mantis Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Id try staffordshire bull terrier rescue vic. If you get an adult you can be sure they are dog social and that rescue is fantastic. Totally agree. My beautiful Cougar is from them & she is just so sweet & nice natured. About the weight, Cougar is an older lady & weighs 17kg, but I have put her on a diet, as I don't want to put strain on her legs by being overweight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobbly Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I'd go for an Amstaff, but I am unashamedly biased. I would think the Amstaff probably needs a fair bit more in the way of exercise and management, they're very high energy dogs. Dog aggression is a factor you will have to consider with an Amstaff. If you haven't dealt with that before, my advice would be to get some training and advice from a reputable trainer, so you know how to head off any potential problems with appropriate socialisation from the start. Dog park is a bad idea with an Amstaff, I know plenty of people take them there, but it's really not a good idea IMO. They can be fine with other dogs given good socialisation, but letting them run around off lead in a high excitement environment with strange dogs is asking for trouble. I do take mine to the dog park every so often, but she stays on leash. Here's links to the DOL Staffy & Amstaffy threads. Some good breeders to consider in the Amstaffy thread, hard to pick the best, I keep changing my mind every time someone posts new photos. I would say it's probably the same in the staffy thread. I've linked you to the most recent pages so you get the most recent conversation and breeders' pics. Staffy thread: http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/50264-stafford-fans/page__st__23985 Amstaff thread: http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/75473-amstaff-pics/page__st__3990 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Willow Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I'm very used to english staffords having lived with one for the last two years, but now I am moving house and the dog actually belonged to my friend and his fiance (it was getting a bit you, me and dupree there towards the end!). so i had to leave Duke behind. although i still visit him a lot ! (duke is around 25kgs and i wouldnt want too much heavier than that ideally...). Are you sure? That sounds enormous. I think my girl is around the 14-16 kgs mark Im sure they vary between sexes but 25 kgs sounds way over. I could be wrong, I have a 24kg male Stafford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I'm very used to english staffords having lived with one for the last two years, but now I am moving house and the dog actually belonged to my friend and his fiance (it was getting a bit you, me and dupree there towards the end!). so i had to leave Duke behind. although i still visit him a lot ! (duke is around 25kgs and i wouldnt want too much heavier than that ideally...). Are you sure? That sounds enormous. I think my girl is around the 14-16 kgs mark Im sure they vary between sexes but 25 kgs sounds way over. I could be wrong, I have a 24kg male Stafford Breed standard for SBT is 11 -17 kgs so 24 kgs is way oversize or extremely fat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Willow Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I'm very used to english staffords having lived with one for the last two years, but now I am moving house and the dog actually belonged to my friend and his fiance (it was getting a bit you, me and dupree there towards the end!). so i had to leave Duke behind. although i still visit him a lot ! (duke is around 25kgs and i wouldnt want too much heavier than that ideally...). Are you sure? That sounds enormous. I think my girl is around the 14-16 kgs mark Im sure they vary between sexes but 25 kgs sounds way over. I could be wrong, I have a 24kg male Stafford Breed standard for SBT is 11 -17 kgs so 24 kgs is way oversize or extremely fat. He's not extremely fat :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simply Grand Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I think it's totally over- generalising to say the staffys, amstaffs or bull breeds in general are not suitable for dog parks... Depends on the owner, depends on the individual dog, depends on the training and socialisation, depends on the park. Same as with absolutely any breed. OP, I have no experience owning either breed and have met lovely and horrible examples of both, I think it comes down to personal choice, maybe start looking for breeders of both and see who you click with? Whichever you go with you know a responsible registered ANKC breeder is essential because of the legislation, and either breed will respond really well to ongoing obedience training, from what I've seen they do much better with effective training, understanding and leadership from their humans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantis Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I'm very used to english staffords having lived with one for the last two years, but now I am moving house and the dog actually belonged to my friend and his fiance (it was getting a bit you, me and dupree there towards the end!). so i had to leave Duke behind. although i still visit him a lot ! (duke is around 25kgs and i wouldnt want too much heavier than that ideally...). Are you sure? That sounds enormous. I think my girl is around the 14-16 kgs mark Im sure they vary between sexes but 25 kgs sounds way over. I could be wrong, I have a 24kg male Stafford Breed standard for SBT is 11 -17 kgs so 24 kgs is way oversize or extremely fat. He's not extremely fat :) But a little bit fat. Time for you & your doggy to start jogging around the block. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jade~Harley~Bella Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 thanks so much that's really useful info. I'm not sure what constitutes a novice dog owner; I owned a border collie myself for 16years until he passed on and, as stated above have been living with an english stafford for the last two years, so I'm very confortable with dogs in the home. Anyway, your comments are valued and certainly I will be going to a registered breeder and asking to meet the parents of the pups and choosing based on gut feel in terms of temperament, I don't even care which colour I get. Again, thanks everybody ! Lol I wouldn't call you a novice owner then. (I'll use myself as an example lol) By novice I mean getting them as a first dog like I did. I should have picked something easier but I didn't do my research and liked the breed without knowing much about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Willow Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I'm very used to english staffords having lived with one for the last two years, but now I am moving house and the dog actually belonged to my friend and his fiance (it was getting a bit you, me and dupree there towards the end!). so i had to leave Duke behind. although i still visit him a lot ! (duke is around 25kgs and i wouldnt want too much heavier than that ideally...). Are you sure? That sounds enormous. I think my girl is around the 14-16 kgs mark Im sure they vary between sexes but 25 kgs sounds way over. I could be wrong, I have a 24kg male Stafford Breed standard for SBT is 11 -17 kgs so 24 kgs is way oversize or extremely fat. He's not extremely fat :) But a little bit fat. Time for you & your doggy to start jogging around the block. :laugh: LOL, cheeky bugger, he's not fat at all :laugh: He is big, and very very old....I think his jogging days are over! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantis Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I'm very used to english staffords having lived with one for the last two years, but now I am moving house and the dog actually belonged to my friend and his fiance (it was getting a bit you, me and dupree there towards the end!). so i had to leave Duke behind. although i still visit him a lot ! (duke is around 25kgs and i wouldnt want too much heavier than that ideally...). Are you sure? That sounds enormous. I think my girl is around the 14-16 kgs mark Im sure they vary between sexes but 25 kgs sounds way over. I could be wrong, I have a 24kg male Stafford Breed standard for SBT is 11 -17 kgs so 24 kgs is way oversize or extremely fat. He's not extremely fat :) But a little bit fat. Time for you & your doggy to start jogging around the block. :laugh: LOL, cheeky bugger, he's not fat at all :laugh: He is big, and very very old....I think his jogging days are over! Like my sweet girl. she is 8 & I am trimming her down so she doesn't have extra strain put on her joints, that is an easier solution, because there is no way I can jog anywhere, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I think it's totally over- generalising to say the staffys, amstaffs or bull breeds in general are not suitable for dog parks... Depends on the owner, depends on the individual dog, depends on the training and socialisation, depends on the park. Same as with absolutely any breed. OP, I have no experience owning either breed and have met lovely and horrible examples of both, I think it comes down to personal choice, maybe start looking for breeders of both and see who you click with? Whichever you go with you know a responsible registered ANKC breeder is essential because of the legislation, and either breed will respond really well to ongoing obedience training, from what I've seen they do much better with effective training, understanding and leadership from their humans. I haven't owned either but know plenty of people who do and not one of them would contemplate taking their dogs to a dog park, not even the ones with highly obedience trained SBTs. As plenty of owners have said to me, their dog is unlikely to cause trouble but if a another dog challenges it they are sure they would never back down or give in like other breeds do. With many other breeds a scuffle ends in nothing more than a lot of noise and spit with no injuries, until one dog gives in the other walks away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobbly Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 (edited) Lol I wouldn't call you a novice owner then. (I'll use myself as an example lol) By novice I mean getting them as a first dog like I did. I should have picked something easier but I didn't do my research and liked the breed without knowing much about it. Haha similar to me, although i did have dogs when I was a kid growing up and into my adolescence, I hadn't owned a dog during my adulthood. I went to the pound and picked the cutest one. I didn't know what an American Staffordshire was, I think I had a vague notion that it was a cross breed like a staffy version of an oodle or something. OFC once I chose her at the pound I went home and googled Am Staffs for the next few days while I was waiting for the pound to desex her. I remember my first post on DOL - it was while I was waiting for her to be desexed and it was entitled something like "Help me socialise my new Amstaff" XD So glad I found this forum, I think it would have been much more difficult for me in every way - from feeding, to NILIF, to general dog owning etiquette and responsibilities as a dog owner if I hadn't. I made the right choice despite myself though, the other dog at the pound I was attracted to was a Husky, he was absolutely beautiful. I had no appreciation for how ill prepared I would be for such a self willed and independent breed as a husky at the time. An Amstaff is a far easier proposition for a dog n00b than a husky I think. The idea of dog aggression seems to freak people out, but I think people have the wrong idea, they think of it as similar to fear aggression or something. I don't think I could manage a fear aggressive dog, and people who can manage a fear aggressive dog safely have my respect and admiration. But bully breed dog aggression is completely different, the dog isn't fearful or panicky around other dogs. They aren't scared at all, so they're not reactive and with good socialisation and management you'll never see any expression of that dog aggression. For mine the trigger is highly excited play with other dogs, which is a very simple thing to avoid - keep a leash on her in public and keep her well contained at home so she can't escape and wander - simple things every dog owner should be doing regardless of breed anyway. Not difficult for someone willing to put in a bit of effort to be halfway responsible about dog ownership. I would recommend a novice Am Staff owner have a consult with a behaviourist or reputable trainer just to learn the ropes there, I did that, and I think it was very important for me. I know my dog has that predisposition to dog aggression, but everyone we walk past on the beach or on the street sees a dog who greets other dogs politely, there's no sign of dog aggression since I had that consult and there never will be. Off leash at a dog park is totally out of the question though. Edited November 4, 2012 by Wobbly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I think it's totally over- generalising to say the staffys, amstaffs or bull breeds in general are not suitable for dog parks... Depends on the owner, depends on the individual dog, depends on the training and socialisation, depends on the park. Same as with absolutely any breed. OP, I have no experience owning either breed and have met lovely and horrible examples of both, I think it comes down to personal choice, maybe start looking for breeders of both and see who you click with? Whichever you go with you know a responsible registered ANKC breeder is essential because of the legislation, and either breed will respond really well to ongoing obedience training, from what I've seen they do much better with effective training, understanding and leadership from their humans. I can tell you now that it's not an over generalisation and that anyone who is raising an SBT or an Amstaff should be doing so with caution. The SBT should be a gentleman unless set upon and the majority of SBT's will finish what someone else starts. Many dogs find the SBT to be rude and pushy in terms of the way they play and the SBT doesn't readily accept being told to bugger off by another dog. The best piece of advice I can offer potential new owners, is to socialise your young pups with dogs of known temperament, not in a dog park free for all. Raise your SBT to focus on you and for you to be the best thing in the world. An SBT that is indifferent when it comes to other dogs and one that has a recall is the best and safest to live with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckandsteve Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I'm very used to english staffords having lived with one for the last two years, but now I am moving house and the dog actually belonged to my friend and his fiance (it was getting a bit you, me and dupree there towards the end!). so i had to leave Duke behind. although i still visit him a lot ! (duke is around 25kgs and i wouldnt want too much heavier than that ideally...). Are you sure? That sounds enormous. I think my girl is around the 14-16 kgs mark Im sure they vary between sexes but 25 kgs sounds way over. I could be wrong, I have a 24kg male Stafford Breed standard for SBT is 11 -17 kgs so 24 kgs is way oversize or extremely fat. He's not extremely fat :) But a little bit fat. Time for you & your doggy to start jogging around the block. :laugh: LOL, cheeky bugger, he's not fat at all :laugh: He is big, and very very old....I think his jogging days are over! My boy is 23kgs, obviously not to the standard but he is a pet so who cares. He is not at all over weight but is the most ripped stafford i have ever seen and he is too tall. Not all pure breds meet the standard i thought, could be wrong as i am a rescue person so dont know much about breeding He also eat twice the recommended food, but i think the weight and food is all to do with the muscle. The vet always comments on how healthy he is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 He is not at all over weight but is the most ripped stafford i have ever seen and he is too tall. Okay, now we need a photo! I love looking at Pavlovas Staffords for ripped dogs *hint hint* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 (edited) Bit hard at short notice LOL Edited November 4, 2012 by Pav Lova Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Id try staffordshire bull terrier rescue vic. If you get an adult you can be sure they are dog social and that rescue is fantastic. Totally agree. My beautiful Cougar is from them & she is just so sweet & nice natured. About the weight, Cougar is an older lady & weighs 17kg, but I have put her on a diet, as I don't want to put strain on her legs by being overweight. How do you go in VIC with the BSL and a rescue? Are they papered or have they passed some sort of "test"? Or are the council people able to come and knock on your door at any stage and take them? (genuine question) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 There is no temp test in Vic - if your dog fits the checklist, it can be seized and destroyed. The council can refuse to register the dog upon renewal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 There is no temp test in Vic - if your dog fits the checklist, it can be seized and destroyed. The council can refuse to register the dog upon renewal. But not if its pedigree, is that right? That's why I'm wondering about rescues, and if they only rehome pedigree dogs, or how they get around BSL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Pedigree amstaffs are okay. Most dogs in rescue don't have pedigree papers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now