Why is that some people have a bad attitude towards staffs after taking my 12 month male staff to the vets we called into our local pub for a quick one when we approached by supposed to be a friend! who said that he would have "one of the dogs around his children" I have owned staffs for the last 4 years and have had 3 in total and never had any problems with regards to aggression etc, but even down the park people cross the path when they see a staff in site quite frankly I would be most concerned of there yappy snappy on a lead than my 2 babies I know that there is always a chance that any dog can turn if not treated right but it does make me cross when they are so ignorant.

You are suffering with the perception of people, sadly mainly caused by a certain sort of owner, with whom staffies and their crosses have become popular.  These people want their dog to look and act hard, and it soon ruins a breeds reputaion.

Many people, my own non dogyy family think that Staffies and Pit Bulls are one and the same, and of course beleive all the bad publicity that went along with this type of dog being banned.

Must say I am one of those who avoids staffs on walks, or more accurately avoid a certain type of owner, as I know they will have no control, and probably encourage theri dogs to be dog aggressive.

It isn't that I dislike the breed, as my all time childhood favourite dog was a staff called Bill, who if alive now would fall foul of the DDA, as he was tall and leggy.  He was Black and white with classic colie type markings, and an Angel in dog form, belonging to my Art teacher, so was my model on many occasions. :D

It's not only the fault of bad, irresponsible owners - the media has its part to play, too.  During the great "devil dog" furore in the late 80s/early 90s, the press frequently reported the dogs responsible for attacks as either APBTs or Staffies - or a generalised mixture of the two.  Only the other day there was a report in the press of a dog attacking another dog on the beach - it was reported to be a "Staffordshire Pit Bull Terrier".

Most of the time the public are merely reacting to what they've read or heard, they have little or no experience with the breed.  My friends and family had never met a Staffy when I first got my girl and were horrified when I said that I was thinking of getting a Staff - my sisters went as far to say that they would never take their children to my house whilst I owned a devil dog!  Needless to say, once they met Benson and realised that she was far from the aggressive, vicious dog that they had been expecting they stopped worrying.

As much as I love the breed, I will admit that I tend to be slightly apprehensive if I see an obviously out of control Staffy bombing about towing a rough looking person behind them - this is more probably due to my own preconceptions of humans than the dog itself, though!  It is true that some people look upon the breed as a penis extension though, and that's tragic.

I'm getting pd off with peoples attitudes towards staffs already, and candy's only 5 months!!we took her out last sunday and most people were clucking and asking to stroke her but 1 woman said "is it safe" so i said "yes SHE is but i'm not so get off my dog now!"My friends step daughter was attacked by a boxer x staffx god knows what else so they have vowed neevr to come round again while i have killer dogs.Oh well people can't help being ignorant pigs can they? 

I think that anyone that owns a Staff has to be a sort of ambassador for the breed - Benny is hopefully going to start her Pets As Therapy training next year and I'm hoping a few people will change their opinions!  Sadly, you can't change everyone's opinions as some people are just naturally ignorant and want to stay that way :)

The GSD and the Rotty went through a period of demonisation, too.  Thankfully the goverment at the time didn't take the quite frankly ridiculous step of introducing a DDA then, it's the successive governments we have to thank for that piece of excrement :(

As the saying goes, people should punish the deed, not the breed!

<<<I think that anyone that owns a Staff has to be a sort of ambassador for the breed >>>

Well said :)

well i hope i am when im not telling people to p off...lol.seriously though candy lies on her back when anyone goes to stroke her, she weighs about 20lbs and is the cutest thing ever.If people want to be ignorant about the breed then that's fine with me, i'm getting another pup on sunday, and will try and educate the ignoramuses but i'm not expecting much success.:(

<<<I think that anyone that owns a Staff has to be a sort of ambassador for the breed >>>

I agree too, however I must say I am one of those people who ACTIVELY avoid Staffs in the park and StaffX's mostly because people appear to have NO control over them, I much prefer bumping into Lab and GSD owners ;)
A preconception I know, but one thats hard to break.

Karen 

I grew up very nervous around dogs, but when I was about 14 my mate got a puppy staff that I went with her and her family to collect and spent a lot of time with, then she got a second.

Consequently, I have never been afraid of Staffs and always wanted one and have always liked them....that is until I joined Champdogs...and I hear so many people talking about how other people are nervous around their staffs, and discussions about the bad press they get, that it has actually made me nervous and now I do panic slightly when I see one, like today when one came trotting down the road towards us as we were crossing, off the lead, with two young lads accompanying him.  Fortunately the lights changed in time for us to cross ;-).

Pre-Champdogs I wouldn't have battered any eyelid.....

"I'm getting pd off with peoples attitudes towards staffs already....."yes SHE is but i'm not so get off my dog now!"

Sorry, but I can't help but notice that you don't like people's attitude to your dog, but you don't see anything wrong with your attitutude to a human being.  That was what I consider to be a perfectly reasonable question...

I've had people ask if my 4 month old Scottie is 'safe' - I don't take it as a criticism of my dog, but a question by a sensible person.  I had a young boy come up to me outside Macdonalds and ask if he can please stroke my dog, which absolutely melted my heart!  His mum had told him to ask first, and I thought that was a really good thing she had done by telling him to ask, she's teaching him to respect animals in a sensible way - its often written in puppy books that children with new puppies in the household should be taught that they should not run up to strange dogs in the way they would with their own puppy as they have to understand that all dogs are different and react differently and they have to learn to respect dogs properly.  Ok so the woman may have been an adult and yes it may have been an overreaction to a 5 mth puppy, and I wouldn't have asked myself, but even so I don't think she can be criticised for making sure it was okay first!

hiya all
i am the very proud owner of 4 staffies- i am also pd off with people who think that every staffie just wants to bite their leg off or wants to tear their pet dog to pieces!

i now take great pleasure in watching people who decide to cross over to the other side of the street/ park when i'm taking them for a walk!
you are what you are and so is you dog whatever the breed! it's how they are reared.
my staffies have been reared with children, and they go on their daily walk at 3-20pm to my local school to pick my daughter up- every child in my daughters class MAKES A FUSS OF MY DOGS AND VISEVERSA.

the staff:-
HE IS YOUR FRIEND, YOUR PARTNER, YOUR DEFENDER, YOUR DOG....
YOU ARE HIS LIFE, HIS LOVE, HIS LEADER.......
HE WILL BE YOURS FAITHFULL AND TRUE UNTIL THE VERY LAST BEAT OF HIS HEART.......
YOU OWE IT TO HIM TO BE WORTHY OF SUCH DEVOTION!!!!!!

        I agree with you Mark but sadly not everyone who owns a Staffs does show him/her such devotion.

     I am the owner of a Staff too, I didn't say before I'm sorry.  But I still will avoid people with Staffs if I can, same reasons as I gave above.
Just want to say here I have had Staffs since late 70's and have owned both dogs and bitches and have had recues too. One of my Staffs was dog aggresive BUT always under control.
      I'm sorry but the owners are often, however NOT always to blame for the attitude of their dogs and therefore the reaction of people too them.
Karen

I generally agree with some of the comments on this board - BUT I would also like to point out that owners of certain breeds can get particularly defensive and assume that people are asking particular questions just because its a particular breed.  "Is he safe" when asking to approach any dog is a perfectly reasonable question IMHO.  I walked passed a GSD on my walk - our dogs were on lead and they wanted to say hello to each other I asked the owner of the GSD "Is he ok for her to say hello to" - By the puffing and panting I knew she was thinking I only said that because it was a GSD, fact is I say that about any dog mine say's hello to be it a toy dog or a mastiff.  Same thing happened with a EBT the owner did actually say just because it was an EBT didn't mean it wasn't ok to say hello to......A bit on the defensive me thinks!!
Sarah :)

I'm not defensive ;) okay I go on walks with security guards but hey that not defensive :)
     No really I ask the same about dogs we meet, "is it okay to say hello" but as Sal is older now 18 months I am not as paranoid as I was when she was a baby. I did not want my pup "ruined" by a nasty dog of any breed/sex having a go at her although she has been bitten it was one of those things and she is and was fine straight after.
     I am a Staff owner but sometimes I meet the man (sorry normally a man and normally young) with a dog who is trying to get at everything on four legs. Usually I find due to never being allowed to meet other dogs, as Sal has gotten older I am not as fussed if they say "Oh he's a okay but a bit boisterous" and he is on a lead I will let her meet them. She is quite capable of looking after herself now and is a good judge of doggy intentions.
    But the other type of people "he's nasty" they say as you approach I give them a wide berth as would anyone with common sense and an instinct for self preservation.
    However as someone has pointed out Staffs are now AGAIN attracting owners who get them for the simple reason they have read/looked/asked and finally after a length of time decided Staffs are the breed for them and their family. These people I will go out of my way to talk to and meet, they are the future of my breed and I will do everything in my power to help them "stay" with the breed for the rest of their lives as many people do. :)
Karen 
  

Just a choice of words but I suspect I might object to someone asking 'is he safe?' whereas I wouldn't wuiorry about someone asking 'is it o.k. for them to talk?'.  I know if someone sees my small dogs and asks 'do they bite?' I tend to respond quite abruptly 'of course they don't', whereas if they ask 'Is it ok to say hello to them' I respond happily 'yes, please do'.  It is easy to sound as if we think someone's dog is vicious when this is not what we mean.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

I generally ask "Are they friendly?" or "Is it ok for her to say hello?". I've never had a bad response from people when I ask but I do tend to ask everyone no matter what breed they have :)

I also ask "Is it ok for Gus to say hello". too :)
I worry about other peoples dogs with him although I can appreciate they are just as wary of Gus given the press that staffys have and Im always pleased when they realise how friendly he is.
But I've also met snarly Staffys and would ALWAYS put him back on the lead if I saw one offlead ( or even on lead for that matter). Actually theres quite a few breeds i would be wary of and put him onlead anyway :)

Thats what I am trying to say, Sal is friendly maybe too much so ;) but she is also quite bossy (being a bitch) and small dogs ie yorkies CKCS etc I put her on a lead because she is sometimes so boisterous in play I worry she could hurt them ;( I know she more than likely wouldn't as she plays happily with next doors toy and minature poodles happily :(
And I put her on the lead if I see a couple or three young lads with any breed of dog but sadly it seems they are normally with Staffs. I can;t see that young lads of 13/14 can have control over a free running dog. I mean one lad on his own no problem but gangs you see No not me I wouldn't risk it.
 
Karen

Sorry Jess I didn't make myself clear enough in my original post.. she said "is is safe? cos you never know with these sorts of dogs..." and that's what got me mad.like i said before she is a five month old tiny, friendly puppy, I don't ask people to come up and stroke her and if they want to it's no good approaching me with any type of prejudice against staffs, as i will get mad.I am not against people saying the sensible "is it ok to stroke her" thing... as i always ask this myself, and have taught my daughter to do the same.Hope this clarifies things for you.:)

Ahh!  Now that would p me off too, fair comment, sorry for before!

There is a lovely park I know but it is next door to quite a rough area, it is staff and EBT city Arizona!!  There is a requirement to have a 'hard' dog if your a bit of a hard nut drug dealer type.  I also met a couple (in a nicer area of town!) who had a rescue EBT x Staffy - who was absolutely gorgeous and a real gent :) (the dog! :D) he was rescued from the dog's home after being picked up as a stray from a rough area that has a drug problem.  Its a terrible shame but some people think it makes them look hard, I guess a poodle wouldn't have the same effect!  When you think of all the hundreds of thousands of dog owners in this country, we here on champdogs (who are able to discuss peoples attitudes and have the knowledge to advise and teach certain people) make up such a tiny %age.  It amazes me how little some people that own dog's really know about dog's so it is worth remembering that we are also dealing with peoples perceptions, insecurities and lack of knowledge.  I get offended when my gorgeous afghan hound is referred to as a crossbreed, a water spaniel, a saluki cross, a poodle (most offensive ;) ) to name but a few, only for them to say, when they learn what breed my dog is, that they are thick and cant be trained (quiet you lot ;))  - Yes it is annoying - but thank goodness for people like Staffmad and Karen (to name but a couple) who can promote the breed in the positive light it deserves!
Sarah

Thanks.
Sal is a PAT dog, and I have been approached by the local old peoples home about 4/5 minutes from me walking about Sal coming as a PAT dog there, I have been in and spoken to lots of the staff nurses/assistants/receptionist and kitchen staff and they have no problem a lot of these people live on my estate to so have know me and the family for years. And know Sal it appears from their children ;)
But the man in charge has changed.
     I have popped round to introduce myself and he said  "NO, not having dangerous dogs in here"
I explained about PAT dogs and that the Matron herself asked me to consider coming here.
I have since given him references and phone numbers for Sal from my vet, PAT dog Co-ordinator, the hospice we already visit plus the special need school, and the lady who runs the agility clas and flyball team leader we go to, as well as the local dog warden - we meet her through a rescue, the headmaster of the I & J school just across the road from the home and me.
As well as personal references for me :) from a police inspector, a magistrate, as well as a previous B;'ham Lord Major, a member of parliment and a local councilor.  And the Vicar.

After all this what happened did he phone or made contact with any of them?  NO not one of them, I have been to see him today and he said "SBT are dangerous, good day"
What can you do? he has never even meet her.
Karen      

Now that would p*** me off :(

That makes two of us then :(
I am not having the best of weeks and this idiot has really been the straw that breaks the camels back.

Karen

Rozzer you aren't allowed to be p****d off on here, or is it just me that gets labelled as aggressive when i say i am!!Anyway i would be pd off with that too.:)

;)

I must be really lucky as I have only ever met friendly SBT I met my first one we Matthew was a baby my babysitters dog used to go up to his buggy and take his socks off he was only 6 wks at the time.
Mary

I too am a Very Proud owner of two Staffordshire bull Terriers, we have had Staffies for nearly 19 years now, I wouldn't have any other Breed. But like a lot of People I too was Horrified When my Brother Brought a Staffy  Home... BSOMO  {Before Staffies of my Own}... But after I saw how lovely Buddy was I couldn't help my self, I too went out and Brought our very own...But If people cross the street, that's up to them, My Youngest Son was Attacked by a German Shepherd.. He is Petrified of them, and any dog, not our own because he is around them, but even other Staffies, he always asks the owner is it safe, not meaning you have a dog that is going to attack him he is just being safe for him self...So What if there are People out there that ask Do they bite!!! Big Deal, Have you ever been Bitten?, do you know the pain that goes with it...The anxiety you experience after for many, many years!!!!!...I too ask any owner of any breed do they bite?...I don't know by looking at a dog walking up to me how that dog has been treated, not everyone treats they Dog's like Babies,  I know I do, and it sounds like you do too, But Others don't,  I think your Attitude towards them need to be toned down...After All you want the Public to know that your dog is Loving and Gentle and kind..But they can only see that through you..:) If you are gentle and Kind back to the Public then they may walk way saying Wow I never new that Breed of Dog was So Gentle, Wow I was wrong to think that all Staffies where the same.. Not to let them walk away saying See i told ya, if the owner is like that Hell what is the Breed Like!!!, See where I am coming from!!!:)

Jelly bean please give me a break if your comments  were about me needing to tone down, either you haven't read my posts properly or you have had a sense of humour bypass!!I am NOT one of the sorts to give staffs a bad rep, i have a professional job am a mature woman, and yes i have a mouth in my head.if anyone comes up to me and makes a biased comment about staffs or my 5mths old pup in particular, and their comments are unfounded of course i will say something back.I am sorry your son got bitten but it wasn't by a staff was it?:(

candie, I don't think your comment is right, I am a happy go Lucky Mature Women who too OWN's  her own  Profession... I was just stating that

"If you are gentle and Kind back to the Public then they may walk way saying Wow I never new that Breed of Dog was So Gentle, Wow I was wrong to think that all Staffies where the same.. Not to let them walk away saying See i told ya, if the owner is like that Hell what is the Breed Like!!!"

How would you take it!!!...
You have to think about that, not everyone has the same humor as any one else....And I did read your Post Properly

"1 woman said "is it safe" so i said "yes SHE is but i'm not so get off my dog now!"

I bet she didn't think it was very Funny do you!!!!

And no as I stated it wasn't by a Staffy But that isn't the point...now is it!!!

I must admit I too was rather taken aback by your response to the woman asking about your pup, and just like jellybean I read it as being an aggressive statement, which, if it had been said to me and I knew no better, would do nothing to make me think any better of either staffies or their owners. We are all ambassadors for our breeds, and a careless remark can undo all the hard work people go to repair the damage done by the media.

Perrhaps you needed to be there to appreciate the humour.
:)

Like i keep saying it was said as a throw away ironic comment, i have  a very dry sense of humour, and given that it was a hot day and she was about the twentieth person to lunge towards my pup to try and stroke her i was probably getting a bit irritated.I wasn't aggressive towards her though, and regret ever posting my opinion on people who obviously stereotype staffs.I also have two labs and have never had anyone coming up to me asking if theyre safe to stroke, sometimes though i don't want people homing in to stroke any of them, but usually i will stop and chat for hours about how brill they are, how safe, how intelligent etc.on this particular day i hadn't invited this woman to come and loom over mu pup who is only tiny, she took it on herself to not only make a throwaway comment about the breed, but to then ask if my dog was safe.i seem to remember that she had a pair of trainers on but being intelligent and broad minded enough i wont go around thinking everyone with trainers on is rude, ignorant and prejudiced about staffies. Hopefully despite her ignorance she wont go away thinking all satffies are killer dogs because i was a bit abrupt with her.

<<<they may walk way saying Wow I never new that Breed of Dog was So Gentle, Wow I was wrong to think that all Staffies where the same.>>>
Gentle??  Staffys? :D :D
No, I know what you are trying to say though ;) :D

Although I love to see people pleasantly surprised by Gus's happy and friendly nature I would hate for that person to then think ALL Staffys are nice and leave their dog off lead around an unknown one. I love the breed and would defend them to the hilt but I too am wary of Staffys and owners I dont know and to me thats just being responsible.

Lel, Yes lol Gentle....I know Staffy Gentle in one sentence...it does sound strange, But our Staffys are...they are like babys, the younger one Maisie she is just over a year old, still tries  to jump up to say Hello, but she is Learning, :) her Mother Amber is as Gentle as a Baby... I love them so much they are my Little Girl's...

My boy, Bam, is 4 months old now, and we've also taken in his mum, Chilli, a 3 year old. I was expecting lots of negative reactions, but I've had nadda! The *one* time someone reacted to the fact that our dogs were Staffords was an elderly woman with a lovely little scruffy Heinz 57 on a lead. She stopped us (me thinking "Uh-oh, here we go!") and proceeded to dribble all over our Chilli, say what a fantastic specimen of the breed she was, and then wax lyrical for half an hour about the Staffs she used to own! I was so relieved and overjoyed. Especially as Staffords are listed on the control of dogs act here in Ireland.

When we take Bam out by himself, everyone thinks he's a black labrador! So, there's never any problem there. I should really put them right, but I just nod and grin. Another month and it'll be quite obvious what breed he is. ;) We've had a few "Cool dog!" comments about our Chilli from teenage/20-something lads, which I don't take as positive down to their tone of voice. I'd hate for Staffords to be seen as de rigeur for the local hard nuts. I'm afraid they're already starting to overtake the Rottweilers and GSDs (both breeds I love!) as local hard-man dogs.

I know the bad mouthing WILL happen, though, so I'm practicing my speech in advance. I plan to be calm, well-spoken and polite, because that's the least I can do for my breed. Just pity the nay-sayers - they haven't had the joy of having Staffy cuddles and smiles and wuffles. All they've seen is macho idiots with untrained dogs straining at their leads, and sensationalist headlines. You have to feel sorry for them ;)

I think its the owners fault.  The other day i was taking mycross lab who is 7 months old and very very timid to my friends house, i have done this since he was 13 weeks old. 2 doors down i see a dog lying in the doorway and think nothing of it.  As i walk passed i heard the owner shouting at the top of his voice for the dog to come back.  It jumped the fence ran up the street and jumped onto my dog.  the owner ran up the sreet and just stood there shouting to me is it a bitch.  i repled no its a dog only 7 month.  his reply oh my god it will rip it to bits and started shouting for his wife to bring the lead.   he totally freaked me out, so i jumped in between the dogs, mine cowering on all fours, and picked my puppy up, the moran still just stood there while i tried to pick a terrified puppy up, instead of getting hold of his dog and giving it a slap for not obeying him in the first place... I must add that this was the biggest staff i have ever seen.  my friend then told me that this was the first time shed seen this dog as he has to take it out at 2 am to avoid other dogs and they have lived there for 2 years.  Some people just soulod not have dogs.

Hmm, yes, but I wouldn't slap my dog under any circumstances anyway!  I would, however, definitely have pulled my dog away if she had ever acted like this - not that she would, she's much more interested in trying to beat people to death with her tail lol

lol, whats a Heinz 57?  A dog made up of many 'varieties'?

Exactly, jess!
:)

Forgot to add we recently tried to book on an adults only caravan site in cornwall and was asked if we had a dog and what breed it was.When i told them she is a staffy they said we don't accept .."those types of dogs..".I asked what they meant and the woman just kept on repeating that it was their policy...I know they are entitled to do this but it really upset me that people can be prejudice against a whole breed.:(Anyway we have booked on a site where they asked if we were bringing a dog and didn't care what breed it was, so its the other sites loss, not mine.:)

Thats a point as well -because the more ignoramus of society who have a dog such as a Staffy to enhance their patheic image wouldnt dream of taking their dogs away with them on holiday in the first place- so its hardly likely to be an irresponsible owner with an  unsocialised aggressive staff looking for a doggy friendly holiday home now is it? :rolleyes:

I have a problem with one of my Cavaliers & very dark plain staffies------------>no not bad  :D he thinks they are all one of his multiple girlfriends, It can get very funny watching him doing his "Hi I'm handsome & I love you bit" Twirling around on the end of his lead in front of a usually very bemused Staffie

exactly lesley!!anyway good news, i think i've found my pup but don't want to rely on it until he's actually in my arms after last weekend!!

tell me more :)
you cant keep me in suspense ;)

I'll send a piccy by email after corry, but i don't want to tempt fate, after what happened last time!!he is gorg tho!!candy's gonna love him cos my labs are too sedate for her now and she needs a playmate!!

Hee. Yep, Jess. Got it in one. It's the term lots of people use for dogs with "a little bit of everything."

I sympathise with you entirely.  We have two Rotties and are always getting this sort of reaction towards them.

People assume they are vicious, uncontrollable guard dogs and steer well clear of them.  Even my doddering 10yr old gets avoided like the plague!  Both my dogs are very good with people and dogs, well socialized, go to obedience and ringcraft and are not dog or people aggressive.  I agree with the comment about being a  good ambassador for your breed - this is the only way people will change their opinions on them, if they see a well behaved, sociable animal they will be less inclined to jump to conclusions.

That said - most people minds are closed already and you will never completely shake off the bad rep the breed has unfortunately (and unfairly) obtained.  Try not to let it get to you.

I get the same thing with my Doberman. If someone asks, "Does he bite?" I just say incredulously and matter of fact,  "I wouldn't have a dog that bites."

He is a good ambassador for the breed. At first when people at agility class saw him trotting around with no leash when he's doing his thing, (and he's very obedient and well behaved there) some new comers looked nervous, especially the ones with the tiny dogs. There's a teensy Yorkie pup 6 months (too cute) and if we're standing around, Lryic goes down in the front of this pup onto the ground and sticks his rear way up high, little stubby tail going full throttle. He knows how to be gentle with little dogs as we have Chi's at home. During social time, he goes to people and gives kisses and asks what kind of treats they have. LOL.

Outside of the class scenerio, he's more reserved, but never ever aggressive. The socialization and training to make our dogs the best they can be is really important for these stereotype reputations.

You can't really blame people if what they've seen or experienced is viciousness from these kinds of dogs plus what they get from the media. All we can do is be ladies and gentlemen and make absolutely sure our dogs are too.

Carrie

Carrie, do you actually take part in the agility with Lyric or is it just for socialisation? (Am i right in thinking he is about 9/10 months, or am i going mad... well quite possibly i am already mad!!) I've been told not to start agility with my Golden retriever until she is 15 months old, and wasn't allowed to start my BC until a year, because of the growth plates.

No, you're not mad. We start them young over here. I am aware of the epiphyseal cartilege and the long bones and have been informed by my vet and breeder of what to avoid in the way of exercise. It's not that they can't do anything. It's certain types of activities and excesses that can be harmful.

He just does very low jumps, (a foot to 16") and running around, going through tunnels and walking on the teeter totter does not hurt his bones. The weave poles he does slowly, not a lot of hard jerking back and forth. We do avoid hard concussion on the ground.  It's more like introduction....nothing serious or competetive at this stage. His off leash walks and play are more rough than the agility. Still....not too rough to hurt his bones. He is gradually and lightly conditioned so that his ligaments, tendons and muscles and vascular system keep up with the bones and are supportive of his bones. It's not like he sits around all week and then suddenly goes jumping and running. He is carefully conditioned, every day, not too excessive, but enough to develop his musculoskeletal system.

This agility class is once a week. It's great for socialization, fun and makes him really think. He absolutely loves going through the tunnel and chute. It's so cute. If we're not doing anything for the moment, he'll trot through the tunnel on his own, turn and come back....loves it. He's also a very good boy and when he's "working" turns into this dog with such a great work ethic. LOL. He is just soooo ready to please and do some kind of job...so smart. I love this breed.

Carrie