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AIBU?

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Well done Mr Alhadi.....but what kind of parents still have a pitbull dog as a pet?

330 replies

mrsruffallo · 10/02/2011 11:50

Thank God for this man walking past...but really shouldn't all parents be thinking hard about having these kind of dogs in the home?

OP posts:
fluffy91 · 10/02/2011 22:01

A lot of them do have lovely personalities, have to say i've never come across a nasty staff/bullmastiff/any of those type of breeds.

'I do still blame the owners though'

So do I Grin

DarrellRivers · 10/02/2011 22:04

Spaniels are nutters

izzybiz · 10/02/2011 22:16

I have a SBT, she loves people, other dogs, anybody or anything that will show her a bit of affection or wants to play!

Once you have owned a Stafford I don't believe you would ever want anything else.

As the end of this video states- A big heart and a big smile, they will love you like no other and ask for nothing in return

TheButterflyCollector · 10/02/2011 22:19

JoniComelately, the point is that I can provide you with far more evidence of dogs being deliberately injured and killed by humans than you or anyone else can offer about dogs attacking humans. Thankfully attacks on humans by dogs are incredibly rare given the number of dogs owned in this country, so much so as to make the headlines as this case has. Sadly I can also show you case, after case, after case of human-inflicted brutality upon dogs which never makes the news. Despite this we don't call for a ban on or the murder of humans or a particular race of humankind in cases such as in my link, nor do we say we wouldn't have a human in our home.

The biggest problem is at the top end of the lead. There is a progressive increase in dog abuse in this country, which is a huge factor in dog aggression, coupled with ignorance on breeds and legislation by the public and an insistance by the media and far too many bandwagon jumpers that a dog must by virtue of his breed conform to a type.

An example of media-whipped hysteria is the photo in the link... that dog is not a Pit Bull Terrier. It's a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Thanks to some ass in the press there will be more Staffs on the streets and in the pounds next month, thrown out by ignorant owners because of the Mail's inaccuracies and unwanted by the dog-adopting public for the same reason. It's something of a viciou circle.

Most of the population can't correctly identify a PBT. In fact, many vets are hard pushed to, which is why experts are called into cases involving alleged PBT in order to ascertain whether the dog in question is a Pit. That being the case I don't know how the Mail are so sure that dog in the incident is a Pit because last time I checked they had no breed experts on their staff. Perhaps that too is an example of the inaccuracies and ignorance with which the media feeds the public.

BeerTricksPotter · 10/02/2011 22:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jonicomelately · 10/02/2011 22:27

TheButterflyCollector.

The article isn't about dogs attacking humans. It's about one particular type of dog (bull breeds) attacking working labradors. And it's completely and utterly outrageous. I can understand why you want to defend staffies but guide dogs are dogs who don't deserve this. They also have very vulnerable owners. Imagine knowing your dog's being attacked and not being able to help because you can't see.

The DM article relies heavily on quotes from the former Home Secretary and the Guide Dogs Association. Are you saying their evidence and statistics are untrue?

I'd like you to acknowledge that three working dogs being attacked in this way is wrong. Or do labradors not matter as much as your preferred breed?

jonicomelately · 10/02/2011 22:28

And before I'm flamed by people who haven't read my earlier posts.....it's the owner's fault....not the dog's.

jonicomelately · 10/02/2011 22:29

It should read:

'three working dogs a month'

alfonzo · 10/02/2011 22:35

BTP some peoples' fear of these dogs are based on experience not based purely on preconceptions and bad press. You can't call them ridiculous for wanting to protect themselves, these people will feel they have their own valid reasons for crossing the road. I avoid staffs when I'm out walking my dog, and I feel bad if it looks obvious, but my dog is more important than what someone else thinks of me. For the record as I said earlier in the thread my dog was attacked by a staff, but also other staffs have snapped at him since. He just doesn't get on with them.

bristolcities · 10/02/2011 22:36

Of course you can make generalizations about a certain breed.

They have been bred for a certain purpose. Take the Rhodesian ridge back for example, bred for the south African army, there strength and power harnessed to bring people down.. That breeding doesn't just disappear because your nice to them Hmm

This is why there is a dangerous dogs act because some dogs are dangerous.

I would like to see any of you try and retrieve a child from a dog weighing 13 stone of pure muscle.

These dogs shouldn't be aloud out in public let alone in a family environment.

TheButterflyCollector · 10/02/2011 22:38

I don't have a preferred breed, Joni. Far from it. And I find the attacks which you depict appalling and would never ever defend such a thing, sorry if I gave that impression. As it happens, Labradors matter to me just as much as any other dog.

We're at cross-purposes somewhat but in agreement on one thing - it's the owners who are at fault.

As for the Mail's reporting, my criticism was of the inaccuracies on the OP's link, where they depict a SBT on an article about an alleged PBT. I've no reason to question the Guide Dogs Association.

fluffy91 · 10/02/2011 22:38

The dangerous dogs act was rushed though as panic legislation and dog attacks have risen sharply since its introduction.

Inform the nation that a particular dog is dangerous and illegal and the very people you do NOT want having that animal, guaranteed will get their mitts on them.

DDA is stupid, pointless piece of legislation that should be scrapped immediately.

fluffy91 · 10/02/2011 22:41

Since when were Rhodesian Ridgebacks considered dangerous?
You said yourself they were bred to take people down.

Very silly, ill informed view.

I'd like to see anyone retrieve a child from ANY dog bigger than a staffy. You'd struggle.

TheButterflyCollector · 10/02/2011 22:43

Amen to that, Fluffy.

There are a hell of a lot of armchair experts out there, that's all I can say. Funny how they always know more than the (responsible) owners, more than the vets, the rescues, the behaviouralists and trainers, isn't it?

fluffy91 · 10/02/2011 22:43

Also, there is NO WAY a staffy weighs 13 stone.
There's no way a Pitbull, being only slightly bigger does either!

13 STONE?!
Have you ever seen a staffy or pitbull?!

bristolcities · 10/02/2011 22:45

My point is exactly that. Dogs are at the end of the day Animals.

And so there for however well you think you know them, unpredictable.

Why would you have a dog that you cant physically control?

jonicomelately · 10/02/2011 22:45

Ok TheButterflyCollector.

The DM do have previous for hysterical headlines but as somebody else said earlier (possibly even you) it's hard for vets to distinguish between the breeds. That being the case it's understandable that a DM journo got it wrong.

Fwiw I couldn't understand why, in your post, you would be so angry that this mistake about the breed was made rather than the fact that guide dogs were being attacked.

fluffy91 · 10/02/2011 22:46

TheButterflyCollector

Thank you Smile

TheButterflyCollector · 10/02/2011 22:46

"Of course you can make generalizations about a certain breed." Hmm

Yeah, and most Asians run corner shops while black men smoke dope and have big knobs.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 10/02/2011 22:47

My Staffy Reggie is currently curled up with the cat, and the rabbits are bouncing around the living room.

Amazing prey instinct Grin

Kendodd · 10/02/2011 22:48

Sorry haven't read the whole thread but does anyone know if Mr Alhadi is getting some sort of medal, he should do, I hope what he did is recognised.

Also (completely off on a tangent and making big assumptions) it's about time we heard some good news hero stories about Muslims, both the rescuer and the surgeon.

bristolcities · 10/02/2011 22:48

My best friend has a staffy x pitbull x english bull terrier.

Yes i would say she ways about that.

She has been trained fantastically and is very well behaved.

Would i allow her aroung my son? not a hope.

fluffy91 · 10/02/2011 22:48

Bristolcities

All dogs are unpredictible definately.

But that isn't what your post was saying.

It was saying some breeds are inheritantly dangerous and shouldn't be in public let alone a family which is false.

They are all unpredictable but none are naturally dangerous.

There are lots of people with massive dogs who are perfectly capable of controlling them.

TheButterflyCollector · 10/02/2011 22:48

Joni, sorry, my post came out all the wrong way. Under no circumstances would or could I be anything but angry about the guide dogs being attacked. Still blame the tit at the top of the lead though.

BeerTricksPotter · 10/02/2011 22:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.