Bull breeds 'Nanny Dog' myth

[Ffghhhbdbfb]

This dangerous myth that bull breeds, originally bred for fighting, were historically known as 'Nanny Dogs' has to be countered. It is unfair on inexperienced owners and unfair on the dogs, who may not be cared for properly/dumped.

The 'Nanny Dog' myth came from Colby, a US breeder of fighting dogs, seeking to broaden his market. His dogs killed his nephew, so weren't exactly nannying him: https://blog.dogsbite.org/2010/05/1909-fatality-john-p-colbys-fighting.html

The 'Nanny Dog' myth is perpetuated by Pitbull advocates in the US and is occasionally also seen in the UK, with Battersea among those promoting it for Staffordshire Bull Terriers: https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/dog-advice/finding-right-dog-you/staffies

There is now a social media campaign with owners seeking to 'show the soft side' of their XL Bullies. Some very inexperienced owners who got XL Bullies as their first dogs are speaking out on their dogs being 'misunderstood': https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12519333/My-American-Bully-XL-look-scary-trust-nine-month-old-heartbroken-owners-defend-giant-breed-banned-UK-spate-vicious-dog-attacks.html

Bull breeds are fighting dogs, with the instincts and capabilities to fight, putting children, adults and other animals at risk. Retrievers retrieve, pointers point, herders herd. An animal charity would not have a campaign describing border collies as couch potatoes that can be left alone all day in a flat. So why are bull breeds pushed as 'Nanny Dogs'. There needs to be pressure on those (particularly organisations and media) repeating the 'Nanny Dog' myth to be honest about the origins and capabilities of these dogs, as well as the requirements and responsibilities of owning them.

'Special Staffies' (as advertised by dodgy breeders), the size of Pitbulls, also need to be a distinct group

There's no such thing as a 'Special Staffie'. Either the dog is a pure bred Staffordshire Bull Terrier or it's a cross breed. It's simple enough for anyone to run a DNA test to determine any dog's genetics. We've done them with all our Street Dogs - provides great insights into their likely behaviours.

Thank you. There should not be class prejudice.

Being middle or upper class certainly does not guarantee being good with dogs and a responsible owner. Many likely get away with it because the type of dogs they own can be unpleasant and a nuisance, but unlikely to have the capability to cause the type of harm seen from an XL Bully (multiple bites with massive injuries - I acknowledge any dog can cause harm/kill).

Greys and Lurchers can suffer ''Sleep Startle''
Found this out with my very first dog, a Lurcher from RSPCA.{who had suffered severe neglect}

There was no internet then, just books, and stupidly {I now know} when the young dog {about 4 months old} was sleeping soundly next to me on the sofa, her head resting on the arm of the sofa, I leaned over and kissed her snout.

She awoke in a flash, and I heard her teeth castanet shut next to my ear. {Still baby teeth}

She wasn't fully awake, it was a response of survival. {I now know}

She didn't make contact with my face.

After that, I learned never to wake a sleeping dog or surprise it in any way, but to gently call their name if needs be.

''Let sleeping dogs lie'' is a phrase for a reason.

It is relevant because it is the council estates where these dogs are common. Our children are at risk and it is usually a certain type of person who owns an XL bully. I do understand that these dogs are out and about everywhere but it those of us living on council estates who have to encounter them outside our front doors every day.

My money is on the BC out of the three as some can't tolerate children at all and are known to nip as they would to round up animals! Growing up in the horse world most BCs where lovely, but some were very aggressive, and they usually had the best herding instinct!

I deliver post, 3000 different addresses every week. There are a couple of XL dogs at one address, they are out of control, they bark and throw themselves at the door. I leave the letters by the door, not through the box. I'm really wary of collies, in my experience they are farm dogs. In residential areas they are bored, under exercised, devious and vicious. On farms, I stay out of their way and love the control the farmers have over them. The cockerpoos especially lockdown pups are vicious, yappy and would bite. I've been bitten, the terriers are the worst but fortunately don't do much damage and I've been chased by a retriever. I would never touch a dog without permission (and usually just puppies), I'd never leave a dog with a child and I believe owners think they doing a lovely job with their pets but the reality is in a lot of houses, the dog is home-alone the majority of the day, bored, distressed and neglected. All owners should be trained, insured and licensed.

I know a couple of people who own XLs and they aren't off a council estate! The dogs are beautiful and soft but are put away when children go round as are all thw dogs on the farm! It's just not worth risking it! These dogs are well socialise but have 100s of acres to run around all day! Hope the ban won't affect rhein XLs as they aren't walked in public! But who's to say the farm won't get robbed again and if the dogs attack the criminals it will always be the dogs fault won't it

I've posted before about my beloved old GSD, the most laid-back, sookiest lump imaginable. She treated my DC like a puppy, would clean them up given the chance,💩 yeuch. I posted recently about how she'd see off bigger dogs and druggies if she thought they were a threat.

Even so, I never, ever left them alone together. Either one or other came to the loo with me, or more often both. I trusted that dog more than I'd trust most people but it only takes a second.

Exactly. Our rescue dog is a mixed breed - about Labrador size and similar shape and really placid, but like all our previous dogs, I would never leave him alone with small children, or allow small kids to get too carried away with him. He loves children and they tend to love him, but it’s simply not correct or fair on any dog to “trust” them 100%

Not ALL bull breeds were bred with the explicit purpose of being "fighting dogs".

So as I said to another poster yesterday, get your facts correct before stirring up hysteria.

People who claim they 100% trust their dog around children are idiots. We all have bad days, so do dogs. They get minor injuries and stomach ache. So if your kids are driving you up the wall when you have a headache then you can guess how your dog will be feeling of its in pain.

Haven't rtft but I think JM Barrie and subsequently Disney bear some responsibility here for the "Nana" idea.

www.thenewfoundland.org/nana.html

Absolutely. Like fuck would I have trusted my 8kg terrier mongrel around my baby or toddler.

He's never shown any aggression but then again I'd never tested how he'd react to a baby sticking a sharp toy in his eye or a toddler deciding to play bite his nose and the risk reward factor of my daughter getting mauled/bitten/scarred because I couldn't be arsed separating them while I popped upstairs wasn't really worth it.

6 years in and no incidents but I'm still not stupid enough to say it couldn't happen

Farm dogs are scary at the best of times because they have a job to do. Having a big breed like an XL doing it is double the danger.

DS has a workshop on a farm.

He specifically invited me over and met me outside the farm premises so we could walk in together {with my dog on a lead} so the resident farm dogs wouldn't see me as a 'Threat'.

The Farm has a massive Bull {Bovine} but their dogs are Border Collies- Working dogs who also guard the place.

No.

Not until we start x breeding with other powerful dogs like Presa, kangal etc watch this space!

We had a staffy from a pup until he passed. He was raised with our children from when they were all born.
I'd heard the 'nanny dog' tales about staffs, and the way our dog reacted with the children I can see why the tales exist. He was huge. He was 22kg in adulthood, with the big happy staffy smile that people say is 'terrifying'. All the kids called him their 'furry brother' and he was exactly that, but we never once left any of our kids alone with him because put simply, he was an animal not a carer.

He was always so gentle and calm, he was scared of cats and flies! If any of the kids were down, crying or just chilling he would immediately go lay with them. If they were crying he would paw them gently and lick away their tears.
On walks he was terrified of other dogs, if he ever saw another dog he knew to come back to us (heel), and sit. If the dog he saw was off lead he would lean in to our feet and shake with fear. To see a 22kg staff be frightened of a tiny jack russell was a sight but I knew he was keeping himself safe.

Cancer got him in the end sadly and devastated us all, but I'm so grateful to him for being such a great dog to show the kids that it's not the dog, it's the way you bring them up.

What's going on at the moment brings so much sadness to my heart. I don't condone dog attacks of course, but any dog can attack. I've been attacked by a sausage dog before, and I'm sure others have too but they won't ever be considered because they're not large breeds. I have scars up my leg from it and on my arm and it happened when I was a child when someone said 'don't worry, he's friendly!'
If someone is considering getting a dog, big or small breed (even if they're a puppy when they get them) they should be held liable for their dogs behaviour and actions.

The XLs don't work they are simply pets! Farm dogs protect land as well as work! Once they know you they're soft as anything! I prefer the farm dogs actually to people's house dogs as they are disciplined and dont jump all over you 😄

“What's going on at the moment brings so much sadness to my heart. I don't condone dog attacks of course, but any dog can attack. I've been attacked by a sausage dog before, and I'm sure others have too but they won't ever be considered because they're not large breeds. I have scars up my leg from it and on my arm and it happened when I was a child when someone said 'don't worry, he's friendly!'
If someone is considering getting a dog, big or small breed (even if they're a puppy when they get them) they should be held liable for their dogs behaviour and actions.”

All of this^ and @loopylou76 I’m sorry for your loss.

A school friend also has staffs, they were raised with children, cats, rabbits all running free together.

Meanwhile we had a JRT who I almost lost my eyesight to. We loved him, but you could never trust him.

This

What I have read so many times is when certain breeds attack they go for the kill

it’s not just a bite it’s a full on killing attack

I agree it’s innate and no matter how friendly, gentle, well trained they are that is still part of their character

I find it fascinating that so many of you know or have proof that breed is the biggest factor affecting canine aggression when highly qualified scientists who have studied this field in depth for decades are unable to reach such a conclusion due to a lack of already available quality, quantifiable evidence and the time cost such a study would require.

Almost all of those scientists, however, agree that there are truckloads of evidence to support environmental factors having a massive part to play in dog-to-human aggression, something which MN has apparently managed to disprove.

You all need new careers as canine behaviour scientists because the evidence you all have to hand is literally groundbreaking.

It's equally fascinating that although the average MNetter possesses such an in-depth knowledge of the factors affecting canine aggression towards humans, it is evident from recent threads that most of them wouldn't know the difference between a Bulldog and Staffordshire Bull Terrier if their life depended on it.

As you have pointed out environment has a massive part in dog to human

but it’s not always is it

and fact is there is absolutely no need to have such strong powerful dogs as family pets there are plenty of dog breeds that should they for whatever reason become aggressive they are not as powerful

there are so many labradors and cockapoos around when I hear of these dogs killing children and adults I shall be saying it’s time to ban or restrict them too and question why people choose to have one when they have young children but we are not are we

its not a conspiracy against certain breeds people have died

Ah, when you referred to the farm being “robbed again” I assumed the dogs were there to guard it after previous robberies. That’s what I meant by having a job to do.