Staffs are they all vicious???

[Miss Z]

Gwen, I see that you are also a member of the UK here. I suppose you heard on the news a while back about the pit bull that mauled and killed a little girl near Wigan? Now, I won't delve into that crisis, but I'm sure you heard about it. Since then, pitties and 'pit-bull type dogs' have been sufferring great 'discrimination', if you will.

I don't know how much you know about the situation in much of the USA, but in many states these dogs are banned because of unfair prejudice. True, they were designed as fighting dogs and are shaped for it, but they also have a brain which can be moulded by firm and caring hands. Think of it this way, a baby up for adoption could be placed in one of two homes. One home is a small cottage in the countryside with a middle-class family who have always wanted children and have their best interests at heart. The other are a young couple with a criminal record, living in a dodgy part of town and have an unstable relationship. Either of those homes can shape the SAME child's mind, purely on the way they bring it up. The same goes for dogs.

This prejudice against pit bull type dogs is spreading fast and soon it won't be long before pits are put down on the streets here. I don't know if you watched much news coverage of the incident I mentioned above, but I saw one report on ITV of police removing pit bull dogs from a home, claiming them to be vicious and a public risk. Now, on that report, I saw not one 'dangerous' dog. I saw men dragging out dogs on their knees. I saw men hoisting dogs into carriers and them peering out as if to say 'what did I do?'. No, I did not see vicious dogs, I saw SCARED dogs.

In this situation, as others have said, the beating and the tying up reflect the attitude of this owner. If he is not capable of training a strong dog to heel when commanded he should get a goldfish.

You seem a nice person, and I would just like to warn you that you will meet much resistance to any stereo-typing of pit-bull type dogs. We have many pit bull lovers here and it breaks their hearts everytime they see a thread like this. Put it down to the fact all dogs have different temperaments and require different handling, but all are most definitely not born to kill.

[DrKym]

Maybe its me but I dont understand why the dogs life is of more value than the swan. Isnt it possible that with all the best intentions and good training some creatures arent meant to be pets. I understand that if I had a lion as a pet and at some point it attacked someone, it could be said it is just its nature. So why couldnt that be true of these terrier type dogs if it is there nature then surely it is irresponsible to own such dogs. It was a swan this time but what if it was a child.

I am sorry, do you not read?

[luvofallhorses]

I am confused. nobody said the dog's life was more valuable than the swan ..
they both are valuable but swans have never been pets and will never be pets. We never did compare the swan to a child either. it'd be different if it were a child, I am sure. but I have never been in the situation where my dogs have bit a child, fortunately and I hope that doesn't happen.
By you asking if ALL staffs are vicious, NO they are not. some can be just like ANY dog but that seriously depends how they are treated and raised.

and no, wolfsoul I don't carry pepper spray.. I was just saying it's more humane. I carry a stick when I walk my dogs to protect both of us. I knew this thread was going to be a huge debate yet again and I am sick of it.

[wolfsoul]

I was just saying it's more humane.

I completely understand, it does sound more safe -- however my friend's aunt went blind after having pepper spray in her eyes. It isn't at all what it's cracked up to be, and it's coming close to being banned since it's caused so many deaths.

[Kalei]

Maybe its me but I dont understand why the dogs life is of more value than the swan. Isnt it possible that with all the best intentions and good training some creatures arent meant to be pets. I understand that if I had a lion as a pet and at some point it attacked someone, it could be said it is just its nature. So why couldnt that be true of these terrier type dogs if it is there nature then surely it is irresponsible to own such dogs. It was a swan this time but what if it was a child.

Yes the certain breed could have a higher prey drive, but if it is brought up properly and controlled then it can turn out to be a nice dog that would never be aggressive. It all depends on how well the owner brings up a dog. Any breed can be aggressive if an owner looks after it poorly or teaches it to kill, ecspecially breeds that already have a naturally higher prey drive, but with the right owner, any breed can be a sweet, non-aggressive dog.

[gwen]

I'm not knocking staffies as such as with humans you get good and bad, I was just asking thee question if its more likely in these type of breeds thats all.

[luvofallhorses]

some staffs are animal aggressive, but that just depends on the dog and they aren't supposed to be human aggressive at all. you aren't supposed to show them any aggression whatsoever.

[wolfsoul]

So why couldnt that be true of these terrier type dogs if it is there nature then surely it is irresponsible to own such dogs.

Terriers are not the problem -- it's people owning them that do not understand the breeds. Terriers encompass hundreds of different breeds. Many many breeds have high prey drives -- basically all of the Northern breeds (huskies, malamutes, etc), dogs bred specifically for schutzhund (usually line-based -- Belgian shepherds, dutch shepherds, etc), hunting and catching breeds (catahoulas, curs, etc). If you wanted to ban every breed known for it's drive, you'd eradicate most of the dog population.

[luvofallhorses]

I agree with wolfsoul. It just depends on the dog, NOT the breed itsself.

[Love That Collie]

Terriers are not the problem -- it's people owning them that do not understand the breeds. Terriers encompass hundreds of different breeds. Many many breeds have high prey drives -- basically all of the Northern breeds (huskies, malamutes, etc), dogs bred specifically for schutzhund (usually line-based -- Belgian shepherds, dutch shepherds, etc), hunting and catching breeds (catahoulas, curs, etc). If you wanted to ban every breed known for it's drive, you'd eradicate most of the dog population.

This is for the most part true. But the Staff being a terrier breed is PART of it's problem. Terriers are tenacious, yes, but most of the other terrier breeds cannot inflict the harm/damage in a bite that a Pit breed can. That is biggest problem that society has with this. For example, I really would be hard pressed to think that, for instance a Jack Russell Terrier or say a Scottish Terrier would even inflict a minute amount of damage on that Swan that a Pit breed could or would or did in this case.

[DrKym]

This is for the most part true. But the Staff being a terrier breed is PART of it's problem. Terriers are tenacious, yes, but most of the other terrier breeds cannot inflict the harm/damage in a bite that a Pit breed can. That is biggest problem that society has with this. For example, I really would be hard pressed to think that, for instance a Jack Russell Terrier or say a Scottish Terrier would even inflict a minute amount of damage on that Swan that a Pit breed could or would or did in this case.

Want pics of the dead ducks and geese from the neighbours JRT?

Get real! Any dog intent on killing an animal will do so, if it is not trained to release, and any owner of any breed that is specifically bred for hunting prey small or otherwise, that fails to teach is at fault.

[critter crazy]

Maybe its me but I dont understand why the dogs life is of more value than the swan. Isnt it possible that with all the best intentions and good training some creatures arent meant to be pets. I understand that if I had a lion as a pet and at some point it attacked someone, it could be said it is just its nature. So why couldnt that be true of these terrier type dogs if it is there nature then surely it is irresponsible to own such dogs. It was a swan this time but what if it was a child.

no one was saying that the swans life was less valuable than the dogs, I own chickens and ducks,a nd it pains me to hear that a swan got attacked by a dog. All we are trying to say is that the owner obviously was neglectful by allowing the dog off leash. He should have had better control. and not all staffies are like that! you cannot assume the nature of a whole breed, based on the behavior of one. and we dont even know why the dog attacked. we dont even know if the dog had ever attacked before. If the dog had attacked any type of animal before than the owner was defionitely at fault here.