Having something of an image problem at times, the general misconception about the temperament of this dog is that they are aggressive animals. The reality is that, while some misguided people do buy this type of dog as a ‘status symbol’ or to attain a ‘tough’ image, they can make great family pets when bought up, handled and trained with the patience and understanding needed by any dog to mould it into a family pet. Given the chance these dogs can be just that – a great family dog. They have boundless energy and enthusiasm wrapped up in a relatively small package and need to be given boundaries and direction to ensure that they know how to behave around people and other animals, especially as they can have a tendency to be a little antisocial around other animals – not surprising given their heritage. They are natural risk takers displaying little fear, for example when confronted with another aggressive dog. Despite this, they do have gentle nature and are exceptionally loyal, especially to one person. They will also learn to obey commands relatively quickly but be warned – they can have a stubborn streak and can choose to ignore them if they want! They are also powerful chewers and will resort to this is left along for prolonged periods, are bored or distressed. Ultimately, the Staffy owner must be able to display patience and commit the time to raising a rounded animal, especially if it is to live as part of the family with other animals in it.