Why do people continue to get get certain breed of dogs?

[Zeelove]

We all know that certain breeds have a really bad reputation. Why do dog owners continue to get them? For the record I've never witnessed any of these dogs act in a bad way, but still. Surely if your going to get judged for keeping them, why would you do it? Is it a status thing?

This wasn't intended to be a staff bashing thread which some of you think. I wanted actual reasons as to why people (some of you) continue to get them after the bad press. Reason why I was wondering was from the other thread where people (rightly) assumed what dog the poster had.

We have a Jack Rusell he is a horrid little shit. is that what you meant?

Oh so it is about Staffies and a TAAT.

Thanks No they are killing machines though. One fart from them and you drop down dead 😂

Never had an Akita. Too much hair for me I think!

Jack Russells - horrible vicious little brutes who think they can take on anything ranging from a similar size dog up to a horse and would happily take a bite out of me given the opportunity. Why anyone buys them is beyond me.

Zee I know it's not a bashing thread. I buy the SBT because I love them. Mine have the biggest heart, the biggest smile. They'll run 15k with me or happily snooze on the settee with me. I've had various other breeds over the years but my SBTs have always been more affectionate, loving and stubborn!

Teenage boys have a bad rep. Why do some people continue to have them? I must admit I've never seen them act in a bad way but you hear stories right?

Ah, it's those dogs, you mean.

I guess people continue to get them because most people are capable of critical thinking and able to deconstruct the hysterical headlines and see that the breed of dog is almost always irrelevant in dog bites.

The dog has normally been left unsupervised with a strange child and/or isn't usually allowed or kept inside the house and isn't properly socialised. Any breed under those circumstances would become dangerous.

What I don't understand is why people continue to breed and buy brachycephalic breeds. The bad press surrounding those breeds isn't hysterical.

help he/she is gorgeous
my girl is snoring very loudly right now.so is her"brother"

All the staffies I've known have been soft, friendly family dogs.

Deed not breed.

There is no such thing as a bad dog - just bad owners. Unfortunately, some dogs are a lot more dangerous than others when a bad owner doesn't look after/train them properly.

" Irresponsible ownership and lack of supervision probably cause more bites then any specific breed."

Unless we are taking about banned breeds and the cross American Bull XL type. If you want a pet dog that will fit into the family, that isn't for you. Yet they have killed three children (in separate incidents) and disfigured many, in family homes. They don't connect to people in the way other dogs do.

I took in a wonderful JR that was going to be PTS by her owner, who couldn't be bothered with her. She had a lovely temperament. With JR it's about mental and physical stimulation. Most people can't give what they need.

I'm looking for a dog, a terrier/English, Staff Bull/cross would suit me. Small, doesn't shed much, loyal, playful can take long walks. Sadly i'd like to get one from a shelter and nearly all of them can't be rehomed with children. We need a halt on the breeding of them. The shelters are full of them.

I always had GS's which had very bad press years ago, but I find them very stable dogs.

I used to be a dog groomer and every Staffie/ Rottweiler/ Akita/ "aggressive breed" I encountered was wonderfully behaved and soft as butter.

The word cockapoo, however, still makes my blood run cold.

Great, another evil dog bashing thread, beacause its been a few weeks since we’ve had one of these

I've also known 2 staffies, and both were/are lovely, good natured girls. I've also known a badly trained rotweiller and a pug. I know which I wouldn't be in a room alone with fearing for my safety. (It wasn't the pug!)

"There is no such thing as a bad dog - just bad owners."

There are some Bull breeds that shouldn't be in family homes, or exercised off leads. Pits are banned but they were one of them.

I'm not talking about English/Staff/Bulldogs etc.

Because the breed isn’t bad. It’s the owners 9/10. It happens with a disproportionate amount or larger breeds because people buy them for the “tough” image. It really isn’t the breeds fault.

I have a boxer/old English. Both of his breeds are good with kids, great family dogs. I’ve rehomed him, his previous name was a tough dog name.
The dog didn’t like humans very much. He was adopted as a family dog, he loves my daughter who is adult size. Any children however- he doesn’t like. In fact if he leaves the house as a matter of precaution he wears a muzzle, he has been through 2 behaviouralists. He’s finally getting there, but he will never be fully trusted because of the way he’s reacted to some people. I saw aggression- bearing in mind I’ve known an old English and he was Fine and as for the boxer- he was amazing. Never ever saw even the slightest aggression in him.

I’m being long winded, but please don’t judge them by their breeds. It’s down to training, temperament of each individual dog, their experiences in life. It’s honestly far more than oh there’s a staff it’s awful, and there’s a pug it’s perfect.

You probably hear more about bigger dogs because the damage they can cause, people would laugh it off if someone was attacked by a chihuahua- which I’ve found to be the snappiest dog I’ve ever met!

Jaysus, dog farts are the one aspect of ownership I deffo do not miss 😂
Yes the hair was plentiful, used to brush her on a walk when she was blowing her coat-left plenty of fur for the small animals to line their nests/dens.

Urgh I hate hearing all that “my dog is so soft, he wouldn’t hurt a child”. So many infants have been hurt or killed by certain breeds. That is fact! Why is it always in the news every few months?

They can’t be that “soft” if they can’t be left alone with a kid.

I think it's a bit self perpetuating isn't it? Staffies are the 'hard man' dog of choice around here and so they're purchased by people who want them to be aggressive, who are ignorant and don't train them properly etc. The rescue shelters here are probably 95% staffie - it's sad because they really aren't fit for family homes but I don't think it's the breed in itself.

I know one person with a pit bull, she was sold it as a staff puppy but as it grew, it was an obvious pit bull. She has special insurance for it and it's temperament it checked every few months. I can honestly, hand on heart say it's the sweetest, softest dog I've ever met. It was attacked by a golden retriever once and didn't even defend its self.

Helpme plan- thats the kind of thing I wanted to know. Thanks
Mrmeseeks- this is not a evil dog bashing thread. I see no one bashing dogs apart from sausage dogs and jack russells

I actually came on thinking you would mean pugs and French bulldogs, poor animals ruined by breeding

Pits are banned but they were one of them

That's bullshit, Birds.

Pits, for one, aren't a breed, they are a set of measurements that cross many breeds, including labs, so any statistics on 'pit bites' are meaningless.

If you mean the American Bull Terrier, just look at Michael Vick's dogs. Despite a horrendous start in life that most dogs would struggle to come back from, with the right care and rehabilitation, they are all friendly, well adjusted family pets.

@Lime123 dogs behave according to how they’re trained, socialised etc.

Unfortunately because some breeds have historically been seen as “hard” they’re often treated accordingly.

My ex-MIL and her on-lead terrier were attacked whilst out by two off-lead labradors a couple of years ago.