This entry was posted on 2014-04-04 by admin.

This is one of my favourite dog breeds on this list, which is why I was in such a hurry to post about them (so they may have skipped ahead of a few other breeds…)

Although- I didn’t always feel that way about Staffies as I viewed them as aggressive and borderline dangerous. Once I had met my boyfriends new puppies though, I knew my feelings about dogs- and Staffies in specific- would never be the same.

The most loveable, intelligent but clumsy, talkative and courageous dogs I ever got to know, they were fantastic to have around the house.

It takes a very strong owner to keep them in line and some serious training and socialisation to get the best out of them, it is possible. Unfortunately I think we made a mistake getting two at the same time- one boy, Caesar and one girl, Duchess- as this gave them their own “pack” mentality and this made them quite prone to arguments with other dogs. I think this can be less prominent if dealt with one by one, and I think having at least six months between them will help as one will lead by example.

In terms of health, they were quite prone to illness- Caesar more so than Duchess. Caesar was prone to skin irritations/allergies while Duchess picked up colds that Caesar had first quite quickly.

In terms of pet food- they had their definite favorites and it is recommended to keep them on a sensitive skin or hypoallergenic diet. Although skin allergies can be caused by flea bites or environmental factors, they are more often caused by food allergies where the dogs are not spending a lot of time outdoors.

As Staffies can be prone to inter-dog aggression if not well socialised and trained, there will be many trips to the vet… Which can be costly.

They can be noisy breathers as a result of narrow airways and elongated soft palates. This results in them struggling to cool themselves down and increases the chances of them getting heat stroke which can be fatal if not addressed very quickly.

The tearing of the knee ligaments is relatively common in Staffies due to their level of activity and strong muscle definition without equal flexibility. It is more likely in those with especially upright back legs.

As mentioned in quite a few of the other dog breeds, mast cell tumours are prevalent in Staffies older than 5 years old.

Staffies can be prone to gas so avoid foods with soy, corn, wheat or gluten products where possible in your pet’s food.