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?

I certainly feel for the Staffie owners who's dogs are tarred with the aggressive dog brush. I have the type of dogs people avoid too (gsd) and have had people cross the road to avoid mine.

However, I am irrationally scared of Staffies after I was attacked by one when I was younger. My dog got in the way and was torn apart. We couldn't get the staffs jaw off, it was locked and I remeber how powerful it was. I now avoid them like the plague and would never willingly go near one or own one. I also work with dogs and I find they have a tendency to be dog aggressive and don't want my dogs near them as ive seen the damage that can be done. I don't know if they are more likley to attack a dog than any other dog but in my head they are

I do think that these dogs in general are owned by the wrong people and its a shame really as I'm sure some of them can be lovely.

Not a dog person, but OP is definitely unreasonable.

First off the ugly thing. I'm a cat person and have a gorgeous big black and white tom. Apparently black and white are ugly / have a bad rep....which means rescues are stuffed with them because of a fashion. I realise not quite the same as dog breeds, but still the appearance thing got me. Writing an animal off because it's ugly seems as mean as writing a human off for the same tbh...

Secondly, my uncle had the most aggressive, ill trained cocker spaniel ever to grace the earth. I was bloody terrified of it (and rightly so, it nipped everyone in sight). On the other hand, my neighbour's scary looking Doberman was very well behaved and rather more indulgent towards kids than adults, so while I knew not to provoke it, I was never scared in the way I was as a 6 year old presented with an untrained, crazy spaniel.

I'd have a staffie, I really like them. Loyal to their owners,in the hands of bad people they become bad dogs. With normal people they are lovely.

Silverdaisy - I know no harm was meant .

It was just the facts of a experience we have had .

Dogs are like people , one bad apple doesn't make them all nasty . We still love dogs , any breed or size will get a fuss if they want one .

I just get a bit het up when I hear staffs getting bad press as I know without a doubt DD would be dead if that staff hadn't of done what he did .

I would see they have potential to be amazing dogs, but the ones I see have awful lead aggression which is quite frightening. But all the fans of staffies can continue with the nanny dog ethos. If I am going to rehome and adopt, I don't think I should be made to feel guilty and have a staffie.

Meadowlark your posts are coming across as a bit dim. Of course there are alternatives to staffies - I don't think anyone has suggested they are the only breed in the world! The point is people choose them for their excellent physical and behavioural qualities. Designer cross breeds like your favoured cavachon are rife with physical and behavioural issues due to unscrupulous breeding to supply ignorant owners who want a 'cute' dog.

I guess if your outlook is as completely superficial as your posts suggest then a poorly bred designer crossbreed would be the perfect accessory for you.

Or you know you could make an informed decision about an appropriate breed for your lifestyle rather than whether something looks 'cute'

Toofat, that is a lovely story (if you can excuse me saying that). Like you said they are all different.

I just love dogs. I have never had a staffie but I have never met a nasty one. I had a Cairn, a Labrador and various mongrelly types all gorgeous. The only really nasty dog in our family was a beautiful golden cocker spaniel belonging to my Aunty. He was vicious despite having been brought up in a dog loving home.

Im so with you on this there always popping up on facebook. A girl I know has three and just recently had a huge chunk bit out of her hand and she still keeps them.
They are ugly I don't know why anyone would want them.

They are ugly I don't know why anyone would want them.

Then why not RTFT and educate yourself, Essence?

I'm a dog owner and love most dogs. But I would never have a Staffie as I've never yet met one that was dog friendly. I know a few which are fabulous with humans but they have all been very dog aggressive and that just wouldn't work where we live. We're semi rural so loads of dogs here and I just couldn't have an aggressive dog.

Oh great a staffie bashing thread. as if this breed doesn't have enough trouble finding a home thanks to idiot owners who can't be arsed with training them giving them a bad rep and the papers running story after story about them.

Any dog can be vicious in the wrong hands. All the staffs i have met have been lovely. and I think. they are gorgeous!!!

... Oops, missed the bit about Staffs popping up on Facebook.

Sociable little sods, aren't they? As if rolling around like nutters and licking everyone's faces isn't enough, now they have to take over social media too. And I bet their constant newsfeeds about all the fun they're having makes you feel as if you're life's all boredom and drudgery too, Essence.

giles, take heart, if you read through the thread most of the posters on here have been posting on defence of SBT's

Sorry, IN defence. Bed time for me, I think. My posts are getting worse.

I just skimmed through as was on way to bed

glad most have defended them.

formerbabe it's a side point but not true- I've had very handsome boyfriends that ultimately bored me to tears / just lacked an intriguing enough connection / weren't all that sexy despite prettiness, and conversely have fallen madly in love with someone who on a physical aappearance level didn't excite me initially. Then of course once they'd caught my attention I found them unspeakably beautiful. When it comes to dogs, I mean well... You're not having babies together are you! Think OP you may be being slightly U, but agree that there is an unusual proportion of this one breed in the dog population.. Always seemed nice enough to me tho even if their heads are slightly terrifying to the untrained eye

Staffies are lovely and not at all ugly. The nicest dog I know is a Staffie - who had to be rehomed because her original owner didn't find her fierce enough!!!!! I think you are confusing ugly dogs with ugly owners.

Alternatives to staffies?...

Well any dog could be, lol.

But, small, biddable and trainable, active and playful without being so active that they need a hobby or job...um

Cavalier King Charles spaniels would fit the bill, except they're riddled with health problems, to the point that I wouldn't consider one or a cross of one...and they need grooming more often.

Borders are proper working terriers, high prey drive and not so biddable, nice dogs in the right hands, but harder work than a staffy.

Whippets are nice dogs, but very different, almost more cat like, they're not as active and tend not to want to do things like chase a ball.

But I would never have a Staffie as I've never yet met one that was dog friendly.

Really? I'm not doubting your experience but there are lots of Staffies where I live and I meet lots of them when out with my Cavalier. Without exception they have all been perfectly fine with her.

Perhaps we've just been very lucky.

And years ago it waa rotties that were the dangerous dogs!
At the moment it is staffies!
Next year it will be somethingelse.

Buggers yes there always seem to be black or black and white cats that nobody wants it's a shame there are a few by me, we've ended up with two black and white strays amongst the others, They're beautiful!

My uncle has a miniture shnauzer and a border terrier, they are both absolutely lovely looking dogs (obviously not as lovely as my staffie ) but the border terrier is nick named the border terrorist..

Really? I've never met an unfriendly staff. The ones by me always want fuss! My ex collague had two beauties. The friendliest dopiest dogs ever. When the one died the whole family were inconsolable
I'v only ever been attacked by a jack russel, a yorkshire terrier ( our family dog!) and when our dog was young, was attacked by a scottie dog. Never had a problem with any big dogs.

I agree with the cat thing too. It makes me sad. We have 4, all mostly white. one white with ginger tail and patches, one white with tabby tail and head, one white with black back and tail and one white with calico markings. gorgeous. ive also had full ginger, full black etc. I think all cats are beautiful. I love animals.

No not really kit there trying to get rid off them.