Hi, I'm new to this board and any help would be really appreciated.  We are a family of 4 including two young boys aged 6 and 8 years.  We would love a puppy and we've been told staffordshire bull terriers are excellent with children.  Does anyone have any views on this they can share? Also, how do we find a reputable breeder to help us?  Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

My staffie is brill with all 5 of my kids.
They can be a bit 'mental' at time & charge around the house knocking people over!

I would recommend them with children, as long as the children know how to be kind to dogs.

You best bet would be to contact one of the breed clubs & visit a couple of breeders.

Please ensure the parents are eye tested, it is also a bonus if they are hip scored also, but not many do.

Jo
xxx

I replied to a similar question 18/3, it would be worth you looking at the replies there as well from different people.
We have a year old Staff who is the most wonderful dog you could ever have, loyal, loving and and affectionate. She also has an excellent nature with people and dogs. This isnt always the norm though so you will need to do your research before you take on the responsibilty of owning a Staff.
They are very intelligent and love to learn but can be destructive if bored or left for long periods of time. They very much liike to be part of the family and wont be happy being left out of activities. In essence you will have an extra child who will follow you about everywhere. They need a firm hand as they are strong but you can never lose your temper with them.
As for the breeder, as has been said check out the local SBT club websites and Kennel Club. When you decide to go and see the pups, ask lots of questions of the breeder and make sure you are happy with their answers. They should also check you out by asking lots of questions. The puppies should be well socialised and used to being handled and it would be useful for you if they come from a breeder with children. You should see Mum and know about dad and the family line and all the paperwork should be in order.
If you think of anythingelse just ask as owning a Staff is the most wonderful experience we have ever had but we did our homework. If we hadnt it might have been a different story