Would you let your baby near a staffie dog?

[Chloesss]

I don’t mean to offend anyone who has a Staffie, I know a few lovely Staffies. However the thought of my baby being in a room with one freaks me out, my sister in law has just bought a puppy Staffie and I just know there will be occasions where they bring the dog to my mother-in-laws house When we are there.

My husband wouldn’t see anything wrong with it and won’t worry, but you do sadly hear of stories or children being attacked by staffies, you never hear of a lab or poodle attacking a child. And the whole lock jaw thing

My side of family said I should absolutely not let my son around the Staffie and I agree, it’s just not a risk I’m willing to take, however I know it’s going to cause arguments between me and my husband and I know if he took our son without me he would lie about the dog being there.

Am I being unreasonable asking them to leave the dog at home?

Thanks

Depends on the dog.

I wouldn't allow any child in the same room as my fat pug. Everyone gravitates towards her but she's an absolute horror with other people. A complete baby with me.

I assume you would never leave a child alone with any dog unsupervised so what is the issue?

You should never leave a child unattended with any dog. A well brought up staffie is not more dangerous than other dogs, in fact common "family friendly" breeds are the cause of many if not most bites that result in a trip to a&e, Labradors used to top the list locally but it's a few years since I've seen it. My collie is never left alone with sil's lo's (mine were preteens when we got him) despite him showing no aggression (he brings them soggy dog toys to play with )

no way

I wouldn’t want ANY dog near my baby.
All the videos I see of them being allowed lick the baby .
Dogs and unpredictable small children is a bad mix.

I think the locking jaw thing is a myth, although staffies are generally strong muscular dogs.

My cousin has a lovely scar on his hand from a chomp from his pet Lab as a child - a Lab is still a dog like any other with the potential to bite under the right circumstances. The answer is not leaving children unattended with any dog and being clued up on dog behaviour enough to learn to avoid situations and triggers which increase the risk of a bite.

No way. It's not worth the risk. Dogs bred for fighting have the kill instinct, like sheepdogs have the herding instinct, sight hounds have theirs it's nature to them. We will have the staffys are nanny dog crew on hear soon but statistics speak for the selfs. I woukd t let a Jack Russell near my kid either.

Newborn boy mauled to death by family's Staffordshire Bull Terrier that bit his head '23 times thinking he was a TOY' https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/uknews/17284642/newborn-killed-dog-yaxley-toy?utmsource=nativeeshare&utmmedium=sharebarrnative&utm_campaign=sharebaramp

I would never leave a young child unsupervised with ANY dog, regardless of breed. I don't see a problem if you are there with baby though?

My Jack Russell is frightened of babies and toddlers because they often try to grab her because she's small and cute. For this reason I always keep her away from small children. My daughter used to have a wonderful, huge staffie who behaved impeccably with all four babies.

I wouldn't leave any child alone with a dog I wasn't 100% sure of but if you are in the room and you teach your baby not to pull the dog about it should be fine.

No

Never, ever.

I used to foster dogs many years ago and all the staffies i had though had a "lovely nature" killed cats, rabbits etc awful and lock jaw isn't a myth I've seen it with my own eyes

We are a family of dog lovers.

It's a hard no on staffies for all of us.
Equally any other big dogs with "equipment".
It's also a no on smaller dogs with poor tempers.

Better safe than sorry is the operating principle around all socialising including pets.

No
Not any dog but especially not one that I couldn’t physically deal with

I don't trust my terrier x with anyone , adult or child whilst I'm not in the room , my jack Russell pup has the sweetest temperament in the entire world so far ( 7 months old )
However I wouldn't leave any dog alone with any child , if you're in the room and the dog is sitting in her bed and not jumping all over the baby I don't see a issue at all , I know many staffs who are much calmer and nicer than my two year old terrier whose never been exposed to any trauma or anything just doesn't like anyone except me and my 9 year old .... even then I wouldn't trust him alone with her ...
it's not the breed it's that people don't respect they are free thinking and expect them to just be tolerant of children and people

Staffies are one of only two breeds recognised by the KC as being nanny dogs - I’ve had them they are amazing with kids! I’d never leave a child alone with a dog no matter what breed but it being a staffie wouldn’t put me off!!

nope! My husband didnt take our eldest to a birthday party because his friends have a staff- quite a large one.

No.

I love dogs, have dogs, I would never leave any dog alone with a baby / small child. Dts were in a playpen in their bouncers if I went to the toilet / answered the door or something. Presumably you will be able to supervise? If baby is crawling on the floor dog has to go in another room. A boisterous puppy could hurt a baby completely unintentionally, all the Staffies I know are lovely, and very friendly but they're balls of muscle.

We had a staffie as a family pet when I was a child and he was a lovely, gentle natured dog, never aggressive to humans, good with other dogs BUT that's him, as an individual personality. You can't be too careful with dogs and kids

I wouldn't leave a baby unattended around ANY breed of dog, even the tiny breeds can be unpredictable around a baby.

Staffies get a bad name and I've never met a nasty one. I have however met many nasty poodles, Jack Russells, Yorkshire terriers and chihuahuas and collies.

But babies shouldn't be left alone with ANY dog. As much as I trust my large dogs I also remember they're animals and animals can be unpredictable.

My dog is a big soppy Golden Retriever and he would only be allowed near a baby or small child with close supervision.
The breed isn’t the issue

Ditto what others have said about never leaving a young child unsupervised with any dog, regardless of breed. Our rescue greyhound is the most gentle soppy thing ever with our two young children and has been great since they were born. My parent's rescue spaniel on the other hand can get anxious around children and will growl. I wouldn't necessarily worry additionally due to the staffie breed at this point. Hopefully your family will train them well and you'll also never leave them alone together and teach your baby to respect the dog's boundaries too.

I don't let my 2.5 year old stepson around any dogs except my own. Unless he's being constantly supervised and not too close to the dog.

Nope.

@Matilda1981

Staffies are one of only two breeds recognised by the KC as being nanny dogs - I’ve had them they are amazing with kids! I’d never leave a child alone with a dog no matter what breed but it being a staffie wouldn’t put me off!!

Seriously? The KC actually recognises a breed of dog as “nanny dogs” officially?