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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:
Thread gallery
6
NavyandWhite · 14/10/2016 20:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

frumpet · 14/10/2016 20:57

Do people honestly never leave their children alone with a pet dog ever ? This is a genuine question ? My children grew up with our rescue dog , and they were both 'left alone' with it countless times before we had to have him PTS . I was comfortable leaving them with him and vice versa and he was big , much much bigger than your average staffi .

Julju · 14/10/2016 20:57

Isn't it true that Labrador's bite more people (accounting for how popular they are) than Staffies but Staffies & similar dogs tend to go for the face whereas labs, etc. will bite arms, etc. Staffie bites are consequently more serious and more likely to result in fatalities.

Original poster
Flowersinyourhair · 14/10/2016 20:58

A baby died today and a toddler received life changing injuries because of a Staffie. I find the notion that the press are to blame for the story being public ridiculous at best. Maybe I'm wrong and the national press have conspired to hide the story of the poodle that also killed a child but I do doubt it.

OP posts:
WeArePregnant11 · 14/10/2016 20:58

Unless you are 100% sure.

I'm not trying to be rude.

But I guess I'm just very upset by this. I understand that she had to use the bathroom... but it's not so difficult to have a "dog-free" play area or something. Especially where a baby is concerned. Baby and toddlers are really at risk...

mycatstares · 14/10/2016 20:59

navy it's because they are cheap and over breed. So easy to get one from Facebook or gumtree. People underestimate that they are only good with children if they are trained that way.

They aren't born to be good with people. It takes training but people don't understand this.

mycatstares · 14/10/2016 20:59

Over bred*

Soubriquet · 14/10/2016 21:01

Staffies and staffie crosses are stupidly cheap

£50-£200 for most.

Maybe up to £500 for a blue

Plus they amount being sold on for £50-£100 because they don't have time anymore is unreal. They change hands very quickly with no decent home check

WaitrosePigeon · 14/10/2016 21:01

BUT, because they can be so powerful, when they do snap, it's usually life threatening.

That's the bottom line really. It's the potential for damage. I don't think it will be long before they are added to the UK's list of banned breeds. I think there are four currently banned.

mycatstares · 14/10/2016 21:01

frumpet it depends on the child and their age.

Children under 3 should never be left alone with a dog.

RoseGoldHippie · 14/10/2016 21:02

**are part of the family (bloody phone!)

mycatstares · 14/10/2016 21:02

Meant 4 not 3! I'm not doing well with my typing tonight.

NavyandWhite · 14/10/2016 21:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LittleLionMansMummy · 14/10/2016 21:04

A neighbour said it was a 'Staffordshire Bull terrier type'. It has not been confirmed. And many times it ends up being a mixed breed. The list of top 10 'most dog bites' in the UK includes every day household breeds such as dachshund, Jack Russell and labrador. The only difference is that when they bite it is not normally life threatening. Staffies and similar have strong jaws coupled with the tenacity not to give up. But socialised correctly they're just as good as family dogs as other breeds. It's not my place to comment on this horrific incident and what may have caused it. My heart goes out to those poor parents.

And yes, dsis has the most gorgeous and good natured Staffie you could ever hope to meet. My 7yo niece and 6yo ds have grown up with her without incident. But when they were little they were not left alone with her because small children have a habit of grabbing animals and antagonising them. We would not have left them alone with any dog as toddlers (or cats for that matter).

LottaHogs · 14/10/2016 21:04

I'd like to add that I help with dog rescue and have transported around 50 dogs from various council pounds to rescues, vast majority were staffies, and never had an issue with any of them.
We also foster rescue dogs while they wait for their forever home.

Husband and I have both been bitten for the first time in our lives this year. Two separate incidents.
Both pet spaniels.

I'm truly sorry for the tragedy that has happened in this case.

Soubriquet · 14/10/2016 21:05

Yep there are 4

American pitbull terrier
Dogo Argentino
Japanese Tosa
Fila Braziliero

Though the RSPCA think that the pitbull is a lot more common than we think. Being crossbreed with staffs

WeArePregnant11 · 14/10/2016 21:06

mycat

Exactly. No matter the dog breed, you do not leave babies or toddlers alone with a dog...

Sure, a staffier bite is bad. But have you guys ever seen a Pomeranian bite? Deep enough to kill or at least seriously kill a baby or child.

Soubriquet · 14/10/2016 21:06

Price is a big factor

See a cute puppy on FB for £50. Everyone can afford that easy. Whether they are a good dog owner or not.

Same puppy for £400 would put a lot of people off. Not so easy to afford. Therefore will likely to attract those willing to put the work into training said puppy

mycatstares · 14/10/2016 21:07

The price has a lot to do with it.

You'd be horrified how many people by dogs on a whim(I'm not saying this mother did at all), how many dogs are brought for a child at Christmas or their birthday.

Cheap dogs are usually bred badly, the dogs parents could be closely related causing health and social issues from birth, bad first few weeks at home and sometimes taken from mum too early.

TheABC · 14/10/2016 21:07

Both sets of grand parents own large dogs. Lovely animals, fully socialised etc. We would never leave them alone in a room with our toddler (or baby). A young child is still learning about limits and impulse control whilst the dog may not be able to communicate their distress to point it will be picked up on. It's not fair on either of them. FWIW a Jack Russell can be just as bad for stress biting as a staffie - it's not confined to one breed.

WeArePregnant11 · 14/10/2016 21:08

Gah, stupid iPad. Staffie. Not staffier.

And yes, keeping children around rescue dogs is even more dangerous. You don't know what they went through and have no way of knowing what may trigger a defensive attack...

ToxicLadybird · 14/10/2016 21:08

I think the problem with Staffies is that they're often not actually Staffies anymore. We used to breed Staffies when I was little (40+ years ago). They were small, stocky terriers, barely bigger than a Westie and they were very much a family pet type dog. Most of the 'Staffies' I see around today are giants compared to the ones we bred and I believe they've been bred with other, possibly more aggressive breeds to reflect their new status as 'hardman' dogs rather than pets.

mybusinessidea1 · 14/10/2016 21:08

I think the price does have a lot to do with it tbh. All the reasons you suggest NavyandWhite are likely the case.

If you have to pay £700 for a pedigree dog you are likely to put an awful lot of thought and effort into the dog, where it comes from, how it was bred and how to care for it, train it etc.

The trouble is whenever a tragic event like today's happens, we all automatically think - bet it was a Staffie or similar. I never consider that it might be a Retriever or a Beagle - insert a zillion breeds - that never hit the headlines.

Soubriquet · 14/10/2016 21:10

Our next door neighbour has a proper staff

A teeny tiny little thing. Still strong but very different from the common staff you see now

acasualobserver · 14/10/2016 21:10

Because poodles are expensive.

Perhaps people should save up for a dog that isn't going to eat their children?