My dog is a savage child eating monster

[rogersmellyonthetelly]

Honest

sorry, that came out very bossy. I meant it in an 'exasperated but loving' way. It's always refreshing to see positive threads in here, especially about Staffs - we should have more!

No. it's OK. I was going to start a thread for you but got distracted. FWIW I have some pictures of my staffie-cross on the my profile. He is the best-dog-in-the-world-bar-none.

I am the OP. I didn't do a vanishing act! I came back when there were about 18 replies I think to say sorry as obviously my title was insensitive, I intended it to be slightly tongue in cheek, it turns out I got it wrong. The next time i checked the thread it had gone batshit crazy and everyone was ignoring my earlier apology! Anyone can see from my post that I was being sarcastic in response to recent staffy threads where it is clear that there are a lot of people out there who are sadly misinformed and determined to hate the breed, which is an appalling shame. Staffordshire bull terriers when brought up correctly and supervised appropriately are no more likely to bite than any other breed, in fact I would argue they are less likely to bite as they are generally a confident outgoing breed and very very people orientated and tolerant of children.
I'm genuinely sorry that my thread title has caused offence to anyone, it was not my intention.

Orm, sorry, yours can't be the best dog in the world, cos mine already is. Joint best maybe?

It's really nice of you to apologise for offending some, roger- very refreshing! And FWIW, I agree with you on the staffy hate.

Couldn't care less about the title and the dog looks cute. If the OP posted about this same dog snarling at his dc I would have reacted the same as I did a few days ago.

Staffies are probably no more likely to bite a child than any other breed but they were designed to fight other dogs and, like all breeds, retain their instincts generations later. I don't want any staffie anywhere near my dog.
it's nice that some are the well-behaved pets of responsible owners but most are not.

Sunflower - funnily enough I trust the dog with the kids, but won't let her off lead with other dogs. She hasn't ever shown aggression, but if she does I want her on the end of a lead where I can haul her off before she can cause damage!
I think that's best both ways, if yours is on a lead, you can steer well clear of staffs on a lead, it's when people let staffs run loose around other dogs, or the other dog has poor recall and bothers the dog on the lead, I think has the potential to be a problem. Staffs aren't always dog aggressive, but usually if another dog challenges they will challenge right back.

Orm your dog is a big sweetie!

I think this is the problem. Owners of staffys think they can haul them off if they get agressive and they can't. I wouldn't be able to haul my rottie off either, but I know that.

I very rarely see staffys off lead. Most owners know their dogs and treat them accordingly. The only staff I know reasonably well that does run off lead carries a burst football everywhere and is as soft as butter. He's a beautiful blue staff and very calm. He has a very good owner, though, who has spent the time and money on getting his dog well socialised and well trained. In fact, I put my spaniel on the lead when I see him because Jas tends to greet other dogs but jumping on their head, and that's not polite

I see lots off lead. They're mainly owned by stereotypical Staffy owners and quietly trot along behind their owners ignoring everything because since they were puppies they have been taken everywhere and anywhere with their be-hooded owners and are very well socialised. Most of them are better behaved than my two

The ones who are dog aggressive are kept leashed although until recently (as in this Wednesday) I have never met a dog aggressive staffy owned by a 'chav'. These two were leashed. The more aggresive of the two was muzzled.

We often see one in the park dragging half a tree behind him. It's the same tree. It's always in the beck just outside our house and the dog won't start his walk until he has collected the branch that is three times the size of the dog

I'd rather take my chances with dogs like that than the stereotypical teacup yorkie owned by the lovely old lady, who lunges for your ankles every time you dare to pass it. I think all parks have one of those.

God, yes! The lapdog owned by a granny that hates everyone. I think it's the law to have one in every park, isn't it? Said granny will then tell off her snarling hound like it's a naughty school child 'Now then, Trixabelle! That's quite enough of that! The other doggy just wants to be your friend!' etc etc. All the while the psychotic mini dog is chewing its own legs in frustration that it can't kill the other dog/cyclist/toddler. Also on a retractable lead to cause maximum pedestrian carnage

Yup that's one Chickens. Our local one is called Lucy but her owner appears to call her Lucy Fluffs or Lucy Baby. There ain't nothing fluffy about that dog. Lucifer would be apt.

Oh yes ALWAYS on a bloody retractable lead which then proceeds to wrap itself around my dog who is trying to run away from the snappy lapdog, whilst the little old lady owner is saying "oh he just wants to be friends, he is only little"

No he clearly does not want to be friends, that's why my dog is hiding behind my legs.

I let my staffy off the lead in the park, but he only goes about 3 feet away from me, he never goes out of reach.

The puppy, well he is a different matter, he either doesn't want to walk anywhere or he wants to sprint off.
He comes back as soon as I call him though and runs behind me if he sees another dog, I have to take him over to say hello!

Yes indeed. Snarling yorkies are to be feared. Hoho, you guys are just a riot.

Our's tells my dogs off "Poor little Lucy Fluff. Are those nasty doggies scaring you? Come here I will carry you away from them. Nasty, scary doggies." While whippy is rooted to the floor with fear and Devil Dog is sniffing/pissing up as many trees as he can reach oblivious to the furry ball of fury named otherwise known as Lucy Baby. I am banging my head against a tree while wanting to scream "that is why the bloody dog acts the way it does, stop carrying it past dogs who are clearly no threat to it"

There's a miniature yorkie next door that tries to eat its way through the fence to get to my dog. The noise it makes it does scare me far more than any sbt/rottie/other supposed devil dog types I've ever met that's for sure.

I can hear it now, it can smell my fear I tell ya

hairy it must be a staffy type yorkie

Where I used to walk my first dog, a collie cross, there was someone there with 3 yorkies. She never had them on leads and they would terrorise any other dog in the area. One day they ran up to my old, partly sighted, arthritic ON LEAD dog, and started yapping and biting at his face. He picked one up and shook it, then threw it away from him and the owner went mental at my out of control dog! The nasty yappy thing was fine by the way.

You know, I'm absolutely certain I could haul my staffy off another dog, I can haul 750kg of horse around with one arm, I can lift my 6yo and 7yo kids one under each arm and carry them. I can stop my dog in her tracks just by digging my heels in when she is going batshit crazy after a squirrel. But then, if a responsible dog owner has their dog trained to good recall, and it's on a lead/under control, the situation should never arise. If someone hasn't trained their dog to recall, and it's not on a lead and it comes up to mine and picks a fight, then I'm sure i could deal with that too.
I couldn't control a rottie though, they are twice the size and weight of a
Staff, a different kettle of fish entirely!

Actually I can restrain a Rottie when I have to, and have hauled BearDog away from another dog on occasion. Not easy or something I want to do too often, much better to teach leave/recall. But I can physically do it - and I'm not a particularly big or strong person.

The impossible thing is getting them to move when they're stubbornly digging their heels in refusing to walk (or worse when they lie down and refuse to get up ).

Slightly off topic, but.....if Mouse is 25% Lovely Family Dog Golden Retriever and 25% Devil Dog Staffy, what does that make him - in the eye of the beholder?!

Back on topic, of course any dog can bite. Any breed of dog can bite. Just as any child can, potentially, harm another (not comparing, just saying generalising bit pointless).

I saw the thread's OP as being about de-demonising a specific breed. But if I had a history of being attacked by dogs, I imagine it would have brought a few feelings up. Thats the way it is....if I read things about minorities being marginalised, about less than perfect people being judged, I bring my history in to my response (in a more or less aware manner, depending on tiredness levels!).

I'm not shocked or surprised by either the OP or by Rhubarb's upset feelings, but have to admit I don't get the bandwaggoning effect.....

It makes him half a dog.