There has already been an opinion of Staffys on the showing board - and this is certyainly NOT a dig at that person. :(
I am just wondering what other peoples opion are of staffys when out on their local walks etc
I am owned by two and must admit to knowing and exceptionally loving the breed but would always put mine on the lead when meeting a new staffy that i personally didnt know :rolleyes:
I suppose the reason I ask is that as a responsible owner , I am after other peoples views.
Mine are both over friendly with any breed but todayt I let Libby (19 weeks ) meet two spaniels off lead and I think she overwhelmed them . She is quite boisteroius with Gus and I feel a bit too much with these . Not in a horrible way .
Allthough the spaniels owner was fine I feel I want Libby to meet other breeds but without scaring others . Whats the best way without scaring people from staffys????

Good question. :)

Karen

its the breed picture people have of staffs. i think i would be wary if a staff came running up to me or my dog to be honest,but not scared.it is different if you know the dog being a staff wouldn't make any difference to me.all the staff's i have met have been fine in nature and none would scare tob,he would play with any dog big or small.
the only thing i can think off that might help is for you to ask the other owner first then let them run around.
at least the other person won't panic then,then the next time let them meet off lead.

Hi

I have no fear of staffies :-), i think they are wonderful dogs when brought up correctly and when some people say that two staffords dont get along..i seem to think that this is one of the breed "myths" staffies can live in harmony with other dogs and cats...and most of all children.  I just love em :-)

Hi Lel, thinking long and hard on this one as I don't want to offend anyone. Maybe its the area I live in but most people with staffies here have them as a 'status' symbols. And all the owners are boys/men.  Sometimes I think I'm more afraid of the owners than their dogs! Maybe its because we 'non staffy' people only hear bad things about them whether it be news/papers whatever, it makes us afraid of the breed rather than dislike them. Only through joining this forum have I changed my views because there are so many of you campaigning your dogs, so not every one will learn that they are not as bad as they have been made out. If you see what I mean. I hope I haven't upset anyone because I really don't intend to. Meeting your staffy on lead, to answer your question, is how I would hope to get to know your dog.
And I  also used to live next door to one who was always escaping, sometimes into my garden and I was never scared of it until it attacked my own dog, Benji (RIP),and my daughter (who was two at the time) got knocked over during the fight and after a trip to the vets to have his ear stitched and then cleaning up the blood off the floor in my hall, I have been weary of them ever since. BUT I blamed the owners for that one!

I appreciate your views Missie :)
I know Staffys have a poor public image - I have met those who love them and those who are afraid of them .
I would always hope to be an ambassador for mine - and hlep to change poeples minds when they meet them .
I appreciate people dont always apreciate meeting them off lead - as I dont with an unknown one .
Just dont want mine to feel that its a "punishment " when meeting others and they therefore have to be put on the lead but also appreciate that people dont like an unknown staffy running 100 miles an hour or so  up to their dogs -even if its to be kissed to death :D

Hi Lel, see now yours I would like to meet because you sound responsible to me and I probably wouldn't have a problem at all. :)

Missie

As a Stafford owner I hope you soon get to meet the "nice" ones because when you do you will fall in love.

Stafford have sadly gotten into the "wrong" type of owners in some areas. Like Rotties and GSD's used to be. But glad we are slowly changing your viewpoint.
And maybe one day you will get to meet mine then prepare to be "kissed" to death, on lead of course ;)

Karen :)

Yes Kaz, you are :)

Glad to hear it.

Odd though people perception of dogs people sometimes won't come and stroke Sal when we are out but I have noticed the same people will stroke her when she is wearing her PAT dogs coat. Maybe its a sign she's "okay"

Karen 

most likely the jacket.i would stroke a staff i didn't know on the lead but not sure about off.
we met one at the vets the other day little girl around 10 months she couldn't get enough attention.
the dogs were all over each other the vet had to wait for the dogs.she was lovely and nipped my arm to get me to stroke her too,if they are all like her then alot of people have got them so wrong.i don't think i would own 1 just because i like bigger dogs but if i was to have a smaller dog i wouldn't write them off just because of the breed.

i always put mine back on the lead when i see any dogs comeing my way.  but i have to say i would not be happy if a stafford came running up to me and mine. me dogs are very good with other dogs(Tara is a bit off at first but as soon as i tell her its ok she is fine) but i would not want to be put on the spot as my dogs would know that i was not felling happy and then things might turn about diffrent. 
My 3 are very good mating other dogs, i find that other dogs are not good meating mine.  its funny cos ppl with play with Grace 21 week old but not Tara a 2 year old and Grace is taller then tara already (and Grace is the 1 tht will try and jump on them when Tara will just stand nice)

ps Marie i have noever let a stafford that want do anything for a pat and a play

I love Staffs, have known a few.

Although when out with my JRT I am very wary of him meeting them, only because there are 4 that live near me and have shown signs of aggression towards him. One who is never on a lead is not dog friendly at all, although if called will not come over to us. The ones who are not friendly are definately owned by people who like the status.

Saying that he has met a few who are friendly, and I do not mind him meeting any breed as long as they are happy to play.

That is dead right. Staffs who are unfriendly are owned mostly by people who like the cudos of being tough. :(

Karen 

same here missie, when we walk through our local town park there is lots of bare chested heavily tattooed men swigging out of a beer can f***ing and blinding at their kids and are being pulled along by a staffy that looks like it wants to kill. Maybe these poor dogs arent that friendly but if I was owned by one of these people I wouldnt be friendly  but I know enough about dogs to not blame the breed as any dog brought up with love kindness and discipline will be a lovely kind animal. A badly treated lab would end up not very friendly surely. I would love to meet a staffy in my area with a nice normal owner as I do think they are beautiful dogs.

Only meet 3 on a regular basis 1 owned by one chap and 2 by another and they are all lovely. No worries at all about meeting them :-)

I've grown up with Staffs, and I have two of them snuggled in my bed with me every night, but even *I'm* nervous of the snarling balls of muscley status-symbol I see straining at the end of leads held by tough-looking lads. So, yes, I can understand why some people are intimidated by the breed!

That said, please do give us Stafford owners a chance. There's a difference between idiots who treat their dogs like material possessions, and people who genuinely adore their babies and the breed as a whole. It's amusing how differently people react to my dogs depending on who's at the other end of the lead - if it's me (5ft teeny girly) then people are all smiles and hellos, but if it's my other half (large guy with a shaven head), then people cross to the other side of the street - despite the fact that my pair are all smiles and manners and loose-leash-walking no matter WHO is holding the lead.

I just don't think I could have any other breed. My clownish, happy little buffoons fill my heart with joy whenever I look at them.

My favourite dog from childhood was a large leggy black and white staff (classic collie markings) that was owned by my art teacher, and was a frequent model for my artwork.

As a dog owner now I have to admit I am wary of Staffies when on walks, mainly due to many owners being totally inept or even encouraging their dogs to be gldiatorial/tough macho P**** extensions.

So I do find that I am sizing up the owner, and when it becomes clear that the owner is a responsible sort and their dog an affable sort then I relax and am happy to stop and chat and let the girls get to know the Staff.

I am lucky though that my dogs are not easily phased or worried by boisterous behaviour.

I think you have hit the nail on thehead with regard to Staffs and Boxers and some other breeds that their idea of freindly is just too in your face and scary for many dogs, especially those who do not have any canine companions of their own.  What then happens is said overly playful staff starts to get neagative responses to it's freindly advances and learns that other dogs will be horrible to it, and as they mature decide they will get theirs in first,a nd of course this perpetuates the negative attitude caused mainly by the not so savvy owners.

I tend to advise lost of controlled socialiasation for anyone with a staff pup I meet, and teaching the staff to say hello gently, or use the steady command.  Have to say I know quite a number of really nice freindly staffs, though having bitches does help, as there is no macho agression.

If I am on my own (no dogs) I am happy to talk and make a fuss of any dog I meet particularly Staffords who I have always found very friendly to people and children. ( :) sounds like I do not include children as people) But at a show if I have a dog with me I am more careful, try never to let my dog interfere with other dogs but I exercise extra care if the dog I am passing is a Stafford or a Rhodesian, my reaction is based on experience only and not from any preconceived ideas, must say I am wary of Dachshunds & some small terriers (not boarders) too for the same reason but they are usually caged.

Think I can say that I do not make judgement of the dogs I meet but I do exercise care, my own dogs are not beyond taking a dislike to a dog for no reason I can see, they hate to be stared at, and my keeping my distance is as much for my concern as to my dogs reaction whilst on the lead as to worry for what the other may do.

I don't think my reaction would be so much the breed of dog coming towards me as the 'breed' of owner.  Unfortunately for the Staffs they do not always have responsible type owners. 

For some reason they attract the macho types in the same way as the Rotties did.  You don't see it so much in Rotties now perhaps it is the size of the Staff that appeals more.  This type of owner is less likely to socialise their pup and more likely to breed from it so the circle will continue, not of course forgetting their children often suffer the same fate.

JMHO of course.
Sandra

Where I walk my dogs, we meet numerous different breeds, but I can honestly say I have never met a staffy! :(  And I would quite like to!  I think they look lovely dogs, it's the same with any other breed, so long as they are with someone responsible and have been brought up correctly, I wouldn't have an issue with one running up to meet my dogs any more than any other breed.  I think you can just have an instinct when you come across other dogs how they are going to react to yours, so you can take action if needs be-a wee westie took offence to one of my brood this morning, so no problem, you just call them back and keep them out eachothers way.  I'm hopeful I'll get to meet a staffy one of these days! :)

Where are you spaniel lover ? :) Would love to prove how friendly and adorable mine are :)

I can understand how people can be wary when seeing a Staff running towards them off lead, as I know what mine used to be like when they were younger.  They were only being friendly, but sometimes they were just too much for other dogs.  When my Staffs going out with my sisters Dobie, they are like a tornado all flying around together, and that must be a scary sight.  But they have NEVER EVER shown agression to another dog.  However, as we know how intimidating they look we always get them on the lead and let them meet the dogs that way then let them off again once the owners are happy or we've passed.  To be honest they're more interested in each other anyway :)
It annoys me this perception of Staffs.  I have been bitten by 2 dogs, a JRT and a labrador, both of which are seen as being ideal family pets.  THe press that Staffies get is uncalled for, I am sure there are dogs and people being bitten by other breeds on a daily basis but it's only the bull breeds that the press highlight. :(
My Staffs often come to work with me and mix with up to 10 other dogs here at a time and are ace.  Everyone who comes in falls in love with them and seem to prefer them to the work dogs.  Just because they're so loving and full of character :D
Sorry for my rant, but this really gets my back up! :)

Hi
I own (or is it owned by ;) ) a wee staffie rescue called Sky......

This is the first of the breed i have had, after carefulconsideration and a lot of research, thisis the breed we  (hubby and I) decided to go for.  We read up on their nature and training possiblities, we also considered that they can sometimes have other dog issues.....

However we have had 4 months and she is fab....but what i really came on to say is....my MIL hated all dogs was completey terrified...if one came near she nearly had a fit...I mean screaming flicking her arms about...really mental!....

We told her we had taken on a rescue dog and she nearly had a stroke.....when she asked what kind...I admit I lied a little bit, I told her a wee old "Terrier".....shen we took sky into to see her...sky's tail was waggin to hard she could hard walk or stand she then threw herself down in  front of my MIL and wanted her belly tickled..well my MIL just stood there with her mouth hanging open and then miracles of miracles actually sort of ruubed sky's belly.....well 4 months down the line they are the best of pals......and my MIL comes to my house if i need her to to let sky out and run about in the garden with her!

now when she sees other dogs she still panicks...but when she sees a staffie...well aren't they all cute and can she give a rub! OMG what a difference

Edinburgh-can't believe I have yet to meet a staffy!  Think I've most most breeds in our park, my new faves are the rhodesian ridgebacks we just met-what beautiful dogs!!  I have no prejudice against any dogs breed-lets face it, it's got to come back to humans at some point-if not for poor breeding then their owners not training the dogs properly, and there are always exceptions to any rule.  There will always be some examples that give a breed a bad name, it's unfair to tar all dogs with same brush! :)

Spaniel-lover that is such a sensible opinion.
I wish everyone thought like you :)

Hiya....have to say that there are two homes with beautiful Staffys in my immediate vacinity.....and all 3 of them seem to hate my hound LOL :D
One of the gentlemen that walks his young bitch actually crosses the road while his girl is growling at Rosie *while we exchange nice smiles* - the other man who walks his two at the same time give off the loudest hissing noises ever Never heard anything like it from dogs before *again, we just politely say hello to each other*. Luckily, my hound doesn't react negatively to them & just ignores them. In spite of the initial shock of me hearing this hissing, I certainly don't have any negative thoughts about the breed at all....not all dogs like each other, just the same as us humans. In fact, there's a Jack Russell that comes round the block every night that I am far more weary of, as he does frighten my Rosie.
I would like to ask though - does anybody elses dog 'hiss'?
Kind Regards
Jo
:)

Having read others opinions on staffies, I think where I live the problem of staffies round here is NOT the dogs themselves it is their owners.

Normally it tends to be a male yob type with a burberry checked baseball cap, tattoos and swiging a bottle of beer and smoking a fag, with an equally scraggy looking 16 yr old girlfriend with a juice and vomit stained baby in a tatty push chair with a fierce normally off lead angry looking Male staffy with a great studded coller round his neck, who the male yob will say to "Cummon Sansom, butch, thunder" or whatever macho name the dog has.  Also if the dog does growl, get aggressive the yobbos response would be "Yeah hes a right fighter, lots of agression, cool!"

I am sure that the breed in the right hands are super loving family orientated well behaved delightful dogs and I have nothing against staffies as a breed.

It does seem to be a fad as a previous poster said as years ok the same sort of yobbo had rotties.  I wonder what the next unfortunate "status symbol" breed will be????

Hey! I've got a Solomon, so named because I hoped he would be wise but as it happened he has become 'The Sod' to all and sundry, so is rarely called by name. Expect one day to read a critique calling him 'The Sod' and not by his correct name, such is fame :D

I totally agree with Beaglebonkerz and I think them sort of people are giving staffys a bad name. Now personally I don't particularly like staffys but I think that I have never met a dog like sweet lovely cute little dogs like the one that you are all talking about. Now a lots of dog show, we see people who match beaglebonkerz description and the seem to be the one with shaven heads having a fag and the staffies are big bulky fat things and they are all wearing big leather harnesses with metal studs in. Is it any wonder that some people will think of staffys as mean vicious thing if so many people represent them as that? :(

sarah xxx

The first one I met was my babysitters mums dag he was lovely he used to take Matthews socks off with his teeth(Matthew was about 4mths at the time). I must be lucky because I have only met one that was horrible he was owned by a yob. Maybe if there was a test like you have before you can drive not as many dogs would have such a bad name.
Mary

Hi in the past I have run into the type of "yob" owner you are talking about and I must say when faced with a well behaved and controlled Stafford be it dog or bitch, I usually find if you continue walking towards them they  either walk away, pick up their dogs up or hold them so tight on the lead there front legs don't touch the floor. Why? because these people are cowards/bullies really and the site of a well behaved/controlled Stafford (full grown of course not a pup) is enough to make them think again.
There again,it must help that my Staffs have always been fit and walk as if they own the streets anyhow on or off lead  ;) But I must advocate not doing it unless you are prepared for the "abuse" you get shouted at you, only after you've passed of course.  ;)

But as far as I am concerned it's a damned shame a cetain type of people have ever heard of my breed; only my opinion of course :)   

Karen

I can't describe how much I love my staff, he is the best thing in the world and not a bad bone in his body.  ~He has had children hanging off his tail and he just loves playing with them.  Even my dad who is terrified of dogs can't resist him.  Unfortunately on the other side of town from us there are illegal dog fights going on nearly every night.  The RSPCA and police are trying to combat it but it so hard to catch the organisers and there is little to be done to them if they are caught.  You don't want to know what happens to the poor dogs they get to make them viscious enough to fight.  Hull also has a high drugs scene and staffs are now the prime choice as 'protection dogs' it used to german shepards but these have now lost there reputation.  Staffs are now being bred bigger and more muscley and go through hell in order to meet the requirement of a 'protection dog.'  It breaks my heart and me and my partner (who could be mistaken for a 'yobbo' when walking our two but he is soft inside as he is tough on the outside) are determined to be ambassadors for the breed as it was so nicely put!  We hope Jack will be a PAT dog this time next year our Bulldog Poppy is also well on the way.  We take every opportunity to explain to people what wonderful dogs they are adn once ppl have had a cuddle with Jack they usually agree!!

Looks like I am joing this discussion very late in the day but feel it is important to put my two pennies in. As a novice stafford owner I sometimes wonder if I have made the right choice of dog as when we are in the park people actively seek to avoid my dog which makes me feel angry and very upset and Lacey looks up and sees a dog that she wants to go and play with yet all of a sudden it is gone and she is playing on her own or with just a ball as no-one is willing to see if she is friendly or not. These are the same people who in turn and say my dog was attacked by an SBT so they must all be like that or they wonder why SBT's are 'unsociable' yet they wouldn't dream of letting their dog have any contact with a SBT. So how do we address the situation? Do us SBT owners just walk our dogs at night and hope to avoid all other dogs? Shall we muzzle or dog and put it on a lead and walk it around the park to satisfy people? Personally I think muzzling a dog that doesn't need muzlling is a cruel exercise and could even make the dog more vicious in the long run. And as for walikng a dog round a park on a lead well it just defeats the object of going for a walk as it is meant to be a fun time for the dog to run and explore the smells, sights and sounds in the park.  The pre-conceptions will never go away but hopefully if it is just one out of every five times we go to the park that we can change someones views of SBT's then I am doing my part by promoting the breed. I have always been of the opinion that you need to wiegh up each dog on its own individual merits and not assume the breed as a whole are all going to be uncontrollable animals controlled by tattoed, beer swilling yobs. The type of people who give us 'proper' SBT owners a bad name will sadly never go away much like the puppy farmers and the 'recognised breeders' who sell sick puppies to people. Remember in every dog there is the instict to be aggresive and if you have never owned a SBT you could misconstrue its actions as being violent when they are just a bit over excitable. If you could see the video of my bitch when she see ur friends SBT you'd think they'd beeen sniffing gas as they both start rolling around on the floor or jumping all over each other, yet they are neither littermates or in anyway related and live some 50 odd miles apart. This is the side that people walking their dog in park will sadly never see!

i saw a brown staff with steel blue eyes today,his eyes really stood out,sadly only a pup with a teenager on the end of a flexi lead,near a main road.the collar looked too big and the dog was being pulled more than walked.but i can't believe the blue eyes i have never seen a staff that colour but he was lovely to look at.

I dread seeing Staffies when I am out walking, again mainly due to the types of people who own them: loud-mouthed, ignorant and with no common sense! The dogs are usually out of control  and agressive. Saying that, a few days ago a red/white bitch ran across to my two Mini Schnauzers and was a delightul dog and they played together for ages with no mishaps.

I love Boxers, but the local ones are dog (and people ) aggressive.There must be a popular stud dog or bad breeder living close by, but my faith in them has been restored by a handsome 3-legged male who was rescued after a car accident who has a wonderful temperament.

It shows it just takes a few owners/dogs to spoil a breed's reputation

I dread seeing Staffies when I am out walking, again mainly due to the types of people who own them: loud-mouthed, ignorant and with no common sense!

Hmmm - some could also make generic and possibly incorrect presumptions about a man who walks mini schnauzers or a poodle ;) :D

Where I live there are a few staffies. None is owned by the 'typical' staffie owner. One is kept on the lead and usually walked by mother or grown-up children. It does tend to eyeball my two dogs - but we just stay clear of it and there is no problem. The others are usually off lead and don't cause any problems at all - one is a female rescue and a real sweetie - I don't know about the others - one is usually playing with a frisbee. So I have to take them as I find them. They aren't my type of dog, but it does seem that if they are in the right hands (ie where I live :D ) - there isn't a problem :)

Daisy

I love Staffies. I love the way they are always delighted to be fussed, the way they grunt like piglets and grin when panting. I love that they can jump into your arms from the ground. I love that their focus in life is winning at "pull the tuggy". I love that they can mock growl for England whilst playing "pull the tuggy". I love every colour, shape and size. I don't like to see people crossing the road to avoid them - and without a doubt I will have one again one day.

<<<So how do we address the situation?>>>

Sometimes I think it may be the area in which we live too -
I must that we are lucky in respect that where we walk ours , almost 99.5% of other dogs are great and very socialised. I can let Gus off lead for a good run and all the dogs he meets are like him , friendly and wanting to play with each other. But having said that I do take them on a 20 minute or so drive for this walk. It seems to be an area frequented by genuine dog lovers. And so its worth it for a happy walk and for mine to meet others.
I would never dream of having them off lead in my local park purely because I would encounter idiots with not so friendly dogs

Fair point, Chloe.
:)

oh dear ! we have just got our first ever staffy winnie whos now 8 weeks. i hope people dont avoid us when i can finally start taking her out.!

I have to say that as an owner of a staffy, who cries if i dont let him say hello to other dogs whilst out on walks, he i svery very good with other breeds other than shepherds but he was attacked by one when a puppy, he has also been bitten by a minuture poodle and a snauzer and in all of this he didnt retaliate he just looked at me with his big brown eyes as if to tell me he was scared, he is my big baby and nothing annoys me more then when i see these people who think walking around with a staffy makes them big and macho. I used to have people cross the road whilst walking mine on a harness, he used to pull like mad without it. Now i have a8.5month old baby and he has become very protective he wont let anyone near my son without me being there and if he cries and no one goes to him he will run around and around till you go and stop him crying. I think that people do have big misconceptions of staffies with other animals and people but once you get over that hurdle and people see them for what they are loving creatures who will do anything for you. sorry to go on but mine is just so loving and i expect every one of us is the same about theis own dog..

I completly agree about some of the owners fitting into a certain 'type'...I have two examples. The first being...My puppy was around 16 weeks old and we were out for a walk, she was still quite new to walks at that time and just finding her feet in the outside world when we met our first Staff...The guy had him on a long lead and was playing with him in the corner of the feild.  He came over to us with our puppy because his dog was dying to met ours.  My pup at that time was very very shy and the Staff wanted to play.  we did not let either off leash due to my puppy being nervous of the new encounter and just let them meet and had a chat between us about our dogs which actually lasted ages, over an hour or so and then we went on our way.  We saw the same guy on almost every walk from then on for about a week and my puppy started to get more confident.  She was a fair bit taller than the staff but obviously her only being 16 weeks she was ALOT lighter as you all know staffs are big balls of muscle and gristle...lol...Anyway my puppy always prefers to meet other dogs off leash because she doesn't feel restrained and is less worried that way so we agreed to let them have a play when my pup seemed more confident.  That staff was so loony! it kind of scared her at first because he was one of the first dogs she properly got to play with and she had her tail behind her legs alot but he wasn't being aggressive at her so we let them play still because I wanted my puppy to not be scared and I thought if I promptly returned her to the lead and took her away from him that it would somewhat reinforce that being scared was the right thing to do.  It worked out too because each time we saw that staff my puppy got more and more confident till one day they were playing fairly rough and she mounted him!...The owner was kinda dissmayed by this with her being female and all and laughed that his dog is suppossed to be 'hard' and yet he got humped by a 16 week old girl puppy!!  It seemed she wanted to show him who the boss was and then they were the greatest of friends ever since!

So the thing I would suggest is if you know your staff is a little boistrous and too much for some people, just read the situation...is the other dog that you encounter the kind that would want to play? you can normally judge that for yourself by looking at how it is behaving...then does the other owner look sociable...if both are yes then I would keep your dog on the lead and approach them, smile say hi etc then just simply ask if their dog likes to play and explain that you have to be carefull because some people have a bad idea about the breed etc and explain that he is a big softie and go from there, I don't think you will be excluded for too long! As there are plenty of people glad to let there dog play as it means they can walk them for a little less long seeing as they will be running around together while you stand and talk...lol

My puppy and I have met so many people since being new to all this dog walking lark...lots love to chat and be social and we end up chating for so long my walks turn out to be much longer than I intended and other people just don't want nothin to do with you!  But it definitly is polite to ask if he can play first rather than let him just barrell in like a bullet like they tend to because that can be a little off putting to some people and there dogs.  Me, I'm glad I met that staff, he kinda broke my puppy of her shyness because just days before meeting him she was couring at even little Jack Russell pups and she was way bigger than them!  The only thing I do feel a little worried about is that I may have allowed her to play a bit to hard at such a young age with soft bones and all and I feel bad about that incase it did them any damage what with all you read about bigger breeds having problems if they play rough etc at an early age, but I did not know that at first as she is my first big dog but that all is another story. 

Anyway the second encounter I had was this burley looking asshole with his staff who did not look playfull like the other one she plays with.  There was someone with a smaller dog than mine and my puppy ran up to say Hi and the smaller dog was a bit scared so we told that person, 'it's ok, she's just a pup' i.e: she wont do any harm...and then this guy with his staff walked past and said 'well he's not a puppy and she wouldn't be ok' as he looked at my puppy...I didn't even say anything and just thought what a prick.

So I think we all know that there are good and bad owners of this breed and the dogs can turn out nice or nasty...but I bet the original posters is lovely and so you should try hard at trying to let other people let your dog meet theres and play so that walks are more fun instead of feeling like people are avoiding you.

Good luck and I bet my now 5 month old female pup would love to hump your staffie anyday!

i dont mind staffies i know,but am very wary with any unknown ones,especially as alot seem to hate collies.

I have only ever had staffies and i don't think i would ever have another breed. I can understand some peoples fear of them but i also believe that a lot of aggression comes about because of the irresponsible owners that use their dogs as status symbols ie my dogs harder than yours etc, we have a few around our way. I have a puppy now who loves everyone and everything but before, my staffs, all male, were brilliant with other dogs. My first was actually badly attacked by a westie (nothing against westies anyone) and amazingly never retaliated, my other staff, Pig, was scared of the rabbit! I'm not saying they are all like that cos obviously you get the ones that just aren't keen on other dogs, but isn't that the case with every breed. I would always put mine on a lead when another dog approached, not cos i was worried about mine being aggressive but because i couldn't be sure that the other dog was friendly. There are many irresponsible people out there that don't do the same. Last night for instance, we were up the park and i saw some jack russells so put Hippo's lead on as we're still working on his recall when there's distractions! (again, nothing against jack russells) These terriers came hurtling towards him, growled and went to attack but luckily my other half managed to pick Hippo up by his harness just in time. Where was the owner? Sat in his car at the other end of the park! Now if that had been a staff that had shown aggression, we would never had heard the end of it.

We love Staffys and could not believe the negative reactions we have had since Stinkfoot ( my almost 10 year old daughter) fell in love with the breed. We thought long and hard about her wish to own one and were delighted when we passed Staffy rescue homecheck in March. Going with the rescue means we have excellent advice on tap, the selection process will be good and Stinkfoot has to wait long enough to be sure this is the breed she really is committed to. My girls are minded by a Staff called Samson, a 10 mnth old male who is a terrific advert for his breed. He loves people and dogs, he is very obedient, loves a game and his only fault is licking bare toes :) We are encouraging the kids to meet as many Staffs as possible, good and bad so they see the issues involved ( any dogs coming to our house stay for life). So far Ive found people begging me to get Stinkfoot a more "girlie" dog - nice little spaniel or oriental comfort dog, cute litle mongrel - the dog walker refuses to walk Staffs, weve been warned that the local dog owning community will shun us if we get a Staff, obviously we'll become knuckle dragging Chavs overnight! The prejudice we met from those we respected up to now and even liked walking with has been quite hurtful, but we will carry on with our quest to be good staffy owners supported by our vet who also loves the breed and is the only person ( aside from Champdoggers) who has smiled when we said we were thinking of one. Now there are certain breeds I dislike and distrust but Id never say hurtful things to those who love these breeds.

i have just had an experience with a male adult staff.walking back from my sisters to my mums house a staff followed us the house.mums dog was ok(good job) but was grumbling because a strange dog in her house she had never met before stiffing her bum..
any how we managed to split up the dogs by getting her away and in the front room and staff in the kitchen.but before we could get hold of him he was on the street again.i followed him with a lead in toe of hers,he had a collar but no tag.he wouldn't come to me very stand off no matter what i tried.i managed to get hold of him because he went to some ones drive who's dog was at the gate.so i got him clipped up,loads of people looking out the windows and know its not mine as i go round to my parents regular with toby.not one offered to help.knocked on a few doors and people i know on the street told me his name was buster and lived at #5.so off i go up the street to #5 knocked and knocked but was ignoring the door.then the door opened asked if it was there dog,answer "thanks duck" got hold of him and pulled him through the door.
he knew his dog was out but was sitting in the front room doing his own thing.
others said when walking back to mums "how did you get him?" asked why,was told he can't get hold of him when hes of the lead on the field. this is the owner of the dog! why does he let him off if he hasn't got the control or the dog knows recall.
so all in all i was pretty brave not knowing the staff,i have surprised myself to be honest.
he never grumbled or any thing and when i stroked him and said good boy,he jumped up and tried to give me a kiss but it did make me jump.
like others have said i know honestly believe its the owner that gives them a bad rep not the breed.
mainly down to this experience as 1 to 1 with a unknown staff. 

Ive read this thread with great interest.. as the owner of two staffies its a shame that some people dislike or dont trust the breed.
Ive had many hurtful comments thrust in my direction i.e savage dogs. should be pts.. etc etc
I guess theres good and bad in every breed and to be honest i cant see all the hype when thinking of the staffords i know. Theres one that lives two doors away she's old and grey and certainly doesnt attack, growl or otherwise any other dogs.
Mine.. well charlie he's just charlie and loved by all. My youngest Beau is a cute thing who adores dogs and people alike. However walking down my local high street (harborne Birmingham) on a fairly busy evening at 6pm i had the high st to myself.... why? people crossed to avoid us.
A shame the some people feel the need to do this!

Donna and charliex

Hi

If I were to meet a staffie without my dog I would be more than pleased to meet these little dynamo's as all the ones I have met have been wonderfull with people but I would have more concern if I had my dog with me. I think the only reason for this is that the staffs near where I live drag their owners down the road and I would have a concern that if they are not properley controlled on a lead if something where to happen would the owner have controll? To be honest though this thought occurs to me with all dogs that are pulling people on the lead and as I have had bad experiences with GSD's I would be more likely to cross the road to avoid a GSD than a Staffy.:)

Nikki