We had an awful experience yesterday, someone tried to steal Jazz :(.  We were walking from our car to OH mums Jazz was by my side (not on his lead) and these two guys had walked pasted and were muttering about him.  As I turned round one of them was crouched down with food shouting "here boy" and the other one was so close behind me, luckily OH was getting stuff out of the car and when they realised he was with me they both scarpered.  I spoke to a man at the shops the other week and he said someone had tried to steal his dog from outside the shop (I personally wouldn't leave Jazz outside a shop) but thats not the isuue still upseting for the man in question.  He was lucky he caught them.  I phoned our local police station yesterday and was told that they have lots of reports of similar incidents, apparently the thieves are waiting to see if people advertise their dog as lost and claiming rewards, or using them for dog fighting .  They said it is a nationwide thing though so I just wanted to let others know.  I for one will be making sure Jazz is on a lead no matter how short the walk.

Michelle

im sorry to hear that, our vets told us its a problem in our area too, ive resorted to telling people my bordeaux pup is a cross, so she want seem as apealing, most people dont know what one is anyway, but its a shame we have to this, when im at work i worry everytime i pull up the drive, that my babys are ok, dogs are more valuable than dvds and videos, and i dont know how people cope when their dog is stolen especially with my stafords, id be having nightmares they were being used for fighting, mind you they would have a shock they are scared of yorkshire terriers !! it doesnt bear thinking about !

So sorry to here what happened I am from the North East also where abouts did it happen
Sharon

How horrible Michelle :(

Can you give more details of where this was just to warn others

This happened in Grimsby North East Lincs

Michelle

my dog was almost stolen  twice while i left her chained outside a store two teens were on bikes and were offering her treats and had thier hands on the leash as if triend to untie it.. the other one was she was chained outside  a minimart and the man the owned the store next door i cought tring to untie the leash he said i thought she was chained too tight since then i never take my dog on errands whhile im walking its too muck of a risk

someone tried to steal my staff out of my hand until she turned around and snapped at them, i always walk her on the lead and take her into shops even if i have to carry her this happend in middlesbrough we have loads of staffordhires stolen around here
kerrie

It's very unusual for a staffy to snap at a person, isn't it? I thought it was important that their temperament around people was bombproof?

she thought she was protecting me

I would expect any loyal dog to snap with someone may have seemed to be threatening their owner.  I'm not saying it's right, but dogs protect their family.

I live near Middlesbrough Kerrie, that sounds very worrying.

i won't be leaving monty outside the shop anymore!

You are right JG it is unusual for a staff to snap.  My two would lick the thief to death and escape that way.

Although the threat of people trying and sadly sometimes succeding in stealing Staffs is not new.
The threat is always there, someone tried to take my old Staff dog from my brother back in the early 80's.
So because of this since then none of mine ever takes treats from strangers, and the pup coming on the same way.
A staffie puppy is a born people magnet. And until they get to at least a year old they love people always rushing over to say "Hello" but after about in Sal's case 14 months or so people and other dogs became less interesting and now she is totally bored when I stop to talk to the park keeper going and lying under a tree or with her head on my foot. Ignoring the person completely - as will Tess in time. To them I am the most interesting thin in their world :)

They are always on the lead in street/road situations - too risky otherwise not just of theft, but because of other loose/on lead dogs pushing their luck - regardless of the aggressor the Staff wll always be blamed.  So better safe than Sorry.

Glad you managed to hold onto Jazz though - its a scary world.
KAREN