To wish dangerous dog breeds and all breeds closely resembling them were banned in UK?

[DustOfALongSleeplessNight]

There are so many nice friendly breeds, why chose a breed that was developed for aggression and fighting? I know individual dogs have different temperaments, but if they were selectively bred for bull and bear baiting, how can they make good pets?

Pit bulls (illegal in UK) are frequently kept illegally and passed off as Staffy-crosses until the police find them.

I think they should ban all dobermans, rottweilers, staffordshire bull terriers, malamutes, huskies, german shepherds and any other dog with aggressive genetics, plus all the breeds that closely resemble them. I frequently see these breeds in local park, off the lead, running amongst small children!

Have to add, reading some of these comments really worries me. The idea that these potentially lethal dogs (and they are potentially lethal make no mistake) are soft little things who are marvellous with the kids is frightening.

It's exactly that sort of attitude that leads to the sort of horrendous stories you hear on the news with comments such as "he'd never snapped before", "she just pulled his tail and he was obviously annoyed" and the classic "I only left the room for a minute".

I thought some people might be interested in this since we were taking about dog behaviour: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19124024

Dog's release oxytocin when gazing into owners eyes

Dogs*

Late to the party as usual. The trouble with taking dogs by their looks is that one person sees a dangerous breed on the end of the lead (bloke said to me "is that one of those fighting dogs?" - I look down and see my french bulldog - those who don't like/know dogs see what they want to see!

Well this was the first link that came up:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2254479/Sausage-dogs-are-the-most-aggressive-dogs.html

And then there was this

list25.com/25-most-dangerous-dog-breeds/

But they also have this:

list25.com/25-chilling-coincidences-you-wont-believe-are-real/

Did you know Napoleon and Hitler were born 129 years apart, came to power 129 years apart, declared war on Russia 129 years apart, and were defeated 129 years apart??!

Cool!... But I'm not convinced that this website is too concerned about providing serious information.

And then just pages and pages of list websites, designed to appeal to people who like reading about dangerous animals.

Anyway, as I said Staffies are relatively small.

reading some of these comments really worries me. The idea that these potentially lethal dogs (and they are potentially lethal make no mistake) are soft little things who are marvellous with the kids is frightening.

Assuming any dog will be wonderful with children and put up with having their ears pulled or whatever is frowned upon amongst the MN doghouse crowd.

Because all dogs have teeth.

Indeed, but some have bigger teeth than others and some stronger muscles to power those teeth.

I'm with SingSong on this one. I'm appalled by the way so many dog-lovers just dismiss statistics or gloss over them (or try to counter-argue with completely irrelevant links to articles about oxytocin). Nobody is saying you don't have a wonderful loving bond with your dog. Nobody is saying big powerful dogs can't be soft and gentle or good with kids. But it's worth remembering dogs are unpredictable and you can never claim your pet is completely trustworthy. Even if kids have been climbing on him, pulling his tail and chewing his ears for a decade, the fact he has tolerated it up to now does not make him 'safe'.
It seems cold hard logic and common sense has got lost somewhere amongst all the cutesy photos.
At end of the day, big powerful dogs are highly dangerous if they do attack, if only because they're harder to fight off and can inflict more damage. I'm not saying small dogs are harmless, but I'd rather be bitten by a sausage dog than a Rottweiler. And I would never let my DSC play with certain breeds, even if the besotted owners told me they were safe. Whatever their owners say, there are about 10 breeds I teach my DSC to steer clear of.

Yes, but that does not make a Staffie a danderously dog

sassy

Here is a dog that battersea say would be suitable for a family with children over the age of 8.

danderously dangerous

Even if kids have been climbing on him, pulling his tail and chewing his ears for a decade, the fact he has tolerated it up to now does not make him 'safe'.

But it is stupid to treat any dog like that. What is very 'unsafe' is to believe that some breeds are 'safe'.

And as far as I can see this thread has had cutesy photos of dogs, not dogs and children.

Oh I've got loads of photos of my dogs with my kids. Just not on the device I'm using. My big dog is bigger than my ten year old daughter. Loads of photos of them cuddling.

Caspian I, as well as many other dog owners, especially Stafford/pit-bull/powerful breed owners, are acutely aware of the damage our dogs can and may do.

Many vets worth their salt will tell you that labs are more likely to bite and hospitalise a person, than a Stafford and there are many statistics and research to prove it as well. I will try and find the statistics I came across to give you an idea, although I was looking at the stats a few years ago (2012) .

I have come across Staffords who were horrendously abused, neglected and starved by their owners and they still come back to people and just want a cuddle. That said, there are about 1% of Staffords whose brains are wired slightly differently. This tends to make them more aggressive. Yes, there are many powerful dogs that go off on one, but some of those dogs are mistaken for Staffords (a favourite DM scapegoat) when they were American Bulldogs/Amstaffs/pit-bull X.

I also meant to say that the post after my first one on this thread, was posted by DH and not me. He probably posted while I was upstairs or something. I've had words with him, so he know not to do it again (says the boss)

Hands up as an am bull owner who is regularly asked why I've got an illegal pit.

When I went to Battersea I was asked if there was any breed that I wouldn't consider, without hesitation I said I would never have a Jack Russell around my child, although I would happily have had 10 staffies
As you can see, another 'dangerous' Bulldog!
OP get your facts straight!

Does this genuinely scare you? Five minutes and you'd fall in love. All he ever wants is affection.

is this a wind up - its the owners of vicious dogs that need banning not the dog

Christ almighty OP, you really have got no experience of dogs, have you?

FWIW I was brought up with a combination of staffies, boxers, mastiff crosses, and an American bulldog. There are numerous photos of myself and my siblings running around with them, cuddling them as babies etc. Gentle, lovely dogs.

Only dog that's ever been aggressive towards me was a chihuahua!

I'm with you OP. Am also sick of the Love Staffies Brigade who appear in the newspapers following every mauling of a child by said dog type.

You'll never win on here though!

Seen do you know any staffies? The main reason there are so many in shelters is because idiots buy them as fighting dogs and then realise they're too soft!

I am an animal lover. I think all breeds of dogs can be lovely and safe given the right owner and proper training.

Seen- of course you're right. The dog lovers on here will always love their dogs regardless of how many statistics about harm their breed has caused, regardless of how many stories about aggressive dogs maiming and killing children are posted. I find it highly irresponsible to ignore this and to ignore the potential harm your dog could inflict because you are so wrapped up in the notion of your dog being a gentle giant who's "great around the kids".

I find it ridiculous that you have not read any of the points on here and dismiss them that explain reasons as to why those attacks may seem more prevalent.

Thousands of people live long and happy lives with their staff. The accident to non accident ratio I expect is extremely small. But you carry on demonising a whole breed due to your ignorance and hysteria.