“The Staffie was created especially for children. He is the God of frolic””
I’ve got absolutely idea who Henry Ward was, but he was bang on about Staffies.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers must be among the most misunderstood of all breeds; whilst detractors seem hell-bent on pointing out that they were originally bred as fighting dogs, the truth is that the problem lies with their owners, not the breed itself - a classic case of nurture over nature - not to mention the fact that they are often simply confused with bull breed crosses (most notoriously, the Pit Bull)
The purebred Staffie is, forgive the pun, a totally different ball game. Their true nature is so gentle that they’ve earned the affectionate nickname ‘The Nanny Dog’ because they are known to be so good with children, even to the extent the none less than the Kennel Club refers to their suitability as a breed for young families.
And to say that they like playing is a bit like saying young children are quite fond of sweets; as you can probably see from these pictures, given half a chance, Staffies will happily play from dawn til dusk, and then some.
They love finding sticks to carry, they love playing tug of war and they are totally besotted by chasing tennis balls, which comes in handy if you’re taking them for a walk and not feeling particularly energetic yourself!
The flip-side is they they’re also a dab-hand at relaxing. Many’s the time I’ve taken this one out for a ‘stroll’ of Forrest Gumpian proportions and come home to face the rest of the day, whilst she finds the most comfortable spot available and spends the next few hours, paws skyward, snoring like a freight train.
So, apart from the obvious need to give them lots of exercise (ideally at least an hour a day), what are Staffordshire Bull Terriers like as pets?
I’ve got to come clean admit that Remy, the star of this story, isn’t actually mine, but I’ve dog sat for her enough over the years to have a pretty good idea.
They’re every bit as adventurous and courageous as they look, and undoubtedly highly intelligent, as quick to learn as they are eager to please. They also can’t quite restrain themselves when it comes to showing how happy they are to see you; so if you’re not a big fan of dogs that want to leap into your arms and give you a great big lick, then a Staffie might not be the pet for you.
And I’ve got a sneaky feeling that whoever originally wrote ‘Me and My Shadow’ was a Staffie owner - even when you take a trip to the loo, it can feel, to quote a slightly more modern lyric, like you’re stuck like glue.
They also seem prone to occasional severe bouts of selective hearing, with a stubborn streak that defies their otherwise unswerving desire to get on your good side, which means that they need a firm (but gentle) hand from time to time. Their natural boisterousness does need to be kept in check, especially when they are younger, to avoid any problem behaviours when they get older.
Something that I’ve never experienced but am told can be an issue is that when they get left alone for too long, those powerful jaws can get rather too attached to anything remotely chewable.
But as far as I’m concerned, any of these negatives are far outweighed by the Staffie’s indefatigably affectionate and loyal nature. As someone else I’ve never heard of apparently once said:
““If you want lifelong friend, get a Staffie”
