Fed up with people slagging off my new Staffy pup!

meritaten

heretolearn wrote: »

Well I had two encounters with dogs recently that went for me, both owned by people I knew but hadn't met the dogs before, both assured me that dogs were safe as houses - and mutual friend who is normally terrified of dogs also told me she is happy round both these dogs. (by the way, I like dogs).

1st: we were at mutual friends house and the other friend was there with their dog. One of those taller solidstaffies (the better quality ones). I sat on sofa with other half, dog growling at us. 'Oh he's fine' they say 'how strange he isn't like that'. Dog then seriously lunged teeth first at us, owner grabbed collar in time, was really aggressive towards us and had to be shut out in garden for our safety! Owner was very upset at the behaviour and soon left with dog. We've been told by several people that this was totally out of character for this dog.

2nd: couple of days later was at another house and their collie snapped at my hand while I was standing up. Got a scratch and a good dollop of slobber,

So I'm now wondering why all dogs I meet these days hate me. But also ruminating on the unpredictability of ALL dogs. Both these are family dogs, usually friendly, and reasonably well trained it seemed to me, and are NOT normally aggressive. I do believe it could have been any breed that just 'turns' or takes against a stranger. But the staffie could have done me a lot more damage I think....

how strange!
the only thing I can think of is something that happened to me with my own staffy. as you all know by now, she was the gentlest dog on earth - but she did growl at me once.........I believe it was because I had cut myself at a friends house and she used TCP to clean up the wound then covered it with a pad and a bandage. I couldnt believe my dog was growling at me and backed away from her - she jumped up and went for my hand - the injured one. I took the pad off and went and washed my hand and put a large plaster on instead. I discarded the TCP one in the kitchen bin - and dam me if she didnt growl at the bin!
so perhaps if you wore TCP or a certain perfume both times - it may be because of that!

littlerat

Interesting link I found a while ago about aggressive breeds:

http://www.dogbiteclaims.co.uk/dangerous-breeds.html


Yes, staffies can turn. So can labradors, collies, beagles and spaniels - ANY dog can turn. Staffs are getting a bad reputation due to poor breeding - and more importantly, poor handling.


To be honest while I adore collies, being in an area where staffys aren't really status dogs (so the breeding and ownership is similar to most other breeds) I'd worry more about a strange collie - known a lot more turn, you just don't hear of it because everyone sees them as lovely intelligent dogs, plus due to a lot being working they tend to turn on adults/other animals, not be around kids as much. I have to say of all the dogs I've met (and I've been to a show or 2 and know lots of other owners) I've yet to find the devil dogs who are all these people aggressive staffies. I've met 2 (yes, just 2) dog aggressive - both of which had owners who controlled them well, even when people were letting their dogs run up. Yet if I walk in a populated area I can guarantee at least 1 small terrier type will try and have a go at asher (my golden retriever). The 2 most severe attempted attacks on him were by labradors.


Also, next time you see a report about a attack that was believed to be a "staffy type", realise a lot of people wouldn't know a true staffy if it quite literally bit them on the !!!! - many reports say type, not the actual breed, meaning at most it's a staffy cross, or it could well be a cross of 2 other breeds and the parent/neighbour etc thought it was a staffy.


OP, enjoy your puppy! Lovely dogs

Person_one

What exactly is meant by 'turn'?

I'm pretty sure healthy dogs don't attack for no reason, just that we don't always understand the reason.

hethmar

http://Oh, she looks adorable, I can almost smell the puppy smell here The bloke dont look too bad either

You can put the photos on here by copying the code on photobucket, by the way.

Person_one

I spy an exhausted puppy owner that hasn't slept in days!

Welshwoofs

Op - believe me, my dog can draw the flak away from your Staffie in an instant. I have a Neapolitan Mastiff and there's no 'in between' reactions. On the SAME day I've had a hoarde of Japanese tourists lining up to take a photo of him and a woman literally dragging her children across a busy road with a look of horror rather than walk past us.

A few years ago it was the horror reactions that used to annoy me.....I'm actually now getting to the point where I quite like those reactions because at least it means we can get on with our walk, because the other end of the scale reactions take up a good 10 minutes of question answering. I keep thinking I should get a laminated board to hang round his neck which reads:

"About 12 stone"
"Yes you could probably put a saddle on me, but why would you"
"As big as a horse? Gosh that's a new one"
"Yes I do eat a lot....unsurprisingly"
"Who's walking who? Well it's a mutual thing"
"Yes I do take up a lot of space, but no I don't live in a huge house"
"About 8 years if I'm lucky"
"The clue's in the name NEAPOLITAN Mastiff...where do you think I come from?"
"War. Fighting. Gladiatorial combat"
"Yes my feet are as big as your hands..."
"Yes 'gentle giants' is a cliche, but there's often truth in those"
"Yes I do drool a lot, you did bring tissues....right?"
"Poached chicken, salmon and kibble"
"Very expensive, yes"
"No this is a usual colour and it's called 'blue'"

Person_one

Only 8 years? What a shame.

I love big dogs, but I'm so glad my littleys stand a chance of seeing 14/15.

Francesanne

Jenjenf21 wrote: »

http://photobucket.com/MollyMoo2011

Password - Oct2011

:j

What a litte beauty. Wishing her a long, healthy & very happy life.

Welshwoofs

Person_one wrote: »

I love big dogs, but I'm so glad my littleys stand a chance of seeing 14/15.

That's the problem with the big fellas - they're just not with you very long. A friend of mine used to have Irish Wolfhounds and ultimately changed breed because they never made it past the age of 7 and she'd end up heart-broken. Neos are in the 7-9 years range in general.

Ravenlady_2

I dont have a dog because I dont trust my ds not to drag it around by its ears yet, If I were to get one i wouldn't opt for a staffy because they do get bad press and the what iff's would be on my mind all the time. I know jack russels are nippy little sods but I could easily fend a snappy jack off with my foot, can I do that with a staffy? No. Is it likely to happen? Probably not. Would I ever forgive myself if it did? Not a chance.

I am in love with springers, I had a complete dope of a springer as a child, luckily my brother has one and we get to borrow her.