staffordshire bull terrier are they good or bad?

Question

i know its down to the owners but do you think its safe to have them around children???

Answer 1

I tell you what as staff owner I'm so SICK and TIRED of people repeating stupid questions like this... and yours has to be one of the worst!! you answer your own question YES IT IS DOWN TO THE OWNER!!!!

*staffs
*rotweilers
*dobermans
* pit bulls
*alsations
*bull mastifs
* bull terriers

all of these dogs and more come under these stupid questions they are not "baby killing" breeds I'm sick of people pointing the finger at breeds like this children are also attacked by other breeds look at the Tibetan terrier.... yes fabulous willy the crufts winner 2007 could attack a child but nobody would point the finger at him!!!

it is all down to the people who don't raise there dog properly, i trust my dog and i trust my dog with children but if i didn't i wouldn't leave him alone with them!!

It is this kind of stupid media hype that gets dogs band such as one of my favourite breeds the dogo argentino which manage to live in harmony with people in America and are pictured with children constantly!!!

I don't mean to rant but I am sick of the dogs being labelled as bad and not the owner.... IF YOU DONT TRUST YOUR DOG DONT LEAVE IT WITH CHILDREN!! SIMPLE

Answer 2

Hi, i personnaly wouldn't get one if i had children! There is many people out there who will say ive got kids and the dog's great with them! And i know alot of staffy's that are extreamly loving dogs! One of my friends has two and they are great with the children but she has said that both of them has got fed up and has at least gone for someone once!
YOu could also think well i'll get a puppy and bring it up with children and it'll be fine - but as they get older they get less tolerant even if they are fine upto the age of 8yrs or so! You can get this problem with all dogs i know - put staffys have been known to bite and so have all dogs - but if yur asking the question then you to are obviously unsure and there are many other dog breeds - which yeah could still have the problem of them biting - but are less reknown for it! Look into other dog breeds - i personally would recomend a cocker spaneiel or a chairn terrier, labrador, retriever - but there will be people who will say i've know a cocker thats bit, i know a lab that bites! Thats just my opinion from my experiance !Good luck in finding the right dog for you and your family!

Answer 3

Hey
Any dog is safe or unsafe around children. My inlaws have a 2 year old american pitt 'apparently' the most nasty unpredictable vicious etc dog on the planet, and a 5 year old girl who sits on his back, pulls his tail, bites his ears etc and he cant be phased. He will not bite anyone, even playfully! Its not the breed of dog, its how it is trained and brought up which determines the personality, but if one of these dogs attacks a small child it wont let go, no matter how hard you try, so i suggest if you like staffi's, get yourself one but get a pup, dont worry so much about the pedigree, just as long as its a pup from a healthy (mental and physical) background, that way it can be brought up around your child or children and you wont have anything to worry about! Hope this helps!

Answer 4

It depends on the dog, while some people are complete idiots, and i mean that in the general way that some ignorant people think that a pit, bull terrier, AMSTAFF, staffie, or bulldog will turn on people, or eat kids, or whatever they say they do, it has nothing to do with the breed, its just that dog.

most the dogs you see today, as in the forementioned are not the dogs that were bred to fight in ancient days, their were no pitbulls in europe fighting in pits, some have been fought here in the recent years, but just about any dog with size has fought, and pure bullys are not aggressive towards humans, its mixes and mutts that have that bad strand of DNA. They are not good with other dogs, and i wouldnt leave a child around a beagle unattended, but you should have no problem, just make sure you go to a good breeder that watches and eliminates dogs that are shown to have aggression, and never leave your kid alone with an animale untill the child is old enough and responsible enough to handle theirself

Answer 5

They are just as safe as any other breed of dog. In fact, they are well reputed to be very good around children. Staffies are not classed as dangerous dogs - they are not in the same league as rottweilers, or any other kind of renown breed. (That is not to say that all rottweilers are dangerous, please don't get me wrong).

My sister and I grew up with a beautiful, gentle female staffy from a very young age. One of my friends had 3 young children and a male staffy. Not once were there any problems. A dog will only attack if they a) feel threatened or b) have been / are being mistreated.

Regardless of the breed of dog, you should always watch young children around them. Staffies are definitely no particular risk to children.

I'd also like to point out that the dog who attacked the poor little boy in the article above was a Staffordshire-cross, not a purebred. It is probably the case that this dog had the mixed genes of a more aggressive breed. Can the parent be sure that the child was not teasing the dog with the biscuit? You should always be very careful with children eating food around dogs, no matter the breed.

I hope this helps! :-)

Answer 6

I was brought up with one until i was 10. she was a very loving dog. You are right that it is up to the owners. I think it is better to have a puppy and introduce it to children as an older dog may have had problems with children in the past and be less tolerant.

Answer 7

Generally speaking Staffie Bull Terriers - superb dogs, loyal to their family, great with kids,
they can if inadequately trained and socialised have a tendency to be naughty toward others dogs. For this I would recommend a pup or one that you've knowledge about. That way you can socialise it well and train him/her to your standards.
they have powerful bodies and jaws so you should have complete confidence in the dog (not the breed) before you leave it alone with you children.

Answer 8

Totally! i have one which is now 10 months old. she loves being around young children and is compleatly tolerant .These breeds of dogs are only what people make of them! extreamly loyal and trusting dogs,i didnt think so but now owning one i would'nt have any other! Probably best getting very young.After all the staffie is nick named the "nanny" of dogs due to their past where they were used for guarding young childrens sick homes and orphanages

Answer 9

If their temperament is anything like my american pit bull terrier's then I would say they make excellent family pets to have around children.

But with any dog, never leave the child unattended. Children, when alone, often poke, prode, pull tail, and do things that aggitate a dog, as a result the dog might lose it's temper and snap. Then the dog gets blamed. Watch your kids.

This line of dog makes a wonderful pet though.

Answer 10

Staffies are the best dogs to be around children. All dogs have the potential to bite a child but Staffies can be very protective. I would trust mine with a child, and a friend trusts hers with her 6 year old grandson and his friends. He's never been anything but excellent with them.
And if I'm not mistaken, the Kennel Club recommends Staffies as dogs to be trusted with children.