Staffies getting bad press - justified, or not?

The latest Staffie incident has brought the usual predictable reactions from some of the public.
http://www.dailymail.co.u...ck-walked-parents.html
And rather than use a link which mentions Staffie, the Mail has gone with "pit bull type", as you can see if you scroll over the link above.
 
As some might know, I own a Staffie. He's from a rescue home. I went in to get a Jack Russell, but came out with my little man due to his undeniable cuteness.
 
Having owned him for four years now, and observed his habits in many different scenarios, I can't think of a better dog to own.
 
Aside from the fact he loves all people and cats, and tolerates other dogs well, he's also well-trained, and is only off his lead when there's no-one else around.
 
Does he deserve to share in the negative press generally attributed to the breed as a whole?

No, certainly dont deserve the bad press.
As is the usual case with dog attacks it is poor ownership.
Staffies do attract a certain type of owner ( dont intend any offence with that ) as do dog breeds like mine ( Bordeaux) and this never helps.
 

Same with everything, some f**kwit will make a sweeping generalization about all because of the odd attack. Some of the most vicious dogs I've seen have been border collies but you never hear about them.

No offence taken, j b.
There's generalisation in some of the online comments, which I find a bit bemusing.

Take: "The problem is that these dogs are usually owned by anti- social people. Most normal owners just have loving dogs, not a terrifying muscle bound creature."
The problems with this statement: I'm not anti-social, just busy. My dog is a Staffie, and loving. My dog is a Staffie and not a terrifying muscle bound creature. In fact, he's a bit chubby at the moment.


Or: "Oh and before owners cone out and say 'mine's so gentle, he wouldn't hurt a fly' - the answer is YET!! There is something not right in that breed. Anyone who owns a staffie and has children are asking for trouble."
Evidence please.


Or: "Then you have the 'hoody' staffy owners, who use big chains and collars because it makes them look 'hard'. They look pathetic." ....SNIP....  "This 'man' however, what a coward! He probably left the scene because he couldn't wait to tell his mates his dog ripped this poor little girl to shreds! Scum probably spent ages goading the dog for something like this. I'd love to get hold of him.."


Let's see now. I wear hoodies because they're comfortable. I also use a big chain for the dog because he's strong, and big chain = less likelihood of losing him than little chain.
The man with the dog is 56 and has handed himself in to police today. I'm not sure that makes him a coward, or scum. And as for the "probablies".... how probable? Using which probability model?
 
I shouldn't let this kind of thing irritate me, but, hey, I'm human.

Theres no denying that they do attract a certain type of owner a lot of the time, just have a look at any rehoming centre on the net. I've got mates who own staffies and they are great dogs. Fact is they look kind of like a pit bull and I think that is the only reason many buy them.
 
http://www.scottishspca.org/rehoming/category/dogs

Funny thing is that in the park I where I walk my dog we come across several Staffs on a regular basis. Couple extremely friendly, a couple so focused on their owners and the ball launcher )2 different dogs and owners, very similar behaviour) they never even look twice at my dog, me or anything else. No problems with any Staffies in my experience to date and I really, really wish that my Westie X was as obedient as some we see who are awesome!
 
I do not disagree that *SOME* anti social types do own these dogs for their look and my well be badly treated, trained and not nice dogs to come across. I would suggest these owners who are dickheads don't dilligently take their dogs walking to the park which is why I don't see them?
 

Oh and who can forget "man, their jaws lock man"

Big Fat Chris

I would suggest these owners who are dickheads don't dilligently take their dogs walking to the park which is why I don't see them?

Good point, Chris.
I'm regularly at the park and can't recall a single instance of seeing a chav dickhead-type with a Staffie.
Mind you, I can't recall many instances of seeing Staffies. The usual dogs in the park are labradors, Jack Russells and whippets, believe it or not.

You only have to walk round Skeg and Ingoldmells to see the type of person that Staffs attract.

Tattooed blokes in vests, some missing or gold teeth and the dog must either be on a rope or in a huge harness. Owner is often sipping on a can of ale too.

Staffs do attract twats as owners more than any other breed, hence the poor press

Lol, Neb.
What have tattoos, missing teeth and a huge harness got to do with what kind of dog owner you are?
I can tick "check" to all three of those boxes but don't honestly regard myself as a twat (others may disagree).

I love the dogs, having had one for 15 years, it is a shame they get bad press, such a loving dog.

Staffs are the dog of choice here I live.
I'd guess that 7 out of ten dogs you see in my village and surrounding villages are staffs.
7 out of 10 owners are teenage / early 20's types in cap, trackie and reebok classics....
I'm not a fan of the breed if I'm honest and it's Mot to do with the dog it's the irresponsible types who are drawn to them.
I know that's wrong and nothing to do with the dog and also many good owners ( errrr like Mr 'Ho ). =)

The dogs themselves I think are over bred and has resulted in a poorer example of the breed being the norm now also.

Piglet Terriers.....

We had 4 (1 died 2 years ago aged 12 and 1 died 2 weeks ago aged 14 - one of the hardest days of my life)...
 
They are great dogs, really easy going and good with everyone including kids... Maybe it is easy to steriotype the owners (I too am muscluar, have tattoos and a skin head)...
 
I think rather than having a go at the breed the DM & the government should do something about making it harder to own dogs...

Sorry to hear about your loss, mate.

rightyho


Sorry to hear about your loss, mate.

Thanks!!
 
It was especially hard as he was our first and had been all over the world with us (well we bought him in the UK, then we moved to the US in 2001 & Finland in 2006)...
 
We have two left (two deaf white ones we rescued) and 3 Boston Terriers..

I walk dogs at the dogs home, walked a staff today actually, it was a strong little basrstid
 
..  never had or seen one doing anything wrong tbh.  they can be a bit playful but they ar generally great imo.  i really like them, shame there assosiated with chavs

Top dog if looked after but sadly a lot of muppet owners who arent able to look after an Egg let alone a dog.

pretty sure i can end any possible debate on this, Staffies are one of only 2 breeds of dog that the kennel club rates as ideal around children. i think that says it all and yes i owned a staffie for 15 years

I took my bulldog down the high street yesterday. A family of n0bs came up to me and said I shouldn't bring him in public because he's bred to kill and it's dangerous with all these people about..

I just looked at them and said, I don't see any bulls about just a couple of cocks and walked off!

I think unfortunately the breed does deserve a bit of a bad rep because they are so often owned by idiots
 
There's nothing inherently wrong with the breed, but if they continue to be the teenage hardman accessory that they currently are then they will eventually be bred for aggression
 
It's not the "fault" of the dogs. They're not sentient. They're just dogs. Unfortunately they do tend to attract a certain type of sub-standard owner. Hence their rep