I like staffs but they are way too common up here and seem to be the scally dog of choice, which is a little unfortunate as they have a cracking temperament. EBs are pretty rare and ugly in a good way. Plus they are great with kids.
I’d worry about staffs now too as they are, in my opinion being overbred due to popularity.
I would have but I have two small kids and two Siamese cats so it’d need to be socialised from a puppy. Couldn’t take the risk with a dog whose history I didn’t know.
It doesn’t really matter what breed you get, just make sure you get a proper pedigree or a full-scale mongrel. There are loads of ads around for dogs for a couple of hundred quid that aren’t pure pedigree, usually “both parents can be seen”. These are the dogs most likely to have health problems. My wife’s friend turned up for a walk with her “bargain” Staffy pup last week, its rear legs/hips are all over the place and it tried to attack a massive labrador that just wandered over to say hello.
we got this american staff terrier mix{she was a stray from Mexico}last week, she’s a fantastic dog and hasn’t done a thing in the house, she has a bit of an aggressive streak on the lead so we have a trainer coming round to help us, we wanted to give a dog a home but prefered ones that had been in a foster home to ones in cages as then you know what your getting a bit more
My mate had one from a pup,great with kids but dumb as F*&^.Oh & his kids thought it looked like a pig when it was a pup so called him that,which ended up as his name because it was the only one it would come back to when out on a walk 😆
For god’s sakes man don’t buy from a breeder. Just Google rescue centres there’s loads of dogs out there looking for a home.
As I mentioned above, I can only really look at a young pup as I have two young kids so cannot take any risks with temperament. If it were just me I’d happily have considered it.
My father had a friend who lived in India some decades ago and had a house with a veranda looking out to the jungle.
One day his baby was in the cot on the veranda and a tiger came out and was about to take her from the cot, when his EB came round the corner and promptly committed suicide attacking the tiger, who ended up going back into the jungle with half a face left.
I like English bull terriers, bloody ugly but cute at the same time. Seem good with people too. If I remember rightly though I think they do have a few health problems as a breed. Obviously they don’t all gave illnesses but its worth researching.
I’d get one, or maybe a Ridgeback
Pugs are ace little things too, but you won’t look as ard 😉
Big staffie lover here,used to show mine,miss him sooo much 🙁 showing took up most of my time at one point,met some great people and breeders,and some real quality dogs on the scene,
i would’nt have anything else to be honest other than a staff,
do love all the bull breeds though,nowt wrong with wanting a english bull,
overall staffs are the nanny dog with kids over the other bull breeds,soooo good with kids.
Apparently, I read somewhere last week, the Staff is the only dog recommended by the Kennel Club for homes with children, which is why I’d like to hear from matchstick. 😉
I’m sure EBT are lovely dogs but it’s the only breed of dog which puts the fear of god in me. My landlord has one, it’s a monster of a thing, biggest one i’ve seen, scares the c**p out of me.
Did someone mention ridgeback ?
Also like english bull terriers.As said above very cute in a ugly type way.Very headstrong though,not a good idea to get one if your a first time dog owner.
I do not agree that Staffies are not dangerous dogs. I have two Jack Russells and walk them twice a day. The only dogs which have attacked them without provocation or advance warning are Staffies. In our local park a Staffie has recently attacked children playing football, one of them so badly he needed stitches. Staffies may be good dogs at heart, but because of their strength if they are not trained properly they get out of control and then become dangerous.
Soline Druffin, London
Had staffordshire bull terriers (SBT) around me for 40 years. I have one (Sky), sisters both have one, mum has two. Never any problems.
Brilliant with Kids, especially the bitches, due to their stoic and placcid nature and high nuture instinct. Not nicknamed the nanny dog for nothing. Ironic given the chav trophy dog thing and a good reason why so many end up in rescue.
I agree though that they are getting overbred, and also WTF is happening to their size. An SBT should be about the size of a springer spaniel (without the hair). Certainly not more than 18-20kgs. Have seen some around that are 25kgs +.
BTW my sisters previous dog Poppy is the reason for the L-2-HGA DNA test given to all pups now, as she was the first dog diagnosed at Newmarket with the condition.
Anyway heres Sky, my 6 yr old rescue (currently downstairs crashed out after nailing Whytes Level at Afan today 😆 )
Even with kids I’d still recommend a rescue dog, again particularly a neutered bitch under 2 years.
English bull terriers (EBTs) are a lot madder (and more overbred). Will eat any object lying around and regularly need their stomach opened. For inspiration check out the art work of Ray Richardson. I have a print of this:
Are staffies dangerous? Well a couple of observations here!
“Staffordshire bull terrier” is a term use to describe a very wide range of dogs from overbred pedigrees to pitbulls.
SBTs do attract bad owners due to the child eating image.
A poorly trained SBT is worse than other breeds for sure because of their strength.
Because of all this SBTs attract a bad press.
Having said all that, there really is only one destination for any dog that is persistantly agressive to other dogs let alone people. I was musing on this with my Barber the other day, also a long time SBT owner and we agreed that due to all the crap thats happened with the breed and image it would be no bad thing if the whole breed were nuetered and allowed to die out 🙁
Don Simon my comment was very much tongue in cheek as I have a rather bouncy Dalmatian who is learning to be a respectable member of society. No cat is safe in our back garden though and that’s the way it’s going to stay as it’s bad enough pooh picking after him.