‘Dog owners come out nipping and snarling’

10:15am Wednesday 11th July 2012 in Skipper

I have been called many things in my time, from the ridiculous to the sublime. Insults and accusations are like water off a duck’s back to me, but nothing had prepared me for the outlandish vitriol following my column of last week.

Idiot! Liar! Misinformed! Sorry excuse for a journalist! As literally thousands of Staffordshire Bull Terrier owners flooded onto the Packet website to call me every name under the sun.

One sparkling example of wit and intelligence even suggested that I should go back to watching Fox news and said I probably voted for Obama Care, showing a stunning lack of knowledge of basic geography.

However, while I am firm of conviction, never let it be said that your pal the Skipper is not willing to listen, learn and change his mind . Most people pointed out, quite rightly, that dangerous dogs occur in all breeds, and that people should ‘blame the deed, not the breed’.

A Google search showed up heroic examples of the breed, who have risked life and limb to save children, adults and other animals from horrific situations. My conviction wobbled as I read on.

However the one thing that led me to muse whether poor socialization and bad homes are a key factor in why Staffies show up so often in horrific attacks, was the behaviour of the raft of aggressive, bullying, idiotic and unpleasant owners.

I agree with them all, it is not the breed’s genetic fault. With owners like that, many never stand a chance.

Comments(2)

Zella says...
9:43pm Wed 11 Jul 12

My late husband had a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and a German Shepherd dog years ago. The German Shepherd was a model of perfection in all ways. However, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, whilst being good with people and children, used to launch unprovoked attacks on other dogs. No amount of proffesional training prevented this trait in him. I do not consider this was the owners fault due to poor socialization, a bad home, or indeed lack of knowledge of the breed. Additionally, my late husband was placid, calm natured, and in no way a bully to people or animals.

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quayfee says...
10:08pm Wed 11 Jul 12

I have known dogs from a variety of breeds for a number of years, I was good friends with a Staffy breeder, his prime stud was one of the most gentle placid dogs I've ever met. I've also met 'rogue' labradors. There are good and bad in every breed (including humans) and I do get quite upset when a whole breed is stained with the behaviour of a few examples.Why sre Staffies getting a bad press? They have become the breed that is seen as a badge of honour and are 'in fashion' (yes that's wrong too). They are a powerful strong willed breed and as such need an equally powerful owner to be the alpha in the pack. If an owner isn't able to do that there are likely to be problems.

Zella, the behaviour that you describe from you late husband's staff sounds like 'protection mode', the staffy (albiet incorrctly) thinking that any other dog was a threat to your husband and he was protecting a member of his pack. Distressing non-the-less.

While every breed have genetic traits (I never had to train my own lab to retrieve, she was doing that at 4 weeks old...) not every bull terrier is a demon and not every lab is the perfect family dog. It is the responsibility of the breeder and owner to ensure that people don't take on dogs that are not suited for thier lifestyle and personality.

And finally much respect to you Skipper for researching the issue more deeply and being preapred to listen to responsible 'dog people'.

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