American staffie

xtezzyx

Hi guys!
My first post on boards. Great site!
We are looking for a American staff pup as a new addition to our family after loosing our rottie last week at only 5and a half years to kidney failure House is just too empty without him.
Have being doing alot researching on this breed and they sound great and my oh adores them. He wanted on for companion for our rottie but know that they can be dog agressive so had to leave it be.
Now I have couple of questions
1. We have 2 young children so would a staffy be alright to even consider. I know they are called 'nanny dogs' but you would still wonder.
2. Could anyone lead us to good breeders as rescues can't help us as we have young kids.

Any info would be great and ofcourse your experience with that breed.

Thanks lads!

Cherry Blossom

xtezzyx wrote: »

Hi guys!
1. We have 2 young children so would a staffy be alright to even consider. I know they are called 'nanny dogs' but you would still wonder.
2. Could anyone lead us to good breeders as rescues can't help us as we have young kids.

Any info would be great and ofcourse your experience with that breed.

Thanks lads!

Staffies are absolutely brilliant with kids, my aunt has one and her grandkids refer to her home as 'Lucy's' house - Lucy being the Staffie. She sit's by the door eagerly awaiting their arrival in the mornings

What rescue have you tried? I've never heard of a rescue refuse to home a pup with kids . Puppies are usually reserved for homes that have kids. Please reconsider a rescue as these poor dogs are seriously over-bred so much so that I doubt very much any responsible person would delibrately breed even more of them. Sarah form East Galway Animal Rescue posts here (username EGAR), she runs the only bull-breed rescue in the country and it doesn't matter what area you are in. It would be worth your while getting in touch with her, she does amazing work with these dogs.

Oh and it's Staffordshire Bull-Terrier, they're an English breed, not American

andreac

AJ, there is a breed called an Am Staff, fab dogs actually but not that common over here and wouldnt be too many breeders either.

OP do you mean an Am Staff or a Staffordshire Bull terrier as they are 2 different breeds.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Staffordshire_Terrier

antomagoo

Wow the Am. Staff is a fantastic looking dog

Cherry Blossom

andreac wrote: »

AJ, there is a breed called an Am Staff, fab dogs actually but not that common over here and wouldnt be too many breeders either.

You learn something new every day!

xtezzyx

Thanks for your replies. Yeah we are looking for Am Staff at the moment but Staffordshire bull terrier is on the list too. We live in Wexford and rescues we have rang will not consider us as we have a toddler who is only 20 months and staff being a restricted breed. Well thats what we were told anyway.
Thanks AJ I will look her up as would really like to give atleast one unfortunate dog a good and loving home. Ohh and how do you Thank someone for post cant figure it out.

joyce2009

Why dont you PM EGAR here,,you'll find many posting on here from her she rescues staffies and would be the one to talk to...:)

andreac

Try these people.
http://www.goloka-fci.com/

TaraR

You could import one from another country. There is alot of money and time envolved in doing so,but would be worth it

sotisme

xtezzyx wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. Yeah we are looking for Am Staff at the moment but Staffordshire bull terrier is on the list too. We live in Wexford and rescues we have rang will not consider us as we have a toddler who is only 20 months and staff being a restricted breed. Well thats what we were told anyway.
Thanks AJ I will look her up as would really like to give atleast one unfortunate dog a good and loving home. Ohh and how do you Thank someone for post cant figure it out.

At the bottom of their post theres a thumbs up button. To thank a post click it

CL32

I've no experience of Am Staffs but we have a Staffie and she's fantastic. I can't imagine the house without her.

Our Staff is great around kids. The only concern we have had is her knocking a child over. She goes into gentle mode around kids but they are heavy, sturdy dogs and even playing gentle its a concern around toddlers that they may get a bump..

Our Staff will jump up to greet anyone, and we can't train it out of her no matter what we try. She'll stand up, with her front paws on your knees, tail wagging furiously. She won't do it with kids though, she stands up and wags her tail but never leans forward to rest her paws on them, as if she knows that she might knock them over. This is proof for me that they do have a natural affinity for children (coupled with the fact that she'll pad along beside them where ever they go exploring in the house)

Trust me that your kids will have a new sidekick and best mate that will always keep them entertained too. They are gas little dogs. Out of nowhere, ours just gets the thought in her head 'right, its playtime' and she's off.

There is a poster on here looking for a new home for her girl Bonnie who looks like a beaut.. Link here

Best of luck with the search for one. Make sure to post up pictures when you get one. There's never enough Staffie pictures as far as I'm concerned

sligopark

Egar posted a beautiful staffie here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056055643



More here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/East-Galway-Animal-Rescue/169411475888?v=info

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=157537&id=169411475888


also if you are interested an english bully pup at dogstrust




saw am staff pups for sale here too (but can't vouch for them personally)
http://www.gumtree.ie/dublin/08/69585608.html

andreac

Awh wow, the bully is just fab!!!

The Sweeper

All you have to remember when adopting a bull breed in Ireland, is that you're adopting a powerful dog who you'll have to muzzle and leash in public, regardless of how good natured and friendly your dog is.

So adopt one, socialise it with a leash and muzzle, walk it, be sensible with it and your children, go to classes, use the services of a trainer (and ask for recommendations before you choose that trainer), and enjoy your dog.

And as your dog grows on you, and you discover how fabulous it is, and you get offended by the frightened reactions of some ignorant people when you walk your dog, and you get frustrated because the muzzle adds to the appearance of your dog being dangerous, but you know it's not a dangerous dog - then wait for how the passion and fire against breed specific legislation and the restricted breeds list takes over your life.

adser53

The Sweeper wrote: »

And as your dog grows on you, and you discover how fabulous it is, and you get offended by the frightened reactions of some ignorant people when you walk your dog, and you get frustrated because the muzzle adds to the appearance of your dog being dangerous, but you know it's not a dangerous dog - then wait for how the passion and fire against breed specific legislation and the restricted breeds list takes over your life.

HA! Best quote ever!!!! :):)

andreac

If you had seen the look i got walking my 2 today when i passed a woman with 2 kids, one in a buggy, she couldnt get far enough away from me on the path, giving Cooper the dirtiest look, i just told her not to worry, the dog wasnt going to touch her:rolleyes: Really should have said something smart but didnt think quick enough.:D

adser53

Imagine you were a fella Andrea! It's 10 times worse for any lad walking the likes of Rotties, Dobies, Akitas etc! When I walk Loki & Kai I essentially have the paths to myself as the auld dears run away in fear! :rolleyes:

pitbull_fanatic

you cant bait d staffys when it comes to kids. they love them. i have a 7 month old baby and she's flyin round the place with a staff and a pitbull and they are so gentle with her. they move around her so slow in case they hurt her its gas! its like they are afraid to move when she's near them! you wont regret it. although amstaffs are quite hard to get in ireland comppared to staffys

xtezzyx

The Sweeper wrote: »

All you have to remember when adopting a bull breed in Ireland, is that you're adopting a powerful dog who you'll have to muzzle and leash in public, regardless of how good natured and friendly your dog is.

So adopt one, socialise it with a leash and muzzle, walk it, be sensible with it and your children, go to classes, use the services of a trainer (and ask for recommendations before you choose that trainer), and enjoy your dog.

And as your dog grows on you, and you discover how fabulous it is, and you get offended by the frightened reactions of some ignorant people when you walk your dog, and you get frustrated because the muzzle adds to the appearance of your dog being dangerous, but you know it's not a dangerous dog - then wait for how the passion and fire against breed specific legislation and the restricted breeds list takes over your life.

I know what you sayingn about muzzles and lead as we had a rottweiler.
People giving looks and crossing the street when walking him was quite annoying but funny too. Atleast we had a clear street hahhaa.

Bullseye1

Its amazing the reaction a muzzle gets. You could be walking your dog on the footpath without a muzzle and get no reaction and the next day walk the same dog the next day with a muzzle and people will be trying to avoid you. When you think about it it makes no sense since they are now better protected. When i brought my RR to the vet with a muzzle on the vet asked was he vicious, I looked at him and said no, it's the law.

Cherry Blossom

sligopark wrote: »

Egar posted a beautiful staffie here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056055643

It's an APBT -as is stated on that thread

The Sweeper wrote: »

All you have to remember when adopting a bull breed in Ireland, is that you're adopting a powerful dog who you'll have to muzzle and leash in public, regardless of how good natured and friendly your dog is.

Does the American Staffordshire terrier come under the title of Staffordshire Bull Terrier for RB legislation purposes though? Or would it qualify as a cross?

ISDW

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

It's an APBT -as is stated on that thread



Does the American Staffordshire terrier come under the title of Staffordshire Bull Terrier for RB legislation purposes though? Or would it qualify as a cross?

The legislation states "or any strain of":(

The Sweeper

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

Does the American Staffordshire terrier come under the title of Staffordshire Bull Terrier for RB legislation purposes though? Or would it qualify as a cross?

The line between amstaffs and pits is blurred, even within the breed registry.
Some of the bloodlines have been separate since the 70s afaik. Dunno how you'd go about convincing anybody your amstaff wasn't a pit in legislation terms tbh.

sligopark

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

It's an APBT -as is stated on that thread

cheers adrenalin I thought I would post up since the OP mentioned am staffs and the line between am staffs and abpts is blurred as above ^^

Ricardo G

Hope you are succesful with your search Op, you will not regret it for 1 minute of your life. My staffy (Max) is 3 this year and is the best companion i ever had (hope oh does'nt read this bit lol), not sure if anyone else can vouch for "staffy talk" but they have the craziest excitable groan you will ever hear You may expect them to be very active but i find Max is quite happy with a 40 minute walk every day and will happily sleep for the rest I would be lost without him tbh as where ever i go he goes too, loves to sit in the front seat of the car observing everything and is so placid and gentle around anyone that comes to the house. We don't have any kids but i have 2 very young nieces who call around twice a week and he is extremely gentle with them (especially when he's taking a custard cream from them:p)
Hope you get sorted with one soon

pitbull_fanatic

i didnt think that the amstaff was on the resricted list?? any strain of means half staff half lab for example. american staffordshire is calssed as its own breed. just like the bulldog isnt required to wear muzzles etc.

an amstaff is more or less the show standard of apbt. very fine line

Shanao

pitbull_fanatic wrote: »

i didnt think that the amstaff was on the resricted list?? any strain of means half staff half lab for example. american staffordshire is calssed as its own breed. just like the bulldog isnt required to wear muzzles etc

Dont think it works like that though. Like the akita, the american isn't on the list, but I'm pretty sure they still have to be muzzled. Though it might be a good point to bring up with a warden if I ever do get stopped.

pitbull_fanatic

i know where your coming from. i new a fella in limerick a few years back and he had an amstaff. he had papers of some sort stating it was an amstaff so he just carried them. he said he was stopped once and showed the papers and that was it

Ricardo G

A Polish gentleman living 5 doors down from me has a blue nose Pitbull and he is an amazing looking dog and extremely placid. Could'nt get over the size of him though in comparison to Max, blue nose is like a monster . Very rare around here. OP would you not consider the lovely white bull terrier listed back a few posts, he/she looks gorgeous

pitbull_fanatic

i love the blue nose! like juniour milan. lovely. i'v a red nose. wat breed is max? i'v never heard of someone saying bull terriers are "alright". people either love them or hate them. like marmite! i will admit they have an aquired taste. great sense of humour though!

babychuckles

Dear OP

A very friendly black and white young staffie wandered into a friends house and as she has three dogs and 6 cats already she asked the local rescue group DAWG who are based in north cork to help and they have gotten a foster carer for it. They have other staffies on the adoption page http://www.dogactionwelfaregroup.ie/adoption.html
I hope this is of use to you.
BC