rest would be after you and I live alone with my daughter so have her safety to consider too

Know exactly what you mean bevb, areas that were previously peopled by decent people with good standards have now become very different indeed :-(

> ive just seen on the news a staff and jackrussle have just killed a baby in walse :-( omg !!!

Oh no :-(

Found the article online, how very sad :-(

> I am in Colchester, and the area I am in, believe me you wouldn't report them ever.  If you got one in trouble the rest would be after you and I live alone with my daughter so have her safety to consider too.

Of course!  Is it really that awful where you are?  I'm sorry.
My SIL lives in the Highwoods area (right on the very edge by the woods) she has said that the area has gone downhill somewhat.  She also has an aged Stafford, who isn't that keen on other dogs, but is very responsible with her.
It's such a shame, it really is.  I would hope that I'd never have to live somewhere where I felt uncomfortable.  They don't sound very nice people bevb at all.

Of course!  Is it really that awful where you are?  I'm sorry.
My SIL lives in the Highwoods area (right on the very edge by the woods) she has said that the area has gone downhill somewhat.  She also has an aged Stafford, who isn't that keen on other dogs, but is very responsible with her.
It's such a shame, it really is.  I would hope that I'd never have to live somewhere where I felt uncomfortable.  They don't sound very nice people bevb at all.

Thats where I live, I wonder if I know her.

Well, just look for the BT vans...
They are in Northfield Gardens - I think!  I hasten to add, they're in laws - just in case you DO know them! lol
Ooh I'm worried now!  lol

LOL thats over the nicer side of the estate to me.  I will have a look next time I am over there.

I think a lot of people should be banned from owning these dogs. (the people, not the dogs)
A neighbour who lives opposite us has one, he seems a lovely dog but they just don't handle him right. When they go to their car they just let him follow them without a lead on, the first time I saw this he frightened the life out of me as he ran towards me at what seemed 60 miles an hour! it wasn't until he stopped dead about a foot in front of me and starting "wagging" his whole rear end that I realised he was only being friendly and only wanted to say hello........but he has scared a number of people like that......they just call him back and say nothing!

These people aren't young, or yobs, they have two small children and seem very nice. The other week a man was walking his jack Russel past my gate as he does every day and this dog came tearing over and attacked the little dog, I saw it happen and slammed my car door......the dog looked up at me and the man picked up his little dog.....the owners by this time had popped their head out the door and called him back. The poor little dog was trembling......I'm not sure if anything was done about it.

From what I see, these are very strong dogs which can easily hurt others and need sensible owners! I have a little Bichon and i'm always wary of when he is taken for walks....I get paranoid that this dog may be outside and attack my dog, I try to make my husband carry him till they get round the corner!

Me and my daughter were walking into pets at home last week with our dog and a woman was walking out with two staffies.......I almost panicked......and for no reason as these two dogs just done the normal dog thing and had a sniff and walked off. The dog living opposite us has made me so wary..and it's the owners fault.

Staffs are perfect doggies in the correct hands.. they need love and care as well as good training, same as all dogs. and need more socialising than many breeds if they are to grow up well behaved. My staffy boy has also been attacked by aggressive hard nut dogs because they think because he's a staffy and they want too get into a fight (the owners) but my poor boy wont even defend himself., a jrt bit him and was hanging off his side,, and my boy was just running along trying to shake the jrt off., who was bviously dog aggressive and shouldnt have been off the lead.. and the teenage girl owner culdnt get her dog back or off my boy..now if it had been the other way round it would have made the local papers! my girl is the opposite of aggressive and runs from everything.,.my boy just wants to be silly and play with other dogs.. which often gets him into trouble with less friendly canines.! my staffies are tiny compared to most and dont have huge heads or locking jaws,,they both are rescue dogs as well. and dont look vicious at all.

I'm sorry to say that I cannot enjoy staffs, there are just too many that are viscious (sp) and generally evil. I understand it's the owners/breeders fault, but the sad fact is that out of hundreds I have been in contact with, a mere 10 at best I would consider not dangerous.

Two staffs that are three doors down from me are lovely to people, lovely to kids, and soft as muck, but just HATE other dogs..........its such a shame.

I really hate the fact that an animal, which from good parents and owners could be a great family pet, has been turned into something which creates hatred and fear.

That does seem to be the problem for a lot of people with other breeds........the staffies they meet are lovely to people but seem to hate other dogs. They obviously make the news more if they bite because they cause so much more damage.

> my staffies are tiny compared to most and dont have huge heads or locking jaws

There are no dogs(let alone Staffies) that have "locking" jaws :) ;)

You should not have to live like that!! Im so sorry that you do.

> I think a lot of people should be banned from owning these dogs. (the people, not the dogs)
> A neighbour who lives opposite us has one, he seems a lovely dog but they just don't handle him right. When they go to their car they just let him follow them without a lead on, the first time I saw this he frightened the life out of me as he ran towards me at what seemed 60 miles an hour! it wasn't until he stopped dead about a foot in front of me and starting "wagging" his whole rear end that I realised he was only being friendly and only wanted to say hello........but he has scared a number of people like that......they just call him back and say nothing!

If it was a cute little Bichon that ran up to you & wagged it's tail, would you still think the owners should be banned?

I am sick of dogs running up to me & my dog & growling, but I have no problem with a dog running up to us & wagging it's tail, infact, over the last 2 weeks the friedliest dog that has ran up to us has been a stafffie, she wanted to play, what a breath of fresh air that was compaired to growling & snarling labs & spaniels.

There are plenty of awfull owners out there that do harm to entire breeds of dog, but these stupid, irresponsible people also are owners of other breeds of dog, not just staffies.

>The dog living opposite us has made me so wary..and it's the owners fault.

What has that dog made you wary of? Being greeted by a wagging tail? It's not the dogs behaviour that has made you wary, it is your own judgment of the breed.
I don't have staffies, but I see judments agaisnt my dog all the time, people judge him on his size & looks, not on his behaviour. I am getting quite niffed off with hearing people tell thier dogs 'he'll eat you for breakfast', as they pull thier snapping, snarling dog away from my waggy-tailed dog.

I know there are problems with rubbish owners & breeding within the staffie breed, but please it's only fair to judge a dog by it's own behaviour, not by any reputation the breed may have.

If it was a cute little Bichon that ran up to you & wagged it's tail, would you still think the owners should be banned?

Like I said, once I saw the happy tail wagging I was fine.

What has that dog made you wary of? Being greeted by a wagging tail? It's not the dogs behaviour that has made you wary, it is your own judgment of the breed

Not wary of a wagging tail no, wary of the dog taking a chunk out of my much smaller and weaker one who wouldn't stand a chance.

It is the meeting of many bad owners that has made me way of this breed, I am not the only one, lots of people are frightened of these dogs (even if you feel that it is unjustified)
I have no problem seeing one on a lead, but free running they scare me! I'm not frightened when i'm by myself, just when i'm outside with my dog.

So yes, i do feel some owners should be banned from keeping them......lets face it these yobs would have no intention of having a poodle and trying to make it vicious.

i also agree .i live in newport and every thug u see has a staffy but due to the dogs being breed to demand they all seem to be losing the standard,ie small funny shaped heads and body.in my area its rare to see the proper looking breed which is a shame because they are one of my favourite breeds.

i also agree .i live in newport and every thug u see has a staffy but due to the dogs being breed to demand they all seem to be losing the standard,ie small funny shaped heads and body.in my area its rare to see the proper looking breed which is a shame because they are one of my favourite breeds.

I was walking through town a couple of weeks ago with pup, on the other side of the pavement as we were walking through, there was bit strapping staff lunging and snarling to get to my pup...the young lad that had hold of him thought it was highly amusing , and so did the group of teenagers that were with him....idiots come to mind :(
I think it's extremely sad, i really do feel for these dogs.

I genuinely feel sorry and fully supportive of those who have well bred, socialised and trained SBTs but the fact is I would no longer voluntarily walk by one with my dogs even if all on lead and I'd certainly steer well clear of any off lead or in the distance were mine loose.

It's a shame because 10 years or so ago I wouldn't have given it a second thought :(  -  in fact back then and for the ten years or so prior to that my dogs regularly played with a few SBTs and a Pitbull bitch which was an absolute darling.

It is very sad but I can't see how things will improve in the future unless the popularity of this much misunderstood breed was to drop by around 75% of what it is now :(

I too feel sorry for those responsible owners/breeders who bring up well balanced, good natured Staffs, unfortunately due to 'yob' culture I too have been put off this particular breed of dog. I saw a staff attack a little chihuahua in the street. It was on the lead and the owner was powerless to help, in fact both owners, the owner of the Chi was just swinging the little mite round and round on the end of it's lead even into the road where a car drove by and just clipped the staff. This was enough to put the dog off, i  could do nothing to help, I was over the road with my 2 year old. Would I even have tried, I'm sorry to say probably not. A staff killed my cat last year it was what i call a 'roamer', the owner can't be bothered to walk it, and it got our cat on the front garden, my husband threw the staff at the wall twice with my cat in it's jaws and it still was clamped down in him.......... God forbid if it happened to one of my babies. Those poor poor parents. :(

> ........the staffies they meet are lovely to people but seem to hate other dogs.

This is not surprising when you consider a) they were originally intended to fight and b) they are terriers who generally don't mind a scrap.

the key is lots and lots of positive socialisation as puppies, teaching them self control so they don't annoy/scare other dogs with their very exuberant form of play, then they never have negative associations with other canines which encourages many to switch into scrapping mode when mature.

This requires responsible and knowledgeable owners.

This requires responsible and knowledgeable owners.

And from what I have seen, the majority of these dogs are not owned by such owners.

> I genuinely feel sorry and fully supportive of those who have well bred, socialised and trained SBTs but the fact is I would no longer voluntarily walk by one with my dogs even if all on lead and I'd certainly steer well clear of any off lead or in the distance were mine loose.
>

I feel the same, and the trouble is from a distance I wouldn't know a well bred well socialised and trained SBT.

I have had an SBT appear out of nowhere in our local park and launch itself at my BC, she turned her head away just in time and took to her heels but it gave chase,fortunately it could not keep pace with her.

The owner yelled and yelled at his dog and then had the audacity to say that his bitch didn't like other bitches anyway.

This sort of thing can sadly make you wary of all SBTs :(

BICHONA .....i agree 100% with you like i said on this tread my 13week old shih tzu would of been killed if i hadnt of got her up into my arms when i did !!!! and i went mad at the owner ...i thought i was going to pass out !!!!

also this dog that went to attack my dog ...her mum killed a yorkie (only 6months old ) on ladys back garden of the yorkie :( this was about 3years ago and this poor lady had to watch this happen she couldnt get the off her puppy ......she moved away !!!! how sick is that ....and these dogs still walk around the streets !!!!!