I am thinking about getting a staffie - not a puppy but want to rehome a young dog. Me and my partner are at work during the day so dog would be on his own but will be putting a dog flap into kitchen door so he has free access in and out of secure garden. Will this breed be happy on his own during the day? (as my partner is a teacher there will be a variation to dog's routine during school hols). Also, need rough idea of shoulder width of full grown dog - max width for medium dog flap is approx 8 inches. Does the temperament vary much between bitches and dogs? Also, would consider another breed if that would be more suitable for a working household - but needs to be a medium size so as to fit through medium dog flap. Advice please!

I don't think there are any breeds that are happy exactly, being left on their own during the day. Most will come to accept it in time, depending on the individual, of course.

If you're using a dog flap, check your household insurance - you may find that one of these invalidates your cover unless the room accessed by the flap is separated from the rest of the house by external-quality doors and locks.

Also bear in mind that many dogs are stolen from gardens.....

....particularly "fighting" breeds.

staffies are people friendly dogs - i personally wouldn't choose for one to be left alone all day. they are gorgeous dogs, but want to be with you, into everything, all the time. they also need a lot of exercise to look good and be happy.

my sister rescuced a staff a few months ago, even though she is a lovely dog she also is a great escape artist, jacks garden was secure or so she though but she got out all the same, and so far she has had people come to her back gate to take rose and one man was in a car and backed down her alley and asked someone if they knew were the little staff lived, lucky it was my nephew he asked who sent him off with a flea in his ear, so be carefull with a dogflap

Hi there,

I have a staffy and he is very rarely left alone in the house. They are people dogs and thrive on human company, to leave a staffy on its own for a long time (ie all day) would pine and be very unhappy. They are great dogs with a lot of character and love but definately would not recommend leaving him/her alone for longer than a few hours a day.

With reference to giving the dog access to the garden via a dogflap it would be in your garden alone and i would say this is a huge risk with this type of dog, i let mine in the garden only when I am out or in the kitchen where I can see him because the number of staffys that are stolen is huge, I wont go into a shop and leave him outside for a minute.

Just my thoughts.

As the owner of a Staffy pup I agree totally with Maria

No.

I would hate to see the "trouble" Sal could get in to left to her own devices she adores and thrives in comapny in her opinion the more people the better.

She's never in the garden alone unless we can see her through the conservatory or the kitchen window and the doors always open for her to come back in.
As has been said too many are stolen.

Karen (owner of 7 month old Stafford pup)

There are a lot of Staffys stolen - part of the problem is that they are just so friendly .
I never let Gus out of my sight for a minute . There are lots of posts re: Staffys being stolen from gardens. :(

No!. Staffs are meant to be with people all day. My dogs dont get left on thier own for more than a few hours per week tops.
All the other gs then come to the surface such as dog being depressed/noisey/destructive/stolen.
Think long and hard.

Mick

Hiya
Ive had a staffie now for 9 years, id say in the early days leaving him alone was not an option. He ate everything in sight probably through boredom. I gave up work!
Now Charlies older, he's happy with his own company. (and Murphys) He never gets left for more than a few hours. I work minimal hours, so i know he wont be alone for long.
Also, many many staffies get stolen! So sad!
Saying that though they are diamonds, and very loyal.
Maybe you couls phone a staffie rescue and ask them what they think...

Donna and Charlie x