Sat in vets this morning, next to a young very dog friendly Staffy, my dog and the Staff happy to chat for a while then they both lay down. When the vet called the Staffy in the lady next to me nursing a young Shih Tzu on her lap said "thought that was illegal" nodding toward the retreating Staff. What I said, " you know," nod " he's still got his bits", err yes, "well it's against the law isn't it?" No, I have several dogs still with their err bits, "yes but yours aren't pit pulls are they.

I explained it was a Staffordshire but I did not get the feeling I had got through. I wonder how long it will be before the general public stop seeing pit bulls crawing out of the wood work. This particular Staff was a bit tall about 16" but also a bit leggy and was only 15 months old, and had a near perfect temperment. But I'm sure the lady went home confinced she had seen a Pit Bull and a Pit Bull with balls to boot. Ja;)kie

GGGRRRRR!:( somebody probably told her what a pit bull looked like years ago and she's been walking around looking sternly at all staffy owners she comes across! :rolleyes: ;) Emma

Oh, i get it all the time - most people pick their children up when my 2 walk by! I have to say that there has been a lot more understanding around them - al least people dont drag their dogs away when they want to play - but i get snide, nasty, hurtful remarks all the time - but only when i have alrady passed...

Have to say that the unthoughtful breeding of staffords, irish stafford and stafford crosses are making things even harder for the breed... Especially as every dog attack is accompanied with a picture of a staff even when the culprit is a rotty, gsd or corgi for gods sake :(

Oh stupid lady! :( some people! Julieann

Hi
I have this problem a lot with my staff.Because he's so big(19-20 inches)I constantly have people pick up their dogs or cross the road with their children when they see him.I can honestly say that in the 30+years that I have owned dogs he is the best natured off them all.He is non dog aggressive to the point that when attacked he submits immediately and has never once growled or raised his hackles even when my pup has pulled on his bad leg!
It really annoys(put politely) me when people judge dogs by what they THINK they are-in fact I've had more aggression shown towards me and my dogs by toy breeds(no offence meant to anybody) than by any bull or terrier breed!!
Regards Nikki.

Same here.
My Rocky is a Staffy cross, adn despite being the wrong color (black and tan) and haveing the wrong coat (wire haired) adn being the wrong shape (leggier, and lighter weight) than a staff, or a pit bull, or an isbt, i still get people telling me he is either a pit bull, or a pit bull cross, and there fore is absolutley without question a danger to all and sundry, adn should be put down on teh spot.

I too have witnessed, adn suffered the consequences of aggression from mainly toy breeds, and collies! No offence to owners of either.
Collies i think are misunderstood by many pet owners, and toy breeds are far to frequently treated like children, and only walked on balmy sumer evenings, which is what causes problems.

As i always say, it is not particularly the breed of dog that causes the problems, is the lack of intelligence/interest on the owners part!

Emma

This lady appeared to be a nice and intelegent person, I think the continual drip of the media has a lot to answer for, how many time do you hear that a Staffy or a Rotti has bitten a child and when they put up a picture it looks like a bald Airdale. If the media, the police and the RSPCA don't know one breed from another and won't listen to those who do, what chance do we have.

Although I don't have a bull breed, I do have a breed that is always being mistaken for a wolf or wolf cross - and I can see the same sort of trouble heading our way, as that suffered by the bully people. Particulaly if people continue to breed crosses and insist that they are wolf crosses or a breed developed from a wolf cross. It only needs one or two of these crosses to bite and the owners to say that they are wolf cross or induit dogs and anyone owning a dog with prick ears and a good thick coat will be in trouble.
Ja:)kie

Three nights ago on the Local AFN radio, they began a news story about the German Dangerous Dogs act, by saying:
"It is commonly known that there are certain dog breeds that are more vicious than others."

I was so ticked off after hearing that, I really don't remember what the 'news' bite was. Hopefully, I'll hear it again this week. It's very repetitive. :rolleyes:
Even hubby was amazed at "Vicious" being used and not another word like "Assertive" "dominant" or that some people just shouldn't have these dogs because of a personal deficiency (the person, not the dog) :eeK: :(

Hi, I have a Beagle pup and was told by somebody, watch when they are older, they will attack the kids. I asked why would he do that? The answer i got was because they use beagles to kill foxes and its natural for them to kill. I did a lot of research into which breed of dog to get and found the beagle to be very friendly. This person obviously doesn't know his a**e from his elbow. There are too many people out there ready to down other's simply because they have invested time effort and a lot of love and affection for animals. My mother in law has a staffy and its great with kids and other dogs. Some folk just need to get a grip or just keep quiet about things they know nothing about.

David.

Dogs that live and work in packs, have to be friendly, so over the years and aggresive behaviour has been bred out of such hounds. Mainly because any hound that didn't fit, didn't live, and so didn't breed. Ja:)kie

Every now and again the media has a feeding frenzy on a type of dog at the moment it seems to be bull breeds and people just assume the worst and tar eveybody and every dog with the same brush :(

I have had all the adverse comments about my dog ( I now have thicker skin ) My friend has a EBT and at the moment is regularly stopped and questioned as to her temperament and has been asked not to take her to school to collect the children :(
There is always someone ready to p*ss on anothers bonfire and as the saying goes ...'empty vessels make most noise '
so I'd better shut up now !! :D
Liz :)

Oh Liz, find your last sentence a bit worring.
Ja:)kie

Jackie
I was referring to bimble brains who you meet every day and they are all experts at everything and yet have experience of nothing but still insist on sharing that 'knowledge 'with you.
I was not referring to anybody on this board and the last bit was said in jest :D
Liz

Hello Liz

This topic is the very reason I was none to freindly with Moira on the visitors board(and she's meant to be a bully owner).

I have been getting this crap for years now. Im at the point now where if people ask me nicely about the dog I will take the time to explain and promote my dog. However if its someone who is wearing blinkers at the onset I will none too politely tell them where to go.

I take my dogs everywhere (almost) work/pub/visiting/shops/etc. I walked out of Pc world last week and crossed the road to another shop and paid quite a bit more than I would have done in Pc world because I was told to leave my dogs outside or carry them. I pointed out that they did not sell food and there was no notice on the door saying no dogs allowed. I should have got the manager and created a scene but I never as Im fed up being discriminated against. I will only go to dog freindly places to spend my money.

I dont think it was that they were dogs. It was that they were Bull terriers more like.

Mick

Hi Mick
I agree with you. I've never had any bull breeds but to me a dog is a dog. I've no fear of meeting any type of dog. It's people that create hysteria and as for people getting a dog and then reading up on it and deciding it's not for them because they fear for their children, they never gave their children a thought getting a dog without researching it first.

Sorry, rant over.:)
Dot

ps. Not sure above reads right because I'm not for a minute suggesting that children would be at risk from certain breeds of dogs. What I'm trying to say is that people get dogs - of any breed - without researching first to see if it's a suitable breed for their circumstances. Hope this makes more sense.

There was an article in the Guardian (typical!) a while back that listed the WOLFhound as a 'dangerous' breed :(.

Seem to remember too that someone made up a fictitious a attack on a child, and rang all the papers & news media. No one was interested if he said the attacking dog was a large black mongrel, but they all wanted to publish it when the dog was a rottie.

Mick
I totally agree with you !
I have had so many comments as I'm sure have others ,
Some days I'm more than happy to stop and chat ( I don't know much but I'm happy to share :D )
other days people really p*ss me off ,A man stopped his bike the other day and said ' Does he bite ?
my answer that day was 'yes -course he does !!' that was the third time that morning I'd been asked the same question .
Maybe not the best answer but it's what he wanted to hear ,
I've also had an offer to shoot my dog ( declined ! )
oooh Better stop I'll be here all day :D
Like I say ,at the moment it seems to be the bull breeds getting a bad press ( gives the rest of us a rest ;) )
but it is tiresome having to defend your choice of dog every day ( usually against people who wouldn't know a budgie from a beagle ) no offence meant to any budgie or beagle owners ;)
Liz
ps .the dogs probably did you a favour in keeping you out of pc world :D

I own a black cocker bitch - as some of you know - and even i am asked about her temperament - cos of the rage syndrome thing, she is wonderful, she loves kids, dogs adults, cats - anything really as long as they love her back.
I really do think it's the press that makes all these people afraid of one dog or another - i love em all, it really is the wrong breeding, wrong owners and wrong reports that gets these dogs a bad name. I have been attacked by dogs in the past and it has always been crosses.
A neighbour of mine owns a cocker cross who is a spiteful hateful little dog - has bitten my ebbie through my front gate and has lunged at kids but noone say anything to her - i get questioned about mine cos she is black - makes me anygry.
I've known and still do - people with all different breeds from small to extra large (rhodesian rigdeback x english mastiff - he was huge and lovely), these dogs have all been bred and brought up extremely well and noone has ever had any problems.
I get angry as well but then if you say anything - you get labelled so I keep my mouth shut.

Nikki xxx

When I first got my APBT (1991) I used to get on the buses and trains for nothing as they would not come for my money or ticket. This was at the height of the DDA/media hype/etc. It got that bad that I ended up putting a large note on my door that said American Pit Bull Terrier Owner. Not Drug Dealers or Thugs, and people said I was over reacting. Considering we are still feeling the backlash of 1991 now, I dont think I was over reacting.
Mick

i love all bull terrier breeds - i'm one of those unsavoury poeple that thinks the pit bull should never have been banned/restricted in Britain! i don't own a bull breed, but i wish i did. Staffys are imho the worlds best dog - they're a little dog with an enormous heart and they love people and kids. It's idiots that buy one to look macho and refuse to socialise their dog properly that gfive entire breeds a bad name. i have a GSD and some people will cross the road to avoid us!!! If i take her into town i get comments from mums walking along with their kids that she shouldn't be allowed near their children - even though i am pushing a buggy too!!!!!!!!
The morons who get dogs for their "image" are unfortunately ten to the dozen and until that stops no responsible owner is going to get a break :( Round my way it's Akitas that are being bought for image at the moment - the sheer amount that turn up in rescue is awful!!!
i'm gonna stop here cos i could rant all day about this....

It may sound a bit naff but I love all breeds of dogs. Ok my fav is the BC as you all know, but to opening make comments about breeds because you have been reading to much rubbish does annoye me. On our walks in the evening now in the dark we meet the same people and everyone as all sorts of dogs, there is a little red van who comes to the park and is full of GS's they are lovely dogs and play quite nicely with all the hounds. there is man who has a staff all white and he is very old and plods about with us. For me the one thing I enjoy the most is to see dogs playing and enjoying themselves. But when the weekends come the park is a nightmare full of kids all running around parents "put your dogs on leads" or the ones who don't watch their kids and they are off to stroke that fully doggie who I know will have none of it from such a small person eeek! :(

If you really are wanting to know about the dog's you can tell and like some have said spent a lot of time chating about him or her. The ones who have the head in the clouds are the ones who annoye me! :D Ok I have finished now!!! Julieann

Members of My own family think the same, and are sure i am wrong, being th3e doggy one in the family I know nothing about it :(

Brainless thats awful, how do you keep your blood preasure down. Doesn't bode well for family relations. Do they think yours will sudenly become dangerous and wolf like. I doubt it. Ja:)kie

Brainless your have to educate them! :D Julieann

Oh they are convinced I will rue the day.

Have been told my daughter will become infertile being around the dogs.

Also that the devil will get in them when there is a weak moment, and they will savage me and or the kids.

the old go blind one is brought out too!

Family don't take refreshments at my house, or stay to visit much!

Suits me as I aqm not much of a hostess, and thwey will come to take me round theirs!

"The old go blind one" thought that refered to something else entirely.
Barbara your family really have got it bad, how on earth did you start with dogs coming from a background like that or was it because of. ;)

I am convinced that I must have been found in the cabbage patch or got swapped in hospital (though the family resemblances rule this out) as no-one in my family particularly likes animals, and it is all I have been interested in since I can remember.

School reports used to say 'General Knowlegdge, Excellent, especially about Animals!'

Jackie,
Behave!!! ROFLOL Anne ;-)

My family don't come around anymore or the in-laws ( no great shame there )
One was heard to say 'well that's the last time I'll set foot in your house '!
And my own mother has told the kids we have a 'wild dog ' that is 'out of control ' and we'll all be sorry etc etc etc
I give up !!!!!
Liz

When our own families behave like this, is it any wonder members of the general public are prepared to believe anything they read or hear providing it backs up their erroneous view of dogs in general. How can anyone who has had close contact with dogs feel like this. I can understand that a person may not wish to own one or touch one, but how can they believe things that are so blatently incorrect. They can see with their own eyes that their relatives are not suffering from owning dogs, why don't they question their own views.
Ja:)kie

I thought Staffys were none as nanny dogs, most I no are great with children:).
No what you mean about the wolf though get that alot.
Luckly when I go away my family fight for who will look after Zelda.
The village Kids love finding an excuse to come round here although most of the village think I'M ECCENTRIC having Dog, Cat, Ferretts, Rabbitts, Budgies, cockateils,Pigions, chucks & fish I think thats all.

Any news on Zelda yet? Ja:)kie

Ditto????

From Zelda's Aunty! :)

I am a novice dog owner and have been going to pupy classes for 2 weeks ! the best behaved obedience & socially is the Staffie pup that is there!! but for the fact I like hairy hounds he could of convinced me to go for a staffie!
I was describing this lovely puppy to my husband & he asked me what the difference between a staffie and a pit bull was as he thought they were the same !! and was surprised when I told him how cute & well behaved this little chap is !!

jude

i have owned both breeds and while it is true some from either breed can be very aggresive owing to their history others can be downright teddy bears.the dda ban was a stupid rushed law due to scare mongering by the media against the evil fighting dog (apbt).more serious attacks have happened since by other breeds with no action taken.i believe the kennel club sat back and watched an insane law passed which they shou;d have helped fight smply because the apbt was not a registered breed.do not tar all with the same brush.