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?

Ahh rid of? Is that right? I can't spell

Oh, I see, Essence.

You meant that there are posts from silly, irresponsible, arsehole 'owners' who got themselves a Staffy on a whim and can no longer be bothered with it?

I'd tend to look unfavourably upon the 'human' 'owner', rather than the dog, in that case, but maybe that's just me, I tend to think rationally and all...

Essence, you mean your Facebook pages are full of posts from people who want to get rid of their Staffies?

That's not the Staffies' fault, is it? It's the fault of the owners.

Staffies are beautiful, loyal, friendly and good with children, I love mine!!!

How is it the staffs fault that there are some really irresponsible/shit owners out there?

How come then I see tons of staffies in the rougher parts of town but hardly any in the "naice" areas?!

Because many poor people are less judgemental than the people in your 'naice' areas, clearly. And they prefer substance over looks.

This is our labradoodle, Daisy. She tugs at her leash when we walk her, but it's our fault; we haven't taught her better leash manners. It doesn't have anything to do with the type of dog she is.

If someone picks a dog purely based on what they look like then they are very stupid.

I don't own a Staffie but I'd be happy to. The ones I've met have been funny, cuddly, happy little characters.

Sure they can be mistreated into being aggressive scared animals but so can any dog. It's the owners of such dogs who are ugly not the animal.

YABVU Staffies are great dogs. They may not look 'pretty' to you but they make brilliant pets.

Staffie smiles are lovely.

YABVU and a bit snobby OP

We have owned 5 dogs, a collie cross, a dachshund, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen andtwo Staffies. The two Staffies are the only ones that have never bitten any of us, the Collie Cross was the most prone to getting into a scrap with other dogs and the Dachshund had murderous intent to Spaniels. The Staffies are not to keen when bounced on by other dogs but they haven't been agggressive. Reputation underserved.

Of course it is the owners fault if they get the dog for the wrong reason and do not train it. I know some lovely Staffies.

BUT it is not the owner who does the biting.

I have seen several Staffie attacks on other dogs - usually attacking another Staffie. The latest was yesterday - one dog on lead, the other not. The owners could not seperate them. The dog on lead that was attacked was killed (throat was torn).

This happened in a childrens play area. There were at least 10 children who saw the attack and were absolutely terrified.

When I walk my dog (always on lead) and I see an off lead Staffie that I do not know approaching I am fucking scared for my dog. Believe me, if you have seen what I have, so would you be.

YABU,

Haven't read the thread but can guess how it's going, again.

Staffie's are absolutely beautiful imo. If you don't think so, that's fine, but why start a goad thread about it?

Meh, I'd go for a bull breed every time. I have people literally move away with a look of fear/disgust on their faces. Presumably because he's big, and a bull. It's amusing because he's soft as shite.

Because many poor people are less judgemental than the people in your 'naice' areas, clearly. And they prefer substance over looks.

cluckingbelle Why have you said 'your naice areas'....why are you assuming I live in the nice area rather than the rougher area?! I simply said what I have observed not where I live. But yep, poor people are less judgemental hence why Staffies are popular... you must be ignoring all the gangs of kids hanging round outside chicken shops with a staff...they simply have it because they are so open minded and non judgemental... Nothing to do with wanting to look hard eh?!

Well, we have Matilda, a two and a half year old rescue. Third photo from when we saw her in the news, went to visit, and ended up taking her home (she had been left in a bucket of chemicals which burned off all her fur and has left her partially sighted - our other dog, Scrabble, looks after her!). One photo from when she won Best in Show/Best Condition at our local RSPCA fair, and another one with Scrabble, demonstrating that Staff's like to savage other dogs.

She's manic, fun, clever, and just wants to be around you (lying on my foot as I type).

I'm not keen on the appearance of certain other types of dogs, but that has no bearing on their temperament.

If you see us approaching, it's the Border Terrier that can be growly when other dogs get in her face. But people tend to find that amusing and say "Oh, that's what Terrier's do", but if Matilda did it (she never has), there would likely be a different response. Weird.

They are powerful dogs, and it's a great shame that some undesirables exploit their loyalty and make them aggressive (you could do the same with , say, a Daschund even).

Soon, it will not be Staff's that have a bad rep., but Huskies going on the number that seem to be coming into rescues ...

people had cockerspaniels, labradors, daschunds, poodles, terriers etc

Staffies ARE terriers - Staffordshire Bull Terriers (as are American Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers and Bull Terriers (Miniature).

I had in mind something like Scottish terriers.

Of all the breeds I see in the show rings, it's always the Scotties that are ready for a scrap with each other.

I am far more wary going in to the Toy ring when judging than I am of the Terrier ring. Terriers tend to be more likely to spar with each other, with very little human aggression (the handlers had to be able to grab them without being bitten themselves). The toys are little buggers though, with an overinflated sense of their own importance and poor socialisation. They are more likely to snap at a human than the terriers are. Human and dog aggression are two completely different things.

"BUT it is not the owner who does the biting."

It's the owner's fault it manages to bite though.

I have a dog with some pretty extreme behavioural issues (not a staffy btw) who is very dog aggressive, he has never bitten another dog because he is appropriately managed.

I feel a sort of affiliation with staffy owners,
We have this big fellow and he's winders but we still have the overhang of people thinking German Shepherds are aggressive
He is the biggest softie I know, and he thinks he's a cat!

I think we all know why some people own Staffie-type dogs. MN is just to PC to admit it. As for the rest of the Staffie owners, I have no idea why anybody would want a dog with such potential to do harm and such a terrible reputation.

I think we all know why some people own Staffie-type dogs. MN is just to PC to admit it.

Yes.

This is another example of MN existing in a parallel universe. I don't know anyone who owns a pit bull/staffy type dog or would be entirely comfortable with their kids being around them, even though there are certainly quite a lot of them about these days.

Well, Staffies are the third most common breed of dog in the UK, in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool they are No1. I know little about dogs and less about one breed over another, but maybe

1. they are very good dogs
2. they are better suited to city life than most breeds
3. they simply are the most available
4. many people do think they are beautiful

or a combination of the above?

Oh my days, there's some shite on this thread.

"This is another example of MN existing in a parallel universe. I don't know anyone who owns a pit bull/staffy type dog or would be entirely comfortable with their kids being around them"

You discuss with everyone you know which breeds of dogs they'd be comfortable with their children being round?

Because I haven't got a clue about how most of the people I know feel about staffies, other than staffy owners, obviously.