I am sure I am not alone as a staffie owner with this problem.  My staff is 5 years old, she is extremely friendly, every human she encounters is treated as a best friend, all dogs are her playmates. The only thing she doesn't like is cats, she's absolutely terrified of them, she could be busting to go to toilet but nothing will get her to go out if there is a cat in the garden, I frequently watch the neighbours cat chasing our poor little staff!

Why is it when I take her out for a walk I get treated like a leper!  People round up their children, dog owners nervously put their dogs on a lead and make a wide berth (even though my dog is on a lead).  The times I did let my dog  off the lead (when it was a puppy) I got screamed at by people, one woman told me dogs like mine shouldn't be let off a lead.  You can tell staffie owners as they seem to be the only people that make a fuss of her or talk to me (probably out of sympathy because they encounter the same prejudice).  I now keep my dog on an extendable lead but other dog owners think it is OK to let their unleashed dog come up to harass and even attack my dog and she never retaliates, the dog owners still act like I shouldn't be there with my 'fighting dog'!.  I am aware that there are irresponsible staffie owners that have got them for the wrong reasons but surely this can apply to any breed of dog.  I made the decision to get a staffie because of fond childhood memories of their friendly character and I have never encountered an agressive staffie.  OK, sometimes we do wonder if ours was dropped on her head at birth because she is so unlike other dogs, completely mad (in a nice way) but that is what makes them so appealing. The media has a lot to answer for as they seem to fuel the public's prejudice of this misunderstood breed.  It is time that the public were educated on the true traits of this wonderful breed (they aren't nicknamed nurse maids because of their agressive nature!). 

i got all the looks and abuse the other week when i took my 19 week staff to the beach i had people putting there dogs on leads was told she shouldnt be allowed out un muzzeled i turned and said ffs she is a baby shes brill with dogs and kids i have 3 young kids and two other staffies,  10 mins later a bedlington terier came up to her they started to play its owner came and said i should be reported for owning a pittbull i was shocked i ended up coming home feeling very low and sad, there is to many ignortent people about do these look like pittbulls to you
[thegang
two are kc staffs the other has no papers

sorry about the bad spelling its been a long day

Aww, just looked at your pic, they're gorgeous! Have to say, I thought the one on the end was a border collie at first!

lol no hes 100% kc staff hes only 12 weeks old bless him, hes a right little monster

Hi,  what beautifull staffs.  I have a 5 year old and a 10 month old and I have exactly the same trouble people need educating its so frustrating!!

It amazes me how ignorant people can be!

Staffies are one of the most popular breeds, and with good reason with their great natures 99.9% of the time, in the uk. How can people mix them up with pit bulls? They look nothing like.

Great pic Ilovemygirls, nice to see them chilling out at home! although it would be nice to get a space for yourself on that sofa once in a while im sure.

great pic and sorry to hear yo have to go though that.  the best thing to do is to try to make friends with the ppl that are having a go.  say you are out on a walk and a nice friendly dog comes up to you and there owner has a go try talking to them try to show them how nice they can be how good they can be with other dogs.  dont stop taking your dogs out with you cos of these ppl do it more.

and good luck with finding your little 1 a new home (i replyed to your ad this morning)

Your dogs are such cuties.  The oldest on the left hand side of the photo is identical to mine.  How can anyone say that your youngest looks in the slightest bit agressive.  When I first got mine I was so shocked by the public's reaction that I went to the police station and asked if they had to be muzzled and was told that you were more likely to be attacked by a jack russell than a staff, I think that says it all!

Bad press, bad owners and bad breeders (all in the minority) are to blame :( And its not just "pet" owners I'm afraid. At SKC last year we set up in the grooming area with many other terrier breeds and it was next to the staffie ring. One man entertained himself while waiting to go in the ring by encouraging his staffie to keep lunging at an Irish in a crate. One person like that does an awful lot of damage to a breed. The same happened at an open show with an akita while my boy was in his crate, and he now hates every akita he sees and barks whenever a dog goes near his crate at a show.

Fillis that just plain awful!!!
After you have trained your boy to be happy in his crate and then him be subject to an attack while in his "safe" place must have been terrifying for him!!!
People with dog agressive Akitas should NOT be in the ring IMO, its just more bad press.

I hope he isnt too afraid at shows while in his crate any more, and i dont blame him for being wary of Akitas after such an incident. You should have put in a complaint about the owner...

Unfortunatly there are too many bad owners, owning them  that is giving them a bad name.
The area i am unfortunate enough to live in has a high Staffie population, many are owned by drug dealers and other irresponsable owners, one who lets her twin young sons walk the dog it now chases after other dogs and the boys just let it go.  One person complained and got a brick through thier window and a lighted petrol rag through thier letter box during the night.
One Staffie attacked my lab.  My lab was on the lead as i walked along the road, the Staffie was being walked by a young man off the lead, with two other Staffies who were on the lead.   This one just ran at us and grabbed my labs stomach and dragged him, it was horrifying and the skin was stretching so far.
I yelled at him to get the dog off and he just said "calm down luv you have to let dogs be dogs".
I actually do like Staffies as a breed but unfortunatly the owners round here have made me one of those who would cross the road if i had a dog with me.  i wouldn't wait to find out if they were nice with a good owner.
Bev

Where my friend live there is a "dealer" with a pure white Akita. He would be a beautiful dog if he werent so filthy, moody and terratorial. He has been very well trained, ill give him that, ive seen him corner someone before.

Its such a terrible shame that dogs are bought for such purposes when all they need is a loving home and they would be wonderful members of a family.

The truth is, though, that it only takes a few bad owners and a few careless breeders to get a whole breed a bad name. We all know that a "true" staffie is as soft as butter, but can understand that with the way they look, the way some people breed them and the way some owners encourage them to behave that folk who know no better are at the least, wary of them. Its the same with a lot of breeds that become very popular. I seem to remember that when chocolate labs became "the thing" there were some problems with temperement, presumably because the wrong breeders jumped on the bandwaggon. I admit that although I love dogs, there are some breeds I am wary of until I see how they behave.

Fillis, I agree with you totally.  I work with somebody who recently got a chocolate lab, I haven't met the dog but by the description they give me the temperment sounds very similar to a staff, very strong willed.  The owner is now struggling as they thought they were getting a nice cute little dog that would sit in the corner and be quiet.  I think you can judge quite quickly if a dog is going to friendly.  Even though I have no worries about a staffs temperment I would obviously be wary, as I would with any dog.

I'm really sorry that you have had such a bad experience of staffies BevB but please do not think for one moment that this is typical of the breed.  Media images such as newspapers/films have seemed to make staffies more popular with irresposible owners but I can remember a time when the same thing could be said for German Shepherds or Rottweillers.

It makes my blood boil that there are irresponsible owners out there creating this impression, a staffie is a joy to know.  I can only hope these idiots find something else to get their kicks from although that raises another question of what will happen to the poor dogs when these irresponsible owners get bored with them.

And what breed they will turn to next!

hi all. i agree why do they get a bad name. ours is 24 weeks old,we take her to the park with our other dog,no problems.people think they are an aggresive dog, i myself thought the same before we got ours.we have 3 kids girl 8,2 boys 6+2. she has never bit or showed any agression to any ofthe kids, even tho our youngest get's in her crate with her and tries to choke her, all she does is a little growl to let him know he has gone to far. it is a wonder she has not gone further. but that is why they are exellent with children. hence the nickname the nanny dog. it does upset me when you see people drag there dog's away from staffies,allthough it has never happened to me. ours is fine with most dog's she has met from a newfoudland to a yorkie. people do not know enough about the breed. i have read a lot before we got ours. and i must say what a cracking dog they are. if you train them and socilise them early i dont see any probs. people buy them thinking they are a hard dog,they are not with humans,maybe other dogs. as a guard dog they are no good at all, yes they bark when someone is at the door,but once they are in the house it is lick to death time. what i know now i would not swap ours for the world,she is the most loving dog we have ever had, and i have had 3 dogs before. she gets on fine with our mongrel who is 12 years old. she gets a bit rough sometimes. well waffled enough now bye to all the staffy owners and dog lovers everywher.  all the best steve.

i have a staffy, he is a large powerfull looking dog and people sometimes cross the street to avoid having to walk past him, he does try to jump up at people when we are walking but the worst he would do is lick someone to death!!!!. there are alot of young lads where i live who own or want to own staffys for the wrong reason and have seen many of them encouraging there own dogs to be aggressive to other people and dogs, i've often had them approach me and my dog while we have been walking wanting to know if he was nasty...someone even offered me a large amount of money for my dog cos he was bigger than his mates staffys. (i told him in no uncertain terms NO) PEOPLE LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO OWN ANY DOG. i agree steve they are not good guard dogs...the only thing mine guards is his ball........TAKE THE TELLY BUT NOT MY BALL....

LOL, our staff is the same.  Completely useless guard dog, if our lodger comes in quietly late at night she barks very quitely whilst peering out from behind our legs!  As for the rain and the cold, don't even go there, it becomes a huge battle of wills getting her to step outside the door if it's raining and if you're walking her outside you'd better have good running shoes on when it starts raining! All they are guilty of is being over loving, they just love human company, more so than any other breed I have encountered.

we get that with our abbie she walks around puddles so she doesnt get her feet wet, she wont go out in the rain and she hates the cold
you have to love them and there funny ways lol

wow what a lovely pic! they look divine!!!!

ilovemygirls - what gorgeous babies!!!  They are sooooooooooo beautiful!!! 
That's set me off now, someone posted the other day about attaching a pic of which doggies we own, I might have to do that!!

hiya. there are loads of responsible staffie owners on this site,which is great, & kinda reassuring.
personally though,ive had a very bad experince with a staff (that ive seen on the beach for over two years) suddenly appear on the horizon charge onto my dog,totally unprovoked & try to rip his throat out. the dog was solid muscle & moved like a bullett,he went straight for flynns throat,didnt even try to touch any other bit of him.
ive also seen other incidents, & they are really scaring me.

On the other hand ive met some lovely staffs,just last sat there was a gorgeous one in the obedience class i was judging & i would have taken her home,she was gorgeous.

if i was walking down the street on my own i wouldnt cross the road,if i was with my dogs i would. mainly because collies give abit of eye which staffs & other breeds seem to misread as a threat, & i would want to stir up any trouble.

also sadly in my town there are alot of staffie litters born & sold from shop windows for £150/£200, & seem to be bought by people that are troublemakers & druggies. if they are off their heads how can they be responsible for any dog let alone a powerful breed like a staff.

if youve never encountered a aggressive (dog aggressive im refering too) then you are lucky, theres too many down here alot of which are offthe lead. its a shame beacause ive gone from an fan of the breed to someone who is really really wary of them. im still happy to meet nice ones,but theres alot of pewople out there who ARE not as responsible assome of the people on here,sadly

arrrrrrrrrrrr that is a gorgeous pic of them! they are soooo cute! i think some staffs can look like pitbull expecially the long leggerd kind! are urs short stocky or tall staffs? i thnk there loverly dogs they dont deserve the rep theyve got! any breed off dog can be just as bad but coz theres so many staffs about there the ones you here of most! my mini dacs is a little cow she can be worse than most staffs ive met.hence why she is kept on her lead.something were working on tho! great with kids just dogs she rearly dusnt seem to like!
sarah x

abbie is tall but not over tall, both soxs and harley parents were short and stocky so i think they will be also.
sox is 20 weeks and just coming out of the ugly duckling (legs grown body needs to catch up)stage and is starting to fill out now sox
harley is 13 weeks and at the moment he is short and fat im sure he will start to grow upward shortly
harley

they look lovely! very shiney too!

sox is no ugly duckling hes gorgeous,uve got your hands full with that lot! harley is geogeous too!:)

Your dogs are all beautiful, ignore the idiots that you meet.  I know how you feel because I had a large GSD and unless it was someone we knew they always did their best to go the other way when they saw us and he always looked so dissapointed because he loved to play with other dogs.

I also get people crossing the road even if they have no dogs and mine are huskies.My boy is quite vocal at the beginning of our walks so i think his howling kind of scares people.But i do have a little chuckle to myself when very big built men cross the road or go on the muddy grass to avoid me and my dogs.:)

Reputation can be a terrible thing.  I will freely admit that I am very wary of any staff I see unless I know it - as I am with any GSD or Jack Russell.  I am like this because of the ones I've met before - mostly in a boarding kennels - owned by, frankly, often complete morons!

The GSDs were almost always nervous, or they were too over-excitable and mouthed a lot - one used to punch me every time I went in with him, I had to stop in the end - he was a very big GSD!  The staffies used to get very excited and start mouthing; I also have a staffy as a customer (dog groomer) who I am very careful with - he tried to bite me when I tried to gently lift him into the bath, although he did growl to warn me to be fair to him.

Of the many JRTs I've met, only a couple haven't been snappy, so I watch those carefully.  I got bit by one once with no warning.

I know those last two aren't staffies, but they helped illustrate my point - I don't believe all staffs are bad to any degree, I do know some lovely ones, but sadly the majority I've met have had problems that have made me wary of any I see.  It is a shame - even one I've known from a puppy I have to be careful with, as she gets very aggressive in her playing with my dogs.  But then, her owner is fairly clueless.

It is usually the owners, but unfortunately knowing that doesn't change the dogs that are already bad.  Don't take peoples' reactions to heart, we are just being careful - I've had people avoid my own dogs (rott X and doberman), even though they are lovely to everyone and every dog they meet, you just have to grin and bear it.

This sounds so familiar i have a collection of dogs, a Doberman dog we had from 6 months, a patterdale dog aged 1, a doberman bitch and a staffie dog. I always get people crossing the road when i am walking my doberman dog and he is a teddy bear, i get annoyed when some of the owners walking their little dogs that start barking at my dog then say that my dog is nasty when he barks back. My dog is telling the other dog not to be so stupid, when they see the puppy walking with us they look in shock and horror that it hasnt got bits missing and isnt covered in scars from this "nasty" dog.
Although i agree that it is how you bring a dog up, our first doberman puppy was an exception and i am sure there are exceptions in every breed, we took her back to the breeder as she was agressive at three months, at four months she would try to bite people that walked past, but this didnt put us off the breed and as with everything, its a shame that a bad apple can rot the whole barrel. We take our dogs to puppy classes to socialise them with other pups and it does work wonders, they learn to behave around other dogs and they learn the body language in surroundings that are completely safe and secure.

I havent got Staffs, (but people always think my Patterdale is one ) but I love the bread, and your lot look sooooo cute :D

Mine plays with a Staff up in the woods/Fields. There are other owners who think im stupid for letting this happen, but I tell them to mind their own bl**dy business.

Staffs are a lovely breed and one of the best with children, but only (like all breeds) if brought up right!!

how do you post pic's of your dog?

I have an 11 year old staff who is liked by everyon in the park, I have never had anyone telling me to put him on a lead. He plays with the other dogs nicely. I only put him on a leaf if I see one particular dog who happens to be another staff as he got bitten by him a few weeks ago or if I see a dog with a ball as Sam is partial to a tennis ball and I don't want a fight to happen.
I also have cats and he is fine with 2 of them, but he is scared of another one because even when he waslks past her, he gets a whak.
I am about to get another dog with a bad reputation, A rottweiler, and from what i have seen of them, they have such a good nature. Peoples misconceptions of some dogs are a because of what they read, but i have found that if you talk to other owners, they do not have a problem. Let them get to know you and your dog and you will not have any problems at all.
I guess that I am lucky as I see the same people and dogs every day so we all get to know each other.

Regarding people who put their dog on the lead when they see you coming even though yours is on the lead, it may not be as bad as you think.

I can walk around a park with Millie off the lead no problem, she will stay with me, if she goes a bit astray she will respond to a recall and come back and stay with me.  However if she encounters another dog on that walk, all hope is lost.  She would not return to me for love or money once she has another dog in her vision.  Its no good saying I need to make myself more exciting, as she has made it quite clear that as much as she loves me, I will never be THAT exciting!  And even though she is totally food-motivated (for food-motivated, read Dyson), even food doesn't come close to the attraction of another dog.

So if I'm out with Millie, on the rare occasions that I let her off the lead (only when the park is deserted!), if I spot another dog in the distance I will get her on the lead as quickly as I can before she spots it.  A couple of times I haven't been quick enough, and that's it she's off to run over and lick the dog's face - the last time being a very unfriendly GSD, and the owner (who had him on a lead) was frozen in panic at the sight of my little scottie bounding over in his direction.  I called out to ask whether it was a dog or a bitch, fortunately it was a dog so I relaxed a little and fortunately the dog was far too interested in having a good sniff of my bitch who immediately lay on the floor to offer her underside for sniffing purposes to react, which also surprised his owner who was expecting his dog to kick off big time.  It still took me about 10 minutes to get hold of her though, she just wanted to play with this dog and she wasn't letting me get near her for love or money.

So although I know my dog is the friendliest dog in the park, if she was off the lead and I saw you walk towards me  with your dog on the lead I would put her on the lead too.  For the simple reason that you have chosen to keep your dog under control (for whatever reason) and its not fair if my dog who is completely ignorant of me in doggy situations comes bounding over and starts jumping at its face.  If your dog was off the lead, I may not worry so much however saying that we walked into the park on Friday and saw a black lab in front of us off the lead.  His owner started sneaking up behind him and grabbed him just as he launched into a furious tirade at Milie, growling, spitting, hurling abuse (the dog, not the owner ;-)) and I'd like to know why exactly he was being allowed to walk freely around a town park off the lead anyway!  But that shocked me because I have never seen a lab react like that before, and it certainly teaches you that you should never judge a dog by its breed!  Take each dog on its own merits!

Because of Millie's naughty behaviour, I tend to keep her on the lead at all times now in our local park and a lot of owners put their dogs on leads when they see me coming - because they see her on a lead they think she is to be avoided and put their dog on the lead too - and she's a silly friendly 18 mth old Scottie so its probably the lead that is making them react like that, not the breed of dog.  Hope that puts your mind at rest a little.

I will always let Millie greet a staff if their owners allow it - admittedly most that we met have warned not to approach, but those that have said its okay, I let her go up for a sniff as I like to make the effort to show staffy owners that we don't all think badly of their breed!