My daughters godmother is planning on getting a dog and she has her heart set on a staffy. She has had a golden retriever and a collie in the past and at the moment has a 3.5yr old mixed breed called pumpkin. Pumpkin is very sociable and laid back and feels that now is a good time to add a second dog.

I have only ever fostered a staffy for such a short amount of time so dont feel qualified enough to answer her question on whether staffies can live with other dogs in harmony or are you always on edge thinking that something could happen? Did you keep the dogs separate when you went out or did you leave them together? Are there any health problems specific to staffies? anything else you feel you want to share please be my guest!

Thanks a lot!!

Heres a pic of the little staffy we fostered!

If she is getting a pup i dont see any problem at all, if she is gettin an older or rescue dog she will need to know about his history and background like you would with any breed. Just because its a staff doesn't mean its going to savage the first dog it see ! By the way your foster staff looks seriously cute.

I have a staffie and a patterdale and they get on as well as I would expect, they have the occasional scrap but its handbags at dawn type stuff over 'valuable' items like the disgarded gloved Bos found yesterday, that said it tends to be Bosley the Patterdale that starts the scraps.
I keep mine seperate in crates when I go out but more for peace of mind than anything, as Bosley tends to counter surf when we are out, and Lexi the staffie prefers to be in her crate than out.
Is she planning on going for a pup? If so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go to a good health tested breeder. I got Lexi from a BYB, she has loads of health issues, excuse the extensive list but it will give you an idea of what can go wrong (bearing in mind none of these are tested for, its just bad breeding)
Allergy to all cereals
allergy to food storage mites
allergy to seeding grass
allergy to mud (we think?!)
IBS
Issues with her windpipe and coughing
reoccurant ear and eye infections.
There are other issues too and we are managing them but shes hard work.
As a minimum you should be looking for tests on L2hga and HC.
Now some pics of my two

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.....and Bosley too!

I own a stafford and a greyhound and never had any problems staffords are no different from any other dog if well trained and both dogs are introduced in the correct way , I've never had a dog aggressive stafford which I've brought up I really think its just lack of socialisation

Is she planning on going for a pup? If so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go to a good health tested breeder. couldn't agree more!!! I got Lexi from a BYB, she has loads of health issues, excuse the extensive list but it will give you an idea of what can go wrong (bearing in mind none of these are tested for, its just bad breeding)
Allergy to all cereals
allergy to food storage mites
allergy to seeding grass
allergy to mud (we think?!)
IBS
Issues with her windpipe and coughing
snap!!!!
Had the same problems with my stafford ,grass allergy ,hip problems,arthritis horrendous snoring bless her she's only 4!

Haha I just realised how strange my picture looks, I don't normally make my dogs sit next to a half empty bottle of pop, it was a pic I took for the forum to show how big they both were.....I am normal (well normal ish) I promise!!

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.....and Bosley too!

Oh the snoring!!!! sometimes she snores so loud I can't hear the TV!!! But she is lovely

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.....and Bosley too!

Thanks for the replies. She does want a puppy and ideally would like to recue one but that means that the pup might come with a whole host of health problems. Shes finding it very hard to decide whether to rescue as there are SOOOO many staffies there or go the reputable breeder route. Either which way it looks like me, my kiddos and Yogi get to play with a staffie when we go round there!!!!

No reason to think Staffies could not live with other dogs any more so than any other breed. It is just down to individual personalities, and the way in which the situation is managed.

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www.RescueRemedies.co.uk
http://www.dogsinneedofspace.co.uk/

You never know until you try. I'd rather rescue a pup to be honest than think that way, but each to their own and at least she is thinking about it.

Some pups are the poor victims of crappy breeders. My Harvey was 13 weeks when we got him and he's amazing. He's completely bossed by my westie x.

When we go out we leave Harvey crated as he prefers to be in there, and Roo free to potter in the dining room and kitchen. Neither go in the living room unless we are in the house.

They have the occasional scuffle, but its hand bags at dawn, nothing different than that with any other dogs when together at all.

I'd recommend em, I love em!

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