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

@SeasonFinale

She isn't singling out staffies. She mentions staffies because the dog in question is a staffie.

Of course she’s singling out staffies! She mentions ‘staffy’ in the op about fifty times, when if it was irrelevant she could have just said dog. Then further to that she specified that she’s apparently ‘never heard’ of a Labrador or a poodle biting, while hearing of staffs biting people all the time.

We have 2 staffies and a 8 month old.

They really are the gentlest dogs we've known, they often come and lay by her when she is playing on the floor with me. She strokes them or pats them gently and they give her a little lick to let her know it's ok.

However I am always careful, if she starts to squeal, cry or tries to grab at them i remove her from the dogs. It's not fair on them to have a squealing baby crawl all over them, and I'd never risk it.

They also have their own crates to escape to, should they want peace and quiet, baby is not allowed in them.

I think it's all about common sense.

In your situation op I would follow toddler around at first. You may be surprised. The last time we had a baby visitor both dogs slept on the couch. Must of been not very exciting for them 😂

Also yes for the breed thing. I was bitten by a chihuahua, therfore i associate those with viciousness.

@Kanaloa I’m not singling out JUST Staffs, that’s the dog they have, I would ask the same question if it was a different bread of dog with a aggressive reputation.

I’m not trying to offend anyone, I don’t hate staffs but you cannot deny the risks are much higher with a staff than a poodle, I’ve sadly seen too many horrific stories of staffs and other breads of dogs attacking children. It’s not all to do with there owners either, I know a lovely couple who had a staff from a puppy, it was looked after so well, and I saw it kill another dog.

@Kanaloa And my main worry with a dog like a staff is they are so strong so if they were flip they would do a lot more damage than a dog that’s not so strong

No

Yes!!!!!!!!

Nanny - effing - dog!!!!! Google it and learn something

I wouldn't have my baby around any dog I didn't know, regardless of the breed. Our beloved collie cross snapped at DS1 when he was one month old. We loved the dog but didn't even second guess our decision to rehome him. Not worth any risk when it comes to babies.

Breed is irrelevant you shouldn't trust any dog .

I wouldn't leave my very unattended with any dog, I would happily let it have contact with an sbt.
I would be wary of baby being with a cockapoo though.

Yes. I'd let my DC be near any dog I knew the history and temperament of. Mine have grown up with all manor of dogs around them. Rottweilers, staffies, border collies, border terriers, Shi Zhus, labs.

My mum has just lost her dog and is going to get a staffie. My staffie was my best friend growing up.

I wouldn’t be comfortable with it at all.

And I OWN a beautiful 16 year old staffy who has been around since my 3 babies were newborns.

Difference is I KNOW my staff was trained well and we never let her round the babies when they were tiny as she was too boisterous. She bloody adored them though (still does).

I've had staffies for 17 years and there's never been the slightest hint of aggression towards people of any size. I'd advise you very strongly to think about dogs in general rather than breeds. You would be VERY foolish to think that a cute looking dog is unlikely to bite a child whereas one you consider aggressive looking is dangerous. Wise up, OP.

So if some dimwit reads on here or wherever “nanny dog”, and leaves their baby alone with their brother’s/nephew’s/boyfriend’s “staff” (that is actually 60% backyard bred pit bull), you are happy to take responsibility?

Sorry, that’s in reply to;

•@MissMaple82•

Nanny - effing - dog!!!!! Google it and learn something

Sorry didn’t explain properly. She was around them when they were babies but never unsupervised. She likes to sit on people!!

If a work man comes in to my house and is on the floor she will sit on them with her (not so strong bum these days). Same with the kids but they’re teens now.

I have a lab. No way would I let a baby near her. I wouldn't let a baby near any dog to be frank.

Most dog attacks in the uk are by Labradors so your totally wrong blaming only Staffies. Jack Russell are next on the list. Also Staffies jaws don't lock it's a myth probably by news media to spread hate for Staffies. By the way Staffies are naturally loving and adore children and are only aggressive like all breeds if abused by people.

Labradors are responsible for the most attacks on people in the UK (naturally, as they are the most popular dog)

Absolutely not a chance. And for anyone saying Staffies don't kill or attack as much as x,y,z breed - that may be true but they are incredibly strong and have killed much older children, never mind a tiny baby.

Please don't risk this.

@Maves

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

No you've seen a dog with a strong jaw. I've seen a greyhound kill a cat.

Lock jaw is bullshit.

Irrespective of jaw lock or not they’re too strong and boisterous to be around babies.

I had my one year old niece here two weeks ago and my 16 year old staff managed to knock her over from the sitting position due to excitement. It was actually my sister in law who encouraged my dog so I didn’t feel responsible. She never would have hurt her but I don’t trust any dog round babies especially ones outside of the home.

Unfortunately the risks of bites isnt higher with a staffie. Thats just how their breed is perceived because people use them as 'status dogs' as they are strongly built, muscular animals.
There is such a stigma around any large, muscular dog, including english bull terriers, cane corso, italian mastiffs etc. People believe because they are well built and strong, they are more likely to be aggressive.
Its not true, unless their owner specifically uses them as fighting dogs, which is very much illegal.

Having worked alongside animals for over 20 years I can hand on heart tell you that I have seen more people bitten by golden retrievers than staffies.
A good, stable family dog (golden retriever) bit me in the face, completely unprovoked. And this dog was a lovely, family pet owned by a vet.
A friend of mine needed plastic surgery after being bitten by a lovely gentle great dane.
Ive seen cats and small dogs killed by greyhounds (ex racers who are trained to chase a small fluffy toy for sport).

As said before, any dog will bite when threatened, regardless of the breed.
Lets lose the stigma that staffies are more likely to do it.

[quote Chloesss]@Kanaloa And my main worry with a dog like a staff is they are so strong so if they were flip they would do a lot more damage than a dog that’s not so strong[/quote]
I agree. If and when they flip, the consequences are so much worse for young kids due to their powerful jaws.

It's not if and when @SmallThingsEverywhere. It's if. Like any dog. IF.