Staffie attacks owner...

[TheEmmaDilemma]

I'm surprised there isn't a thread about this, or if this is, I've missed it.

www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/dog-owner-mauled-to-death-by-staffordshire-bull-terrier-while-filming-bbc-documentary-in-north-a3501536.html

I know they have to report the breed, but it makes me sad.

As much as I feel sorry for the family of the owner, I do feel that is is the owners responsibility to control a dog? They can always be unpredicable. You take steps to control that. And that's with anything from a 10lb dog to a 20kg one.

It is never the dogs fault. It is the owner surely?

I have a beautiful staffie I love. He's old now, I love him. I trust him 100% with me, but that's because he's trained. In stressful situations with no training you cannot predict what any dog is going to do?

Doesnt shock me, people unfortunately, conveniently, dont see past the "type" part when the reality is "type" just means they look a bit staffie like - when quite a lot of x breeds can look a bit staffie.

And lets not forget, any breed of dog can be given a dangerous dog label thanks to how they are ascertained. Luck of the tape measure, a mm out and its goodbye Fido who has never bit anyone in his life or so much as growled and has no ounce of banned breed in him.

IME proper, pedigree SBTs are actually quite small and look nothing like those ridiculous stock images that are trotted out every time a story like this emerges.

andshe - my SBT needs to be sat on my knee with me holding her tightly when its fireworks or thunder. Shes also scared of the vacuum.

And she gets cold in the night so will come upstairs and either sleep on our bed, or if shes feeling lonely will actually wake me up so I'll go downstairs with her, cover her with her blankie and stroke her cheek until she goes to sleep.

Our friend's Westie had bitten them both and bit our dog.

Dog aggression and human aggression are two completely different issues

I'm sorry but I find that hard to believe and anyway either or both is unacceptable.

Totally agree that dog and human aggression are completely separate issues.

Dog to dog reactivity is more common than you would think. Although you deem it 'unacceptable', some dogs just don't like other dogs for whatever reason.

My dog does not like herding breeds. He finds they way they 'eye stalk' or stare really rude. He will grumble at them.

I don't get on with every person I meet so why should my dog have to get on with every other dog?

Personally I neither like nor trust staffies ; my SIL had one and I was always uneasy when it was around (justifiably when it attacked her DH for absolutely no reason whatsoever). There must be a reason why there are so many in rehoming centres too.
Last week my friend's puppy was killed by one 'that wouldn't hurt a fly', right ........

There is always a reason.

All dogs don't have to get on. What I take exception to is dogs that attack other dogs or people.

Dachshunds were bred to fight badgers in their sets. There was a post by avet on here a while back saying one of the two breeds she had never been bitten by was a Staffie ( the other was a whippet). We have had 5 dogs, a Colie cross, a long haired standard dachshund a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen and two staffies. The Staffies are the only ones that have never growled at or bitten any of the family. They will endure all the nasty things that vets do, including ear and eye drops with great stoicism. The Collie Cross felt entitled to have a go if she had to have ear drops, the dachshund could be a bit nippy and the PBGV took violent exception to being shut in the utility room when he was covered in mud. Provided they are trained as puppies Staffies can be dog friendly too.

p.s current Staffie is afraid of sneezing !