Staffordshire dogs were painted in many ways....chains or lack of chains has nothing to do with the age.
What does the bottom look like? Are they marked? Is there a hole in the dog? Where? How big?

I have about 8....I like them a lot!!!!

I cant see any markings on them at all but i attached a photo of the bottoms of the dogs

Well....they weren't made yesterday!
that bottom is not typical of the old 1860 to 1900 dogs....usually the bottom is flat...or nearly so, with a small air hole either in the bottom or the back....but everything is not always "typical".
Also they DO have a chain around their necks....but the painting on them is very atypical. I have never seen that red nor the black around the bottom....nor Staffordshire dogs where the paint appears to be chipping. The paint is always under the glaze.
Any chance that paint was added? have you given them a good washing....with soap and water? Any chance that under the red and black you have dogs like are in the link below?
Linda C

Here is a link that might be useful:

i asked my mom and she said they have always looked like that ever since she can remember even as a child, the next time i go for a visit I will take another look at them and give you and update which should be around the end of this month :)

I did go back down and the gold did come off but the pink and black did not come off it is glazed just like the white...i was also talking to my uncle and he said that his mother told him when he was a child that her mother got it at a carnival and so they were owned by not only my mom's mother but her mother's mother.

The dogs are Cavalier King Charles, a favorite breed of the english royalty. The breed has 4 diffrent colors,The Tri color is white with black and tan marking.

I don't think they're Staffordshire but a lesser copy made for the general public. Real Stafforshire has a lovely glaze and finish. In my area rea Staffordshire has lost value in the past ten years it seems. I've seen them at auction go for 75.00 for a superior pair.

Probably not a lot....but a picture would help asses.

I'm so sorry Jennee 30 I didn't even realize this was your post -- I apologise

Real I sold a set your small hole on base Large holes are made by slip casting I sold a pair recently the paint work brush strokes you can tell by

Becareful people will tell you there fake hoping to buy them alot of older work generally has no makers mark and the glazing is a give away is there a all firing hole in the back

The REALLY old staffordshire dogs were cast in 2 parts, and if you look closely you can see where they were "glued" together with slip before firing.

The thing is, Those dogs have been made for about 180 years at least.....and there isn't a cut off of old....vs a repro. There is very old, quite old, old, pretty old, not so old, recent and brand new.

old unusual and valuable with provenance very special