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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

The doghouse

Dog hanging from tree by its jaws in the park

60 replies

Rhydderch · 05/04/2011 17:06

We were walking through the park and I saw a Staffie hanging from a branch by its jaws and a teenager filming it whilst another was kicking it. I have never seen this before, why were they doing this?

OP posts:

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YNK · 14/02/2015 20:55

Staffies have been horribly overbred and hundreds are PTS every day in dogpounds.
They were once a 'status' dog but they are now the 3rd most popular dog in UK. Lots of families are finding they are a delightful pet.

Despite many being rescued from harm, they are a most forgiving dog. Sadly some dogs have been so traumatised they are left with behavioural problems. This applies to all dog breeds.

There is background to using the terrier type behaviour of hanging off trees for fitness. Trees are damaged and responsible owners use a 'flirt pole' if they want to provide this (often) enjoyable pastime for their dogs. This is a pole with a bungee type rope attached. Staffies are particularly tenacious and owners who compare their dogs like to video them.

I am pleased though, if these idiots were kicking the dog, that the OP had the presence to call the police. There is no excuse for that behaviour!

PersonalClown · 14/02/2015 20:25

I was about to get all arsey at the Staffy bashing...then I realised that I did. 4 years ago.

Count Staffula is now 5 and still doesn't want to hang off trees. and still charges through people's flowerbeds

VeronicaCaCa · 14/02/2015 20:25

This thread is 4yrs old....

Branleuse · 14/02/2015 20:10

but well done for perpetuating stupid myths about staffies

Branleuse · 14/02/2015 20:10

staffies just like doing it.

I dont think most people train them to do it, they just like chewing branches, whether theyre attached to the tree still or not.

My two staffies both love doing this given the chance, and we are certainly not training them to bite anyone for any reason. They are soft as shite.

The fact that they were kicking a dog is a separate issue

CarbeDiem · 14/02/2015 20:03

It's a Zombie thread people.

MumRaah · 14/02/2015 05:39

Staffeys always get such a bad rep...they are such a wonderful breed and so full of character.have never met a nasty one (now spaniels on the other hand)

IAmNotAMindReader · 13/02/2015 22:37

Staffies do love the branch hanging thing.

I don't think it was being trained for dog fighting persay. More an uneducated attempt to train it as an attack animal that won't let go when another human intervenes.
This could mean they want to set it on random pets while out and about for the sport of it and not have the poor animals owners have a chance to get it off.
Or they think they need it for protection from other people and want it to be able to attack people present in groups of 2 or more (hold on to one and ignore the other(s) kicking it).

LouiseBrooks · 13/02/2015 21:36

That poor dog, I bet they were training it for fighting. OP was totally right to call the police.

Staffies are gorgeous dogs if they are treated properly. Sadly they've become the dog of choice for thugs and dog fighters. If you look at animal abuse cases reported in the press, 90% of the poor dogs being abused are actually Staffies.

SinclairSpectrum · 13/02/2015 08:24

I am involved in law enforcement so have a great deal of up close and personal experience with Chavs and their dogs.
Despite sometimes rolling around the floor fighting with their owners in their own home I have never had an issue with a Staffie. They tend to get scared and hide.
Akitas on the other hand are bloody terrifying but that's another story.

ceres · 13/02/2015 07:29

the usual ignorant comments to be expected on any thread mentioning staffies.

Nice to see that the sensible people far outnumber the hysterical all-staffies-are-child-eaters brigade.

keith69 · 12/02/2015 23:55

To right it's the owner that makes the dog and mine is just lovely ?

keith69 · 12/02/2015 23:52

My staff loves hanging on trees when I let him off lead in the woods I know where to find him he loves it.its building him up he is so strong and so loving staffs are the best and so easy to train best dog I ever had only idiots make them fight everyone where I live loves my dog.

Gonzo33 · 08/04/2011 05:23

My husband had a staff when his son was a baby, softest dog going. A lot of my friends have staffs (in Hampshire) and their dogs are also soft as muck. In my experience (of all animals) it is ALWAYS the owner that makes the dog, not the other way around.

OP you were right to report it to the Police.

higgle · 07/04/2011 10:30

Mine can't hang off branches because he is a bit short on teeth.

I was really heartened at the weekend how nice some people in the pub who had small children with them were to him. One little girl, about 15 months, was really excited and kept waving at him, eventually she came over and gave him a cuddle, it made me really happy.

psiloveyou · 06/04/2011 21:55

We have a Weimaraner rhydderch she is gorgeous.

My problem is the amount of staffies you see abandoned in kennels. People wont rehome them because they have such a bad undeserved reputation.

We came about our dog by accident, but if we ever got another I wouldn't think twice it would be a SBT.

MotherJack · 06/04/2011 21:27

ps - Rhydd.... I wasn't saying it makes you look like a single celled organism. I have just re-read it and thought it could be misinterpreted!

MotherJack · 06/04/2011 21:09

Rhydderch- they don't make you look tough, if that is what you are trying to set out to prove by having one - that makes you look like a single celled organism. People who live in areas populated by a lot of Staffords tend to perpetuate the rumour based on the fact that the owners are wearing hooded tops which fits their stereotype, therefore must be true. The same people often believe that Staffords rip toddlers faces off as some sort of hobby.

There are loads of us out here - decent normal people - who have Staffords and understand them, socialise them and love them. Don't listen to those who won't listen

Rhydderch · 06/04/2011 20:37

psiloveyou I think that you are passionate about SBTs, as I am of German Pointers :)

But what I am trying to get my head around is, why would owning a staffie make you tough? They are dogs for goodness sake! Why would ones coolness depend on a dog? Don't understand.

OP posts:

DooinMeCleanin · 06/04/2011 20:17

My opinion is also based on experience. I have owned SBTs and a friend of my father's used to breed them. I have never met a bad staffy. Lots of soppy ones, a few hyper ones, but no bad ones.

I have encountered two snappy Yorkies. Both owned by elderly ladies. Given a choice I'd take the staffy owned by the rough looking teen over the old ladies 'precious' yorkshire terrier any day.

sharbie · 06/04/2011 20:09

well my opinion is based on my experience - there are a lot around here.all without exception are owned by idiots trying to look tough apart from the one owned by my neighbour.

psiloveyou · 06/04/2011 18:54

I wasn't talking about you rhydderch sorry if it looked like I was.
It was the comments "or tearing off a toddlers face" and "chavs with a chav dog" that got my goat.

Pure ignorance.

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SecretNutellaFix · 06/04/2011 17:47

Rhydderch- good for calling police about them kicking the dogs, I hate cruelty.

noddyholder · 06/04/2011 17:45

OMG

Rhydderch · 06/04/2011 17:44

I don't think that all Saffies are bred to fight and owned by chavs at all.

It was something I witnessed for the first time yesterday, and as I have lurked around here for a bit, I hoped that I could get a bit more experience from people who are more savvy than I am.

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