Well, we took Terence to the park for the first time today and didn't go quite to plan. We'd arranged to meet Lexilou for a walk but it turns out we're both rather blonde () and missed each other completely.
So, I was walking around the park with Terence on his training lead. It transpires Terence really isn't bothered about food as treats. Whenever I tried to do a recall he gave me this look:

and continued doing whatever he was doing before. (His recall in the house is fine ) I will take boiled chicken and cheese next time, even it if means all the other dogs in the park will follow me round, too.
He is also obsessed with people and other dogs. He is so desperate to say hello that we can't walk any further until the other dog/person has gone. Now, this isn't very practical in a dog park! I don't mind that he is friendly, in fact, I think it's great. But it's very frustrating for both of us if you end up meeting lots of kn*bheads like we did today. My particular favourite today was a guy who said: "Get THAT thing away from my dog. He'll only bite. I know what THEY are like." He's 13 weeks old today! Loads of people didn't want him to say hello either, because he's one of THOSE staffies.
Well, needless to say, I'm a bit deflated now and hope it won't always be like this. Terence had a good time, I think. He's fast asleep in his crate and looks like this:

That's such a shame. I'm surprised by the attitude towards Staffies and just wonder whereabouts you live? I live in Staffordshire and as you would expect there are a few Staffies around!! They do have a reputation, but it's for being very excitable and a real handful, but not nasty at all. They're known to be good with children too.

I hope you have better walks in future as I am sure you will. One thing for sure though is that whatever Staffies reputations are there is nothing quite so impressive as a well trained well behaved one on a lead. Especially when some lunatic Yorkie or Westie or Lab (something without a bad reputation) is going ballistic as you calmly walk by!!

We're in Leeds.
We're a LONG way off being the nice and calm staffie that shows up the other dogs. Working on it, but nowhere near there. I am hoping we just had a really bad bunch of people that we met today. There can't just be w*nkers around here

Sounds like you have a lovely Staffy being a lovely young Staffy!! He's only a tot too didn't you say? He'll calm down as he gets used to being out. The distractions are probably just to exciting for him right now.

As for them all being w*nkers I'm sure there must be a network somewhere where they all arrange to be out at the same time in the same place, just to make the rest of us have crappy days!! It's amazing, it can't be chance! I think they travel round the country in tutting-over-the-top packs!

Poor Terence being treated like that. I can assure you if we had met you along the way I would not have hesitated in letting my 2 meet, sniff & play with him.

Glad he had a nice walk anyway and enjoyed it so much it tired him out.

Think we need an updated pic of him so we can all see how scary he is

__________________
Harvey - Beagle 4.5 years old
Willow - Old English Sheepdog x - 2.5 years old
Merlin - African Grey Parrot - 6 years old

RIP our Beautiful Girl : Zoe (Collie x) 1992 - 2006....Gone but never forgotten xx

Sleeping_Lion posted some of him on Wednesday.
I can't upload any pictures because the charger of my camera has gone and I can't find it. Will do as soon as I find it

Yep a very blonde day had by me and I feel terrible....I suggest a meet time and I get the flaming time wrong......that is so blonde and I am very sorry.
That said we had a walk around the park as well and you are right a lot of people are anti-staffie three people let their dogs run over and say hello to Bosley (the one who could be a bit funny) and dragged them away from Lexi and a bloke came over with no dog started talking to us, fussed Bosley and blanked Lexi, now Lexi wags her tail and grunts is she is ignored, and we just said "shes just a bit jealous he is new etc could we ask you to fuss her too" he refused on the account of her being dangerous....he got a bit of a tounge lashing after that.

My recall tricks.....hot dog sausage, I am going to take out shares in asdas smart price hotdogs because my dogs will do ANYTHING for them.

__________________


.....and Bosley too!

Hehe, will try that. Maybe if I wave a chicken wing around, I'll attract his attention
So far, Terence is still fast asleep in his crate. He's growling in his sleep. He's probably telling off those idiots we saw.

What lovely action pics, missed the thread the other day so just had a peek. Looks like they all had a great time.

Terence is gorgeous one of the families that I childmind for has a young staffy that they got from rescue as a 12 weeks pup, she was so cute and has grown into a beautiful dog, I am very fond of her. It is so sad that staffies get the bad reputation because they really don't deserve it, it is the reputation of a few that have spoilt it for the majority and people are so narrowminded sometimes that they don't take the time to find out the real personality behind the dog. I know my friend has been shocked by some of the reactions she gets from some people when they are out walking.

__________________
Harvey - Beagle 4.5 years old
Willow - Old English Sheepdog x - 2.5 years old
Merlin - African Grey Parrot - 6 years old

RIP our Beautiful Girl : Zoe (Collie x) 1992 - 2006....Gone but never forgotten xx

Yeah, we had a great time with SL. Her dogs are lovely.

I wish people would take the time to get to know Terence. He is gorgeous. Yes, he nips (like all pups, and has got loads better). Yes, he gets excited and maybe a bit cheeky. But he's just a friendly puppy who wants to say hello. And I don't exactly look like a chav owner, so, surely, they should understand there is no reason not to love Terence.