Usually great, always best to err on the side of caution at first, as with any dog. Generally very laid back though.

Interesting always wanted one but hubby has never been keen he equated their drive for small furries with possible child problems. Of course they don't all have that strong prey drive though anyway I believe.

So laid back they are horizontal (with eyes closed )

Brilliant dogs.

Greyhounds are brilliant pets. As are their smaller cousins whippets. And lurchers... May I take this opportunity to direct you to The Pointy Dog Appreciation Thread...

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1845089

Indeed ... the best dog in my opinion

Greyhounds are the best! Some can live with cats (Rescue will adivise on individual dogs) and all the ones I know have been great with kids. These dogs are so lovely and it's sad that so few people appreciate them. Certainly the easiest dog that I've ever had.

Yes. Lurchers. my sofa lost a battle with my 'laid back' lurcher today but he's an awesome dog (sofa trashing aside)

Op- I'd say the dog show is a good idea to get you started, but it's also workpth seeing what mongrels are being advertised in local shelters/online (but be careful about where you get one from) you might get a great mix somewhere!

Aye well puppies are puppies regardless! Tux is at the cheeky teenager stage. This is why I much prefer adult rescues!

Re kids and small furries, it depends on the dog but a good rescue will test that. My last lurcher lived happily with a cat and 2 kids, my whippet Tux lives with 2 cats and 2 kids. He's really affectionate with the kids. Total cuddle monster! I did foster a saluki cross with a view to keeping him but it soon became apparent this ex working lurcher was not cat workable! Shame, he was great with the kids. Sadly had to return him to the rescue ( he's now settled in a cat free home with a husky pal ) I know some folk on lurcher link have them with rabbits and chickens so it depends very much on the individual.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

No better breed for kids. rufty tufty, yet loving sweet and sweet in nature. A perfect size, very healthy, many many to pick from thanks to the medias dreadful portrayal leaving them in rescues up and down the country.
Not a fan of Labs, they are not known as Rudadors in the veterinary world for nothing.
Small hairy breeds can be a little fragile and highly strung for children, and need regular grooming to look good.
Chi's are my new love, but tooooo small for kids, particularly when puppies. Very fragile, easily broken!
Terriers other than staffs can be a bit sharp for young children.
Cavalier King Charles, lovely happy little dogs, but be warned, health is an issue, hearts in particular.

Finally, please, please, don't line pockets of peddlers, don't be fooled into the fiction of hybrid vigour, and all that clap trap. Steer clear of silly named designer cross breeds. By all means consider a cross, but do not be fooled into thinking a lab cross is a breed, or a pug cross, etc etc.
Cross a Lab with a Poodle for example, and you could quite easily be ripped off to the tune of hundreds and still get a dysplasic dog, that sheds hair and has chronic ear troubles.

Staffy all the way.... go see some, a good rescue will welcome your interest in the breed with open arms and probably have plenty for you to meet.

Medium size, exceptional temperament, short coat, generally robust and so so many in need of homes, don't ever overlook them bcause of what you think you've heard about them

Once you go staff, you'll never have anything else lol!

I knew someone would say staffie, but unless you are prepared to have people shy away and generally avoid you they are not the best dog to have. I always love people oohing and ahhhing over my dogs telling me how sweet they are so the idea anyone would shy away and not interact with them would not make for happy social walks for us.

Ahhhh I love a staffie. I would never shy away from one.

Don't pick a breed, go to a shelter and see which dog you like. Breeders create so many unwanted puppies, don't support them.

That these days is quite an unusual reaction to them, people I know who have them get quite upset at people shying away, even shouting at them. Personally I don't let my girls say hello to them as I am never quite sure about them, not many other dogs unless the owners say they are unfriendly ours don't get to have a sniff at.

If you opt for a staffie my advice would be to get a puppy from a shelter. Dont buy one from a "breeder" as they are usually irresponsible.

I wouldnt advise getting an adult one of your wife is the primary one walking it.

We have an adult staffie and i love him to bits. The only problem is we didnt know his history when we got him and we have found that on walks he can be hit and miss with other dogs. Dogs on leads he doesnt bat an eyelid at, but if a large dog is running free he can become quite interested in it. So much so that he will stand and stare and you have to pick him up to get him to move where he cant see it!

Agree with what others have said about people avoiding you if you have a staffie.

Having said all that i wouldnt swap mine now! Hes lovely with people, loves snuggles and belly rubs from anyone. He was also really easy to train simple commands.

What i liked about him was that he was quite small for a staffie so a nice sized dog. Small enough for me to pick up an carry if needed but big enough that hes not under your feet.

Wow, does that happen!! If I had a staffie and someone started shouting at him there would be hell to pay

The only dogs that worry me are small ankle snappers, they are so fast and snarly. The neighbours dog used to wait for me to open the car door and swing my feet out, he would ambush me from the laurel bush

No they tend to be shouting at the owners not the dogs, I have to agree little 'uns are quick our Betty is super fast but that's part of her charm and we have socialised her to the point she is very friendly with everyone. But she does love toes and noses !

Lol what nonsense, I wish people would shy away tbh, all my staffs have always got admiring glances and people coming up wanting to pet them, lots of doggy friends etc.
REAL dog people don't believe the media lies and see a sweet tempered dog and if they can't they aren't the people I want to meet!

Choosing a breed is overrated anyway IMO, there is such variation within a breed. As said, have a chat with a few good rescues, meet a few different dogs, speak to owners, go along and watch some training classes and see what you think

And yet others have agreed so possibly not nonsense at all.

Many of us are real doggy people I think but we don't all have rose tinted glasses when it comes to recommending breeds. For some people it would be a distressing thing to have people scared of their dog, others may not care which is why there is usually a dog of some sort out there for everyone, so many different breeds and different requirements from human beings for them.

I love staffs, but wouldn't have one. Nothing to do with the breed stereotype but the clingy-ness. They'd drive me mad! The amount of staffs we get in due to separation issues is amazing, they are bred to be loyal, people dogs then get left all day and can't cope.

My Staffords have never been clingy, they are, as breed, generally easy to rehome as they settle very quickly, possibly due being a breed who changed hands a lot back in their warrior days, coupled with having to be very tractable with people, due to having to be handled while in battle.
I've had no trouble raising them with other dogs either. I've kept them with other Staffords, Rotties, Labs, Mastiffs, a Pom, and now a Chihuahua. The Chi BATTERS my poor old stafford lol!
I do get a bit of avoidance by narrow minded folk, but that can be a godsend, it can get irritating when everyone wants to stop and pet the Chi. My poor old Staff tends to get bypassed, and he's the one who delights in a strangers hello. Poor fella!
I kind of like having a dog who can handle himself if mugged by a rudador, I fear for my Chi when they come flying over hackles up, " just wanting to play"
Whatever your breed you will run a gauntlet of ill mannered dogs when out and about. A sad fact of life these days. Seems few folk are very responsible these days

A few pics over the years, showing that staffs can and do mix with other dogs!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ps10676dca.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/DSC_0066.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...DSC_0008-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/DSC_0010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...s/100_1663.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...be60000001.jpg

Obviously there are exceptions to the rule, but 99% of the staffs that come in are because of separation anxiety of some sort! then when in kennels they are desperate (more so than other breeds in general- there are always individuals that don't conform to the breed stereotypes) for human attention, as for easy rehome? The return stats of most rescues would disagree - of the 7 or 8 staffs we have rehomed since I've been there, 3 have come back, one because of biting, two due to not settling (the bite was also nervousness, not agressive driven) - in all that time we've only had 2 non staffs returned, one due to owners circumstances changing and one due to resource guarding.

I will concede to a degree, I must be honest, the Staffords I've owned or known closely, have been well bred specimens, bred for correct temperament. The old school working type. Kennel dogs and house dogs. All have been very easy to adapt to whatever has been asked of them. I guess there are so so many poorly bred dogs out there. I'd hazard a guess many would have been bullied by owners to make them more aggressive, and then does when all they achieved was a nervous wreck. Staffs are so not meant to be man biters the breed has been damaged by puppy peddlers, and it's my huge bug bear. I don't want to buy a staff pup at this time. Ethically I couldn't, with so many in rescue. But I can't risk another adult stafford with my old boy, with no real idea of a rescues background I'd not be comfortable with it. Hence a Chi pup. I'll own a staff again, after my old boy leaves me and I can come to terms with it. No breed other than the APBT has captured my great and soul like the Stafford. Incomparable.

We've got loads of staff pups in one lad was left tied to a fence post out side the resuce at 12 weeks. Now 6 months and still in rescue all because he needs a staff experience home, as he wasn't socialised before he was dumped and has no manners, obviously this means he can be misunderstood and that's not good for a staff.

Plus we've just had a litter of staff crosses delivered looks like hey are some bull breed cross- gorgeous!