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?

Or, to put it more crudely, I used the analogy of race as an example of how fucking stupid and prejudiced people can be about a creature (and yes, humans are creatures) purely because of the way he looks and his "reputation".

Yes, I could have been so-PC-as-to-be-up-my-own-arse and included white people or used only white people in my analogy (though fuck knows what colour the travellers I know are if they aren't white.... but I digress) but I am in England and I am white English so I used examples which are not only different to me but different to the native population of this country.

Next time I won't bother, I'll just tell the OP that she's being fucking stupid and prejudiced.

FYI creighton

I think you are not being unreasonable to avoid bull terrier type dogs as around our way, they are nearly all walked by men you would also wish to avoid and therefore you are killing two birds with one stone.

All this: it's the owners, not the dog stuff, I agree, but dogs can't walk themselves down the road, so it's best to avoid the type of owners/dogs combo who look like they have deliberately set out to get an aggresssive looking dog, not get into a debate with them about their dog being called a 'nanny dog' in America, and are they great with their children?

Being scared for your children around dogs is natural to me as dog's faces are pretty much the same height as children's, as an adult I feel much better protected.

YABU mines lovely....I pick her up when i see kids. They can be so vicious and loud, poking her and treading on her paws..........hideous things!

Staffylover, if only dog-lovers were so considerate to pick up their dogs on seeing children, a lot of these problems would be solved. I, for one would be delighted if they all did that and I"m sure the OP would too.

Surely fear is learned behaviour though?

I hear what has been said about small monkeys fearing wolves etc but have also seen confidence with dogs in action with my own children. They were taught from the moment they could walk not to approach strange dogs without the owners and my permission etc and were brought up with them from the moment they left the maternity hospital. There's no fear in my children - ones due to train in vet surgery the other will spend part of the summer hols staying at a rescue, interacting with dogs from dawn til dusk.

Surely it's very often a parent/carer who has made a child scared and who has thus created a problem for the child, one which can last throughout life. Is it a good thing that a parent deliberately creates a psychological problem, a phobia of dogs? I'm not talking sensible caution here, btw, but the creation of the type of OTT fear which can come hand in hand with hysterical, irrational behaviour.

Another point to be made is that the one thing which will make my dogs, especially the more nervous of my GSDs, distinctly uncomfortble is a child screaming and waving hands and flailing because my dog is in his vicinity. (Before anyone bites, I'm talking older kids not irrational toddlers and controlled, on lead, sitting upon command at the side of the path dog). A child like that who is encouraged by a parent to think all dogs bad and to behave like this, particularly whilst the parent issues demands that the perfectly well behaved dog is taken away, is doing himself no favours and potentially creating a risky situation if the dog is scared shitless as a result.

YABU.
To physically pick your children up will instil more fear in them.
Mine is a soppy 4 stone lapdog (?DooinMeCleanin) who would rather slobber you than bite you.

I keep control of him, by way of a lead and halti, because he is still a boisterous 18 month old pup and likes to jump up still.

I have more problems with a neighbours snappy little JRT who goes for my dogs and my son, yet he tells me that I'm irresponsible for having an SBT.

Allinabag, for one thing I'd have a fecking hard job picking up and carrying 2 German Shepherds and a Labrador. :o

For another I wouldn't pander to such a daft request even if I could manage it!

I was only joking about them being picked up, in reply to staffylovers point that children can be horrid to dogs. But there's a serious point there, lots of dog owners don't control their dogs, just as many parents don't control their children. Neither group should be offended if the other crosses the road or keeps out of the others way, I'm delighted if dog-owners take steps to proactively manage their dogs before they reach my children, just as I do the same with my children before they get to their dogs (as mine love dogs despite my best efforts to instill my fears in them!)

One of my friends has a staffie cross and I would trust it much more with kids than my own Border Collie, it depends on the individual dog.

I would have no problem with someone picking up their kids when they passed me & my BC, because she can bark & look aggressive, but not at every BC, that would be silly because some are much more friendly.

Allinabag, I can imagine it happening though! Similar to the parent shouting at me to "take my fucking dog back down the path" because his kid was standing in the middle of it having an almighty strop about passing my dog.

I'd seen them way up ahead and as a courtesy had recalled my Shep, leaded him, taken him to the side of this exceptionally wide country footpath and given him the sit/stay command, all of which he'd obeyed instantly and perfectly. That wasn't good enough for Mr Entitled and his stropping brat, obviously.

My brother has kelpies/ACDs (and a mix of those ) out at home and you do need to stay away from them because they are not pets, they have no patience for anything other than their master and will not tolerate fussing by adults or children.

They need to herd anything that moves as well but being properly trained will stop when they are told to.

I love dogs, really I do, I grew up on a farm surrounded by all sorts of animals, but I find out some people are about dogs on MN a bit weird and disturbing.

Twopeasonepod - I think we kind of agree re. BC's. They are working dogs that need a job and they are not really suitable for the average pet home because of their needs. I'm sorry to hear about your grandas dog, but I would bet there was something else going on rather than it just "being nasty". I'm not insinuating that the dog wasn't looked after properly, or not cared for, in any way, but I've dealt with 2 dogs like that - they were PTS for a similar reason (biting) and one turned out to have a brain tumour and the other one had other issues that added to the situation.

In the same way, JRT's and other small dogs are treated as "mini people" or "pocket pets" and not allowed to be dogs... and don't even get me started on handbag chihuahuas, or other "cute" dogs that are a fashion accessory and so they are often snappy, yappy and generally horrible. I dread seeing one particular dog walker in the park if I'm there, because she has the yappy, nippy, out of control JRT's from hell, who attack everything fucking things. That's not their fault, it's HER fault for not keeping them under control.

Regarding an "instant command to leave" - I would be the first to say that it's not 100%. NO dog is 100% reliable. But, I also know that my dogs, having been trained with the command, over and over and over, are a damn sight more likely to leave something if I tell them to, than not.

You are perfectly entitled to be wary of Border collies, in the same way that I am wary of huskies having been bitten by one, but I doubt that you scream "SPAWN OF SATAN", point and get hysterical when you see one and tell people what evil dogs they are! You just treat them with caution and respect.

YABU. There is no reason to pass your fears on to your children. It would be better just to teach them healthy respect for dogs. For example, teach them never to aproach any dog without its owner's presence and explicit consent.

I have a golden retriever who is a real softie, but it annoys me when parents allow their children to run up to him in the street because, like all dogs, a golden retriever does have the potential to harm. And although he has never hurt anyone yet, I can't be sure he never will (though I really think he won't!).
Teaching kids that some dogs (ie retrievers) are OK and others (ie staffies) are scary, is irresponsible. Nastiest bite I ever had was from a labrador - a real family pet at that.

I have a large dog, and tbh you need to be careful around ALL dogs. I have had children try and put their arms around my rottie's neck without any checking from their parents (I quickly stop them but it does involve me 'touching' their child - something that I have been told off about! )

My dog doesnt like strangers handling her. Would you?

I dont know about picking your childen up in terror though. The vast majority of owners with big dogs will either get them to sit when children walk past (as the kids are unpredicatable - not the dogs) or give them a wide berth.

Yes DogsBestFriend, please don't bother using any more of your crude analogies, stick to the subject at hand. Keep your prejudices and stereotypes to yourself.

I agree with Rocky12 that people need to be careful around all dogs and teach their children this.

If only the 'vast majority of owners with big dogs will either get them to sit when children walk past (as the kids are unpredicatable - not the dogs) or give them a wide berth' was true, though.

Does the link I posted to the dictionary definition of analogy not work?

Thank you so much for telling me what to do creighton but I'll continue to post as I please within the constraints of MN's rules. I haven't broken any yet. Giving an analogy to demonstrate prejudice and stereotype and show how someone is behaving in such a way is not the same as possessing those undesirable qualities oneself. I do however admit to prejudice against gross stupidity.

If MNHQ would like to read my post and the context and they feel it's deserving of deletion that's fine - I post under their criterion, not yours.

Motherinferior - I completely understand your sentiment, I really do, and if a neighbourhood dog killed one of the village cats, I'd be after the OWNER with a pitchfork. I probably won't be too fond of the dog, either. I say that as someone who works in CAT rescue, has 8 of my own and is a bit PFB with all cats I come into contact with. (i.e. Mad cat lady syndrome) and has lost a cat to a rogue dog on the loose.

But, it is important to realise that it is the SBT OWNERS fault that cat was killed, because if the dog was under control or contained, it would not have had the opportunity.

It is very rarely the dogs FAULT. They are a product of their dumb-ass owners not disciplining, not being responsible, not taking time to produce a well socialised and happy pet. I love all dogs, it's the people I can't stand. And I would say that is possibly the mantra of most rescuers.

oh yes, I totally agree, QT: it was off the leash and shouldn't have been. Am just feeling a bit wary. It was a lovely cat.

YABU and ignorant but hey ho, you'll never experience the joy of owning staffies (that adore your kids). :)

If it's not the breed it's the owner why were pitbulls banned? Are they actually more dangerous than other dogs or not really?

I have a Staffie - until we got ours I was a bit frightened of them because of the adverse press - it was the one breed of dog I thought I could never love. Then I saw a picture of dear old Porridge on the dogs home web site, he was old, he was homeless and had been saved from being PTS but still no one wanted him, and he had been languishing in kennels for months getting more and more depressed. I couldn't ignore his plight. He has turned out to be the most charming, loving and delightful pet we have ever had. I get very upset to see healthy Staffies PTS because people are so prejudiced. I can understand the OPs feelings because I used to feel that way - perhaps she could try talking to the Staffie owners when she is out, and she might feel more comfortable with them.

You don't just pick them up surely? You should run, run like the wind. Don't trip up though, or it'll be on ya. I read in the Daily Mail that Staffies eat people like, 24/7