To pick my children up whenever I see a stafforshire bull terrier?

[DarlingDuck]

I am really frightened of bull terrier type dogs, my brother and I were chased by a pit bull when we were young and our dog was attacked and almost died. Whenever I see a stafforshire bull terrier I cross the road, aibu?

[Sirzy]

Although I can understand your fear do you really want your children to be so scared of them? (and possibly all dogs?)

Much better to teach them to be safe around them rather than encouraging them to be afraid IMO

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

YABU because your children will pick up on your fears. And there's a big chance the dogs will as well. Present a bold front both to the dogs and your children and you'll probably benefit in more ways than one.

[Expelliarmus]

YABU, but you have your reasons.
Staffies are actually one of the best dog breeds for families. It's a pity they are popular with tosspot idiots.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Yes. Sorry but Staffies aren't any more likely than any other breed to be nasty. I'm not biased I don't have one. Though a woman in our street does and its soft as anything.

You'll make your kids scared of dogs. I'm sorry you got chased and your dog was attacked but you need to make a big effort not to pass your fear on to your kids.

A dog that is a bit nippy is less likely to go for someone who exudes confidence around dogs ime.

[Expelliarmus]

Just like to point out that I don't think all staffie owners are tosspots.

[DarlingDuck]

Can dogs sense fear and how do they react to it? I do like dogs in general, I'm just terrified of bull terriers and rotweillers

[2shoes]

yabu
if only cos a staff isn't a pit bull

[squeakytoy]

Yes, you are being ridiculous. You are also instilling an unhealthy and unnecessary fear into your children.

Staffies are renowned for being good with children, and the bad press they get is unfair and unwarranted. All breeds of dog are capable of biting. And cliche though it is, there is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad an irresponsible idiots who own them.

If a dog is on its lead, it can not attack your children, so long as you have sensibly taught your children not to stroke or stick their hands out at any random dog without checking that it is ok with the owner first.

[DarlingDuck]

I thought a lot of young 'hard' guys like them because they are agressive dogs, is that incorrect?

[DarlingDuck]

The dog that attacked us had lovely owners

[northernrock]

YANBU. I hate those dogs, they are bred to be vicious. Whenever a big muscly dog jumps up at my ds the owner always says "oh he wouldn't hurt a fly". That's what dog owners always say before Princess rips your kid's throat out.

[fuckmepinkandcallmerosie]

You will make your children scared of dogs.

Staffies make great family pets and are as soft as anything.

[DogsBestFriend]

Yes YABU.

Any dog can be a danger. So can any human. Aggression and threat is not the preserve of the SBT any more than it is of the Black man. After all, some black men can be aggressive but I take it that you don't pick your DC up when ever you see a Jamaican male walking towards you, do you?

I work with rescue dogs, up to 60 at a time, many of whom are Staffies and I've owned and fostered the breed in the family home with young DC too. My Dc are teenagers now and they help out in handling the rescue dogs with me.

[TinFairy]

You are cultivating a fear of dogs in your children. Do you really want them to be afraid of dogs for their entire lives?

Far better to teach them to have a healthy respect for dogs and how to behave around them.

SBT's are rarely dangerous to people. They are often intolerant of other dogs but they are actually well known for being good with people; children especially.

[pinkthechaffinch]

YANBU I do exactly the same I see a dog approaching my toddler, not just staffies, anything that looks potentially vicious -especially the sort that lunges on its lead.

and so what if dd develops a fear- it's a healthy fear IMO. I certainly don't weant her rushing up to strange dogs.

[janelikesjam]

You are not being unreasonable. I always used to do it. They are bred to be fighters after all.

[squeakytoy]

No Duck.. they can be trained to be agressive towards other dogs, it is very hard to actually train a staffie to be aggressive towards people. That is the reason that so many of the breed are in dogs homes, because the fuckwits that thought having a staffie would make them look "hard" eventually realise that the dogs are not instinctively vicious to people.

I AM biased, I have a staffie, but I have also had other breeds of dog throughout my life, such as a basset, and a beagle, and my staffie is by far the most gentle and friendly of all. My friends 18mth old spent about two hours sat by him yesterday, stroking his head and ears, while my dog just lay there patiently. He is the most laid back dog you could ever meet, because he has been trained and treated properly.

[BornInAfrica]

The only staffie I know is soppier than a room full of Barbie dolls ffs - there exists the possibility for badness in ALL dogs so don't just single out one breed - that just makes YOU look stupid!

[MoonGirl1981]

I think I'd rather my children were overcautious than thought every dog was friendly and then got bitten.

My son and his friend were chased by a bull mastiff (terrifying experience) and the owner also owned a Staffie. Now he's scared of 'big' dogs.

If you're scared then you're scared. Don't feel bad about it.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Dogs and other animals pick up on emotions because that's how they navigate life. How they're going to react is going to range from giving you a wide berth to having a bit of a growl. Maybe it would help to get to know some of the breeds you're frightened of?

Cautionary tale. My friend doesn't like cats, was very uncomfortable around them and would shoo them away from her children in a bit of a flappy manner. Her DD picked up on this and translated it into 'cats are something to be frightened of' and would literally howl the place down if she met one e.g. at my house. It expanded to incorporate any furry animal so the poor kid was the one at the fun farm shrieking at hamsters...

[squeakytoy]

Not ALL staffies are bred to be fighters. That is a very silly generalisation, and an ignorant one too.

[lastonetoleaveturnoutthelights]

You're not crazy at all, and although I have a big dog myself I do feel differently when a so-called 'dangerous dog breed' walks past me and my toddler, because I know that some breeds of dog can cause more damage by a bite than others.

However, I do know that dogs are more likely to act aggressively towards nervous people. They sense your fear and it makes them feel anxious, which might result in them growling at you, putting their hackles up and so on...

Be streetwise; When you walk past a dog teach your children to be strong and confident, and sensibly cautious - i.e. only stroking a strange dog after asking the owner's permission.

[stressheaderic]

Round here, the only folk with staffies are young 'hard' lads who strut about with them in appropriate places (eg. shopping centre) on chain leads, looking menacing.

I love dogs and have encouraged 16mo DD to love them too, hence she loves stroking and playing with my gran's jack russell....but these staffies - yes I admit I too pick her up when one is around, leashed or not. I live very close to where a young girl was mauled to death by one a few years ago and the story of it sticks in my mind. Therefore YANBU.

[iwantadogbutarabbitwoulddo]

Ooooo you guys just wait till the ladies from the Doghouse find this thread.

The poor poor staffies. They really don't deserve their reputation.

www.savethestaffies.co.uk/