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

And yes I would allow and do allow my two gorgeous Staffies around babies and children and they absolutely love them to bits . I had 3 kids and a Staffie then 2 Staffies now and 6 Grandkids and all love each other. Staffies go through absolute cruelty and abuse to get them to fight as it's against their nature to do so. They are beaten and starved to fight.

Depends how well I knew the dog.

My friend has had two Staffies and both were/are utter puddles. I wouldn't think twice about bringing my daughter around her current Staffie as he is so well mannered. I wouldn't just leave my daughter unattended with him though, as I wouldn't with any animal. If she wanders close I am always next to her.

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

The number one breed for dog bites in the UK is Labradors so it definitely is heard of. If you have a look at news reports etc it's also always "staffie cross" that has attacked someone - the media never mentions what the cross is, just that there's staffie in there - it feeds in to the deadly dog narrative that so many people chose to believe instead of researching.

Staffies jaws also don't lock - that's a myth which is also commonly said by people that don't know the breed but repeat what they hear from the media.

I have two staffies and they're around my baby all the time, I know they're well trained. I never leave them alone with him but I never would with any dog or other animal. I trust them way more than my MIL's shih tzus who have tried to bite my Son before.

At the end of the day, you don't need to take your baby to theirs if you don't want to - however, you can't stop your Husband taking them to see his family, it is his baby too. Theoretically, in the future if you were to split up, on his contact days he could take them there as much as he liked and wouldn't even need to tell you as you can't dictate what he does in his time. It's fair to ask him to supervise and be there at all times close to your child (as he should be with any animal - regardless of breed) but it isn't reasonable to say he can't take them.

@Guineapigssweak

And yes I would allow and do allow my two gorgeous Staffies around babies and children and they absolutely love them to bits . I had 3 kids and a Staffie then 2 Staffies now and 6 Grandkids and all love each other. Staffies go through absolute cruelty and abuse to get them to fight as it's against their nature to do so. They are beaten and starved to fight.

Sorry, this is all wrong. Dogs should not be around babies. I love dogs and I have a much loved lab but you're wrong.

@dollymuchymuchness you are being ridiculous

Dogs can be around babies as long as there is an adult or older teen in attendance at all times.

@dollymuchymuchness what like at all? So if you have a dog and get pregnant bye bye dog? Or what? Millions of people have dogs and babies together. So they're not 'just wrong'. Supervised dogs and babies are a none issue. It's unsupervised toddlers and young children who are allowed to pester dogs that shouldn't be allowed.

Oh and @dollymuchymuchness I have one friend with a Jack Russell, due to his temperament my DD will never meet him as he isn't safe around small children.

On the other hand I have another friend whose Jack Russell has a different temperament so is safe around small children as long as someone is there to supervise.

[quote AllThingsServeTheBeam]@dollymuchymuchness what like at all? So if you have a dog and get pregnant bye bye dog? Or what? Millions of people have dogs and babies together. So they're not 'just wrong'. Supervised dogs and babies are a none issue. It's unsupervised toddlers and young children who are allowed to pester dogs that shouldn't be allowed. [/quote]
Dogs can't be trusted, with babies and young children. We got a dog when my youngest was seven and could understand about dogs.

If someone is planning on a family, they should wait to get a dog until the children are old enough to behave appropriately around dogs.

Otherwise, you're tasked with permanently keeping the dog away from the baby and the young children.

@dollymuchymuchness my dog follows me. Never needed to keep him away from either of my DC. They have grown up with him. Had him when both were babies. They're attached at the hip now they're older.

Dogs can't be trusted, it doesn't matter what anyone says on here, it's a fact. Dogs can't be trusted. I'm a massive dog lover and I have a dog.

@dollymuchymuchness

Dogs can't be trusted, it doesn't matter what anyone says on here, it's a fact. Dogs can't be trusted. I'm a massive dog lover and I have a dog.

Ok. But they can live with babies and young children as long as they are supervised.

Ok. But they can live with babies and young children as long as they are supervised.

If someone is planning on a family, they should wait to get a dog until the children are old enough to behave appropriately around dogs.

Otherwise, you're tasked with permanently keeping the dog away from the baby and the young children.

Yes! Just the same as I would with any other dogs based on their personalities, reaction, etc.

Staffies are wonderful dogs and should never be judged because if the breed. They're not the only ones who can be reactive in the wrong circumstances with inadequate training.

@Guineapigssweak Staffies go through absolute cruelty and abuse to get them to fight as it's against their nature to do so. They are beaten and starved to fight.

Sorry, this is bullshit. They are a fighting breed. Uncastrated male bull breeds are by default very aggressive to other uncastrated males.
I’ve seen it plenty of times, they will approach another dog doing a stiff tail wag, they have a sniff, and then some switch flips, the shit hits the fan and ruins everyone’s day. And that is why they are particularly worrisome around small children- they have the push and rag instinct bred into them, and it can be triggered alarmingly quickly. All dogs have it to some degree, fighting dogs more so. Pointers point, collies herd, fighting dogs fight. There will be many exceptions, and training and socialization are of huge importance, but for generations fighting dogs who lacked “heart” were very quickly removed from the gene pool.

Id never let my baby near any dog.
And definitely not a staffie.
I don't trust any dog (including my own which is known as a placid breed) but I'm particularly wary around Staffies.
My friend owned a staffie from being a pup. It had a great life, was well socialised (lived with other dogs etc) went on walks with it with my own dog several times a week etc then one day out on a usual walk it grabbed hold of a passing dog and caused serious harm).
I know it didn't grab a child but I'd not run that risk and I've been very nervous around it- and the breed ever since.
They are very strong and powerful and really quite intimidating.

@dollymuchymuchness

Ok. But they can live with babies and young children as long as they are supervised.

If someone is planning on a family, they should wait to get a dog until the children are old enough to behave appropriately around dogs.

Otherwise, you're tasked with permanently keeping the dog away from the baby and the young children.

Are you on a loop? You sound like a broken record. I've already answered that and said I didn't.

[quote Palmfrond]**@Guineapigssweak* Staffies go through absolute cruelty and abuse to get them to fight as it's against their nature to do so. They are beaten and starved to fight.*

Sorry, this is bullshit. They are a fighting breed. Uncastrated male bull breeds are by default very aggressive to other uncastrated males.
I’ve seen it plenty of times, they will approach another dog doing a stiff tail wag, they have a sniff, and then some switch flips, the shit hits the fan and ruins everyone’s day. And that is why they are particularly worrisome around small children- they have the push and rag instinct bred into them, and it can be triggered alarmingly quickly. All dogs have it to some degree, fighting dogs more so. Pointers point, collies herd, fighting dogs fight. There will be many exceptions, and training and socialization are of huge importance, but for generations fighting dogs who lacked “heart” were very quickly removed from the gene pool.[/quote]
My old staffie didn't get that memo. Or my collies best staffie mate.

We have very small dog, a Maltese and toy poodle cross.

He absolutely adores children, and can spot them a long way off.

He generally wins over every child he meets. But I would not leave him alone with a child.

You just don't know what might happen. He can get a bit grumpy if he has been picked up etc. too much, even though he loves the play. I heard him do that once when our little granddaughter had been carrying him around most of the day. A child may not recognize the little warning rumble in his throat.

Yes. Depending on the dog’s temperament. But I grew up with dogs, I was taught to respect dogs, our dogs had a safe place, let sleeping dogs lie etc. I did not crawl on my dog, ride my dog, poke my dog in the eye etc.
Our JRT suffered with dementia at the end and became nasty, vet down to kiss him and he gave me a black eye (I was an adult). Aside from that fingers crossed! No other bites.

DD has grown up to respect dogs and also never been bitten. We currently have a lab, never bitten any people or other dogs.

Are you on a loop? You sound like a broken record. I've already answered that and said I didn't.

The last thing you said to me, was:

Ok. But they can live with babies and young children as long as they are supervised.

So I repeated my previous position, which is:

If someone is planning on a family, they should wait to get a dog until the children are old enough to behave appropriately around dogs.

Otherwise, you're tasked with permanently keeping the dog away from the baby and the young children.

It's worth repeating because it's true and if you don't get it, it's not my problem.

Please educate yourself

I would never have a Staffie and I would never leave my child with someone who did have a Staffie. I wouldn't leave my child alone with any breed of dog though.

Not about the breed. Literally just always watch a baby with a dog.

@dollymuchymuchness

Are you on a loop? You sound like a broken record. I've already answered that and said I didn't.

The last thing you said to me, was:

Ok. But they can live with babies and young children as long as they are supervised.

So I repeated my previous position, which is:

If someone is planning on a family, they should wait to get a dog until the children are old enough to behave appropriately around dogs.

Otherwise, you're tasked with permanently keeping the dog away from the baby and the young children.

It's worth repeating because it's true and if you don't get it, it's not my problem.

Yes because my statement is true and you are just repeating yourself over and over again and again it seems. It's not true. It wasn't true in my case.

@Chloesss

I of course would NEVER leave him unattended with ANY animal, I don’t know why everyone is commenting saying not to leave a baby alone with a dog (I must have worded it incorrect).

I mean would you let the dog in the same room, with ADULTS supervising. Like when baby is crawling or starting to walk around. Surely even if your supervising the dog could be quick to attack, you hear so many stories of children being attack in parks, so even if the child doesn’t aggravate the dog they still just randomly attack.

What? Yes ofcourse Are you going to keep them away from all dogs?

I’ve been bitten by a terrier ( multiple and a few prob deserved), pomeranian, chihuahua and a westie.
Not big dogs…..