to be very annoyed by this incident? (prompted by Staffy bull terrier thread)

[thatsnotmymonster]

Reading the other thread about Staffordshire Bull Terriers reminded me that I was going to post about this so...

My sister was visiting last week with her 2 children. We went for a walk around the woodland footpaths across the road from my house. She had a backpack with her 1yo in and I had a double buggy with my 6mo dd in it. My 3.5yo ds was on his scoot bike and my 2yo dd and dneice were walking. These 3 were about 10 metres ahead of us on a straight footpath when suddenly from behind us a dog came tearing past us, it ran straight to the children and knocked my niece to the ground and stood over her. She was screaming and the dog was nuzzling all round her head (we couldn't tell what it was doing). My sister and I screamed at it as we ran towards them. I pulled the dog off and held it (it was wearing a studded leather harness) while my sis comforted her hysterical child who was thankfully physically unharmed, however she was scared of dogs BEFORE this happened.

After a couple of minutes the owners arrived, running and breathless, saying, 'oh she would never hurt anyone'. I said, 'well she knocked a child to the ground and stood over her and you never know with a dog.'

They acted very indignant and said, 'You don't walk round here much do you? It is basically the local dog park.'

It IS NOT any kind of dog park- it is just an area of public footpaths.

The dog looked very much like a Staffordshire Bull Terrier although I am not an expert so I'm not sure.

Should we have been keeping better control of our children? We were quite shaken by this and I was really annoyed at the couple and their attitude. My ds now wants to be picked up whenever we see a dog when we're out and goodness knows what my niece will be like now!

I agree Pucca, snappy dogs, but people only see the size. I don't think that you're going to see young men with Yorkies on chains any time soon either. They are on the right level to go at a child's face too.

there is a lot of rubbish spouted on here. there are unresponsible owners of both dogs and children. please be tolerant of both. im amazed at the amount of children without my permission who come and touch my dog, and the parents just stand there. luckily she is not a Killing Machine` pmsl snowleopard!

if you made these generalisations about various races of people you would be branded a racist!

American site, but here are some statistical facts:
dangerous dogs

Pucca, it doesn't matter what "you doubt". What matters are the facts. People are scared of bull terriers and rottweilers and not jack russells for good reason - the facts about which dogs kill. It doesn't matter so much which dog has a propensity to yap or nip - it matters which dogs do most damage when they bite. Certain breeds crop up again and again in news stories about dogs killing people. Jack russells are not one of them. Staffies, pitbulls and rottweilers are.

"'Killing Machine` pmsl snowleopard!"

I'm trying not to get even more irate here but... dur! Yes, killing machine. A predator, bred to kill, with a body designed to kill. In what way is that not correct? Instead of pysl, perhaps you could come up with a valid argument and some proof? Oh, thought not.

Yes i am a skin head twat, and my SBT has a huge leather harness with metal studs all over... GET REAL ffs.

My SBT is a much loved family pet, who is walked (on a lead because of this generalisation shown on this thread) we also have 2 cats and 2 guinea pigs and our dog LOVES them all. We got her as a pup and she is a valued member of our household.

I do not leave her alone around my kids, just like i wouldn't leave ANY breed of dog in a room alone with kids.

I just cannot stand people who spout shite and know nothing at all about these dogs.

Where on that thread does it mention SBTs????

Suitable For Children - High

General Character And Temperament The Staffie is an intelligent and active little dog, which gets on well with children and adults alike. They can be quite vocal, so they must be taught when to stop. They should be socialised, especially with other household pets, and training started at an early age. The Staffie is a hardy dog full of stamina, not quick to pick a fight, but more than able to defend themselves if necessary. They are affectionate dogs, much preferring human company to that of other dogs, this can be seen more in the adult dog than the puppy. They can, and some do, retain their puppy character throughout their lives, making them quite a handful. With their great sense of humour, intelligence and the fact they are boisterous life is never dull with a Staffie around. They can be very destructive if they are left alone at home for long periods of time.

What we know is that some dogs do kill people. That is a fact. So being scared when a dog with the same deadly physical capacities threatens your child is entirely reasonable - and so is being annoyed when the owner says "she would never hurt anyone". That is not spouting shite and knowing nothing. It is fear based on the facts - these dogs can kill.

But Pucca how do you know your dog wont turn? How does any owner of any dog know their dog will not turn?

"One of only two breeds named as 'Good with Children' in their breed standard by the UK Kennel Club from over 190 breeds."

"The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is well known for its reliability as a nanny dog. They are extremely loving dogs, being loyal and devoted to man, with special emphasis on their reliability with children. The breed thrives in the family environment, being a suitably compact size for close family living. For these reasons, they are sometimes referred to as "nanny dogs."

You are confusing SBTs with other breeds though, as many people do.

I never meant to suggest that all SBT owners are irresponsible/attracted to 'hard' look of the dog. Just that one of the reasons that there are a lot of attacks by breeds like SBTs and Rots is that people who want a dog as a status symbol are attracted to these breeds.

I do not know that my dog won't turn, but any breed can turn.

I just cannot stand this horrible generalisation of SBTs.

A lot is made on these threads of 'those' sorts of owners, who keep big, dangerous dogs on chain leads. Well, sharpen your pitchforks, because we have two rottweilers, who have thick leather collars and thick chain leads. (Run, children, run!)

The reason we use chains, despite knowing what the less enlightened and more judgmental members of the community might think, is because they are the strongest leads we could purchase, and therefore the least likely to break while out walking. Neither dog is the 'straining on the lead' types, but they are extremely strong, and I have more than enough experience of people's reactions when confronted with them to know that they need to be on the lead unless we are in specific 'dog off lead' areas. Plus, leather and rope leads are too expensive to keep replacing when they have been chewed through by very sharp teeth and very strong jaws.

I've posted here on numerous occasions about how well behaved they are, so I am not going to waste my time again, but just have a little picture for the dog lovers amongst you (dog haters should probably stop reading now, or just pass my details to SS...) - little Ff is currently lying on the floor on her babygym, giggling away while Girldog lies next to her licking her toes.

staffie kills

two-year-old mauled

another one

Am I allowed to distrust and fear SBTs yet? If I do, is it "prejudice?" Or could it perchance be based in reality?

The site I linked to was merican and listed American staffordshires which I realise are not the exact same breed, but SBTs in the UK have been dangerous on many occasions.

Ooh, and sorry, YANBU OP. Dog owners like the ones you described make me MAD. Give the rest of us a bad name and cause children and parents to be unnecessarily hysterical around dogs.

Love staffies though. Blame the owners, not the dogs.

Rots can be lovely, but they are bloody intelligent strong willed dogs that are far too much for some people to handle. I grew up with rots and they are wonderful dogs, but they do attract 'those sorts' of owners as well.

Interesting article about agressive dogshere

snowleopard,
Why am I outraged? because you did'nt say ALL dogs are killing machines you stated 'what I hate about Staffies' and 'that kinda dog' Which obviously got my back up because of your sweeping generalisation.
Of course I know my dog COULD kill my cat...I'm not that stupid but for the past 4 years he has chosen not to, indeed when she was a small kitten she used to bite his tail and chew on his ears . I met a lady in the vets yestoday with a Staffy who had lost its eye...harmlessly walking past a bush and cat sprang out.
combust, You are right about indescriminate breeding by idiots BUT Staff owners are not all fuckwits...I myself am in my 40s, not chavlike, like to keep my top on in public places have a teenage disabled daughter and keep my Dogs on lead when out [sorry I don't fit into steriotypical]

I have a boxer who is an abosolute marshmallow. We chose a boxer specifically because they are so good with children (and he is). Becuase of his squashed up face, some people do mistake him for a more scary breed, and I totally understand that and if someone looks nervous I always try to reassure them BEFORE he approaches them.
I don't think the OP was being unreasonable at all. Staffies are generally lovely, but they CAN be dangerous and so people have every reason to be wary. I think it is important to have space to walk dogs off leads, but to earn that righ those dogs need to be well trained and reliable.
The owner should have apologised profusely!

I am not just afraid of SBTs.... there are many large, dangerous dogs I am scared of. Namely, the ones that are known to maul and kill. SBTs are among those, no matter how many of you say "my SBT is lovely". Have you ever noticed how often people say that about dogs who maul and kill. "XX was a lovely family pet, s/he had never done anything like that before!" Just recently there was a similar thread about a toddler mauled in a park where the owner tried to deny that the dog was aggressive, even after the attack. The point is, any dog can attack, any dog can become dangerous, and those that have the greatest strength and killing capacity are the ones that are the most dangerous when they do attack. Therefore "prejudice" ie distrusting and being scared of, a dog like this is not prejudice. It is rational, sensible fear.

Or not approach them at all if they are really concerned of course.

I don't know why more parks etc don't have areas specifically for walking dogs. My local park in Scotland used to have one. That way people who are nervous about dogs could avoid that part.

Yes down to IRRESPONIBLE breeding and training, young lads get SBT and teach them to be aggressive, what i am saying is it is not in their nature to be that way.

It is down to wankers trying to be hard.