Shasta Staffords and Dobermans
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For over 35 years, loving, showing, and limited breeding of AKC Champion quality Staffordshire Bul
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This is Shasta Staffies and Dobermans Philosophy of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier with regard to getting along with other dogs
Today, I found this excerpt that I had saved from the 1989 book "Staffordshire Bull Terrier" by breed expert by Dieter Fleig and I totally agree with this perspective, personally, I don't think it is at all debatable, but I have had people tell me that "they are staffords" and obnoxious aggressive behavior towards other dogs, including incessant barking and lunging at other dogs that are minding their own business at shows, is to be expected. Fleig differs from that view and expresses it eloquently.
Having my first Staffords that are temperamentally more "spirited" than any of my previous, I take the "gross and unforgivable training deficiency" to heart and, while I need to be ever vigilant, I have, and will continue to see it as my responsibility to work tirelessly to take my dogs around areas with many other dogs 4-5 times per week, without fail and continue to praise all appropriate interaction and to severely disagree with/reprimand inappropriate aggression. I think anyone that has witnessed this breed fight, can surely agree that it is in no way "cute" and, for the sake of the breed, needs as Fleig says "to be forestalled without exception, and firmly" as well as aiming to selectively breed for dogs who are confident and reliable.
The Excerpt- original publication in 1988: "how does it react when meeting other animals, especially other dogs? This is a difficult question to answer. It is true that in the past they were bred so that they would fight to the bitter end: such selective breeding can go deep. … But dog fighting has been illegal now for over a hundred and fifty years and different selection factors have come to the fore, so these temperament problems are no longer so pronounced, Sensible breeders are always trying to improve the Stafford’s amiable attributes by employing careful breeding programmes: aggressive dogs should never be used. .. The fighting instinct must, through planned training, be controlled; from the earliest age a Stafford puppy must experience intensive social contact with its human family, litter mates and other animals. Dogs are social creatures and they learn the pecking order and correct pack behavior at an early age. It is the duty of every breeder and owner of Staffords to rear them so that they are absolutely reliable with other dogs. The first signs of aggression should be forestalled without exception, and firmly. It is unpleasant, bad for the breed and unjustifiable to be faced with Staffords at shows which show aggression towards each other; it is a gross and unforgivable training deficiency.”
