“Getting ANY adult dog breed is strongly NOT recommended”

[tallulahtoo78]

From a dog expert interview on LBC discussing the utterly awful, tragic death of the 17 month old little girl.

@wheresmymojo

Just to say...I have a Cypriot rescue dog from a Cypriot charity with a Facebook page.

They were every bit as diligent about checking us as owners before placing a dog with us.

We had to have experience with dogs, no children under a certain age (we don't have any DC) and were able to foster for several weeks to make sure we were the right fit for the dog and vice versa.

We had to do a video tour of our home and garden.

We only went with an overseas rescue as we wanted certain types of dog and they needed to be cat-safe which is quite rare.

We have two rescue dogs from the same organisation, we had a home check and had to answer a lot of questions for the first dog (Romanian). We have been fostering a Border Collie (Spanish) from them with a view to adoption, we took him with the understanding that if we weren't happy we could return him as they want to make sure that both the dog and prospective owners are happy. RSPCA wouldn't look at us for a BC despite us having collie experience, suspect it was because we didn't have the obligatory six foot fence around the property.

We don't let the big Romanian rescue off the lead in public, at 5.5 stone he could do a lot of damage to a small dog/ toddler just by bowling them over. And he does have specific triggers (people in coveralls , people wearing anoraks with fur round the hood) which makes him bark a lot. Just more responsible to keep him on lead we think

@Catswhiskers13

So much nonsense on this thread. Here’s a nice photo of my staffie cross and dd. You’re welcome.

Puppy you’ve had from the start?

I’m still nervous even if yes
If no, I’m scared shitless

* We don't let the big Romanian rescue off the lead in public, at 5.5 stone he could do a lot of damage to a small dog/ toddler just by bowling them over. And he does have specific triggers (people in coveralls , people wearing anoraks with fur round the hood) which makes him bark a lot. Just more responsible to keep him on lead we think*

No “we think” about it.
What you’ve described should be on a lead 100% of the time when in public or even a chance of encountering someone ie in middle of nowhere on a walk

@implantreplace
No, she’s a rescue but I’ve had her for ages. What are you frightened of?

Imagine letting that dog so near a defenceless child. If I knew you I would be reporting you to Social Sevices. Totally irresponsible and downright stupid.

@Catswhiskers13
Do you really not see the issue or are you trying to wind everyone up?

@Viviennemary

Imagine letting that dog so near a defenceless child. If I knew you I would be reporting you to Social Sevices. Totally irresponsible and downright stupid.

Perhaps I'm being slow today, what dog?

[quote Catswhiskers13]@implantreplace
No, she’s a rescue but I’ve had her for ages. What are you frightened of?[/quote]
Ffs

Not a puppy
An adult dog you have had for ages from a rescue

Myself and thankfully many many posters (including many dog owners) on this thread would never the scenario that you photographed

But you’re prepared to take the risk with your baby? You’ll come back arms swinging in defence but you know it’s not advisable. You know and yet you’re doing it anyway

@MiniTheMinx

Brace yourself
The PP posted a pic…

Perhaps I'm being slow today, what dog?

I'm presuming she means the picture of @Catswhiskers13's DD with the dog @MiniTheMinx.

Apparently I used to lay on the floor in front of the fire with Mum and Dad's rescue dog. The cat used to get into my pram with me and go to sleep as well. They should have been locked up!

[quote nolookingdown]@MiniTheMinx

Brace yourself
The PP posted a pic…[/quote]
What does pp mean?

Previous Poster @Agrudge

@nolookingdown
It is advisable to supervise little ones with dogs. Which is what I’m doing in the photo so I don’t see a problem.

@Viviennemary
I think you sound silly You act like I’ve left them in the room together and shut the door. I imagine social services would also think you are silly. I will seriously PM you my details if you want though? Because the thought of you phoning social services because of that photo cracks me up!

It’s slightly concerning that some folk think having a dog from a puppy guarantees anything. That kind of assumption can lead to an increased risk of being bitten. Every dog is an individual and not one is bomb proof or child proof.

The dog in the photo is not relaxed about the baby handling its toy. Although you are there supervising them both now, you have potentially set up a scenario for the future.

If you want your baby and dog to interact, use separate toys that are low value, that are unlike the dogs everyday toys, and that you remove after each supervised play session.

[quote nolookingdown]@MiniTheMinx

Brace yourself
The PP posted a pic…[/quote]
I posted a pic of my dd sat on my lap and my ddog sat on the sofa next to me yet pp react like I’ve just fed her to the wolves. Such hysteria doesn’t help anyone.

I know the photos @Catswhiskers13 are meant to be cute and serve as proof but I can’t be the only one that thinks the dog actually doesn’t look all that relaxed.

@Thelnebriati

The dog in the photo is not relaxed about the baby handling its toy. Although you are there supervising them both now, you have potentially set up a scenario for the future.

If you want your baby and dog to interact, use separate toys that are low value, that are unlike the dogs everyday toys, and that you remove after each supervised play session.

How’s she not relaxed? That’s how she normally looks. And that toy in the photo is a low value one.

You aren't the only one thats concerned. Its not hysteria to say so either.

How’s she not relaxed?

@HotnSunnyRainbowRoses my thoughts exactly from that photo.

Not a happy looking interaction to me.

I used to sleep in the dog's bed when I felt like a nap. I grew up with two of these so called very dangerous bull breeds. Boxers. Daftest, silliest, softest great lumps ever. But yep, my parents should have been shot, clearly.

Perhaps, since this is actually a relatively rare event we should ask why people have become so risk averse in general? because we have. What is more I think kids, muck, dogs, tress, more muck, some cat hair, climbing trees, is all part of growing up. I am grateful I didn't grow up in a sterile little house with no pets, and I especially have great memories of running about in the woods with the dogs. I think people who dislike dogs are weirdos frankly. I find the hysteria baffling. Whilst I agree taking in an adult dog from a FreeAd and letting it have unsupervised contact with small children is stupid in the extreme, likewise people threatening to contact social services over Catswhiskers13 posting a pic of her dog and daughter happily playing supervised is equally stupid. As is suggesting that all bull breed dogs should be banned, especially when many posters can't tell one from another and have no idea which dogs are bull breeds. I mean seriously......pugs!!!

[quote HotnSunnyRainbowRoses]How’s she not relaxed?

likewise people threatening to contact social services over Catswhiskers13 posting a pic of her dog and daughter happily playing supervised is equally stupid
The dog isn’t happy...

The vast majority of ‘cute’ photos of dogs and very young children, if you know the signs to look out for, you’ll quickly notice that most of the dogs in the photos are not actually comfortable with the situation.

Admittedly most dogs are very closely bonded to their family and many of them will tolerate a great deal of bad behaviour from children without so much as growling, but they are still uncomfortable with the situation.

@HotnSunnyRainbowRoses

likewise people threatening to contact social services over Catswhiskers13 posting a pic of her dog and daughter happily playing supervised is equally stupid The dog isn’t happy...

The vast majority of ‘cute’ photos of dogs and very young children, if you know the signs to look out for, you’ll quickly notice that most of the dogs in the photos are not actually comfortable with the situation.

Admittedly most dogs are very closely bonded to their family and many of them will tolerate a great deal of bad behaviour from children without so much as growling, but they are still uncomfortable with the situation.

With all due respect you don’t actually know my dog, or if she’s happy or not. You’re making a huge statement based on a photo. I also hate photos of children climbing on their pet dogs and stuff, and it posted to look cute. No way. I hate that shit. That’s not us. Like I said, I’ve asked my behaviourist friend for advice. She’s qualified with this kind of thing.

@HotnSunnyRainbowRoses

I know the photos *@Catswhiskers13* are meant to be cute and serve as proof but I can’t be the only one that thinks the dog actually doesn’t look all that relaxed.

That looks like a perfectly ordinary pose and position, and the look on the dogs face quite normal for a staffy x I would have thought that Catswhiskers13 would know if her own dog was relaxed and how it usually looks better than anyone here.

I wonder what these same posters would think to a staffy grin....... I love the grin but I bet a few people slating bull breeds here would say the grin is proof the dog is quite dangerously deranged.

I can't be bothered with this anymore. I just hope common sense prevails and no one in a position to make laws actually takes the slightest interest in whether pugs or Boston terriers, and staffys should be banned. I'm a bit suspicious of pointy nosed dogs but I have never once suggested banning them. That includes GSD, after one chased me as a child on roller skates. I think we need to remember that there are thousands of dogs, and that this tragic event is actually quite rare. If we want to protect children that's laudable but there are far more children being neglected in homes without "bull breed dogs" than in homes with.