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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that Staffies are not "nanny dogs"

716 replies

Flowersinyourhair · 14/10/2016 20:07

Ok. I await the cries of "it's not the dog, it's the owner" and "we had one and it was wonderful" etc etc. However, once again here we are looking at a news story about a dead baby and a seriously injured toddler as a result of a Staffie attack. AIBU or does something drastic need to change regarding perceptions of dogs like this who are apparently fine, until they're not. This dog was, it seems, the dog of a PC. Not a thug or a dog fighting yob. A PC.

I await the barrage of abuse here. I just feel so sad about these poor defenceless little boys who harmed no one and have suffered so tragically.

OP posts:
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Original poster
Flowersinyourhair · 16/10/2016 09:03

"Something more like Switzerland where there are compulsory courses and you have to pass a test before you can own a dog"

Tab- in what way do you believe this would have helped in 1pink1blue's case? The dog was KC registered, she had had it for years with no issues. It seems to me that the only think guaranteed to have prevented the injuries to her son would have been for the dog to not be in the house in the first place.

OP posts:
Wishfulmakeupping · 16/10/2016 09:05

I've not read the full thread but completely agree I would trust any type of dog with children you just don't know when things could turn.
I don't like dogs around my 2 (baby and toddler) as generally I just don't feel comfortable with dogs myself but I do find it so frustrating and it happens A LOT when we're out walking/at the park people with dogs off the leads let then bound over to the pram or jump up at me and then say 'don't worry they're soft' etc they might be the softest dog in the world but I would prefer you kept it at a reasonable distance and let people decide if they want to fuss the dog.
Anyway that's all an aside in a wider discussion but reading about what happened with that poor baby boy and his brother just chilled me absolutely heartbreaking and terrifying.

Original poster
Flowersinyourhair · 16/10/2016 09:05

"and no, 1pink1blues post hasnthad any impact on me except sadness that it happened to them"

That's the sadness here. People see these things, hear the stories, have the data presented before them and still don't get it because "I know I could overpower my dog". Well let's hope you never need to find out whether that's true.

OP posts:
GahBuggerit · 16/10/2016 09:17

And hat of my experience regarding the lab attack i witnessed? does that make me concerned about every lab? no, but please dont be sad about that.

knowing i can overpower my dog does not equal complacency.

Pluto30 · 16/10/2016 09:26

You haven't presented any data, OP. Quit playin'.

ayeokthen · 16/10/2016 10:11

I think the point here is that some people will always disagree with anyone that owns a dog, some people will always be prejudiced towards certain breeds (whether that's through personal experience or media coverage) and we're never all going to agree. I can leave this thread knowing that I am a responsible parent and dog owner, who couldn't care less who looks down their nose at me, because I don't need to justify myself to them. My priority is and always will be my children, and owning a staff type doesn't make me less of a mother. So I'll bid you all goodbye, because a debate is supposed to be about listening to other points of view, not considering yourself superior because of the way you do things, and I'm not getting sucked into that.

Pluto30 · 16/10/2016 10:13

ayeok You and me both. Off to snuggle with my pups. Grin

Soubriquet · 16/10/2016 10:16

Same here aye

And I don't even own a dog!

You just seem to have a vendetta about dogs in general OP and using this tragic circumstance to soapbox it

GahBuggerit · 16/10/2016 10:30

tbh this whole thread has a whiff about it, especially the "lets hope you never find out" comments, in very poor taste considering the circumstances.

miserablesod · 16/10/2016 10:31

As for being able to over power dogs. I had a row with some bloke the other day. He has four German Shepherds. He was going on about idiot dog owners on some facebook page when this latest attack was released. He said people should only have dogs they can over power, i asked him whether he was He-man because i doubt he would be able to over power his four german shepherd guard dogs if they were to attack!

MyGiddyUncle · 16/10/2016 10:35

What difference does being able to 'overpower' your dog do?

One snap from a Jack Russell in the wrong place could be fatal to a young baby. Being able to overpower them will do bugger all good when it's too late and the damage is done.

GahBuggerit · 16/10/2016 10:44

Giddy i agree it makes no difference, some pp's are suggesting that you shouldnt have a dog you cant overpower though, hence my comment regarding overpowering not equalling complacency

WaitrosePigeon · 16/10/2016 10:57

My yorkie weighing 4.5lbs can definitely be overpowered by a 4st dog of pure muscle - I do hope nobody is suggesting otherwise Confused

Even though the above is true, I'm still very aware, like the majority of dog owners and not complacent..

What difference does being able to 'overpower' your dog do?

Life or death for your child. I'm sure you'd rather a 4.5lb yorkie you could boot up the arse than a 4st+ dog...

WaitrosePigeon · 16/10/2016 10:58

Sorry for my first sentence should say my 4.5lb yorkie can definitely be overpowered over a 4st dog of pure muscle.

Original poster
Flowersinyourhair · 16/10/2016 11:05

"You haven't presented any data, OP. Quit playin'".

Plenty of people have presented data. The percentage of dog attacks by bull terrier type dogs for instance, the number of deaths by pit bulls in the US, the number of injuries by the same breed.

OP posts:
MuseumOfCurry · 16/10/2016 11:13

Regardless of their actual breed, when a child is mauled to death in the UK the dogs always look the same. A bull terrier.

I have no earthly idea why anyone would have this dog.

Original poster
Flowersinyourhair · 16/10/2016 11:14

"a debate is supposed to be about listening to other points of view".

Yes, and people have listened and responded and then given reasons why they disagree.

OP posts:
Givememorewine · 16/10/2016 11:23

My staffy was attacked a few weeks ago by a Jack Russell. She was terrified but thankfully not badly hurt and had to come up on the couch for cuddles for ages Grin

Funny that.

MyGiddyUncle · 16/10/2016 11:27

Museum Of Curry - I agree.

It doesn't mean that a Lab or a Cocker Spaniel is perfectly safe or never attacks - but the majority of bad attacks/deaths you hear about are bull terrier/staffie type dogs. I can't understand why anyone with children would risk it tbh.

Kreeshsheesh · 16/10/2016 11:40

I still have big ugly scars on my legs 30 years after being attacked by a one year old Staffordshire bull terrier. I was lucky. The dog pulled my scarf and subsequently me, to the ground, trying to bite my neck. I somehow managed to get back on my feet. I've been scarred emotionally for life. I can now walk past dogs and even be in a room with a 'friendly' dog. However in my opinion, dogs are inherently dangerous. They should never be left alone with children and should be nowhere near play areas.

SnortGruntFart · 16/10/2016 12:08

Found a couple of videos that are interesting to many folk.

and

RichardBucket · 16/10/2016 12:18

So OP, do you ban anything potentially fatal to kids from your house? You don't have sharp knives, cleaning chemicals, nuts, a car, etc? Or is it only things you personally don't like (e.g. dogs) that you want banned?

Bruce02 · 16/10/2016 12:32

I hope that your words have some sort of impact on this thread and encourage to see the risk people take by letting these dogs into their homes.

While I agree what happened to pink and her child was awful, do you walk down the street? Do you use a car or public transport?

I asked this earlier and you seemed to have ignored it. Child are hurt and killed in car accidents all the time. I have lost several family members in awful accidents.

The answer isn't to ban cars. Or people, since its people that cause the accidents.

kali110 · 16/10/2016 12:42

Soubriquet agree, all seems to be a vendetta.
People who have this dog and other big dogs=bad parents, people don't agree= bad parents.
There is no debate here, op just wants people too say how vile these dogs are.
Doesn't want to acknowledge other dog attacks that have left people with serious injuries ( unless ofcourse they have been done by a ataff).
Doesn't want to acknowledge it may not have even been a staff ( eyewitness reports are notoriously unreliable)
The fact the family moved in with the dog and then this happened a week later, how had the dog been introduced before hand?
Could well have happened with a different dog.
Op's lovely passive agressive comments to people who don't agree Confused
Before they accuse me of being a staffie lover, or ignorant dog lover, i don't one right now Grin

GahBuggerit · 16/10/2016 13:32

to answer the snotty judgrmental "why would anyone want these beasts" question we got ours by accident almost. got our first home and wanted a dog but couldnt decide which. a friend of a friend had one sbt pup left, the runt, and was going to put it on Loot and said we could have her. it felt like fate and i couldnt bear the thought of her landing in the wrong hands. few years later i got pg and was asked by a few people "aww so what will you do with the dog then?" id look as if i was seriously considering their bizarre question and say "probably just change her food as her shits are a bit weird atm, how did you know there was something up with her? anyway tge babys due in January......."