Hi Everyone,
I'm hoping someone can help me out and give me some advice on staffies - I would love to buy a puppy and have done loads of research through books and the internet, but i'm finding that each place I look is giving me conflicting info, so I thought I'd try to ask some people who actually owned them. I feel this size dog would suit me as I have an average 3 bedroom house with a big secure garden, and as i've suffered cat allergies in the past I wouldn't want to risk a long-haired breed. There are only my boyfriend and me living there at the moment but we'd like to start a family in the next couple of years and i've read they're very good with children.
The problem I have is that we both have full time jobs, and i'm aware the dog would be alone for long periods during the day. We plan to take time off work after initially bringing the puppy home, and I will be home at lunch each day after, but although I know we can spend lots of time with the dog out of work hours, I'm very concerned the dog will not be distressed when it's on it's own. I've considered having a 'dog flap' fitted so it can access the garden - does anyone have one of these? I would really appreciate anyones advice on this or anything else connected to these dogs.
Thanx

 

Hi Guest

I think the biggest problem you will have is that Staffies just love their humans. They want to be inside your skin with you so I don't think a puppy would take well to being left alone for long periods. They also have strong jaws and they can do a lot of damage if they get anxious or stressed and worried about their humans being away.

All they really want is to be with their families. This may be very restrictive for you when you want to go our at night following a day at work - those pleading eyes that are looking at you and making you feel guilty about leaving them are hard to take (mine used to do it when  I went to the show without her!).

If I were you, I would go for an older dog - one that will happily settle on the sofa and sleep all day until you get home.

Good luck.

hello welcome ,staffs are wonderful dogs, and you do sound like you would be a lovely owner, the only thing is staffs HATE being on there own for long periods, i work 12 hrs a week and they are loopy when i get home, some people say as long as you socialise well with your dog when you are at home then thats ok, so maybe im soft, but staffs do love company!  why dont you register and we can try and help ?

Hiya
we have an 8 month old called Giorgia, she was our first dog and we thought long and hard before having her because we work fulltime and live 20miles each way from home . But we're lucky because my husband works 12 shifts and there is only two days one week and 2 days another week when she is on her own and then I come home lunchtime to walk her and feed her. The rest of the time, I'm there weekends and evenings and he is there weekdays.
They do want your company all the time they will follow you into the toilet and sit with you,they will put their paws on the bath and wait for you while you wash. They will sleep with you, ours sleeps with her head on the pillow between us. So if you dont have much time after work you will not have a happy Staff, they need walking or at least playing with every day and it is very hard when you are working.Those days when I come home lunchtime are really hard because I leave at 8.00am and come home lunchtime then go back and dont get home again until 6.00p. The dog will then need and and want your undivided attention because they have been on their own. You can forget cooking a healthy tea, we're not one for takeaways but on those days you dont have a choice. Of course all of this may sound dramatic and it is our choice but maybe Staffie owners who are committed will understand this is necessary for a happy healthy dog.
On the other hand if you are still willing to try, maybe you have a relative or friend who can help out a few days a week, Staffs love people and it is good for them to be around different environments.
When we had ours as a puppy she wasnt on her own for three weeks, we introduced 'the being left on their own experience' slowly, so it would be good to have that time at the beginning. They need alot of training and one to one time as they are headstrong and are very intelligent so they will learn quickly. The reason that our breed has such a negative reputation I think is because some owners dont prepare themselves for the commitment that is needed in owning a very special animal. If you want a good a natured loving staff who will kiss you to death and nibble your ears 24 hrs a day then this is what is needed. I believe that most nasty staffs arnt born like that.
Sorry that I seem to be going on but I wanted to give you a taste of what it is like to own a Staff, my Husband and I will never be without one now but they wont suit everyone
best of luck, let us know what you decide

Rob

Hi there
I have a staff and like the other posters are saying they are very much people dogs and suffer when left for long periods. They can be very destructive and this would be much worse when left alone for long periods. I know someone who has a staff and they both work full time, their house has been chewed to bits even plaster eaten off of the wall. I am not saying that they would all do that and other breeds are destructive too but far better to be aware that this might happen before you get a puppy and then find it too much and the poor thing ends up in rescue. Why not go to the local dog rescue centre and get an older dog that might not mind being left as much as a puppy. Greyhounds are usually not too bad at being left. They like to sleep and would probably not be as bored as a lively dog like a staff. Sorry to sound abit negative but there are hundreds of staffs in rescue because people have not looked into the breed enough and just bought a staff because of what they look like and not realised that they can be very hard work and verrrrrrrrrrrry lively (nutters).
Good luck with whatever you decide to do
Sue    

Hi Guest

i have 2 staffs (mother & daughter) they are only left alone 1 day a week, from 8.30am til 3pm.
We have a dog flap and i do find that it has helped releave any bordem and mine have not been destructive. I do however agree totally with the other posters and echo that they are people dogs and crave constant attention (and who can resist that face :D )
If you have someone that could come in on a regular basis then it could work, but if not then i would consider and older dog, and agree that there are 'other breeds' that are happier when left alone.

let us know what you decide.

Ems
xx