To have REALLY shouted at this woman

[BMW6]

Was walking home along busy main road with my dog (on lead).
See another dog approaching (staffie) 30 odd feet away, on a lead BUT lead is in the hand of a small child (5/6 yo). Mother of child walking behind about 15 feet.

I knew what was going to happen and I bet you do too.

Yep, the other dog clocked mine and belted towards us, pulled child over and lead out of childs hand, of course.

I had to stop her dog attacking mine whilst the stupid bitch ran over to grab her dog. Child crying (fell onto grass so hope more scared than hurt)

I cannot recall exactly what I said to her, but was along the lines of what kind of fool is she to let a small child "control" a dog - esp a staffie.



Sorry to staffie lovers, but I have seen too many staffie attacks and am terrified of them attacking my westie cross, he's been attacked 3 times.

[DiseasesOfTheSheep]

My problem with staffies is that they are more commonly owned by idiots, than many other breeds, in my experience. As such, like the OP, I would be more wary of one in that situation, than I would be of a similar sized dog of other breeding. It's not the dog I'm judging - it's the owner.

Of course, many staffy owners are responsible owners and have lovely dogs. But if you don't know the owner from adam, you don't know it's not a badly trained, badly socialised status dog which is going to savage your own mutt.

Of course, a collie or a labrador could be owned by a similarly idiotic owner - but since they don't have that look, it's far less common to find a "status collie" than a status staffy!

[ShakeRattleNRoll]

You should never shout like that near a child imho .I think it's not on no matter how angry you were you could have chosen your words and stated your truths quietly and clearly hth .

[NotYoMomma]

ffs it doesnt matter if your staffie is lovely and great with kids. (I laughed at the 40 cigs a day comment! lol)

the fact is that a lot are owned by irresponsible dickheads and are very strong and aggressive due to how they have been raised

how are people supposed to know which one is which?!

as a result a lot of people are wary of them and it is understandable.

I'd be inclined to think this woman was an idiot owner for letting a 5 year old 'control' such a strong dog

[somewheresomehow]

never mind about the breed of mutt, the dog it went for could have been on the other side of the road and the child could have been pulled into the road and either got run over or caused a bloody accident. utterly stupid parenting

[ShakeRattleNRoll]

you should have tried harder to avoid the situation ie cross the road

[IceBeing]

dogs....seriously...why bother?

I am strangely disappointed that the toddler (or the dog) didn't get eaten in that video clip....what is you tube coming to?

[MissBattleaxe]

You should never shout like that near a child imho .I think it's not on no matter how angry you were you could have chosen your words and stated your truths quietly and clearly hth .

Sometimes the situation doesn't allow for reflective thinking and a quiet, firm voice.

Anyway I think it's daft to say a child should never hear a raised voice.

OP YANBU. I get pissed off with every dog owner who thinks rules don't apply to their dog, just other people's dogs. (Doesn't apply to all the many considerate and sensible dog owners out there).

The woman was a fool to put her child, her dog and other dogs at risk.

[NotYoMomma]

why the fuck should she cross the road the parent/ owner shpuld have done!

[pianodoodle]

you should have tried harder to avoid the situation ie cross the road

No, the OP had her dog under proper control. The person who didn't could have avoided the situation by doing the same.

[MsWilliamTheBloody]

you should have tried harder to avoid the situation ie cross the road

Yay! More victim blaming!!

Of course! It was the OP's fault. She shouldn't have been in the street in the first place. She should stay at home, safe. The pavements are not for her use..!

[GemmaTeller]

you should have tried harder to avoid the situation ie cross the road

what if she'd gone to cross the road the other dog had pulled the toddler into the road?

The OP's dog was under control, why should she have crossed over, the other woman must have known how her dog would behave on seeing another dog so was in the wrong.

[BMW6]

I should have avoided the situation and crossed the road?

1. I had about 2 seconds to react between seeing the dog and it running at me
2. There is a railing preventing me from crossing there.

Believe me, if I can avoid them I certainly do.

And to the poster who remarked that the programme The Wonder of Dogs said that Staffies are the best family dogs and labs bite more often, you should have gone on with what the expert said.....
Other dogs bite and let go, but Staffies bite and hold on and cause much more damage when they DO bite.
He also pointed out that Staffies go for the face/neck, unlike other breeds.

[Charliefarlie1192]

have never met an aggressive staffie

The mother was wrong to let her child control any dog too strong for her

[AndYouCanDance]

As a staffy cross owner, YANBU.

That must have been very scary for you. My staff was recently attacked by two Labradors. Not the Lab's fault though. They live across the road from me and are never walked, have had no training and escaped from their yard. They are completely wild and loopy. A passerby stopped his car to help me and had to drag them off my dog.

As a staffy owner, I am always alert, but unfortunately in the hands of bad owners (like the idiots across the street) any dog can be 'bad'.

[LittleBairn]

Awe bless at all the staffie lovers, they have their reputation for a reason!
You don't have countless threads about dalmations and Labradors attacking people and other dogs yet you do when it comes to staffies.

[AmazingBouncingFerret]

YANBU. Staffy's are bloody strong. And stubborn. Once they want to do something they're like erm a dog with a bone.

My DS always wants to hold the lead when we walk our dog, I let him but I have hold of it too.

Also it's so frightening when your dog gets attacked, I remember when mine was a puppy on a lead and was pounced on by an offlead staffy. She never really recovered. She's very hit and miss. Sometimes she'll be happy to have a sniff of a dog and a leap and play but it can turn very quickly. She's even worse when kept on lead but I usually put her straight on lead when I see another dog due to the fact I can control her. for her really.

[PeppiNephrine]

Isn't that a bit like guns don't kill people, people do. But the guns really help, don't they?
It might be the fault of the dog owner, but a staffy with a bad owner is a lot worse a prospect than a teacup terrier with a bad owner.

[mewmeow]

Yanbu. I wouldnt have shouted (but then I don't have the balls for confrontation usually). I can see your point about Staffies, not because I believe that their nature is in anyway different really, just because of their physically strength. And sadly that does make a difference, especially in this case! Maybe the other poster has a point to, about how people are more scared of them because they look a bit like pit bulls, and to none dog owners it is sometimes hard to tell them apart.

[wishingitwasfriday]

I know the main issue here is the stupid dog owner letting their child walk a staffie when they are powerful dogs but I can't help but comment on the attitude towards Staffies on here.

Two years ago we were looking for a dog. I want a lab and my partner wanted a staffie. Cue lots of discussions on breads, visits to dog homes, filing in on-line questionnaires regarding which breed was best for out circumstances. The only bread that kept appearing on the lists was a staffie, labs didn't even feature! Hence we now have a beautiful blue staffie, currently curled up fast asleep in her bed. I was very nervous about getting her due to he stigma and my own fears (never been around Staffies before and just went by what I heard in the news). She is a joy to own. She's not perfect, far from it, but has an amazing character. She if far friendlier than my parents nine year old lab. She loves playing with other dogs and is so submissive when she sees any dog when we are walking. We take her most places with us and we get comments on her looks and placid nature constantly. In fact, we often get embarrassed by the compliments. She is never left alone with children and I would never allow a child to walk her, but have to say that my parents lab pulls more in her lead than out staffie. I just wish that people would give the breed a break as its all the 'tough dog' talk that makes the idiots want one, which in turn gives the breed a bad name. People who have no experience of these dogs really shouldn't comment on their behaviour as the really don't know the facts. We have recently been on a family holiday and my brother in law was terrified of our dog due to the press image of them. By the end of the week he had our dog on his lap giving her cuddles. Compete convert to the breed.

[wishingitwasfriday]

Oh and yes they may be responsible for the most severe injuries but these are few and far between. I believe jack Russell's and labs are responsible for puting most people in hospital. But that doesn't make a very good story for the press does it.