Great dog, loyal, happy, active, affectionate (Staffordshire Bull Terrier)

Member Name: aquarius_nb

Product:	Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Date:	15/12/03 (1104 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Friendly, Courageous, Affectionate

Disadvantages: Prone to skin rashes on the belly, armpits and groin area

I have an 11 month old red stafford and he's the best dog I know. He's very friendly to people and dogs. He's not a good guard dog as he'll probably lick a thief to death. When I take him out for a walk he always likes to greet people. And he loves children! I take him to the park and he gets along well with other dogs. He's met plenty - labradors, jack russells, pitbull, other staffords, dalmatian, american bulldog, old english shepherd, collies, ridgeback, huskies, german shepherds, doberman x, and many others. It's fun watching him play with other dogs. Although he's very active playful with other dogs, I've noticed that other dogs are even more aggressive and dominant than him (despite the fact that staffords are meant to be known to be dog aggressive). Other dogs have snapped and growled at him but he just stays away from them and not respond. A 3 month old stafford male even tried to hump him a number of times today but he just allowed him and acted like nothing is happening. He's a very relaxed, cheerful and confident dog and has no malicious bone in his body!

Temperament-wise, he really is great! We can pat him while he's eating and take his toys away from his mouth without him complaining. But he does love you to chase him though especially when he has a toy in his mouth! He lets me groom him, clean his ears and even check his mouth and teeth with my fingers. He's also very easy to train - he's completely house-broken and knows how to sit-stay and drop-stay. He sits and waits for his food and doesn't start eating until you gesture for him to do so. He also knows and how to stop, sit and stay at road crossings and stop lights. Sometimes though he can be stubborn and doesn't listen to you straight away when he's playing with other dogs or when he's interested on something else in the backyard.

During his adolescence and teething period were the hardest for us a
s he just had that much undisciplined energy. He's a house dog so you can imagine how our house looked at that time - and trying to toilet train him at the same time! He's chewed our furnitures and some shoes!

It's very important that staffords are actually socialised and trained at obedience at an early age as they're quite strong minded. Since they're also very strong dogs, they have to learn to obey you by your voice and body language, than using physical force.

We are so lucky to have a stafford in our house. He's a loyal and lovable member of our family. He follows me like a tail wherever I go and occasionally gets sad when he knows I'm leaving him as I have to go to work. He loves his comforts - my bed, the couch, snuggled up to us and being a part of the family. He loves being around us and stays wherever I am or everyone are. You will never see him lying down or sleeping alone in the kitchen or living room.

Anyway, altogether a great reliable dog. A bit of a handful especially as a pup but settles down well as he matures. If you want a dog - a real dog that is both companion, playmate, who can go outdoors with you - hiking, running, at the beach or just plain hanging around watching TV and he's draped all over you who loves you to bits and gives you lots of attention and is always happy to see you, a dog who is friendly with people, children and other dogs, then a stafford is your dog. An all-rounded dog in a compact, powerful package. Really a pleasure to have!

By the way, so long as you take him for a walk or occasionally go to a park, a stafford is quite comfortable being inside a house or even a small garden.

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