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?

You sound like an ugly person to me. Yes they are beautiful, smart, funny, loving, sensitive, amazing dogs to have. You say sorry but your not really sorry about offending are you?

No they are not substitute for a knife, what an idiotic thing to say. A staffy is much more than just a dog, they are a companion who wants to be with you 24 7. They have the most womderful hearts and if it wasnt for my boy, quite honestly, my partner could have committed suicide. They are emotionally supportive and i will defend them forever.

I would never get a dog based on looks alone, research the breed a bit and see how good they are. They are not hard to train, they are actually verh clever. My boy is never on a lead and listens to evergthing we say, yes everything.

He has been attacked twice by the same jack russells, did not fight back once and looked to hs to get the little shits off him. He ended up with puncture wounds, scabs and hair falling out.

They get a bad reputation because of their physical appearance, but they are the sweetest dogs and great family pet. Mine is a real angel, we also have 3 cats, and they all get on.

There is no such thing as an ugly dog but plenty of ugly people. How you looking OP? Got an owner?

Because I don't think they're ugly, they are beautiful to me.

Obvious surely?!

I also don’t like these breeds. They scare me TBH.

Although, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I really love, love pugs and I think they are gorgeous and adorable but I know quite a few people who think they are ugly.

I agree but not about the look of the dog (as each to their own) but it is not a coincidence that every report you hear of a puppy being killed or a child being mauled is by a ‘bull terrier type dog’ or words along that lines.

Whenever the topic of staffies/bull terriers are brought up people always come out saying ‘they’re the sweetest natured dogs’ ‘they’re amazing with children’ - I’m sorry but they’re clearly not, as statistics go?

When was the last time you heard of a person being mauled to death by a Labrador?

It also isn’t a coincidence that the vast majority of dogs in shelters are staffies/bull breeds.

I do feel sorry for the dogs themselves as they are only acting on instinct but sadly there is a definite trend towards unsuitable owners choosing THIS TYPE of dog and not being able to control it.

I don’t trust them.

I rescued my staff cross from Battersea, she’d been abused, had life long injuries, yet is the sweetest, softest moron of a dog I’ve ever owned. Clearly though she’s not “pretty” enough so Battersea should have taken her out back and shot her so as not to offend your delicate little eyes.

Sometimes they look like they are smiling. That said I am scared of them abit. My sil has a staf mixed with a sheep dog. She's solid and so gentle. Yet when she barks I feel quite into intimidated. I also panic if the kids go near her too

Whenever the topic of staffies/bull terriers are brought up people always come out saying ‘they’re the sweetest natured dogs’ ‘they’re amazing with children’ - I’m sorry but they’re clearly not, as statistics go

Err well try actually looking at real statistics first, you’re more likely to be bitten by a lab than any other breed. Is that because Labs are dangerous do you think, or because they’re so popular? You’re 6 times more likely to be bitten by an intact male dog that a neutered female. Idiot chavs who want a dangerous looking dog will go for strong looking breeds and then encourage them to be aggressive. Do you think that’s the dogs fault?

I don’t think staffies are the most elegant dog, but they’re not aggressive as far as I can tell. Sweet and daft, is my take on it.

*When was the last time you heard of a person being mauled to death by a Labrador?

It also isn’t a coincidence that the vast majority of dogs in shelters are staffies/bull breeds.*

It isn’t. If this type of dog is often chosen because it looks a bit more aggressive than a lab, that may explain why it might be a bit more aggressive - because it’s owner is an idiot. Nothing to do with the breed.

You are definitely being unreasonable. He's my beautiful boy.

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For some reason Flojo decided to reignite

Clearly you do mean to offend or you wouldn’t have said it in the title or your op.

I love 'ugly' dogs.
But not keen on staffies either. Just a personal preference I guess, probably will have my mind changed if I come across a lovely one.

This thread is over 4 years old!

YABVVVVVVU

What a ridiculous thing to spend your time thinking about.

Since 2010 the vast majority of fatal dog attacks in the UK, have been carried out by Staffie/Pitbull/Bull Mastiff type dogs.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_dog_attacks_in_the_United_Kingdom#List_of_fatalities_(2010-2019)

Staffies are actually very lovely dogs. Their problem, compared to other breeds, is they are cheap, which can attract owners who are not really committed to having a dog. The dog gets neglected and that is where it’s behaviour problems come from. Also because of this lots of people give them up to shelters so people who want to ‘adopt not shop’ will often get a staffie. But they are lovely dogs and with good owners they make great pets.

The "nanny dog" is a myth and if you search you'll find several sources to why this myth came about.!
Quote: "Well-meaning pro-pitbull advocates once circulated a myth that Staffordshire terriers were used as nanny dogs in 19th century England. While pitbull-type dogs have been enjoyed by families for generations in both English and United States history, there’s no evidence that they actually cared for children like nannies.
There’s no such thing as a nanny dog.
No dog should be unattended with small children, or expected to tolerate tail-pulling, ear-grabbing and other abuse from toddlers."

Here's also a list of breeds that have killed in the United Kingdom during recent years.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_dog_attacks_in_the_United_Kingdom

Why staffies..

Well, they are cheap, easy to get hold of, cheap to feed and generally economical to house.

They carry some status for some people.

IF you can for a second imagine you are a vulnerable young person living in a rough area, where members of even your own social group may be quite intimidating and you can't really trust anyone...

And you are living on a low budget in a small flat.

And going out on your own is scary.

And you probably have a stream of people wanting to come IN your flat because you've got a flat and they haven't...

And you probably have some shitty relationships and lacking attention/affection...

Then YES, a solid lump of staffie is going to be the dog for you. Fun, friendly, easy to train, intimidates the bad guys, makes you feel safe, survives on fuck all... of course you do.

And that is why staffy types (never actual pedigree staffies in fact they wouldn't appeal being far too small and not remotely intimidating compared to the longer legged, bigger, non-standard type) are much more numerous in rough areas.

I used to live in exactly such an area, when I wanted a dog the first one available was a mixed breed with a good dollop of bull terrier type in there.

At any point if I had wanted another dog, a staffy type would have been attainable within HOURS, for less than 50 quid.

Any other sort of dog would have taken weeks or months to find, a pedigree sort of dog would have cost mega money.

There are perfectly good reasons for owning a staffy, you don't HAVE to be some sort of dodgy thug to want one, but since the government decided to label pitbulls as dangerous they immediately made them VERY desirable indeed and so the staffy type became even more popular!

Imagine the uproar if someone started a thread like, "AIBU or are spaniels just hideous curly little wankers? I don't understand why anyone gets them, they're clearly just trying to look middle class."

(I have a personal vendetta against cocker spaniels on account of the fact that every one I ever come across is poorly trained and a constantly-barking shite - I know it's the owners' fault really!)

(Springers however are my absolute favourite)

(OP you're a snob, and staffies are big snuggly babies)

English bull terriers are gross to look at. They make me feel sick.

Staffies whilst big and lumbering are sweet and I am not a dog person but the ones around my old area were all big friendly baby types of dog. I just keep away as don't like being greeted by a friendly bouncy dog.

French bulldogs have that same muscular in your face look but most owners say there are soft hearted too.

It's not about how the dog looks anyway. It about their training and temperament.

I couldn't own anything bigger than a handbag dog as I need no fur anywhere and the tiniest of poos and wee to deal with.

Damn didn't notice its a zombie

Zombie thread people.

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