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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
Soubriquet · 14/10/2016 21:28

No such thing as a locked jaw!!

5OBalesofHay · 14/10/2016 21:28

Why on earth would you have a dog near children? They are predators.

Ifounddory · 14/10/2016 21:29

No dog can be 'trusted' with children, they are animals, they should always be supervised around children. Incidentally no small child can be trusted with a dog, it's grossly unfair on the dog.

Absolutely this. However speculation about dog or owner at this time is not at all helpful to this family who must be devastated right now. As are others like the MNer who lives close by whose kids witnessed the aftermath. Let us please remember them at this time.

Also remember to get some perspective before saying that this is a huge thing that happens loads. Thousands of people have dogs which are around children every single day without incident. The amount of incidents is still very very small compared to how many familes with dogs never have a single incident.

Dog breed is often irrelevant but a big dog can always do more damage if it does snap so it's often the big breeds that hit the headlines as the accidents are far more severe.

acasualobserver · 14/10/2016 21:30

Poodles can be vicious buggers

No doubt but they never seem to actually kill babies, do they?

metaphoricus · 14/10/2016 21:30

OP, what you're failing to understand is that there is a definite media bias against Staffys etc. The fact is that there are far more recorded attacks from Labradors etc. but they never make it to the news. My dog's vet says that his worst experiences have been with Jack Russells and Daschunds.

Labradors and Jack Russells might sometimes figure in the bitey dog list.
But they don't kill people. Staffys do. It's all in the jaw movement. Duh!

tabulahrasa · 14/10/2016 21:31

"Labradors and Jack Russells might sometimes figure in the bitey dog list.
But they don't kill people. Staffys do. It's all in the jaw movement. Duh!"

They do and they have killed people.

Staffy jaws are anatomically completely normal dog jaws.

Roussette · 14/10/2016 21:33

I don't get it. I love dogs, I was brought up with a dog. But to me, my DCs were more important and I wouldn't have dreampt of owning a Staffie. Why would anyone have one around kids? I just don't get it. If I wanted to have dog when bringing up my lot, I would have gone for a softy type dog that could never do damage to my DCs.

EnthusiasmDisturbed · 14/10/2016 21:34

Why do Staffies seem to attack to kill and other dogs bite

This is never answered just the usual crap trotted out its the owners not the dogs fault

Soubriquet · 14/10/2016 21:34

A Jack was in the paper not long ago because it killed a baby

There will be cases where other breeds have done it too. It's just not reported as much

Pluto30 · 14/10/2016 21:35

Roussette No such thing. Any dog is capable of injuring/killing a child.

5OBalesofHay · 14/10/2016 21:35

They can all do damage

tabulahrasa · 14/10/2016 21:35

"Why do Staffies seem to attack to kill and other dogs bite"

It's never answered because it's not true.

Original poster
Flowersinyourhair · 14/10/2016 21:37

Pluto, are you suggesting then that there has been a meeting of all the national news organisations who, collectively, have decided to pursue Staffie owners exclusively? Are you suggesting that they have collectively chosen to ignore tales of killer poodles in order to.... Well what? What do you think they wish to achieve through such collaboration? Why do you think they would pick on Staffies particularly? Do you believe the stories are made up by the press? Do you accept that there has been a double tragedy today that has nothing to do with the media and everything to do with a dog? To be truthful, I'd have the same sadness and views if it WAS a poodle that hurt those little boys. That it was a Staffie and thus another in a long line of Staffies attacking children/adults (see the very recent story about the incident in Blythe for an up to date example) just makes my disbelief that some still refer to these dogs as "great with children" even stronger.

OP posts:
EnthusiasmDisturbed · 14/10/2016 21:38

Really

Strange that listed in the dog attacks that kill children are staffies

But many of the dogs listed for biting haven't killed children

so why is that

Roussette · 14/10/2016 21:38

Pluto... disagree. There are toy breeds and nervous type dogs that just are incapable of attacking.

Look at the stance of a staffie, look at its head, its jaws, its a fighting dog.

Then look at the dog I grew up with... a miniature shetland sheepdog, tiny, nervous etc.

1pink4blue · 14/10/2016 21:38

Roussette
A softy dog as you say could also hurt a child because any dog whatever the breed can attack

RoseGoldHippie · 14/10/2016 21:39

Tabulahrasa- that is a very good point. Actually the most dangerous scenario would be to have a 'safe' dog list because people would be come completely careless and not think there was any possibility of danger!

Pluto30 · 14/10/2016 21:41

Put it this way, I'm sure you wouldn't have posted this thread if it was a poodle and not a staffy, because you seem totally willfully ignorant to the fact that other breeds are just as capable (and have proven it) of hurting/killing a child.

Of course the media has a bias. It doesn't matter what the subject is. People like yourself are the target audience.

1pink4blue · 14/10/2016 21:42

A nervous dog would more likley attack

Roussette · 14/10/2016 21:44

Ipink it couldn't kill. They are a breed that are nervous. They aren't bred as fighting dogs. They are small, they aren't strong. Their body mass is delicate. But it's all hypothetical AFAIC because I wouldn't want to trust any dog round my small DCs, let alone a Staffie which is a strong fighting dog.

Original poster
Flowersinyourhair · 14/10/2016 21:44

Pluto, do you think this news today should not have been reported then? Should we pretend it didn't happen for fear of causing bias against such dogs?

OP posts:
TheHubblesWindscreenWipers · 14/10/2016 21:44

Any and all dog breeds are capable of turning/aggression, but...

Some dog breeds are capable of causing much more damage than others - would you rather be locked in a room with a pissed off pug or a pissed off bull terrier variety? It's disingenuous to say it's not the breed - while all dogs have the potential for aggression, the consequences of a bite vary considerably between types.

There's no such thing as a safe dog - kids should not be left unsupervised with any dog, ever. Some dogs probably should be kept in a different room when kids are around. Kids can squeal, poke etc and aggravate a dog very easily, even a 'nice' dog. The nicest dog in the world can snap if sick or in pain.

Personally I think the law should be changed. All dogs should be licensed, chipped, insured and registered. Training should be compulsory and anyone found mistreating/illegally breeding etc should be fined heavily and banned from keeping dogs for life.

Absolutely tragic story. Poor poor woman. It doesn't seem to have been her dog, by the way, unless I'm reading the article wrongly.

metaphoricus · 14/10/2016 21:45

Dog breed is often irrelevant but a big dog can always do more damage if it does snap so it's often the big breeds that hit the headlines as the accidents are far more severe

Dog breed is not irrelevant. A little dog can inflict a bite, just as much a big one. But a pit bull dog has locking jaws which can enable it to lock onto and shake its prey. In fact, it is a predisposition of that breed to lock on and shake its prey. So don't be surprised if that happens. For example.
A large Labrador might bite you if it's a bit cross. But it won't hang onto you and shake you until it's sure you are dead. Which is what most pit bulls will do. It's not their fault. It's in their make-up. Which is why, in my opnion, nobody should choose a pit bull as a family pet.

I can't actually believe that I'm having to say this.

MotherDuckSaid · 14/10/2016 21:45

I hvnt read other pples replies.. But my opinion is tht it can b the Nicest dog ever, but when they have a jaw that strong, that can open that wide they aren't safe to have around children.
When I was a child we had a cocker spaniel , she was lovely and had Never even growled at us kids. One day she was sleeping and having a bad dream and whimpering , I put my face down close to her and stroked her gently to wake her and she bit me in the face.
Being the breed she was , she cdnt do too much damage because her mouth and teeth were small, if she had a staffie jaw I would have been in serious trouble :-/

Soubriquet · 14/10/2016 21:45

OP

I've linked two dog attacks not done by staffs which you've totally ignored.