Hello everyone!

This is my first post on these boards, and having had various dogs for years I only wish I had discovered them sooner!  I have two main enquiries:

1) Last year my Dobie passed away and so I decided to give it a bit of time and think what to get next.  Top of the billing in the end was a Staffie and I travelled to a Kennel Club recommended breeder to get a bitch as everyone recommended this for a first-time Staffie owner.  But having seen the pups, I was so impressed by one of the dogs in particular that I ended up bringing him home!

ANYWAY I will get to the point now!  I am wondering whether I actually have a pure Staffie or not?  He is very cute and I have no unusual problems with him (but he is only 4 and a half months old), but he is very leggy and other dog-owners have since pointed that out to me.  The more I look at other squat Staffie-types with their broad heads and the more I look at mine with his more slender appearance, I can't help but think maybe I have a dog that has been bred along different lines.

Below I have pasted a website with a photo of an Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and my Staffie is pretty much a slightly smaller version (given the fact that the photo is a 3 year-old).  I want to stress that this is definitely not a problem and I love him as he is!  However I equally want to know what kind of dog I have!  Initially I presumed his face would just broaden out and maybe this is still the case but his legs and feet are still on the large side!

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/irishstaffordshirebullterrier.htm

2) So far I walk my dog off the lead and he has been absolutely fine with other dogs and bitches.  As he gets older, providing he continues to socialise well, does anyone envisage this as a problem? 

I really want him to get used to other dogs because at some point in the near future I would like to introduce a second dog to the household - possibly a Rhodesian Ridgeback male.  I know everyone says male/male is a problem, but I do not want to neuter either and therefore would be forced into that scenario.

Hello.

Welcome, you went to a KC recomended breeder? and have a pedigree and a KC reg I assume, lots of people mistake Staff pups of your pups age for other breeds, labs particulary it seems. Anyhow without seeing  a pic no one could tell you for certain. But if you have the above then chances are you have a Staff.

I can't forsee any probs walking off lead but be carful when he gets to "teenage years" as most dogs go off the rails and what you know they know they forget. :)
I wouldn't myself have a male Staff and another male of any breed and not a RR that is for certain but the call is yours but my ADVICE is have one male and a botch if you want another dog.
Karen

You beat me to it!!  We must have been replying at the same time!!

Sarah.

Yes i figured that, adn we have said the same thing too Sarah :)
   Gekko I have PM'd you.

Karen

Hi there,
Welcome.
There are 2 types of SBT.  The Terrier type (which tends to be more leggy), and the Bull type (which is the more "squat" one you were speaking about).  Without seeing what he looks like, it's hard to tell, and at 4 months old he could be going through the "leggy, rangy stage" anyway.  You will not know for sure until he's a good bit older, and has filled out more.  Bear in mind that SBTs can continue filling out until they're 24 months old!  I thought that my boy was a x-breed for a while, he was so leggy!!  He's turned out just fine now though!
As for temperament with other dogs, it's up to you!  Keep him well socialised and don't let him have any bad experiences with other dogs if you can help it and you should have no problems (It's people that make bad dogs).
I'm sure Lel and Kazstaff will be online later and will give you some advice (they have more experience with Staffs than me!!).

Sarah.

Gekko I have PM'd you also.

Michelle.