Hello,
I have a family of 2 young children (4 and 6), my husband and a Male 2 year old GSD. Our GSD is okay with dogs when out and about, and with our families dogs he is very good, enjoys their company ect. We have been thinking of getting a new dog for a while, as now both children are in school we think it’s a good time to get one. We have been looking at Staffies, and would probably be getting a female, as we have heard it’s better to get opposite gender dogs. Are Staffies good family dogs? Our GSD is very good with the children, although as with any dog I never trust them alone together. How much exercise do Staffies normally need? The GSD gets a 30 minute on lead walk in the morning before work, then at lunch break he gets a 20 minute walk and some short time playing, then after work he gets about 2 hours free running, and then just before sun goes down we take him out for a walk along the whole of the beach walkway (normally takes about 45 minutes) and get back when it’s dark. Weekends he gets free run through a forest for a large portion of the day, or we take him to a dog friendly national trust, where he mainly gets on lead walking but for also a large portion of the day. Obviously we won’t be walking the puppy the whole of this time until they are old enough, but will be letting them run around when the GSD gets the off lead running, and most likely bringing them along by carrying them on some walks before they are old enough to walk that far, so as they get extra socialisation, and will be carrying them along for all walks before the jabs, for socialisation. As for leaving them at work, we won’t be crate training (we didn’t with the GSD, we don’t feel the need to with the Staffy) but me and my husband can take 2 weeks off work each, so 4 weeks of us being home at all times to toilet train and get the puppy used to being left alone. Sorry for rambling, but we want to be certain that we are making the right decision. Is it better to just have one dog? Or is getting the Staffy okay?
I have a family of 2 young children (4 and 6), my husband and a Male 2 year old GSD. Our GSD is okay with dogs when out and about, and with our families dogs he is very good, enjoys their company ect. We have been thinking of getting a new dog for a while, as now both children are in school we think it’s a good time to get one. We have been looking at Staffies, and would probably be getting a female, as we have heard it’s better to get opposite gender dogs. Are Staffies good family dogs? Our GSD is very good with the children, although as with any dog I never trust them alone together. How much exercise do Staffies normally need? The GSD gets a 30 minute on lead walk in the morning before work, then at lunch break he gets a 20 minute walk and some short time playing, then after work he gets about 2 hours free running, and then just before sun goes down we take him out for a walk along the whole of the beach walkway (normally takes about 45 minutes) and get back when it’s dark. Weekends he gets free run through a forest for a large portion of the day, or we take him to a dog friendly national trust, where he mainly gets on lead walking but for also a large portion of the day. Obviously we won’t be walking the puppy the whole of this time until they are old enough, but will be letting them run around when the GSD gets the off lead running, and most likely bringing them along by carrying them on some walks before they are old enough to walk that far, so as they get extra socialisation, and will be carrying them along for all walks before the jabs, for socialisation. As for leaving them at work, we won’t be crate training (we didn’t with the GSD, we don’t feel the need to with the Staffy) but me and my husband can take 2 weeks off work each, so 4 weeks of us being home at all times to toilet train and get the puppy used to being left alone. Sorry for rambling, but we want to be certain that we are making the right decision. Is it better to just have one dog? Or is getting the Staffy okay?
