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?

People who don't get these dogs are woefully misinformed and blindly believe the bad press. Labradors, and small dogs are much more likely to bite than a bull breed dog. This is only part of the problem with breed specific legislation. The other problem is that Pitbull isn't a breed, as a pp said. Generally speaking, owners of these dogs are aware of the issues of bsl, and know what the breed is actually like.

I have a Springer spaniel and a jack Russell, because these are breeds that fit my life.

My friend has a staffy who is the poster child for what the breed are - she's loving, affectionate, silly, and convinced that she's actually a lapdog.

I've had pets that fall into what some would consider large and dangerous including a Rottweiler who I can only describe as a pipe and slippers dog with the most gentle and loving temperament. But that was because I treat him with love and respect, was well trained and he knew I was the boss. I never left him alone with children, I experienced many a child (with their parents) coming up to him and throwing arms around him pulling his ears etc and some other really stupid things.
Problems arise, especially with smaller breeds when folk treat them like babies and the dog thinks he's in charge. You should always feed dogs after you've eaten never let them sleep on the bed etc. Wolves in the wild have a pecking order the alpha male always feeds first and sleeps on a higher level...a dog needs to know it's place in order for it to be safe and other folk (especially children) need to know how to respect and treat animals.

It makes me really cross when I hear of dog attacks when children have been left alone with dogs.

A screaming/ screaching baby to a dog is very upsetting a wolf would attack.

If you read up on the Psychology of dogs much of it refers to the behaviours of wolves.....wolf to dog in the terms of evolution timescales isn't that long.
People need to be trained in order for them to be responsible dog owners who in turn train their dogs properly.
This might sound not very politically correct but I'm going to say it anyway, most of the owners of dogs that have attacked that I've seen and read In the press seem to lack general common sense or a sense of responsibility and tend to come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The worst dogs I’ve ever known have been springer spaniels and labradors, both of whom persistently attacked my dog every sodding time we ran across them. Horrible and not well-trained.

Walking my 3 dogs separately one day, each one was attacked by a different staffie. I think it might be my area, the staff was a popular choice for the local chavs, some of whom were seen ‘training’ the dog one day by making her swing from a branch by her teeth. Another half killed a chi, £2000 Vet bill later, she’s ok, thank god. In recent years, I’ve seen more mastiff types, staffies on steroids, haven’t met a nasty one yet, although one killed a greyhound in the local park.

I dislike Akitas, they’re the only dog I’m scared of, one killed another dog in the park a couple of years ago and was destroyed.

In my limited experience, I don’t think staffies are the problem.

I can't possibly understand why people get pugs and frenchies and then don't bother to train the yappy little shites and just simper around while their breathing defect on legs is causing fucking chaos in the park. Or why the idiots of designer mongrels think paying stupid money for a mongrel is a sensible idea.

Ooh, I like you! . I cannot understand why people perpetuate the trendiness of a breed that can’t breathe and isn’t fit for function. Poor little things :(

Frequency, Micheal Vicks dogs, aren't whats's being bred by the idiots, here in Liverpool, who had the out of control Pits. That's why they have the XL etc tagged on the end.

These dogs are the latest 'drug dealer/hard case' dogs and have been responsible for three deaths (as said) of children in my city. These aren't family pets, shouldn't be exercised off a lead etc. They are unpredictable.

I don't know where you live, but these dogs have also killed many dogs out and about.

These have nothing to do with Staffs etc. They are deliberately put together to be aggressive, not have the natural instincts of a dog etc.

It's fine to rehome dogs, as MV has done, but they shouldn't be being bred. As shouldn't many dogs.

I wonder if the bad press will ever stop then

I don't think there are problem dogs just problem owners!

I think people having to have a licence to actually own a dog in the first place would help. Too many dogs in the wrong hands.

my son has a staffie and hes the softest friendliest dog ever, mycairn terrorist on the other hand would have taken on anything that moved, and my bet noir is pomeranians, they may be pretty but i have yet to meet one that isnt a nervous wreck, snappy, yappy and i wouldnt give one house room

Staffordshire bull terriers should be banned. How many are ending up in rescue situations? They are also very poor with other animals and tend towards aggression.

Surely if your going to get judged for keeping them, why would you do it?

People used to say the same about pregnancies out of wedlock.

Some people don't give a shit about being judged. And rightly so.

I have a bigger concern about pugs, bulldogs and French bulldogs. Who the hell thinks it’s OK to breed a dog for a look that stops them breathing properly.

Yay an excuse to put photos up of our dogs!!! Vicious bunch!

We all know what breeds I'm referring to.

op you’re the type of person who calls
her period ‘Aunt Flo’, who uses ‘coloured’ because you still think it’s more politically correct than ‘black’ and whispers any word she’s uncomfortable with aren’t you?

These dogs are the latest 'drug dealer/hard case' dogs and have been responsible for three deaths (as said) of children in my city

I think it's rather likely the problem is at the other end of the lead to the dog. It's the same with staffies. The breed aren't the problem, never have been. It's the idiots who buy them to 'look hard' which are the problem.

It's not really possible, in evolutionary terms, to deliberately create a naturally aggressive dog via breeding in a short space of time. Dogs have been bred for the opposite reason for centuries, it would take centuries more to undo all of that. It only takes a bad owner a few months to create a nervous, fear-aggressive dog regardless of the breed they choose.

Come in, we all know there is no such thing as a bad breed, only bad owners.
Just because a breed has a poor reputation that doesn’t mean that genuine fans of that breed will stop lloving them.

I've met a lot of dogs and their owners over the time I've had my small dog, now nearly 7 years old, she's been jumped on by: 4 pugs who looked as if they wanted to kill her (all together and on the lead), 2 yorkshire terriers (also together and on the lead) and 1 jack russell (off lead).

Have yet to meet a staffie or any other dog, on or off lead, that has shown her any aggression.

I'm guessing it's less to do with breed and more to do with socialization and the owners.

I’d have a Staffie / boxer / rottie over a Yorkshire terrier or chihuahua any day

These are staffy, mastiff ridgebacks! My sister also has a husky. The big brown tank in the pic cries if you don't stroke him enough!

Not true that Staffs are bad with other animals. When I lived with an ex and his parents we rescued a young kitten from a litter that had been abandoned. Their older female staff fussed over her and became like a surrogate mum, even though kitten was a handful and an interloper in her home.

Too many people buy pets on the cheap or free from Gumtree etc, from dogs to fish, not having the first clue how to train them, groom them or recognise if they might be ill or hurt. Not understanding what the breed characteristics are or how much exercise/socialisation certain breeds need. Or buy them as pups and then get bored.

Killer staffy on the loose! Never trust her with kids/ other dogs or food

Picture 2 was taken at dog training in the hall close to 15 other dogs - as you can see she can’t help being aggressive toward them 😂

I’d have another staffy in a heartbeat, I’m sure Poppy would love a friend!

I have 2 German Shepherds, when I fell pregnant the 1st thing my mum said to me was "you'll need to get rid of the dogs"!....my DC's are now 4 and 5 the dogs have never once showed any aggression towards them whereas I grew up with a King Charles and every day it would try and bite and eventually was put to sleep because of it. Even now my mum still asks if I've got "they dogs".

I have a Staffie X. She is an absolute sweetie. A proper lap dog and great with kids. She is from the shelter. She’s not always very good with other dogs so I always make sure she is on a lead when other dogs she hasn’t met are around. It’s a shame other owners aren’t as considerate. She has been attacked three times by labradors when she has been on a lead, which really doesn’t help. Then there are the little terrier type dogs that are always on the lead but probably only because they lunge and bark at anything they see. Thankfully my dog has stopped reacting to these types now, probably because they can’t attack physically attack her.

I have 1 of these dogs and I'm not ashamed to admit it. My boy is 9 years old, has never been aggressive and on being attacked by a young gsd hide behind my dh before running home on his own. He also hides under the bed if dh & I have a row, and don't get me started on wen out rabbit died and the soppy shit cried (as only a bull terrier can) for an hour at her hutch.
I would NOT ever get another of his breed though as it is a nightmare making sure he is treated properly ie walks, vets, going on holiday with us... going out in public during the day is a no no unless it's a emergency and it is not fair on him. Other breeds get to frolick around off the lead and play with other dogs without fear of being murdered but he doesn't, some1 will see him trotting around minding his own business and suddenly it's all 'run for ur lives'
Sick of all the doggie racism that goes on. It's discrimination plain and simple and if it was a human being it wouldn't be allowed!

I have no idea why people continue to buy certain breeds of dogs, which are facially deformed, have difficulty breathing, conceiving, whelping and I some cases, whose brains outgrow their skulls. Disgusting

I thought this thread would be about the horrendous overbreeding of certain dogs that ends up with them in pain or unable to breathe properly etc.

But no, it's about those vicious hell hounds, staffies. Look at all the scary pictures people have posted. Terrifying!

I've known loads of staffies and they're all as soft as anything, good with kids, cats and other dogs. They've obviously got good owners.

I've been bitten twice - once by a lurcher and once by a border collie. Border Collies are still my favourite breed, I didn't judge them on the one with the shitty owner that let their dog out alone.

Ex got bitten by a jack Russell and as he was a plumber he goes into lots of people's houses and said he'd never get a JR as they were always bitey and yappy! That doesn't mean they all are though, just unlucky with a shit load of JR owners who needed a plumber!