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

Regarding Staffies. My friend’s mum used to breed them (going back thirty odd years ago). She had 5 pits, 3 other toy breeds, 4 cats, rabbits, all free running around the home. There were no deaths!
All dog breeds can bite.
Another friend had a collie and you weren’t allowed in the kitchen when it ate in case it went for you. Another friend had Doberman’s, used as security/attack dogs she let them out once when I was there (I think I was about 13 and wanted to see them) they circled me and sniffed me, I felt really uncomfortable and told her to put them back. When my friend’s mother came home she went batshit that the dogs had been let out. I dread to think what could have happened if I’d moved or shown fear.

I dislike dogs and I’m scared of them so I had concerns about my DC being around my PILs staffie when they were babies. I was very worried to leave them there and bought a travel cot insisting that DC be kept in there if MIL wasn’t in the room. To be totally fair my concerns were unfounded, it never once reacted to them at all, they have a different staffie now which is also very placid. I’m not sure if it’s the breed or just that they’ve both been quite old, very calm dogs.

[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]
Well if you supervise your child (as I’m sure you would around any dog, poodle or pit bull) then it won’t have the chance to ‘flip out’ because it will never be there with your child and close enough to reach it. That’s what I meant by the breed being irrelevant. Your comment that ‘the risks are much higher with a staff than a poodle’ aren’t relevant because the risk is zero if you simply don’t allow your child to crawl around with any dog.

You shouldn't let any dog be around your children unsupervised, and I say this as the owner of two staffies who are complete softies. My parents lab is an absolute terror who hasn't been properly trained. My two have been through rigorous training but I would never trust them around a child. As long as you are always close by then it there shouldn't be any issues.

Nope.

Use brain: which one has the most teeth?

I have a bit of a fear of staffies now. Never had before.

A friend had a gorgeous, loving, affectionate staffie. He was adorable, soft as shit, I would let him lay on my 8 year olds legs cos he just wanted smooshes.

All well and good until said friend left staffie along with smaller dog her had always got on with beautifully and she found small dogs head in the doorway as she walked in.

Put me off for life. And I'm sorry but I won't be convinced otherwise. Hopefully there are plenty of staffie lovers out there that will adopt them but it won't be me.

No. I was attacked by a terrier ( not a Staffie) when I was a baby. I love dogs now, but not near a baby.

We have a staffy she's a rescue and was badly wounded during an accident of domestic violence while protecting her female owner.

Right from the get-go, she's loved children. She is gentle and sweet to them allowing my friends kids to play with her toys when she wouldn't have happily given them to me she would drop them at the kids feet without being asked. When I had my own she would literally let them do anything to her but she is very protective of them. She always puts herself between them and any people she doesn't know and trust, and the only time I've ever heard her growl is when my ex screamed in my face and even then it was a mild reminder to him at most. I trust her, but she is an animal, and I wouldn't leave any animal, even the cat alone, in a room with a baby or toddler, not because of aggression but because there are a thousand ways that either of them could hurt the other by accident.

I think you are being horribly unfair about her breed. You hear a lot about the attacks by staffies in the paper because its popular to say how evil they are. Google for stories about Staffies that save people. There are lots of them.
I've always had dogs, all different kinds and I'd trust a staffy like mine over a chihuahua or a collie around my kids any day.

@cutebutstabby

Use brain: which one has the most teeth?

My staffie had about 2 by the time he died.

Not a chance I would risk my dc being mauled by a dog. All those owners whose dogs attack say they were affectionate soppy mutts who love children, there's always a first time though and one time is enough to kill a child or disfigure them for life. All those recent hidious headlines, that lad in the caravan, that newborn baby and the boy visiting his friend's house. Its not worth the risk.

As someone who has worked with rescue staffs and pet staffs, it would be a no from me
I could post some horror stories on here, but I’d rather not freak anyone out.

soooo many people do not train their pets anymore , and while staffs are absolutely adorable natured, if untrained can do a lot more powerful “damage”
This also goes for most larger and muscular breeds. It’s not worth the risk

My MIL wants a rescue staff but unfortunately I’ll have to tell her that there’s no way I’d let one around DS ( currently baby)
Im sure this will go down like a lead balloon ..

the reason half the dogs are IN shelters is because no one trained them. You’ll need to wait and see how she is with the dog and absolutely do not leave unattended

But people are weird about their pets and think they have the same rights and should be treated as children - so good luck

My parents had a rescue staffie and it was the gentlest dog ever. I have a westie cross now and it's not interested in children whatsoever and has never shown anything other than a most placid nature. But I would still never leave them alone. Not because they're not trustworthy but because young children aren't trustworthy. It only takes a stupid, accidental act from the child and the dog tries to protect itself and then the dog could be reported.

My DS's have always been around my parents staffy but never alone. The dog trails my kids but they've always been told to never disturb him when he's eating or sleeping or to spook him - a warning I'd give them about any dog.

IL's were terrified of me taking the boys around the dog. The only dog that's ever been aggressive towards my children was BIL's extremely protective and territorial German shepherd.

I just wouldn't leave children alone around dogs full stop regardless of breed.

My dog is a cross breed with a staffy and I am also her third home. She is the most loveliest cuddly dog ever! it's true what they say about staffys they love to be cuddled!
I have a 7 and 9 year old and i got her when youngest was 5.
I trust my dog more than most people,
They are getting the dog from a puppy as long as they bring him up right ( same goes for any dog) you have nothing to worry about.
you wouldn't leave a baby alone with any dog anyway.
the last thing you do want though is to teach your child to be scared of dogs.

Well it depends on the dog and the owners rather than the breed doesn't it?
Is it well trained?
Does it have a safe space to retreat to where it can't be poked at?
Does it respond to commands? Consistently? Even in high-stress situations?
Do the owners enforce consistent expectations around personal space?

We have a young child and a staffie and a greyhound. We don't leave either dog alone with our son because that's common sense. To compare the two, the greyhound is the one who did a team effort with her former gal pal (another greyhound, both gentle as anything normally) and killed a pigeon in the park (on lead, crap dog walker not paying attention....).

Staffies do have a strong jaw. And a well trained staffie is infinitely more likely to drop what's in their mouth when they're told to, just like any other dog. You invest in good training, you keep dedicating time to practising those skills with the dog. It's not as simple as strong jaw = more dangerous.

My MIL's miniature pinscher on the other hand? Wouldn't trust it within 2m of my child. Doesn't get walked enough, hasn't had any training to speak of, highly territorial of her space and my MIL. Rightly my son won't go near it and even if he wanted to I'd be overly cautious.

So yeah. I wouldn't just be looking at the dog but at the owners, how that dog is treated, how much time they dedicate to interacting positively with it.

I wouldn't let any dog near my baby you can never predict what might happen I hate those videos of babies snuggling up to dogs! My first dog was the most gentle dog you've ever met. My nephew around 5yrs old wouldn't leave her alone including going into her bed despite me telling him repeatedly not to Disney parents let him do anything! Well my dog started to growl that was enough to remind me they can be unpredictable no matter how gentle they might seem!

To the comments regarding other breed aggression.

The top five breeds that attack include - Labrador’s, spaniels and chihuahuas. No dog is above attacking anyone. It’s a natural response for them.

Dogs operate to a pack mentality, they may often see that child as being lower in the pack or being a threat to the pack. What would they do in the wild? They give warning signs (they growl/nip/whine/bark/hide/give physical responses) if that is ignored they will bite. Because that’s what dogs do.

Dogs are not toys, they are not accessories and they’re not one of the family. They are wonderful, incredible companions but they are pets. They deserve autonomy, respect and appropriate treatment that keeps them and everyone in the home safe and happy.

There is an account on social media where a woman has had a baby and bought a puppy. She poses them together as being ‘siblings’ but that dog is getting bigger and bigger and the child is becoming more and more agile - grabbing, babbling, crawling etc. In some videos it’s clear the dog ISN’T happy but the mum remains oblivious because they’re ‘siblings’. It’s an accident waiting to happen.

@TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo

I have a bit of a fear of staffies now. Never had before.

A friend had a gorgeous, loving, affectionate staffie. He was adorable, soft as shit, I would let him lay on my 8 year olds legs cos he just wanted smooshes.

All well and good until said friend left staffie along with smaller dog her had always got on with beautifully and she found small dogs head in the doorway as she walked in.

Put me off for life. And I'm sorry but I won't be convinced otherwise. Hopefully there are plenty of staffie lovers out there that will adopt them but it won't be me.

There are so, so many stories like this that come from normal family owners of these muscular breeds. People love to go on about 'it's only if they've been abused or trained to be aggressive that they attack'... and yet, when they do randomly kill other pets/livestock/children/babies etc, they act bewildered. It's like comparing a potato gun to a rifle when they compare poodles and staffs/bully type breeds. Yeah, both can hurt, but the muscular dog is a lot more likely to permanently disfugure and kill you. Not in my life would I let a baby in the same room as one of those dogs. That's just playing with fire.

It isn’t just babies, I wouldn’t allow any young kids around staffies. They are powerful, unpredictable dogs bred for fighting and can seriously injure a small child, particularly one they are unfamiliar with. You wouldn’t get the same level of injury from a Yorkshire terrier.

@BertieBotts

Labs are the most common breed for dog bites, they just don't make headlines.

It's sensible to be cautious with small children around any dog breed. Young children are unpredictable to dogs.

Not true I'm afraid. I'm a Police Dog Handler. The problem with staffy/pitbull bites is the way they lock and the mechanism of their jaws. A lab will nip or lunge bite, it doesn't have the jaw mechanism to lock and shake. That's what staffies do and that's what kills. If they wanted to, there is nothing to make it release, aside from Taser or Stun dart. The lock and shaking is what kills babies and children with these breed of dogs. Labs etc simply do not have the mechanism or hereditary urge to grab, lock and shake in the same way. Furthermore, statistically there are many many more labs and staffs in the UK, and again taking it by population, labs absolutley do not cause more serious injury or death than staffies. A lab bite can obviously cause serious injury, but they are few and far between, and per head of how many labs there are it just doesn't equate to the same amount of deaths/serious injury that staffies cause.

I can see that lab bites might not be as serious, but I've definitely read stats that put them at the top (and a quick google has just found them again although also brought up loads of other dogs as the top, so perhaps all the surveys are collated differently).

I assumed it was just a numbers thing, more labs around, common family pet, less caution, and perhaps most of those bites are minor. All I mean is, it's naive to assume safety by breed. Any dog could react to a baby or small child as prey or a threat.

I did once witness a friend get bitten by a staffy as a teen. The dog was rescued and wary of males. We were a group of female friends with one boy. He came over, attempted to greet the dog calmly, having been warned of its dislike and it jumped up and attached itself onto his arm. I will never forget it! The injury was not serious but it left a very nasty scar.

I wonder if labs can be bitey because people think they are big soppy lumps so assume they don’t bite? Plus they are greedy buggers so if they think you are trying to take their food…

Our very crazy bitey dog as a rescue lab who has been used as a guard dog and went for everyone. The police pound handler took him (to keep) as he was the only person the dog seemed to like (was over him like a puppy).

Very sad that the animal must have been so badly treated that it just bit everyone (mum, grandma, grandpa, brother…).

I have had staffies who have been absolutely lovely around young babies and children BUT I don't care how many people say their dog is good with kids they are animals and all can have unpredictable behaviour or an outburst. It could be triggered by a noise, an ear pull if they are poorly ect. I have a dog who has been around my children since birth and I am very very cautious and wouldn't leave a room with an animal alone with any child no matter what breed.

Breed is irrelevant, to some extent. No dog is 100% trustworthy.