Are there so many staffy's in rescue.?

irresponsible breeding, irresponsible owning, poor training... take your pick

they were also the 'in' dog for a while so tons were bred

Because idiots with the hardman mentality take them on, usually ruin them, then cant cope and abandon them. Likewise many familys take them on but cant cope with the 'mental pup' stage (up to 2years old in most staffs) and insted of making the effort to understand and train them, just abondon them or give them up.

Due to the demand from the above examples in society, you get way too many BYB's that churn out pups to satisfy demand and line their pockets.

Sad but true.

Too many pet owners trying to cash in on the popularity of the breed without giving a though to whether there are sufficient suitable homes for puppies and generally end up giving the pups away to anyone who'll take one who subsequently dump the dog when the novelty has worn off.

Its usually staffs that arent 100% stafford, but a few pedigree ones make it through as well.

People have really abused the good nature of the stafford and sometimes with evil intent.

So many people breed unregistered staffs, people go to a litter buy a unregistered puppy and when it doesnt grow into a SBT like we all know ( be it too leggy, head shape isnt right or isnt stocky enough) they simply chuck it in a home and get a new one :(

These dogs deserve so much better.

Its usually staffs that arent 100% stafford, but a few pedigree ones make it through as well.


Hi Rach,

Don't be fooled that it is the case.   The rescues are full of 100% staffies I know of 2 people who took of Staffies from Rescue and were able to trace them back to the breeder. Decent lines honest.

I think the problem is there are too many of the wrong type of people buying them then just disposing of them.   They are a harder breed to rehome easily unlike so many other small terriers than seem to find good homes quite easily. 

I do agree Blue but the rescues down here seem to be filled with more crosses then purebred. But either way theres no reason why these gorgeous dogs are in homes so much more then any other breed.

Youre right again about them not being so easy to re-home, the people who volunteer and work at rescue centres deserve medals and a majestys honour for all the hard work they do for these poor animals.

Another problem is:for the same reasons people are giving away the staffies is the same reason people dont want to rehome them. theres so much bad press its no wonder people won't consider them. Dont know about elsewhere but our local rescues refuse to give staffies to anyone but experianced owners. I totally agree with it but it means the window for successful adoption is very small.

I think they are doing a wise thing, but like you say the damage has now been done and the numbers are so great that having extra rules applied to rehoming is likely to put people off isnt it.
Im glad that SBT craze seems to be dying down now as I have not seen half as many as there used to be, or maybe their just all in rescue :(
:( They are such a magnificant breed and all the bad press is completely unjustified. :(

I got my staffie girl from a rescue centre when she was 8 weeks old (shes 16 weeks now) I was planning to get her from a breeder but when my friend told me about the litter I couldnt resist. The mum had 11 pups and the owners couldnt cope obviously no experience so they put her and the litter in the centre,they also owned the dad and put him in there too which is a bit strange but at least we got to see both mum and dad.My family has always owned staffs so i've got a good idea on what they should look like and although i know they was'nt purebreed the mum,dad and the litter all looked like a good example of the breed.My pup, Raven, was the smallest i know i shouldnt of chose her because some say the smallest tend to have a lot of problems,but she is excellent my friend got a boy and although hes a bit more boistrous (sorry about the spelling) they are both doing well.I dont regret my decison at all if i would of gone to a breeder i would of got a pure breed staff but i was happy to give the centre a donation and give my little girl a loving home.x

Here here colls. Fair play to you.  Would have definatly had a rescue dog myself if i didnt have eczema issues with dog fur, hence why i got a non moulting breed. I looked for months at rescue centres for poodles never saw one. A year later, got my puppy and within a few weeks i'd seen 2 poodles in rescue :-) Always the way.

The mum had 11 pups and the owners couldnt cope obviously no experience so they put her and the litter in the centre,they also owned the dad and put him in there too

How someone could do that is beyond me, to put the dam and her pups in there and the dad is so terrible, how stressed must the dam of been???? I cant describe what it makes me feel, why breed if you dont have the means? people think to make a quick buck they will breed, but it costs a small fortune to raise a litter. Makes me want to hunt them down and...............

We need more people like you Colls behind this breed and seeing past the media, It is a wonderful thing you have done as well :)

In Response to Freds Mum

Just for future reference all breeds will have their own breed rescue, luckily some have lesser rescue issues than others, but except for the most numerous breeds you usually don't see as many in general rescue centres as the breed rescues tend to home all those that are refereed to them.

There is something else going on that seems out of proportion to their numbers.
It would seem to me that an unusually large number of people who have them automatically expect to recoup their outgoings by breeding a litter. I know that this is very common in one of my breeds the CKCS but I have found it extreemly unusual in my other breed -Boxers. I  'own' loads of boxers -still have them registered in my ownership, it has been extemely rare for people to transfer into their own name and hardly ever asked to lift endorsements.
A great number of new posters with SBTs on this forum, seem to be asking questions about breeding from their Staffs  - how do they get papers, how soon, how often, want a stud dog etc. I know that there are lots of posters from other breeds posting similar questions but it seems disproportionate.
I can only conclude that they see them primarily as money-makers or it's ingrained in the culture they bought them from..... ie was sold a 'great bargain' a pup with an income!

There were no specific centres for my breed in area that would have been fair to put a dog through to travel :-)

Think you have hit it on the nail there.  

Thanks for the praise (head getting bigger as we speak he he!) seriously though i think alot people have staffs because of thier supposedly hard reputation and making themselves look more chav like but if you research the breed they are only aggressive towards dogs not humans if anything they think they are human.Last year my brother locked himself out, his friend had to climb the ladder to get in the small window because my brothers scared of heights (wimp) my brothers staff Reggie was in the house and never met my brothers friend before,when he got in Reggie went up to him with his ball in his mouth tail wagging wanting to play! No growling barking nothing just normal staff behaviour ,we all joked that it was a good job it was'nt a burglar as long as he threw Reg the ball he would of watched him nick the telly. When i went to get Raven there was 15 staffs all wanting homes and if my house was bigger i would of had more than 1. I feel so sorry for this breed they dont deserve the bad press they get.x

> There were no specific centres for my breed in area that would have been fair to put a dog through to travel

Usually breed specific rescue except in very numerous breeds may be National.  Different rescues will either use a Boarding Kennel near one of their workers, have foster carers, or try and home dogs direct from their previous home, or do a combination of these.

To be honest travel anywhere within the UK isn't a welfare issue.  Often if the adopter really can't themselves travel volunteers will ferry a dog on various legs of a journey to a volunteer near you to do the final stages.  Again things vary breed to breed.

there are a lot of staffies here in shelters too, but its because you cant legally own them (unless the dog was born before Aug 2005)

Is that Staffies or American staffords.

In Response to Brainless:

According to the Dog Liability Act, aka Pit Bull Ban it includes:
Staffordshire Terrier
Bull Terrier
American Pit Bull Terrier

or
ANY DOG with close resemblance to these breeds.

They are not allowed to be bred or owned.  All dogs that were born before Aug 2005 may be kept, only if the owner follows certain restrictions:
-Licensing of a Potentially Dangerous Dog (restricted dog): fee dependant on what the city charges, here it is $75
-Dog must be muzzled when off the owners property
-Spayed or Neutered
- On leash at all times when outside owners home

~~~~~
The law is silly, because if you read the standard for these above mentioned breeds, and then look at the standard for other dogs (such as the labrador retriever - not sure about UK standard, but the AKC breed standard is very similar in description of appearance between the two breeds)
One must be very careful, because it is up to you to PROVE your dog ISNT one of the above mentioned breeds, or it can be taken away and PTS. 

Bites living in Ontario.

Yes but in the US and I assume Canada when they say Staffordshire terrier they are meaning AMERICAN staffordshire terrier, not the real (British) SATAFFORDSHIRE bull Terrier which should be a dog of much smaller (14 to 16 inches at the shoulder) and different type http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/87 , and I think not that well known in USA or Canada.

I do beleive a lot of the Staff crosses we see here in the UK are an attempt by macho morons to produce soemthing more akin to a pitbull in looks.

Actually Brainless it was nothing to do with i couldnt be bothered to travel. I'd have travelled anywhere to get the right dog but didnt think it was fair to put a yound dog through a ten hour journey. As i said before there were no rescue centres at all near me.

In Response to Brainless:

We too have the British Version of the staffy.  They are small, about 16 inches or so.  The Am Staff, is a bit bulkier and taller, but not by much. 

And since this law says "or any dog with close resemblance to these breeds" it would include any variety of the staffy, your white boxer, anything.  All it has to do is LOOK like one.  And its the animal control officers that are making the judgement call, not really breed standards.  They know what a Pit is supposed to look like, so anything that could look like one, is a target.  It is sad really.

I never suggested you couldn't be bothered to travel for a puppy.

Being unable to drive myself travel can be an issue for a person.  Of course there are usuallly ways to solve the problem.

I was pointing out that travelling the kind of distances that would happen in the UK are not a welfare issue for a dog.

In fact many of the National all breed rescue centres ship their dogs across country to areas where they have a better chance of finding a home, and trying to avoid having to many of a similar type in one centre.

Many people seem totally unaware of breed specific rescues, which are often a better bet for people who want a specific breed and often there is a lot more history on the dogs available (often a longer wait though).

The centre may be ahppy doing that but i think is stressful takinga  dog/puppy to a new home and think the transition should be as smooth as possible. Dont think a long drive would be suitable not comfortable for the dog.
Anyway, there was only one dog anyway so i knew it would be rehomed quickly locally.

I think one of the major reasons with Staffords in rescue is because people don't do research - on another forum, a first-time dog owner was told the breed is great with kids, but not told any of the drawbacks of the breed or advised to do any research. Mind you, this was a site where a regular poster likes his dogs pulling on the lead as it builds up muscle!!

Staffords are not the only breeds to suffer - people buy their dogs because of how they look, without reasearching their temperament, and when they can't cope the poor animals are dumped on rescues. I remember when One Man And His Dog was on TV - every other dog was a Border Collie, and the majority of owners did not realise they needed more than a 30 minute walk every day.

> Dont think a long drive would be suitable not comfortable for the dog

sorry i'm a bit confused... do you not think its suitable to travel to get the correct dog then? are you against imports etc then?

(btw, if your by any chance considering another poodle or know anyone else there are 2 in rescue up here now)

I think its far more suitable to get a rescue dog locally if at all possible. There are not many poodles in rescue and lots of people want them so in my eyes, why not let someone who wants a poodle in the north get a dog from a rescue in the north, then if a dog becomes available in the south (where i live) i'd get one from there.
As much as id love more - im not after any at the moment thanks. :-)

lol, just thought i'd mention in case you know anyone who;s looking!

If i had my way i'd have hundreeds!!!!:-) but for all the obvious reasons i cant. Although, my auntie and uncle are looking. Could you maybe PM me and give me some info or the website and i will let them know.
Many thanks

I made a 6000 mile round trip involving four flights and two car journeys to mate a bitch :D  T^hough at no time was she seperated from me for more than 2 1/2 hours.