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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
Mumofgoff · 14/10/2016 21:45

Have only read the OP but YABVU and ignorant... a quick Google will tell u that many other breeds are responsible for attacks on children and babies. Irresponsible dog owners /poor judgement are always the reason for these kind of attacks - breed is not the issue.

WeArePregnant11 · 14/10/2016 21:45

Softie dogs also bite.

Sure, their bite is less dangerous for an adult (they'd probably bite your legs and aren't that strong). But a baby? Even if the dog is little, if it bites the baby that's really dangerous. Also because dogs that do bite babies/children tend to go for the face area...

Roussette · 14/10/2016 21:46

Exactly MotherDuck so why do people own Staffies when they have small children? I honestly just do not get it.

GarkandGookin · 14/10/2016 21:47

Often the media report dogs as being staffies even when they aren't (people are comfortable with reading about a stereotype, and papers like to sell copies). They even show a photo of a sneezing staffy on a report about a collie biting a child for example. Staffies are common, nearly as common as labradors. That is why the largest number of bites is by labradors, because there are so many of them. Proportionally labradors (and staffies) are no more likely to bite than corgis or Jack Russells (possibly less likely in my experience). The fact that staffies have a ridiculous reputation means they are difficult to home, so are often sold cheaply. Any fool can get a puppy for a few tens of pounds, fail to train or exercise them, and risk getting bitten.
I have been bitten by an agressive chihuahua. If that dog had been the size of a labrador it would have killed me. No-one wants to ban chihuahuas.

39up · 14/10/2016 21:48

I was attacked by a dog as a child. I still have the scars, including facial scars. It was massively traumatizing, and my life was absolutely at risk.

The dog was a labrador. Sometimes these things happen and I really don't think anyone can predict when that will be. Just be careful with kids and dogs.

WeArePregnant11 · 14/10/2016 21:49

No dog breed can somehow lock their jaw. They just have different biting powers...

But even a small dog can be super dangerous for a small child.

Roussette · 14/10/2016 21:49

Doesn't it all come down to the "don't worry, he/she's really friendly" when a dog starts sniffing around. You don't know that!

Honestly, I am a dog lover but when my DCs were little I did not want a dog and I'm glad I made that decision. I could leave them in a room and run upstairs and not worry. I never had an extra burden of thinking about having a dog that could bite. As for having a Staffie, I honestly do not get it.

tabulahrasa · 14/10/2016 21:49

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

They have though, children have been killed by Jack Russell's, Pomeranians, Labradors, bull dogs...and they're just the ones I remember off the top of my head.

I'm not going to go filling a post full of links, because it's morbid and horrible, but other breeds do kill children.

I also can't remember a single one that was actually a Staffordshire bull terrier and not a cross...why if the staffy part is so important is it irrelevant what they're crossed with?

Anything bigger than a chihuahua is capable of killing a baby, what would make children safer rather than concentrating on breed would be concentrating on responsible dog ownership, stopping indiscriminate breeding and educating people on dog body language and behaviour.

But demon dog sells more papers so all the crosses are reported as staffies with papers running campaigns to ban them and attacks by other breeds are reported as a tragic accident that's out of character for the breed - instead of sorting out dog ownership.

Pluto30 · 14/10/2016 21:49

The lock jaw is a myth, for christ's sake. It's been debunked countless times.

And no, I don't think the media should choose to just ignore staffy attacks, but they should report dog attacks equally (which they don't).

The bias has already been established, and you and several others have bought into it. You're the German Shepherd haters of 30 years ago.

WeArePregnant11 · 14/10/2016 21:52

Garkand

I want to ban chihuahuas! There are so many people that don't train them properly. And then there are these vicious beasties with small dog syndrome (seriously, I've seen to many aggressive chihuahuas)...

I know, their super smart dogs, but I've met so many that weren't trained at all and super bitey/growly.

Binkybix · 14/10/2016 21:53

I just wouldn't have a dog that I didn't know I could over power if push came to shove.

I can't imagine what the parents are going through, and those poor babies. Tragic.

metaphoricus · 14/10/2016 21:53

tabulahrasa

I think you need to do a google search about how pit bulls jaws are configured.

EnthusiasmDisturbed · 14/10/2016 21:53

If this dog was a poodle Hmm

But the thing is it wasn't a poodle and even if it was it would still be news, it would still be just horrific as a baby has been killed and a young child is fighting for their life. It can't be worse than what it is it can't be sensationalised or made to sound more horrific that what it is

But what we are hearing again is that it is a Staffie

And yes we are all aware that at times the wrong breed has been reported

Original poster
Flowersinyourhair · 14/10/2016 21:53

"I have been bitten by an agressive chihuahua. If that dog had been the size of a labrador it would have killed me. No-one wants to ban chihuahuas"

But it wasn't and that's the whole point surely!

OP posts:
WeirdAndPissedOff · 14/10/2016 21:54

OP - newspapers often do pick and choose stories based on particular biases. Of course they don't have a "meeting" - it's just a recognition of what they believe will push the public's buttons and sell the most stories.

What about the pp earlier who mentioned the story of the non-staffie being rejected by the press? Or the Jack Russell who was PTS at our Vet practice after leaving one child fighting for life in hospital and two more severely injured last year? (No story in the paper).

Can you deny that the press show similar bias with other stories? There are often things that are more likely to be reported if they tick certain boxes. ("Missing white woman syndrome" is a particularly sad one).

What has happened is terrible, and there's no call to point the finger at anyone, whether

1pink4blue · 14/10/2016 21:55

My son was mauled by a dog at 14 months old.
When he was in Hospital i had several different people come and tell me their stories of being bitten by dogs and they wäre all different breeds of dogs so i now am in the belief that all dogs pose a risk to children.
I was lucky my son has terrible scars but he is alive and that poor familys baby has died in a horrific way.

Mishaps · 14/10/2016 21:55

I'd shoot every "staffie" in Britain - for heaven's sake what are we thinking about to tolerate these dreadful creatures in people's homes? They, and many other dogs, are simply not safe and need to be got rid of. It should be illegal to breed them.

Mumofgoff · 14/10/2016 21:56

I had a staffie and young children... poor thing died recently after watching carefully over my kids for 9 years didn't so much as look at them the wrong way. Refused to play rough and tumble games with the kids that he would play with adults and was basically used as a pillow. In my experience people who have this opinion of Staffie's as being dangerous/vicious etc actually have very little or limited experience of dogs, I have yet to meet someone that knows dogs in a professional capacity or has a lot of real knowledge of dogs to have this opinion of Staffie's.

WeirdAndPissedOff · 14/10/2016 21:57

*whether the press, family or anyone.

But it's a fact that the story is more "interesting" to the papers and public because it's a "dangerous" dog - supposedly.
The fact that they haven't confirmed the breed of the dog, other than to say a neighbour thinks it may be some sort of staffie cross speaks volumes.

Regardless, my sympathies are with the family right now.

Original poster
Flowersinyourhair · 14/10/2016 21:58

" I have yet to meet someone that knows dogs in a professional capacity or has a lot of real knowledge of dogs to have this opinion of Staffie's".

I suspect the professionals who dealt with this tragedy today would disagree to be honest.

OP posts:
hollyisalovelyname · 14/10/2016 21:59

Again, a tragedy.
When will people learn?
I love dogs.
I love children.
But I just wouldn't trust a dog.
A small child can vex a dog easily.
A dog defends itself.
It's nature.
Sadly.
My heart goes out to the parents and family of that gorgeous little baby.

Roussette · 14/10/2016 22:00

I just wouldn't have a dog that I didn't know I could over power if push came to shove

^^ This time and time again.

Benedikte2 · 14/10/2016 22:01

I think the actual breed of dog is mostly irrelevant -- it's the fact that a dog, obviously regarded as harmless and a member of the household has killed and maimed and what can be done to stop this happening again!
It has transpired that banning certain breeds etc has not apparently reduced the number of attacks so that isn't the direction to approach the problem from.
Maybe a shocking after nine advertising campaign with pictures of injuries might make more people think before they tush into getting a dog.
Maybe information supplied to all expectant parents re the dangers of leaving children alone with dogs.
Heavier penalties for dogs which attack strangers/neighbours.
I accept what posters have said about statues not locking their jaws, though I did get that info from a BBC documentary, but the high pain threshold they and some other breeds possess is also a problem because it means they are more difficult to beat off once they are attacking.

Pluto30 · 14/10/2016 22:01

Mishaps You sound more dangerous than the dogs you're talking about.

Soubriquet · 14/10/2016 22:03

Banning them would be mean they would be sold on the black market and they would be bred for fighting and nothing else
Pit bulls are banned. Yet they are a very common dog in London