to not understand why people have these types of dogs in their homes

[FunnysInLaJardin]

I've heard the arguments for and against keeping pit bull/mastiff type dogs and just don't understand at all why anyone would keep a powerful muscular dog as a pet in a family home. Yet another sad news story today in a village just down the road from my home village.

This isn't a AIBU really, just a 'why do they do it'. Is a pet really worth the risk? There are so many other dog types to chose from. I don't understand at all.

[SnakeyMcBadass]

No dog is a hundred percent trust worthy. They see the world through different eyes and have different motivations. Trouble tends to occur when people don't train their dogs, and also humanise them. I've met some bloody evil small dogs which have been babied by their owners, and I've met some lovely big lumps of soppy that have been well trained. Unfortunately, some breeds just attract status seeking idiots. Not the dogs' fault, but I am wary as hell of some owners.

[CoolItKittens]

And don't get me started on Staffies! Absolutely wonderful dogs when the owner takes the time to train them. Unfortunately for the breed they're 'cool' dogs to have with people who don't train them or teach them to be aggressive.

[FunnysInLaJardin]

so do you think that these dogs get a particularly bad press or are there really more and more incidences of these dog types attacking people? It wasn't really heard of in the 70's when I grew up and most folk had other types of dogs.

Out of interest I wonder when bull terrier type dogs became so popular? I just don't remember seeing any when I was younger

[OrmirianResurgam]

"I've met some lovely big lumps of soppy that have been well trained. "

Thank fuck I have one of those! I do agree that sometimes people don't think it through and get dogs for the wrong reasons.

[KnickersOnOnesHead]

Most press pictures are stock photos of a dog gnarling to shit Joe public up.

I'm really sorry to hear that a child has been killed, that is devastating but the parent/s must take some of the blame eventually.

The dog was not from a rescue, as stated in the press, not a reputable one anyway. More likely a pound where people are not vetted.

[stickysausages]

I've known some lovely, docile dogs who were mastiffs, Rottweilers etc... but they were well trained & well treated/exercised etc.

The problem in a lot of cases (most cases?) is chavs having them as status symbols, buying from dodgy 'breeders' who breed for profit, not temperament, lack of training, poor diet & the fact most of these dogs are walked as far as the job centre or off license...

[SnakeyMcBadass]

I have to say, I wouldn't personally own a dog that I couldn't physically over power if I had to. That's my line in the sand. My cocker/springer cross is 15kg of pure muscle, and if he decided to try and eat me it would take some effort to shake him off. He has pulled me over when chasing squirrels, and winded me when jumping up for a cuddle. I know that I couldn't safely manage a larger dog.

[Wallison]

frustratedandfailing, completely agree that we need tougher laws on dog ownership and dogs in public places. There are parts of the city here where I just do not take my son because they are full of untrained barely-supervised dogs running around off the lead, jumping up at people including children, crapping all over the place and generally being a fucking nuisance. Why should areas of the city that I live in and pay taxes to provide for be no-go areas because of fucking animals? Our priorities in this country are all skewed.

I would go for compulsory licence and chipping scheme and a requirement that all dogs be on the lead and muzzled at all times while out in public. The situation we have now, where every year hundreds of children require hospital treatment and often facial surgery, is clearly not working. We've tried giving dog owners the run of the place, and they have proved that they can not be trusted.

[Bubbles1066]

The thing about cats potentially smothering babies is completely true. I'm on my phone so can't post links but just google cat nets. Mothercare and loads of other places sell them. It's so cats don't climb into prams, cots etc and potentially smother or scratch babies, either intentionally or by accident.

[diddl]

If it's what I'm thinking of, then I would have thought the sheer size of the thing, in a flat with such a tiny girl was an accident waiting to happen.

[KnickersOnOnesHead]

'' Trouble tends to occur when people don't train their dogs, and also humanise them. ''


Or train their kids!

[Tulip26]

No funny I trust him with me and my partner totally. He'd lick someone to death before he'd intentionally hurt them. I wouldn't leave him alone with a young child but the biggest worry would be that he'd knock them over. Just common sense.

[Oriunda]

It wasn't a family home though with garden and space to run around. It was a small flat with no outside space, and the owner for some reason kept the dog inside so it would appear the dog did not get regularly exercised. The breed they mention needs a huge amount of exercise. It was a rescue dog, so history not known either. A recipe for disaster when you factor in an owner who it would seem was not capable of fully understanding the breed and it's requirements.

I was brought up with dogs and agree there is no such thing as a bad dog, just irresponsible owners/breeders. We were offered a lab puppy but DS is too young to understand how to treat dogs, and we don't have enough indoor or outdoor space to care for a dog properly. If you don't have adequate living space it is very unfair to keep a dog.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

See this is precisely what happens when these stories break. Yes it's tragic and we all feel for the mother but come on. We can't keep blaming dogs for a persons stupidity.

Shelters are full of staffers and mastiffs and whatever other breed a paper decides it's going to trashy hen are people going to wake up and realise that the dog didn't turn up on the door step one day and force it's way in. It was CHOSEN. People out more effort into choosing a dress than they do their dog.

[Wallison]

Incidentally, I have noticed a trend near us where the chavs and junkies seem to be getting themselves huskies instead of so-called 'staffies' these days - expect more reports of attacks from that breed if this continues.

[RoxanneReidsChafingFishnets]

My mum found out our pitbulls brother wasn't been treated right or trained so she went round to the house it took it off them. We raised him, trained him and he went to live with a couple with no children.

There a number of people who use the as fighting dogs and I have seen the state of those poor animals. I wouldn't have had them near my dog never mind kids.

All dogs we have had have been rescue dogs. JR was the runt, Staffie was nearly dead and pitbull was going to be given to a known man for fighting dogs so mum took her.

Mums staffy is so soft and dumb. She wouldn't attack a burglar if they just gave her a bit of attention first

Mum has said once this dog goes then she wont get anymore. I think my brother (2) will be gutted as he likes to lay in her bed with her and they toddle around together. If he falls she tries lifting him with her nose.

[SnakeyMcBadass]

Small dogs biting people don't make headlines, I guess. You are less likely to be seriously injured by a smaller dog, that's just physics. I don't think that big breeds are more likely to bite. Purely anecdotal, but the dog bites I know of in real life are more likely to be administered by a terrier or shitzu. I don't know anyone that has been bitten by a large breed.

[SharpLily]

From what I can tell there are no more biting or attack incidents with 'these types' of dogs based on a dog to human ratio. The problem seems to be that a Jack Russell or Chihuahua bite is unlikely (not impossible though) to be serious or fatal. When a really powerful dog with strong jaws attacks, it is not minor. Or basically, there aren't more attacks but the ones that do occur are more serious.

[KnickersOnOnesHead]

''We've tried giving dog owners the run of the place, and they have proved that they can not be trusted.''


Really?

[SnakeyMcBadass]

Agree, Wallison. Staffies seem to be mainly family dogs around here, pleasant and friendly things. The knuckle dragging element seem to all be toting Husky type dogs now. I doubt they are run for hours a day, so it's a matter of time before those animals display behavioural issues.

[FunnysInLaJardin]

Sharp so on that basis why would you have a dog where if it bit you it would be serious? Why not stick to the dog types where a bite would cause minimal damage?

There is a picture of a small pit bull type dog on the DM website which seems to be the one which attacked her

[Mckayz]

Wallison, I don't agree at all that all dogs should be on a lead and muzzled. Why should good dog owners have to muzzle their dogs?

[ginslinger]

I'm surprised a rescue dog of that size was sent to live in what sounds like a small flat