Kids grandparents just got a new puppy...

[88Pandora88]

I have a 5 year old and I'm 7 months preg, my kids grandparents have just gone and got a staffordshire bull terrier puppy. My OH isn't impressed and has expressed his views of the breed to his mum.
They looked after my eldest when she was a baby and we were hoping they'd do the same with my baby this time, but don't know how we feel.
The breed has a bad reputation, they said they'll get it trained but with all other dogs they've had, theyve never trained them 🤷🏻‍♀️
Anyone have a staffy and young kids?
I know every dogs different etc, I obviously just put my kids safety first.

For those asking about labs biting (@Horsemad @SpiderCharlotte) it has been widely reported. See:

metro.co.uk/2016/08/02/the-type-of-dog-responsible-for-the-most-attacks-is-very-surprising-6043790/

Thanks for the links re labs. Is it because they are very popular as pets, hence more of them over other breeds in homes?

There is NO breed of dog that should be trusted 100% with any children, however well trained.

But Staffies are great. It's other dogs they hate, not kids.

You are being cf and U.Its up to them what breed they get and staffies are a gorgeous breed! You arent happy because you want free childcare .

The nanny dog thing is a myth. Any dog can bite but you'll come off worse with others.

I wouldn't have my DCs in a home that doesn't train their dogs.

I think it’s having no common sense rather that being selfish.
Who’s going to be taking care of the dog and taking him for walks etc. It’s not going to be a five year old, is it.
Puppies are delicious but bloody hard work and add that on to a new born and a five year old.

@SurferRona Thank you for that - I'm always interested in findings like these.

It does say in the article that a possible reason for this is the sheer number of labs as opposed to many other breeds. I'm guessing that these numbers can change depending on what dogs are the most 'fashionable' at the time, though I think labs will always be up there near the top of the tree in terms of popularity.

My own feeling on the OPs issue is that no child should be with an untrained dog, regardless of breed.

Oh sorry. They’ve just got a pup for themselves.

Puppies are delicious but bloody hard work and add that on to a new born and a five year old

But the five year old and newborn don't belong to the people getting the dog, they will be visitors. Nobody should be constrained in the breed of dog they choose because other people don't approve.

Unless those people don't approve because they think the new owners are physically incapable of caring for the breed - such as a high energy, high needs breed going to people who never leave the house.

Dear god. Breed is irrelevant if the dog has decent owners and is WELL TRAINED. Staffies get a terrible rep because they are often crossbred and then encouraged to be fighting dogs - my heart aches for them but I'd never get a rescue Staffie for that reason as you have no idea what it's been taught to do. A puppy however with loving owners that is raised around children will be absolutely fine. If your children are around first, the puppy will never know any different and so will see a child as part of the family rather than as an incoming threat.

I'd say the same about any breed by the way. The most docile labrador in the world would not be good around children if it hadn't been well trained and exposed to children throughout its life. In contrast, my great aunt had a rottweiler and as a child I used to sleep in its basket for naps because it was so used to children and gentle.

Ddog was a staffie and was the most gentlest and loveliest dog on the planet.

She was so good when we had children. She used to stand between the pram and any of her doggie friends who wanted to peer into the pram

Her and dcat ran into the house to get me to come outside and show me a little bird that had fallen from its nest.

I made sure the bird was ok and got them inside where we watched the mother bird encourage the baby bird to fly. You could see the look of joy on ddog’s face when bird roll off

I agree with others.

It doesn’t really matter which breed it is if there is no training.

Bird flew off

If trained, Staffies are fantastic dogs (and I prefer cats!). If they're trained.

Their choice though. Only your choice once they offer to babysit, so decide then.

I have a Staffordshire bull terrier and my 7 year old daughter and they are the best of friends. She is the softest dog you'll ever meet. She's currently laid next to me fast asleep brilliant dogs

@Horsemad Labradors have more recorded bites but this is down the the fact there a so many people with them, its numbers thing not a breed thing.

I wish my in-laws would get a staffy instead of the overbred neurotic gun dogs they favour. Their current one (golden retriever) attacked my staffXrottie for no apparent reason and left a massive hole in her neck. My dog is a gentle soul who didn't even try to fight back (she is also v good with kids having been exposed to them her entire life)

do you have a source for your statement re labradors please?

As the poster said, it’s sheer numbers of registered dogs which have led to this figure. Labradors are still the most populous breed in the U.K.

I’m appalled that staffies still have this reputation. It’s ridiculous.

Sorry my il's have a staff and it's not a suitable dog to have around kids, it's so bitey

If it’s not trained I couldn’t leave my child near them. They are just so heavy. I had bruises on my leg as an adult for a very friendly family staffy jumping up on me, it weighed a ton.

Staffies are people pleasers that take their owners cues. Because they're solid dogs with high pain thresholds they can probably take rough and tumble with kids better than other breeds and they're very open to being trained (as are most terriers). It's pretty selfish to expect someone else to not get a dog because you want free childcare. Pay for it yourself if your bothered.

Sorry my il's have a staff and it's not a suitable dog to have around kids, it's so bitey

That's down to lack of training, not the fact that's it's a staffy.

I love a staff and wound have one if it weren't for our cats (I know it would probably be fine but still). If trained correctly they are gorgeous and sopy and loyal.

You're being unreasonable if the breed is what's worrying you. Staffies are generally fab with kids, DS1's childminder had 3 and it was never a concern at all. The only dog related issues we had both involved SIL's Jack Russell. I'm absolutely not suggesting JRTs are a problem breed, to be clear! But any untrained dog has the potential to be a risk, regardless of what breed it is.

I think I might be a but worried leaving a baby/young toddler around it. I mean, the five year old you can just explain to them that they have to gentle with the dog and give it space when it walks away ect. But babies tend to pull tails ect...

That being said, it depends on the individual dog.

I've two Lhasa's. One soft as a brush, one who's skittish and can snap. He's never broken anyone's skin, but I wouldn't ever fully trust him around my small nephews. No two dogs are the same, and the staffi bread can be incredibly loving. As others have said, if you dint want the dog around your child, don't use them as childcare.