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AIBU?

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Original poster

to stop DD going to this house because of the dog?

336 replies

gonaenodaethat · 03/03/2008 11:38

My DD is 5 and in reception. She is very fond of another little girl who has been to play at our house several times.
When her daddy came to pick her up last time he said 'We'll arrange for you to come to ours soon' to DD.
However I know that they have one of those Staffordshire Bull Terrier type dogs and I'm just not happy to take the chance of DD being around it.
So, do I make an excuse when they ask and not let her go or should I broach the subject with the parents and ask them to keep her away from it?
Or am I just being precious and slightly ignorant?

OP posts:
Youcannotbeserious · 05/03/2008 11:48

Kerala - it's kind of understandable that these people would have modified your opinions!!!!

Hope your new house works out!!

ahundredtimes · 05/03/2008 11:49

When I woke up this morning, I thought I heard a report on the radio about a 9 y-o being attacked by a Staff. Did I dream it? I thought 'oh hello, now what will happen on that thread?'

Perhaps it was a weird MN dream though?

2shoes · 05/03/2008 11:56

sad but it was true

2shoes · 05/03/2008 11:58

The boy was bitten by a "Staffordshire-type Bull Terrier" in South Shields, police said.

The 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control.

please notice it does not say it was a staff. (imo it was most likely a pit bull which look like big tall staffs)and it sound like the owner was to blame.

FioFio · 05/03/2008 11:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Wisteria · 05/03/2008 12:00

Very sad but it's still the fault of the owner
the article also says a Staffordshire 'type' - in other words it may well have been crossed with something else

2shoes · 05/03/2008 12:01

Wisteria i love you.

Wisteria · 05/03/2008 12:02
2shoes · 05/03/2008 12:03

(I am a massive lover of staffs)

Wisteria · 05/03/2008 12:05

I love all dogs , even the ones of shit for brains owners (not that I'd hold out my hand to them willy nilly) - I just think it's sad that twunts are allowed to keep dogs in the first place.

Threadworm · 05/03/2008 12:05

I like staffs too. The ones I've met have been sweethearts.

LadyWithTheSpottyCoat · 05/03/2008 12:06

I have to say all this 'fault of the owner' business really doesn't wash with me.

If your child was attacked, you are hardly going to care whether it is the fault of the owner or the dog are you???

The fact that these attacks are usually the 'fault of the owner', surely is exactly the point. Dogs with these capabilities in the hands of 'human beings' are too unpredictable.

End of.

FloriaTosca · 05/03/2008 12:06

Staffies are usually very, very people/child friendly (believe it or not so are most of the american pit bulls and other fighting breeds..they are bred to fight other dogs not people)but any dog, even sweet lovable labradors or cute little Poodles can be unpredicatable occasionally or trained to be aggressive....in fact one of the best dogs I have seen trained to execute a police style arrest/attack was a standard poodle. I have a Bouvier, a big breed known for being wonderful with children...but I won't leave him in the same room as my 5 month old or any other child, not because I don't trust his temperament but because he loves children too much and his enthusiasm and sheer size could cause problems.
It isnt the dog, certainly not its breed, it it is the owners attitude that is important. I agree with itsahardknocklife and other posters, talk to the parents find out what their policy is with the children and their animals, meet the dog yourself first and explain your concerns..if they are too "casual" then yanbu.

Wisteria · 05/03/2008 12:08

I wouldn't be angry at the dog though, I would be angry with the owner.

There are more responsible dog owners out there than irresponsible IME - in fact I have only met 3 aggressive (to people) dogs in my entire life.........

Youcannotbeserious · 05/03/2008 12:09

Well, I agree with Wisteria!

LWASC - Are you another dog whisperer???? There are loads of 'em on this thread!

FloriaTosca · 05/03/2008 12:11

oh crickey...done it again...read the op and first page and not how far the conversation had gone....

..when will I ever learn ....

wannaBe · 05/03/2008 12:14

I don't particularly like staffs. My first guide dog was attacked by one and it was horrible. dog had got out of the garden it was in and latched itself on to her neck - dh battered it over the head with a laptop.

But some owners do bring on their dogs' behavior. Last week I came out of our local tescos, and there were two rottweillers sitting outside, tied up on long enough leads that they could get through the door of the shop. they snarled and growled and tried to get my dog. the owner came out and started telling them to shut the f* up and battered them about the head a few times and then went back to do his shopping.

I later learned that he was a little man who wouldn't be able to control the dogs even if he'd tried - clear has little man syndrome and needs his big dogs to make him look [ard - and obviously the fact he treats them like that has nothing to do with their agressive tendencies at all .

CountryGirl2007 · 05/03/2008 12:46

I think you are being unreasonable by judging the dog because of it's breed when you know nothing about it.

If the people are good people that have brought their dog up properly and have it well socialised there should be no problem no matter what breed it is.

Staffies are actually recommended by most Kennel Clubs as the top breed to have in a home with children because they are so friendly, gentle and playful. Pit bulls are too when given the chance, all bull breeds are really.

They were never bred to harm people and still won't if they haven't been trained to by some thug.

chipkid · 05/03/2008 12:48

if you get a rogue pit bull or staffy-isn't the problem that they can inflict so much more damage than other breeds because of the strength of their jaws and their dogged determination to hang on if they have their teeth into you.?
I would have to be very confident about the dog and the way that it is controlled within the house before I would let my ds or dd near it

CountryGirl2007 · 05/03/2008 13:06

Really, unless the dog has been trained to attack or never socialised there isn't much danger. Staffies are very friendly dog's and even Staffies that have been extremely abused by humans or made to fight with other dog's are usually still trusting and friendly with humans.

As for pit bulls, they are just like you're average labrador, collie or spaniel when treated like a normal dog and well-trained and socialised like any other dog should be. Here is a good thread for those who can see it, about the real pit bulls: www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055245931

Rochwen · 05/03/2008 13:43

I grew up with animals of all sorts and I live on a farm now. Dogs are great workers and wonderful companions. If you have the chance go and watch a sheepdog work, or a dog for the blind lead its owner, or a scent dog searching. Their skill, intelligence and loyalty is awe inspiring. A pet dog can be your best friend and most loyal companion and they give you hours of fun and a lifetime of love and devotion. However, they are animals and all animals are unpredictable. I had a real eyeopener with our pet dog a couple of weeks ago. My dog is very gentle and mild mannered and she has never attacked anything, neither a dog nor a person and I used to be quite happy to let my dd and the dog play together with me being in another room. That was until I saw my dog killing a deer. Yes, killing a full-grown deer, the deer was down (probably injured by a car) and couldn't run away and my dog (a German Pointer) grabbed it by the throat and shook it until it's neck broke. That took a good few minutes, there was nothing I could do, I pulled my dogs collar, I screamed and shouted and I even pulled her ears. The savagery and violence of the attack was shocking. The poor dear was screaming in agony until the neck broke with huge crack. It went on twitching for a long while afterwards. I was so shocked by what I had heard and seen I threw up on the spot. I will never forgot that. Yes the deer was injured and my dog probably did it a favour by shortening its suffering but it opened my eyes that dogs are hunters and they know how to kill. As I said, my dog is a pet and I has never shown this kind of behaviour before. She sits on my lap in the evenings, she sometimes sleeps in my bed when hubby is away and she happily lets dd sit on her back but she can also kill. Total eyeopener. I have always been a very responsible dog owner and always put my dog in the bedroom when other children are visiting but now I will also never let her and dd unsupervised.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that no matter how well you know your dog you cannot guarantee his/her behaviour at all times. They are animals and they are unpredictable and I believe that every owner should be responsible and supervise their animals very carefully esp when children are around. And most owners I know do that. So, in conclusion. I'm sure the owner of your dd friend's dog will be very understanding if you ask him to lock the dog away while your dd is at their house playing.

(btw, after the attack I did phone the RSPCA and they came out to look at the deer to make sure it was really dead.)

ruty · 05/03/2008 14:00

good post Rochwen.

Chequers · 05/03/2008 14:02

Message withdrawn

Youcannotbeserious · 05/03/2008 14:05

Why? Because it agrees 100% with your point of view?

My dog regularily walks past rabbits, lambs, cows, deer. Even walked straight past a dead rabbit yesterday.... We walk in the countryside.

He wouldn't have the slightest clue what to do with it! I reckon if you gave him raw rabbit to eat, he'd hand it back to you and ask it to be cooked.

He is a bit of a sissy!

(BTW, I am being a bit flippant - I really do agree with watching dogs at all times. So please don't take offence.... I really do agree that I would only trust my dog as I do when he is with me.... IYSWIM....

Chequers · 05/03/2008 14:08

Message withdrawn

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