Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

[Onelife]

I firmly belief Staffordshire Bull Terriers or any combination of should be placed on the dangerous breeds register and owners banned from keeping these unpredictable killing machines ...sweeping statement I know.

I’ve often heard it said... “Don’t blame the dog blame the owner” and in most cases I would agree with that statement but in the case of Staffs I wouldn’t trust one as far as I could throw one....and if I could have got my hands on the one that tried to rip my dog apart last summer I would have done just that.

I don’t dispute the fact that all dogs have the potential to bite and cause injury but when these dogs attack they have the potential to kill which has been the case on several occasions...put them with other dogs and their killing instinct increases significantly.

So my question is....should Staffs be placed on the banned dogs register?

Regards

OL

[Manoverboard]

YES !

Regards Fido

[Mervyn and Trish]

I've been bitten by dogs twice in my life, once by a Corgi and once by a Jack Russell. By contrast I once knew a Rottweiller which was wonderfully placid and gentle. Not sure you can be definitive simply by breed.

[Dark Knight]

Captain Squeaky
surely you can spot a bad dog, the same way you spot a guilty man or woman, using your superpowered 1000 yard stare??
or does it only work on humans?
bit of a sweeping statement cheese eater

[paultheeagle]

OL

I agree.....They can be docile family pets for years and suddenly they will turn with devastating consequences, bit like a Tory politician.

[Delboy]

No

Both of my brothers have owned Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and they are
Affectionate,
Bold
Reliable
Courageous
Fearless
Intelligent

The Staffie's (Staffordshire Bull Terriers) reputation is built on hearsay rather than fact. On the way it looks rather than the way it acts.

It is often identified incorrectly. In reality many of the dogs that show aggression are bull breed crosses. The purebred Staffie is a whole different ball game. It has a nickname, “The Nanny Dog” That nickname came about because this breed is known to be so good with children.

The Staffie is the breed that is recommended for a family with young children by many of the welfare and re-homing organisations. These organisations and rescue centres believe it is probably one of the best family dogs of all the breeds.

It is the only breed that has been described as “Totally loving to its family “, and is the only dog to have “totally reliable” in its breed standard. The very breed that many describe as vicious, unreliable and a killer.

The Kennel Club describes the breed’s suitability to young children. One of only two breeds, to have this recommendation, it is a loyal and loving family dog.

[HK phooey]

A sweeping statement maybe but OL is far from alone in his view of staffs. The two breeds I dread seeing when walking my dog are staffs and rotties, the damage they can do to another dog is horrendous. I'd welcome a law that requires them to be muzzled in public places. The same goes for English bull terriers.

[gfwgfw]

This is one subject that I know a little about, been involved with working dogs for many years, alas no longer

All dogs big or small, if any circumstance triggers their inherent instinct can be bleedy unfriendly and unpredictable, example the little adorable King Charles that recently killed the newly arrived baby in it's cot

Why, most probably the newcomer was getting just a little more attention than the dog

I have respect for all dogs and treat them accordingly

Many dog owners at time make me cringe with cruel over indulging the poor animal, but in keeps the lovely vets with an enviable life style

Sorry - rant over, and have a pleasant night, and remember when your lovely doggie gives you those affection kisses he/she has just been licking there a*se holes or worse the dog next door

Lubooo all

The Dog Loving Giant

[Kendhni]

All dogs are what the owners make them. I have been attacked by a dog .. and required quite a few stitches to put my face back together again ... for years I was terrified of dogs ... the reason I was attacked was that a dog does not like being kicked when it is in mid thrust with his lady friend. This is often the case.

I have actually watched some kids trying to kick one or other of my dogs, and when I told them off saying that the dog may bite them their response is that they don't care because then they get loads of money ... a great lesson society is teaching. Rather than simply putting dogs down and awarding compensation, it is time the courts looked into the reasons why dogs have attacked.

I would never ever leave a dog alone in a room with a young child or baby (not even our dogs which have been well trained). Their crying can be a trigger event for a dog attack responding to what is natural .. especially if there are multiple dogs then, like we see with humans, pack mentality takes over.

Also young children have a habit of being cruel and sometimes parents are just too stupid to see it ... for instance a friend of ours thinks its funny that their 2 year old goes up and dives on top of their dog (a boxer) while it is sleeping .. so far the dog had got up and walked away. They see it as an example of a well trained dog, I see it as an example of a dog where one day one slam is going to be one too many and then they are going to blame the dog.

[Onelife]

Certain breeds are more prone to vicious behaviour than others and in certain situations Staffordshire Bull Terriers will revert back to their breed instincts more readily than most breeds....I’ve witnessed this trait on more than one occasions and as mentioned our dog was subjected to an unprovoked attack from one of these killing machines.

Very rarely will you see a Staffordshire Bull Terrier walked off lead, this is mostly due to the owner knowing their unpredictability around other dogs, as Delboy has said they are indeed fearless and courageous and for this reasons will engage with other dogs without the slightest provocation... should another dog be staring in their direction. (I do however accept that there are exceptions to this)

HK is of course right when she highlights the damage that can be inflicted by this breed of dog. What some of you seem to be forgetting is that theses breeds were bred to stand their ground and take on anything that stand in their way... "with horrendous consequences".

Gfw...I’ve also been involved with dogs both as a competitor and as a trainer for many years and appreciate what you are saying...your comment... “All dogs big or small, if any circumstance triggers their inherent instinct can be bleedy unfriendly and unpredictable” is one that I agree with and you will no doubt agree with me when I say it is almost impossible to spot what has been described as a “purebred Bull terrier” from the now banned pit bull terrier. You will also agree with me that the now banned pit bull terriers displayed many of the characteristics that Delboy has described about his brother’s SBT e.g.

Affectionate,
Bold
Reliable
Courageous
Fearless
Intelligent

What distinguishes this dog from other breeds is that should it engage with another dog/child it won’t stop until it renders its victim unable to defend its self and any dog that has that hereditary capability shouldn’t be allowed to walk the streets IMO.

Ken...”all dogs are what their owner makes them” for the most that is true but there are some breeds of dog that require “knowledgeable handling” and therefore are potential time bombs waiting to go off.

In the case of Staffordshire bull terrier a total ban would be the best solutions all round IMO.

Regards

OL

[Stephen]

Yes.

And if there was register for ugly dogs they should head the top of the list in that as well.

And when you see one of these dogs on the street, how often is it attached to the wrist of some Neanderthal as a trophy 'come near me and your dead' statement with thick leather studded body harness and all.

[Delboy]

Yes.

And if there was register for ugly dogs they should head the top of the list in that as well.

And when you see one of these dogs on the street, how often is it attached to the wrist of some Neanderthal as a trophy 'come near me and your dead' statement with thick leather studded body harness and all.

Most of the Staffie's you see on the street attached to the wrist of some Neanderthal are not true Staffie's, they are normally bull breed crosses. Doubt whether they would be able to afford a true bred Staffie.

Nothing wrong with the looks of a true Staffie.

We used to own an Airdale, and often when I took it for a walk, I would hear parents say to their children don't go near them, they are viscous. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It's the same now, we dog sit our sons German Shepherd dog whilst they are at work, he used to tke it to work, but the dog had a nasty accident. She is a very large dog, and looks even larger as she is long haired.
When she is taken for walks people will cross over the road to avoid her, yet she is as soft as they come, scared of her own shadow.
We also used to own a little Jack Russell and if any dog was unpredictable and likely to bite you that breed would.
Unfortunately we tend to judge dogs on the way they look rather than the way they act.
With all dogs it also depends on how they have been trained from a puppy.

[Stephen]

German Shepherd

A proper dog. Although I wouldn't fancy clearing up after one

[Delboy]

German Shepherd

A proper dog. Although I wouldn't fancy clearing up after one

I get Lorraine to do the cleaning up after it, especially when in the garden

[Jacknian]

I dont think you can generalise about certain breeds of dog being dangerous. I think all dogs could be dangerous in certain circumstances, but the bigger the dog the more damage it can inflict. We have a very small Yorkshire terrier and her teeth are very sharp and could cause a lot of damage if she chose to bite. I would like to see all dogs muzzled and on leads when in the street. In our village there are signs on all lamp posts saying there is a £200 fine for dogs off leads but no one takes any notice of it and I have frequently had to pick my dog up when a loose dog comes running up to us as I don't know whether it is friendly or not. I have even spoken to one repeat offender and they completely ignored me. If it was the law that dogs had to be muzzled and on leads then maybe the owners would take more notice ( or maybe not ! )

[paultheeagle]

Perhaps they should re introduce the Dog Licence.....Some wreckless owners might think twice about have a dog if they had to pay.

[HK phooey]

The staff is the dog of choice for thugs and chavs. A lager swilling thug was on Appley beach with his 2 staffs last year when one of them killed my son's friend's puppy. The police were going to do nothing until she went to the press and kicked up a big stink. The dog was subsequently put down and the other one taken off him. It's a pity he wasn't put down too.

[Onelife]

Hi Jacknian

I wasn’t generalising I was stating an opinion based on my experiences....thankfully many of the traits that were present in the breeding of dogs for their aggressive behaviours are now “gradually” being bred out of blood lines. Unfortunately unscrupulous dog breeders who see an opportunity of making a quick buck don’t give a Sh*t about their breeding stock so keeps introducing potentially aggressive natured dogs back into a lucrative puppy market. I would dispute your generalisation that the bigger the dog the more damage it can inflict as it is well documented that certain breeds such as the bull terrier type have a “no win, never give in attitude” when tackling any size of dog.

I’m not one who advocates indiscriminate muzzling of dogs but agree with you that all dogs should be kept under control at all times but especially so in designated areas.

I agree with PTE in that the dog licence should be reintroduced but would like to see this used alongside a mandatory dog training programme for prospective dog owners.

Regards

OL

[Delboy]

What surprises me, is the number of people I see, who have no idea how to walk a dog on a lead, so they have full control of the dog.

I also believe that all dogs should be licensed and also chipped.

[Onelife]

Agree Delboy

One of my pet hates is seeing dogs taking their owners for a walk

Regards

Keith

[gfwgfw]

Greetings from a very sunny rural Darzet

What an interesting thread as Dogs have always played a big part of my life

Still at school and to earn 2/6d I helped out at the South Dorset Hunt Kennels looking after around a hundred hunting hounds and their turds - this was in 1946

I lubbed them and they lubbed me

Halcyon days

[Stephen]

I know what you mean GFW. I've been out with a few dodgy looking one's as well

[Dark Knight]

Stephen
did any of them wear a muzzle and a studded vest and cock their leg to pee

[gfwgfw]

True story

A nice lady residing close to gfw towers had two wee dogs

They were never let out, but they did have the run of a large terrace

I received a call could I come quickly, one of the dogs was in agony

Went to see the dog and it was obvious laboring to give birth

The lady was so upset and could not fathom how this miracle conception had happened

Bemused I said that the other dog was responsible

Aghast she said this could not be, the other dog was her brother

Animal lover - my a*se

[Onelife]

Stephen
did any of them wear a muzzle and a studded vest and cock their leg to pee

I don’t think so Darknightie...but he did "make" me wear them...he even called me his bitch!!

Thankfully it was only a dream and I’m pleased to inform you that I'm well on the way to a full recovery.