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

You should meet mine he lays down like a frog or rolls on his back and gets stuck definitely doesn't look mean :L

I would be caustic us of all dogs I didn't know, especially puppies who are learning. I trust my dog with children though. In our house our cute fluffy bunny is the most aggressive pet. I have to tell everyone the dog is fine but leave the rabbit alone as she will growl and bite everyone except me

*cautious

Staffies are family dogs

I have a scar on my face from a tiny Lhasa Apso biting me as a child so no I absolutely wouldn’t let a dog too close to my baby, that goes for any dog. I am very much a dog person but baby comes first.

I would never leave DD in the room alone with any dog, the inlaws have 3 dogs, albeit very gentle, and SIL has a bull terrier pup but they have all had the same stance as us from the off and would never leave them with DD either so I'm confident leaving DD in their care.
Dogs are so unpredictable and even the gentlest of dog can turn in a heartbeat so it isn't worth the risk.
I do think though it's important for children to also be taught when to leave the dogs alone too, DD is 2.5 now and has known since she could walk that when the dogs are in their beds/eating that is their space and she's not to go near.

@maddy68

Staffies are family dogs

Yeah, for a certain 'type' of family.

I'd not have one around DS, and don't know any other parents who'd allow it.

Also: I'd never let ANY dog be unsupervised around my child.

When we were doing our breed research I saw a stat that said you're most likely to get bitten by a dachshund.

A friends child lost a half a finger to the nursery rabbit. I've seen the aftermath PILs lovely flatcoat retriever literally opening dog food tins with her jaws.

I would never leave a baby or toddler or small child alone with any dog. I might leave the room very briefly and leave my DD(5) with our spaniels, because she knows not to pester them, and they have no interest in her. Actually one is more likely to follow me out than stay anyway. The other is too lazy to move. Even then, I don't do it if food is in the equation (she's messy, one of them is a hoover).

I did once read that Staffies are more likely to attack children who don't live with them who are visiting, whereas husky type breeds are more likely to attack new babies that do live with them, but I have no idea how true it is. It wouldn't stop me visiting, but I'd be wary of any dog if I was taking an unknown baby or child into its space.

A friend of mine has a staffie, I’ve got a cocker spaniel. I know which one one them is snappier and more unpredictable and it’s not her dog.

Generally small children are unpredictable and that’s worrying for a lot of dogs. I don’t think you should ever put a dog in a position that makes it uncomfortable and feel the need to defend itself.

I wouldn’t place any baby near a dog.

Dogs and babies don’t mix.

Babies grab and they pull and they make strange noises and many people expect dogs just to be ok with that.

A dog would be wrong and violent for snapping at a baby but what is often overlooked is the fact adults have ignored the dog’s warning signs of fear or anxiety or aggression and have let the baby crawl over them, yank its tails/ears, get in its space/use its toys etc with no awareness of how that is upsetting the dog.

My children are not allowed near the cat unsupervised and they’ve lived with her their entire lives. As toddlers and babies they were never allowed to bother her or go near her unless she instigated it and if I find them purposefully annoying her then that’s something I’m actually very strict on.

Animals are autonomous and unpredictable. It’s irresponsible to let a child near ANY of them unsupervised both for the child’s safety and the animal’s.

Yes our babies have all been around staffies, never alone. We have a big dog of our own and she is not left alone with baby, she tends to avoid being close to her mostly anyway.

I agree with most that breed is not the biggest issue with animals. Every day is a training day and our dog is 6 years old.

@Crimesean

maddy68
Staffies are family dogs 
Yeah, for a certain 'type' of family.

I'd not have one around DS, and don't know any other parents who'd allow it.

Also: I'd never let ANY dog be unsupervised around my child.

What "type" of family has staffies?

I wouldn’t but my niece has had this soppy staff for longer than her child.

They have never had an issue with the dog being aggressive or bitey - but if it was sick or in a bad mood, lord knows no one would be able to pull him off someone he grabbed on to.

Any dog can turn on a child - no matter how well natured or well trained. My sister was very careful with DS around her pack of Alsatians - even through they were the best trained dogs I’d ever come across. She is a farmer though and doesn’t ‘humanise’ animals.

Surely you wouldn't leave the baby unattended with any dog? If adults are in the same room supervising then I don't see the problem. The breed is not the issue, the temperament of the dog is what matters. If the dog and baby are used to being around each other from a young age (with supervision) it's more likely that they will interact harmoniously. But refusing to even enter the house because of the presence of a puppy is ridiculous.

Great
Years ago it were rotties, mastifs and nows staffs.
ALL dogs have the potential to cause injury.
I’ve been bitten and have the scars from dogs, but it certainly weren’t from the big scary breeds!
I would not be concerned about the breed, i would not leave the dog unattended, just like i would not leave a baby unattended around ANY dog.

The staffs i’ve been around have all been the loviest dopiest dogs that have put up with anything, but i know there’s the risk, just like other breeds.

All the times i’ve been bitten ( and some i def deserved even if i was a child for some!) were little dogs.
They all have the potential to turn.

Babies can activate prey instinct in dogs, just a short Google will tell you enough about what can happen to small children around dogs.
Recently in Caerphilly a young boy got mauled to death by a staffie/pit type.. His injuries were unsurvivable.

I wouldn't let any dog alone with my child. A staffie in particular wouldn't bother me as its a blanket rule but I don't like dogs so wouldn't want any of them near them tbh.

I wouldn't trust any dog. I've had a staffie who was fantastic with kids and a border collie who would bite at any opportunity. One of the nastiest dogs I've ever met was my aunties westie, I lost count of the number of times he bit me and my sister growing up for no reason. The breed doesn't make a difference, you can't trust any dog full stop.

And the dogs that have bitten me?

Flipping poodle (little snappy happy creature) and the worst was a Labrador (crazy rescue dog).

I had a rescue staffie who was the most dopey, loving dog ever. My DD now has one she's had from a pup and she adores everyone, is extremely well trained and socialised and never shown the slighest aggression.

For me, it's not the breed its the owner and how the dog has been raised and treated. Staffies tend to get a bad reputation for all sorts of reasons I really can't be bothered to get into on this thread.

The bottom line is that young children should NEVER be unsupervised with any dog. Or allowed to approach a dog uninvited or get into a dog's space.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

would never let my child touch an animal they didnt have permission too- however in my experience it's dog owners who assume everyone is fine with their dog running and jumping up on them "oh hes only playing"....

Sorry this is your experience - not from this dog owner that's for sure! It definitely works both ways!

You shouldn’t leave a baby (or child) around any dog. If you have a fear over only Staffies but would happily let the baby roll around the floor next to a spaniel then that’s obviously stupid.

No. Way. We have a shihtzu and he's the softest lovely little thing ever BUT I still wouldn't leave him alone with a baby.

The reason you hear about staffies attacking folk is because when they go wrong they go badly wrong and because sadly many are owned by completely irresponsible owners.

There are other breeds that are far more likely to bite.

Deed not breed.

I'd far rather a well bred Staffie with a responsible owner than a chihuahua with a bad owner.

No