Staffies are excellent watchdogs providing you have socialised them from a very young puppy. Once Staffies are a little older, they are very sensible dogs and will protect you and your family, but do they make good guard dogs?
Staffordshire Bull Terriers make much better watchdogs than guard dogs; there’s no disputing that fact. Most dog trainers wouldn’t put any Staffy above average regarding guarding capabilities. If you’re looking for a guard dog, and while a Staffy might look robust and powerfully built, there are far better choices.
Staffies will bark at strangers and warn you when someone is approaching the house. However, the dog will soon stop barking and probably roll over when you get close enough to scratch their tummy.
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Staffies are friendly to people they’ve never met, and they’ll let you pet and stroke them for as long as you are willing.
So the straightforward answer is: no, Staffies do not make good guard dogs.
What Are Staffies Good At?
Staffordshire Bull Terriers are renowned for being the “nanny dog” because of their love of children and gentle demeanour. However, it’s never safe to leave any dog, not just Staffies, alone with children.
Staffies don’t have a particularly territorial nature. However, they will protect their family members and let you know if intruders, humans or animals, are hanging around.
As mentioned, it’s debatable what a Staffy would do if someone broke into the house because they love humans. Still, unless the intruders know the dog in question, they’re highly likely to exit as quickly as possible because Staffies would definitely look like no-nonsense dogs.
Staffies are a pretty easy dog to train. This breed loves to please its human family, so providing you offer plenty of patience and treats your Staffy won’t be an issue to train.
Staffies thrive on physical exertion and are a fan of high-intensity sports.
The breed is low-maintenance in the grooming department with an easy-to-groom coat in various colours.
What Are Staffies NOT Good At?
Staffordshire Bull Terriers typically get along well with other dogs and cats in their own homes. However, if challenged, many Staffies will not back down and will fight back.
The other pets in your home should be evaluated honestly before adding a Staffordshire Bull Terrier to the mix. If you have a dog that likes to rule the roost already in your house, it’s not wise to bring home a Staffy. You should carefully monitor any Staffy when they come into contact with other dogs.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is prone to fighting for its place in the family hierarchy. It is essential to have a self-assured leader and to have received proper obedience training.
Provide a Staffy with the most challenging chew toys you can locate as an alternative to furniture. Because a bored Staffy is destructive, they have powerful jaws and teeth that will wreak havoc on your table legs.
Staffies can also be habitual diggers; once again, if they are bored, they’ll turn a beautifully manicured garden into a complete mess in days.
Most Staffies do better with experienced owners who understand stubborn dogs and have the time and patience to train them correctly.
Because Staffies make excellent family pets, they don’t do well when left alone for long periods; separation anxiety can be an issue.
Why Staffies Are Terrible Guard Dogs
Staffies are terrible guard dogs because of their love for people. If you ever meet a Staffy, you will be surprised by how friendly they are. I met three Staffies with their owner last week in a coffee shop. They had never met me before, yet their tails were going nineteen to the dozen, and they were giving out licks as though we had been friends for years.
Do Staffies Protect Their Owners?
Yes, Staffies are protective of their owners. I have no doubt a Staffy would come to the rescue of their owner if someone were threatening them. In addition, it would take a foolish person to attack or threaten an owner if they happen to be walking their Staffy.
