Staffies and Staffie crosses are said to make good family pets

It said there had been a 20% rise in the breed brought into its centres at this time of year.

The charity appealed to prospective pet owners to consider rehoming the breed, which it said made good family pets.

It claimed the dogs had been "demonised" because they were often associated with violent attacks.

In October, a baby boy was treated in hospital in Glasgow after his uncle's Staffordshire Bull Terrier attacked him in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire.

We need to make sure they are going to be family pets, rather than a status symbol because they look like tough dogs Natalie Smart Scottish SPCA

However, Scottish SPCA spokeswoman Natalie Smart said bad behaviour by the pets could often be attributed to bad owners.

She said the dogs were known as "nanny dogs", because of their great rapport with children.

"We are really careful rehoming them, as we need to make sure they are going to be family pets, rather than a status symbol because they look like tough dogs, or be used in dog fighting," she added.

There are currently 20 Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Staffie crosses in the charity's Glasgow Dog and Cat Home, and a further eight at its Bothwell Bridge centre in Lanarkshire.

Ms Smart said: "One Staffie, called Spike, has been at the dog and cat home since February.

"Another dog, named Elite has been at Bothwell Bridge since August.