Not to understand why anyone could choose to have those ugly looking dogs?

[meadowquark]

I may be wrong but it seems that about 50% dog owners in my area have those staffie or staffie type dogs (sorry I cannot distinguish between them), looking aggressive, ugly (sorry) and always pulling the owner on the lead. I honestly don't understand why people choose to have these dogs. When I was growing up, people had cockerspaniels, labradors, daschunds, poodles, terriers etc. Is this a new fashion? Safety? Knife alternative?

I am sure they are friendly and trainable but if I hear a bad story of one dog mauling another dog, it is very often that type of dog.

I am just wondering why wouldn't people keep sweeter looking dogs instead.

Sorry I don't meant to offend any dog owners - I just would like to understand why?

God Matilda is stunning totally stunning, you have done a fantastic job with her, her puppy photo is heartbreaking :(

YY, good on you, G-d!

Care to elaborate, Bastard?

As for people "being comfortable" with their DCs being around dogs - you'd be v foolish to be comfortable with DCs being around any dog unless you knew that that particular dog was used to and tolerant of children, that the children know how to behave properly and respectfully around dogs - and that dog in particular - and with young children, keep a responsible adult present. It's not really about 'breed'.

As everyone knows, bull-breeds, and Staffies in particular, have a fantastic reputation as child-friendly dogs, but probably this is abused by people who think that 'great with children' means that it's fine to abandon all boundaries, rules etc. of human behaviour around those dogs.

My staffy x... Isn't he terrifying?

Well, I wouldn't leave Matilda unsupervised with OH's nieces who visit a fair bit for the same reason that I wouldn't leave Scrabble, our BT, unsupervised with them. Namely, that children can do silly things, and you cannot always predict how your dog will respond. We've never had any problems so far.

Thanks CLAIMEDBYME. We love her to bits. Was surprised at all the places she's banned from on reading this thread last night! Might have to rethink our plans to take them to mainland Europe in a campervan ...

Loving the photos of posters devil dogs slavering ugly creatures this morning i saw a staffie plodding along quite oblivious to the yappy yorkshire terrier that was going for it i would imagine they could have ripped its throat out if it could be arsed but prefered to take the plodding route dogs come in all shapes and sizes and some of the prettiest dogs are the most vicious bit like humans my dog isnt the bonniest he looks like a fox squirrel cross we love him anyway.

Sure. Not smart to leave any small child alone with any particularly strong dog, really.

OK, so next to this thread there is a link to a review for Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park.

There's a cute little picture of a baby seal. It's looks uncannily like 'one of those ugly looking dogs'....

As does this: IMO.

When I look at them - I always think, wooh what strong jaws you've got - all the better for ripping your face off my dear .

Yeah my neighbours staffie was speckled and looked like a seal he was a rescue he was used for breeding bless him he was locked in a shed and just brought out to dtd

I am not a dog person at all. I find most dogs scary or a bit creepy like those little lapdogs or the ones that hump your leg. Ugh.

However Staffies and bulldogs really make me smile because they have so much personality! They look cuddly. I fell in love with a bulldog puppy once and I still maintain that if I had a dog (highly unlikely) it would be a bulldog or a Staffie.

They're strong for their size, in all ways including their jaws yes, but they're not actually strong compared to much bigger dogs like Labradors...they're not from krypton and so stronger than all earth dogs.

Any breed of dog can be dangerous to children and segregating breeds into safe and dangerous makes the danger worse as people are then complacent when they shouldn't be.

This is the before and after of my baby Staffie, she is just a big lump of love, even though she was treated terribly by humans she just wants to please.

We have a friend who lost their arm to a staffy in an unprovoked attack in a park.

I keep myself and my children away from them.

It is interesting that Staffies are No1 in every big city though, and only No3 elsewhere. Staffie owners, enlighten me, are they city types? Maybe they bark less (major concern in an apartment or a terraced house)? Or are they particularly good at dealing with masses of people and other dogs? Maybe it's a size thing, a German Shepherd in a two up two down must be a headache?

to you and your gorgeous girl, Claimed.

This is another thing with Staffies, isn't it? For all that people go on and on about what demons they are, rescue centres are full of Staffies with the most amazing, affectionate, playful, loving personalities, often despite having been treated appallingly by humans.

The capacity for these dogs to go on being kind and sweet natured although they've been treated appallingly is remarkable, really.

It's so sad that people keep on and on breeding/abusing/discarding them - and also that people who just want companion dogs and could give a Staffy a perfectly good home reject them for being 'ugly' or chavvy-looking, or whatever.

Those of you who see yourselves as too stylish to be seen with a Staffy might be interested to know that Staffies are much loved by some really cool designers, fashion people, etc. (I'm not going to name these people, but you've probably been looking to buy their designs - or imitations of them - for years, now.) Does that make you see Staffies any differently?

Yes, reni - they are great city dogs. I think they enjoy urban life more than the countryside - speaking from my own experience, anyway, as my Staff thrives on busy-ness, lots of socialising, etc. She's also happiest living in a smallish space. (She likes to know where her people are at all times, without having to go too far to look for them.)

Herding breeds - collies, GSDs, etc. generally need much, much more space. I know collies tend to get really stressed in confined spaces.

Your baby is beautiful, ClaimedByMe, absolutely lovely.

Loving all the photos of people's happy dogs, I could look at them all day.

Because they're living creatures who have just as much right to a loving home as any other dog, regardless of looks, maybe? How bloody shallow OP!

This sort of post would normally boil my blood but in light of the Dalai lama preaching love and respect for your fellow human being I will in fact smile at you and say, I feel sorry for you to be such a close minded, ignorant individual.
I am genuinely sorry that you will never know the joy a staffordshire bull terrier brings (or any bull breed, as they are all clowns). To you they may 'look ugly' but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think ratty little terriers and frail fluffy white dogs look ugly but I still love them, because they are dogs.
My dog doesn't care if you hate him. He is 14 inches of face licking marvellousness, patient with children and kind with adults.
I dare you to say to my face that my wiggly bummed, red coated little dog does not look sweet as he waddles down the street with his short little legs and big barrelling body. He has turned the heads and astounded your fellow haters with his good looks, charm and amazing temperament.
He has many times been attacked by other dogs, not by 'vicious' fellow staffies but by labradors, small 'fluffy' dogs and a Weimaraner. I don't judge any of these dogs by their breeds, I judge their stupid owners for not training their dogs properly.
People will be snobby about staffies, as evidenced here, in the heartland of middle class Mumsnet, because it is a question of class. The staffy originated as a working class breed and it has clung to its roots. People like you, like to judge on looks alone, and possibly because staffies do not have long floppy ears and possess the physique of a heavy weight boxer, (another working class pursuit natch) are judged to be 'bad' dogs.
The media are quick to judge any dog attack by any vaguely bull breed looking dog as a 'pit bull' or a 'staffy type'. 99% of the type the attack by the dog in question is a cross breed of indeterminate origin. There are plenty of attacks by spaniels, labradors et al. Far more in fact then any bull breed, but you won't hear about these because they don't sell newspapers. In my local area a little girl was 'mauled' by a golden retriever and has been scarred for life. If it had been a 'pit bull type' it would, no doubt, have been splashed across the nationals. As it was it was a small footnote in a local paper. Unremarkable, because the attack did not fit the stereotype of the floppy, loveable golden retriever.
Because of people like you, so quick to judge a dog because of its body conformation and tendency to pull with excitement on a lead, the stereotype gets perpetuated.
Why do you think there are so many badly behaved 'pit bull type' dogs in dodgy areas? As soon as you fear something, you lend it power. As soon as you ban something, it immediately appeals to the lowest common denominator in society.
Although if you go to any 'dodgy' area now, you will not see youths with actual staffies, you will see type bred mongrels and huskey type dogs. Staffies are not the sort of dog you can use to intimidate others. Believe it or not, but they are far too soft.

I've said this on here before, but in the last few years every Staffie I've encountered has been accompanied by an elderly person. The yoheads who want a penis extension seem to have gravitated towards huskies.

I have a rottie/collie cross, he is the kind of dog people sometimes cross the road to avoid, which is fair enough, but he is completely non-aggressive. A number of people have commented on just how friendly and sociable he is. He has been attacked several times by other dogs. Never by staffies though (or any medium or large dog), it's always been either a Yorkie or a Jack Russell. My dog never retaliates, he hides behind me, something the owners of the little thuggish things find hilarious.

So, no, I don't think Staffies are horrible dogs, but I do think there are plenty of people who should own any dog, whatever size or breed.

shouldn't own, not should

Any dog which gets dumped in rescue shelters in disproportionate numbers inevitably gets eulogized by doglovers. I think part of it is the tendency to see the perceived underdog (if you'll pardon the expression) in a sort of rosy light. Part of it probably comes from the shelters themselves trying to persuade anybody, ANYBODY, to come and take one of the bloody things.

Greyhounds get dumped in shelters a lot, too, and get similar eulogies. That's why if you post on a doggy forum about how you are trying to decide what kind of dog to get, you'll get a tsunami of replies saying "Get a greyhound!" "Get a staffie!" "Get a greyhound!" "Get a staffie!" "Get a greyhound!" "Get a staffie!" "Get a greyhound!" "Get a staffie!" "Get a greyhound!" "Get a staffie!" "Get a greyhound!" "Get a staffie!" etc. etc.

As far as I know, there is nothing actually wrong with greyhounds, but.... yeah, the fact that it's the "dumped dog breeds" who always get the glowing write-up about how they are OH MY GOD THE BEST BREED EVER is a bit, erm, suspect.

the fact that it's the "dumped dog breeds" who always get the glowing write-up about how they are OH MY GOD THE BEST BREED EVER is a bit, erm, suspect.

New I think people argue for the great qualities of greyhounds, Staffies, etc. because those dogs really have such qualities... also, though, because for many or even most people who want a companion dog, an existing dog who needs a home will be at least as good as a new one who would be bred to order.

It's nothing more 'suspect' than that, really.

One of our Staffies was, in objective terms, not too beautiful. He was a bit threadbare, a bit warty, and his tail was even more of a bootlace than they usually are. He also farted incessantly. To begin with he had terrible teeth, then he had no teeth at all ( adopted from rescue aged 8) . It is however always the case that once you have fallen in love with your dog you only see the beauty in him. I only now remember his lovely staff smile, sweet spotted nose, speckly ears and the whiteness of his coat.

People reccomend staffies and greyhounds because they're really good breeds in different ways for novice dog owners...

Staffies are as already mentioned, small, not particularly noisy and are fairly easy to train and lots of fun.

Greyhounds are lazy and fairly undemanding of attention, they like company, but you don't have to keep them occupied as long as they get food, shortish walks and affection they're happy to sleep most of the day.

I reccomend them both fairly often because they're easier than other breeds, I don't currently own either...I own a much more active working breed because I'm happy to do ongoing training and activities, but it's a bit more than your average thinking about a dog person wants to be doing.