I think you are misunderstand slightly or I have not been explaining properly, I do defend breeds because within breeds you will get very many different characters, I however will not defend vicious dogs unless they can be managed safely.
I have had two Chihuahuas one our late Rosie was a lovely dog to us but would have anyone else’s fingers off, we managed her behaviour and only one person ever got bitten and he was quite deserving of the bite she meted out. Our current chi is very different Betty has been socialised extremely well and is friendly with all dogs and people.
Two of the same breed owned by the same person but very different characters.
I cannot imagine that other breeds are not the same with some dogs being very safe and others should not be in the wrong hands.
Depends on the dog as I have said previously I have had dog and human aggressive dogs in the past (rescues) we gave them a good home where we managed the aggression and no one was ever hurt or threatened. It can be done I know several people now managing dogs that could be considered dangerous but I trust them as the dogs are always under control.
Mmmmm - not that simple though is it - not all people are going to want to take these dogs on, the ones that do are also aggressive …
Ifeel we’ve reached the stage of ‘circles’ - we know where we stand now and its up to the ‘chiefs’ to sort the mess out …
That’s very true because as you say not everyone will manage aggression well, it just seems sad to me to get rid of an entire breed or breeds when individuals within the breed may just be cuddle monsters who love everyone.
Banning pitbulls will NEVER fly in the States… Just like we cannot seem to get a sensible ban on assault weapons. ANYONE can get their hands on anything they want… under the excuse of “Freedom” or “Rights”… I have always thought that my “Right” to swing my fists ends where someone elses nose begins. Unfortunately, the “Right” to bear arms would be stretched to the right to own vicious animals… under the right to protect oneself. Never mind the harm this can do to others in the meantime.
I do wish you’d put me on ignore as I obviously upset you .
No you don’t upset up me - I am old enough to handle someone not having the same point of view as me.
I’m not even sure how your post came through as you’re on my ignore list as your posts are often - well - nonsensical. Anybody that considers staffies to be ugly do not deserve the benefit of my wisdom.
In the words of my teenage nephew - get over yerself, build a bridge and get over it. 'enuff said.
To be honest, the kind of posts you make, I think you must be this teenage nephew.
I agree with you about stats - they are not the most reliable source but they are all we have sometimes. I was bitten on the face by my German Shepherd puppy (he would have been about 3 months old); it wasn’t a bad bite but he did break the skin but he was playing and got over excited (I learned not to handle him better after that!) but I didn’t report it either - he was just an over excited puppy.
I know from one other American poster in Dogsey there is a problem in certain parts of the US with stray pitbulls and rescue centres being full to bursting point with pitbulls. We have the same problem in UK rescue centres with staffies - because they invariably end up in the wrong hands and get turfed out when things don’t go as planned. Very sad situation for the dogs and the people who are trying to rescue/rehome them.
I don’t agree with banning a particular breed I wholeheartedly agree with banning particular people owning any dog.
And as someone else has pointed out if it wasn’t pitbulls/ staffies it would be GSDs, rottweillers or Dobermans they’ve all had their fair share of bad press.
When I was looking for a dog 4 years ago, I went around our dogs home and it was nearly full of staffies and elderly dogs. I went to the UK and went around some dogs’ homes and found they too seemed to be mainly staffies and elderly dogs.
It isn’t fair on the breed either really if they are just going to end up being put down.
It does make you wonder why, if they make such marvellous pets, they end up being put up for rehoming.
Because possibly people who have less than great dogs see them as a good way to make money, I know someone in our village who has a staffie girl the dog is not the best of it’s breed at all, it’s a scrawny thing that could start a fight in an empty room, she decided she could make money out of her and let her have pups, 8 pups all taking after their mum, she started off advertising them for £500 each big smile in her face all the first 2 weeks, by week 4 she looked a little less happy and dropped the price to £300, 4 months later she was looking quite worried and was advertising them for £50 each. Last I heard she was giving them away free, and last 2 went to a local rescue.
Did she learn a lesson ? Not really her dog seems again to be pregnant and she is sure this time she has the advertising right so it will all go swimmingly well !
I think with cases like that Julie, theauthorities should either give the dog the snip or remove the dog from her. My son has a neighbour who leaves their German Shepherd puppy out in all weathers, he called the MSPCA and the dog was observed over a week or so (I think) and then the dog was removed from them.
That is so sad to hear Julie. I am not in the least bit fond of staffies (even if they were the most even tempered dog going, I don’t find them physically attractive dogs) but I don’t like to hear of them being mistreated either. They are still a living entity with emotions and can feel pain and neglect, surely that alone deems they are worthy of being shown compassion by the authorities.
Where I help with animal care, the security guard is a 2 year Akita. He has a kennel and lives outside, with a rope attached to his collar. He was rescued, apparently, from a bunch of EEs who used to throw rocks at him!
He is a friendly dog, once he knows you, BUT…he can be quite boisterous!! Sometimes when I have to get past him I hold my bags out in front of me, (so I can gauge his mood), to come between us because he likes to jump up. Sometimes he’ll get to his feet, walk slowly towards me and turn his back, so I can stroke him. When going out, I prefer it when he’s lying on the ground, not bothering to get up. At times I have asked the owners to grab his lead while I walk past.
On Friday he seemed fine when I left but he has a problem with ‘mouthing’. He grabbed my wrist, and was then growling. I got my wrist free and called for owner’s husband, and the dog just sat on the floor, tail wagging furiously. The problem with him, as our mutual friend said before, he does it because he doesn’t want you to leave! And yet as I said to the owner’s husband as he held the dog back so I could go past, I still don’t 100% trust him.
I call out to him before entering the garden, saying things like ‘good boy A (using his name), good boy!’ and try not to show fear. I just wish his owners could find a way of stopping him jumping up.
He had a very strong grip with his jaws and for a short while my wrist really hurt. So it’s easy to understand the damage they can inflict and how powerless a victim could be when under attack.
When our mutual friend visits she shows no fear with him, (and he adores the attention) but she is a current dog owner and used to handling them.
I think you’re right to be concerned about the mouthing Jazzi, and he should definitely be taught not to do that. However, strangely enough, I used to have a GSD who did exactly the same sometimes, but never to anyone else but me. In his case it was only ever done affection though. For example, if I had been talking to him, or sitting with him, then went to walk away, he would very gently reach out and hold my wrist and try to pull me back to him again, thumping his tail as he did. I adored that dog, and I know the feeling was mutual, he was my shadow in everything I did. It damn near destroyed me when he died. If you look at my profile pics, this most loving boy is the GSD laying in the snow.
I’m feel slightly alarmed by your posting, i.e “lives outside, with a rope attached to his collar” in an animal care centre!!! Doesn’t sounds that caring to me!
I have never been afraid of a dog in my life and consider myself quite adept at reading dog body language. Just from what you say he does sound boisterous and playful but given his early life it sounds like he hasn’t been properly socialised. Which is why I think you should ask the owners to make sure you have room to get past him where he can’t actually get to you. I think mouthing is mostly harmless, mouthing and growling is not harmless and given his strength then I think you are right not to trust him.
Like most dogs he feels comfortable with people, like your friend, who is comfortable with him but possibly senses your discomfort. Treat him with caution and you’re well within your rights to ask the owners to give you space to get past him.
[quote=“Baxter8, post: 393714”] I’m feel slightly alarmed by your posting, i.e “lives outside, with a rope attached to his collar” in an animal care centre!!! Doesn’t sounds that caring to me!QUOTE]
I must agree with Baxter here Jazzi, it does seem a very strange advert for a rescue centre to have a dog tied up outside like that?
