Dog hanging from tree by its jaws in the park

[Rhydderch]

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?

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.

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.

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).

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)

It's a Zombie thread people.

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

but well done for perpetuating stupid myths about staffies

This thread is 4yrs old....

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

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!