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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To worry about our new neighbours Staffordshire Bull Terrier .

96 replies

designergirl · 11/09/2011 23:28

are they dangerous dogs? It's a puppy at the moment.

OP posts:
CouldIBEAnyMoreChaotic · 11/09/2011 23:31

I'm pretty sure Staffies are meant to be good family dogs.

CouldIBEAnyMoreChaotic · 11/09/2011 23:32

Soemone more knowledgable will be along though soon.

Smile
HattiFattner · 11/09/2011 23:32

no. No dog is inherently dangerous. An unsocialised, untrained dog that does not get enough stimulation and exercise is likely to be more of a problem than a well trained, exercised and socialised dog. Staffies have a bad reputation because they are very popular and proportionately more are involved in attacks. The issue I think is rarely the dog, and more down to the owner.

CouldIBEAnyMoreChaotic · 11/09/2011 23:33

Someone will better typing will be along soon.

Smile
CouldIBEAnyMoreChaotic · 11/09/2011 23:33

See.

sausagerollandketchup · 11/09/2011 23:35

Yes, it will break in and rip your throat out while you sleep. Hmm Why the worry, anyway? You are not obliged to have any sort of contact with it.

BluddyMoFo · 11/09/2011 23:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Scuttlebutter · 11/09/2011 23:43

I was judging today at a local charity dog show, and I was delighted to be able to give rosettes to some gorgeous Staffies, being shown in the ring by some equally gorgeous children. I've also met some beautifully trained Staffies when doing my Kennel Club Gold award.

As Hattie says, it's really all about the owners. If they are responsible owners, they will ensure pup receives all appropriate vaccinations and is wormed regularly, is kept indoors, has a secure garden, is exercised regularly (and owners pick up poo) and is taken to puppy classes, where he/she can learn how to be socialied with other dogs and people, and to do basic obedience. When puppy is fully grown, it would be a counsel of perfection if the dog did something like its Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen class, where obedience and responsible dog ownership are instilled. I'd also say that unless they are planning on breeding, a responsible owner will have the dog neutered when it's physically mature. If they do this, your neighbour will have a wonderful family pet, who will be of no bother or concern to neighbours.

FabbyChic · 11/09/2011 23:54

Dogs are the way they are because of the way they are raised, raise it right and it be a perfectly good dog.

worraliberty · 12/09/2011 00:01

Yes, it will be plotting to eat you and your family as soon as it looses its milk teeth.

Run away now to a safe house and change your identity forever Hmm

worraliberty · 12/09/2011 00:01

*Loses even.....

exexpat · 12/09/2011 00:06

Staffordshire bull terriers are actually recommended as particularly suitable for families with children.

Most of the staffies I meet (I don't have one, so not biased) are incredibly friendly, lovely dogs who just look rough and tough, but all they want to do is lick you and roll over to have their tummies tickled. Obviously there are some with rotten owners who actively train them to be aggressive, but the same goes for many breeds of dog. If you are not worried about your neighbours in general, and if you think they are likely to be responsible dog owners, then really you have nothing to worry about - except possibly pressure from your children to get a dog too.

FabbyChic · 12/09/2011 00:06

Im actually scared of them, would never even consider having one!

cloudydays · 12/09/2011 00:10

God, what horribly arsey replies from sausagerolls and worra.

OP hasn't jumped to any conclusions about staffies, she has asked a simple question. We're all aware of the bad press that bull terriers get, so I don't know why anyone who gives a shit about dogs would make sarcastic comments and roll her eyes rather than take the opportunity to educate a person who (by virtue of having asked the question) appears to be open to being educated on the issue.

How obnoxious.

worraliberty · 12/09/2011 00:16

No actually cloudy Anyone 'who gives a shit about dogs' will know there's no such thing as a bad dog...just bad owners.

If the OP was asking if Yorkshire Terriers were 'bad dogs' she'd get the same eye roll.

Asking 'are they dangerous dogs' is like asking 'are people dangerous' or 'can you get run over crossing a road'

Totally ridiculous.

Original poster
designergirl · 12/09/2011 00:17

Okay. They are new neighbours , but they don't seem nice. The first week the woman let it out and it roamed around the street all afternoon. My DH went round and knocked on the door to ask them to keep it on a lead. They were in but did not answer. To be fair they were entertaining sone friends. So he posted through a (nice) letter asking them to keep their dig on a lead when outside. No response. If they were decent I would expect then to have cone Round and reassure us or something. I have 4 little children, aged 7,4,3 and a baby(3 months ). My 3 year old is scared of any dog and would be scared if it came up to her. Since then I havent seen the dog at all , which is good. I also called the Dog Warden since I didn't receive a response from the neighbours , and the dog warden sent them a letter.

OP posts:
Original poster
designergirl · 12/09/2011 00:18

Dog, sorry I'm on my phone

OP posts:
bubby64 · 12/09/2011 00:19

We now have our 3rd Staffie, and by their very nature they are wonderful, loving, happy dogs, great with children, and, if bought up with them, also other animals. As we speak, my 13month old staff is sleeping on our sofa with 3 cats and a jack russel terrier, and couldnt be more happy than when she is with our 10yr old sons, their friends, and assorted other dogs. As with a lot of the "bull and terrier" breeds, they are suffering from bad press after they became "status" dogs for idiots, and a lot of them are in rescue homes because, like our darling Cleo, and our Harvey and Dudley we had before her, were not "tough" or "vicious" enough for their origional ownersAngry. It is the owners who make dogs badly behaved or "dangerous". If your neighbours are sensible, loving dog owners, who socialise and look after their staffie correctly, you will soon be won over by the antics, love and affection that is given in return. By the way, our previous staff, Harvey, got banned from entering our village dog show not because he was vicious or trouble, but because he won waggiest tail and most loving dog 3 yrs in a row, and the judges felt it was unfair competition having him there again!Grin

worraliberty · 12/09/2011 00:20

Right so they let the puppy out for a walk on its own and they still have the puppy now?

Glad you called the dog warden....

TheLadyEvenstar · 12/09/2011 00:23

I have a gorgeous staffy she is 10m old now.

I got her from an abusive family who didn't give a flying fuck about her. She was underfed, beaten and had been confined to one room.

She is so gentle it is unbelievable considering the start to life she had. How good is she with DS2 who is 4, well through the summer when we went to the coast and he legged it in the opposite direction I simply said "wheres your boy going" and that was her cue to run after him and nudge him back to me. She does the same when we go to the park as where I live most dog walkers let their dogs off the lead and they all play together bt the second she see's DS2 going away from where she is she is by his side.

Staffies the same as any other dog is as good or as bad as the owners teach them to be.

Original poster
designergirl · 12/09/2011 00:26

I'd rather get bitten by a Yorkshire terrier though than a bull terrier, but I am concerned for my children. I don't want them to get bitten and get scars on their face like the ones you see in newspapers.

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worraliberty · 12/09/2011 00:30

Are you taking the piss?

Sorry but have you never seen scars left by Yorkshire Terriers? Hmm

Look, unless you choose to live in a detached house surrounded by nothing but private acres of your own land...you're going to come across people who own dogs that you might not 'approve' of.

Stop worrying and concentrate on why your child is so scared of dogs at the age of 3. Try to sort that out instead of worrying about the dogs other people choose to have as pets.

Original poster
designergirl · 12/09/2011 00:31

Worraliberty I don't have a dog, haven't grown up with them and dont want to have one. That's my liberty. My children don't want to be scared of any dog that's left to roam, let alone one that has some bad press. If my neighbours want to have a dog that's up to them but I don't want to have anything to do with it.

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bubby64 · 12/09/2011 00:33

I have also been bitten by a dog, it was a a poodle, and it gave no warning, just went for me when i walked past it in the town center, where it was leashed outside a shop. Staffies and other dogs all have the same amount of teeth, and all dogs are capable of biting, unfortunatly, staffies have their "wide mouth frog" grin, and show those teeth more. Also, you don't see the stories about the labs or collies biting, as they are not as "newsworthy" as an attack by a "dangerous" staffie!
As far as your neighbours are concerned, I would be mre worried about the health and wellbeing of their poor dog, rather than "will it be dangerous"

Original poster
designergirl · 12/09/2011 00:33

She us scared of dogs because someone with a put bull type dog had it off it's lead and it ran across the field opposite our house and chased her into our house.

OP posts: