Bull Breeds/Reputations/Dog Behaviour

[TheMan]

Ok, it won't surprise anyone for me to say, I have a fair bit to do with dogs. Very much a labour of love, I was intimately involved in trying to save the life of one of the most high profile dogs ever to become a victim of BSL (Breed specific legislation, or Bull S**t Law as we call it).

Top personalities all over the world, and the most well known trainers were also involved. I have to add, it was not my intention to get involved with something so controversial or high profile as this became. I forged friendships with shelters across the world, one specifically in The Bronx taking fighting gang pits and retraining and re-homing them. I still support them when I can.

It makes you aware there is a side to our beloved K9 friends that other people just don't realise, and I was shocked and upset by this. However, rather than getting further involved down that path, I followed my usual mantra that you decide to do one thing - then do that. You cannot help everyone and everything, so find one you are passionate about and be useful to that cause.

I have settled on music and dogs, bull breeds in particular.

Known affectionately as "The Nanny Dogs" Staffordshire Bull Terriers in particular are gaining notoriety in the press again, I have been in a right to do with a Sun journalist about stories they were printing, making the problem worse by constantly printing pictures of salivating bull breeds appearing vicious! Nothing can be further from the truth. They were bred to be purposefully gentle around humans, so even after they had been in a dog fight, judges could handle them without fear.

Staffies were bred to be dosile around people regardless of any intensity of working/fighting. It is a total myth that they are a naturally aggressive breed! You can have issues with other dogs if you do not train and socialise your dog properly, in fact that is true of all dogs anyway.

A breed will give you characteristics you need to be aware of, however, a dog is still a dog - and their language universal.

So don't judge a dog by it's cover, there are many thousands of staffies/bull breeds put down every year - the numbers are staggering. I'd rescue hundreds if I could.

My favourite park located in the same County that my favourite breed of dog is named after

This is real Staffordshire Bull Terrier:

Staffies.....A tribute to the Nanny dogs vol 2 x

baby playing with Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Bull Breed: Sgt Stubby The War Hero

So yeah, this TheMans soft side

 

[Ted]

I own two staffys myself (One cross and full breed) and I think they're fantastic dogs. I've had mine for nearly 9 years now and I'd hate to see anything bad happen to them. It really depends on how they're look after if they're either friendly or vicious. My Dogs are very friendly when guests come round and they normally just sit down and let people stroke them. It's not just mine as well, my aunt has a staffy and he's one of the most friendly dogs ever.

 

[TheMan]

There are times that some dogs have behaviour issues, very few though are ever from birth, and most all can be corrected with love, patience, dedication and consistency - and of course, effort to learn their language.

There is a big difference between obedience training, and true dog psychology. Pure obedience, is when a dog learns our language, true dog psychology is when we learn theirs.

Also, often if there is a problem, once you recognise doggie language, you realise most problems are through owners not really getting what their dog is saying or doing, and misinterpreting it. It is a shame as there are two different conversations going on.

Aggression is seldom a cause either, it is usually the effect of something - than can be misunderstood, simply an outward manifestation of a deeper issue. I hope this thread helps someone to be honest.

I own two staffys myself (One cross and full breed) and I think they're fantastic dogs.

So much love for you right now Ted ;D

 

[Maya]

We got our staffie cross, Shilah 5 years ago, when I was 7 and my brother was 5. From the moment we saw her, 8 months old in her scruffy dogs trust cage, her eyes lit up, her tail went crazy, and she started showing immediate affection to us. She was the nices dog there, and while spending time with her in her cage, apparently many people walked past, sticking their noses up- "Horrible dogs" and "Staffies will bite, don't go close"
However we got her, and she's the kindest, most loving dog ever. She won't go near the cat, because she's the scared one!
Shes one of the family , and acts like our little sister! She'd never hurt anything, purpously, however we have found her rollin on top of, and hugging frogs and mice, acting like a mother to them, in our garden!!

 

[DiogoJ42]

This video is proof that the temprement of pets has a lot to do with how you treat them:
Gregory Pike's Dog, Cat and Rat

There will always be exceptions though. One of my rats years ago loved the taste of human flesh, and was a deranged nutter... but she could still be sweet when she wanted treats!

 

[TheMan]

Shes one of the family , and acts like our little sister! She'd never hurt anything, purpously, however we have found her rollin on top of, and hugging frogs and mice, acting like a mother to them, in our garden!!

This does not surprise me in the slightest - in a stable loving environment, they are daftest of all breeds, and will mother/love anything.

 

[Earthwürm]

I have a staff that's nearly 4, never seen an ounce of aggression in those 4 years. He's lively which makes some people nervous, but my sisters 1 year old son is his best mate, they play for hours.

 

[Martin]

There's a popular saying, "there are no bad dogs, just bad owners."

While that's probably a bit too much of a generalisation, every now and then you'll get a one off, but for the most part, I see no reason to doubt it. It's like humans. Bring a kid up well, and 99 times out of 100, it'll be a good kid, bring it up bad, there's a good chance it won't.

 

[Poisson]

A staffie has been tied to a tree, beaten and burnt on Skye Edge here in Sheffield.

I have no idea how the dog is if it is still alive but even if it survived the ordeal, the crazy people on Skye Edge would kick it in just for fun

 

[TheMan]

I have a staff that's nearly 4, never seen an ounce of aggression in those 4 years. He's lively which makes some people nervous, but my sisters 1 year old son is his best mate, they play for hours.

This comes as no surprise, they are play machines - they are like your mate who always replies "go on then" regardless of how sozzled down the boozer he is, but with playing ;D - great to hear Earth, thank you!

There's a popular saying, "there are no bad dogs, just bad owners."

While that's probably a bit too much of a generalisation, every now and then you'll get a one off, but for the most part, I see no reason to doubt it. It's like humans. Bring a kid up well, and 99 times out of 100, it'll be a good kid, bring it up bad, there's a good chance it won't.

I think with dogs, the majority can be fixed up much easier than people. They don't hold grudges generally, or over think - quite often the best way to fix a problem a person has given to a dog, is get it around some stable dogs to remind it what dog is. Humanising dogs is a big problem. They have brilliantly adapted to be our companions, it is important they get the same in return. Even those tiny dogs, are still dogs at the end of the day.

A staffie has been tied to a tree, beaten and burnt on Skye Edge here in Sheffield.

I have no idea how the dog is if it is still alive but even if it survived the ordeal, the crazy people on Skye Edge would kick it in just for fun

That is awful, and another example of the trauma these poor dogs go through, vilified by press, other dog owners (who really don't have a clue half the time), over bred, mistreated. Terrible.

The thing is, Staffies are not actually the cause of these issues, they are most often the victims - and then it is compounded further with irresponsible reporting and just out and out myths and lies.

Glad there is so much love for them in here, and understanding of exactly what the breed is really like when given what all dogs need - stable, loving homes.

*Proud*

 

[Orlando parks]

While my Labrador was attacked by a Staff when she was a puppy, we are fine with them as a breed, while she is stupidly scared of every staffie she now see's we feel sorry for the dog that attacked her, and I would never say no to having a staffie myself in the future. Dogs should be treated on individual cases, not on breeds as an irresponsible owner could turn any breed of dog violent.

 

[TheMan]

Well said Orlando.

I thought I would add this:

A soft face, affectionate eyes - so many even the ones that have problems, begin like this.

Take time to consider that, when hearing about dogs in rescues for example with problems.

I have been privileged to work briefly with some brilliant dog behaviourists, shelters, and charities - informally, but knowing what our K9 companions are going through I am committed to discussing it wherever I go.

They are brilliant creatures, that can really teach us brilliant lessons. Calm, diligence, real selfless affection, patience, exercise and the greatest of all psychological tools in the book - a big slobbery kiss.

Dogs teach us a lot if we stop trying to boss them around, and actually listen, learn their language and become well trained and responsible owners. We will often pet them, play around, teach them tricks, go for a walk etc - what I have learned though is they really are capable of way more than this... but only when we take time to fully understand them.

I couldn't deal with some dogs that friends and colleagues of mine have. I am however grateful they taught me more about how to communicate with them, at their level.

 

[Jonathan]

Mild bump, but the incident in Greater Manchester yesterday is once again getting people thinking about dog ownership. Fleet Street Fox is making a lot of sense. The problem is not with the dogs themselves - it is, as has been pointed out many times in this topic, irresponsible owners. With good training, they can be great.

This is slightly off-topic, but when I was younger, I used to be quite scared of one of the Border Collies that my grandparents owned (they had two for a good number of years). Whenever I walked past him, he just barked for no real reason. He died several years ago, as did the other one, and she was lovely. Last year, they got a new Border Collie pup - Meg - and yeah, she's been a bit temperamental at times, but she's a great dog. Plus she's had some very cute puppies.

 

[TheMan]

Mild bump, but the incident in Greater Manchester yesterday is once again getting people thinking about dog ownership. Fleet Street Fox is making a lot of sense. The problem is not with the dogs themselves - it is, as has been pointed out many times in this topic, irresponsible owners. With good training, they can be great.

This is slightly off-topic, but when I was younger, I used to be quite scared of one of the Border Collies that my grandparents owned (they had two for a good number of years). Whenever I walked past him, he just barked for no real reason. He died several years ago, as did the other one, and she was lovely. Last year, they got a new Border Collie pup - Meg - and yeah, she's been a bit temperamental at times, but she's a great dog. Plus she's had some very cute puppies.

If you research the dogs with the highest attack rates you'd be surprised also, it's often little ones - the thing is, people usually just laugh when one of those has a total mental at someone.

I have found Collies to be one of the most temperamental breeds around, I don't think it is any co-incidence at all that they are the ones from which so many pups still come from working stock, where they must use their wit, skill, abundant intelligence, and almost relentless energy levels - and are suddenly forced into a completely different domestic situation.

Some cope, others don't. Their breed working heritage is so much stronger than most breeds, as they are still so actively used. It makes sense that not all will respond well.

They are a difficult, but incredibly rewarding breed - and as you say, as puppies, well my word!
...

Courtesy Daily Pets

I am a huge admirer of the breed, well all dogs really, and again a great friend of mine travels around the UK rehabilitating dogs recommended for behavioural euthanasia. Given some of those who are recommending this, it becomes abundantly apparent just how few "professionals" have a clue about, to quote Mr Milan "What 'dog', really means".

Also of course, we must remember dogs are descendants of wolves, are powerful creatures, and deserve that respect - that is also often forgotten as they are carted around in hang bags (eugh!). Most dog owners are indeed responsible, accidents happen, but also so many responsible owners, are utterly clueless as to how or what their dogs are communicating to them.

Think about it, we spend our life training our dogs to do what we want - they understand on the whole and do it, yet we seldom give them the same respect, realise it or not.

And we are the more intelligent?

The more I work with dogs, the less I am inclined to believe it.

 

[Jonathan]

I think I forgot to mention in my original post that my grandparents used to live on a farm, and so the Border Collies were working dogs.

 

[TheMan]

I think I forgot to mention in my original post that my grandparents used to live on a farm, and so the Border Collies were working dogs.

Gosh I bet they are bright as buttons!!

In case people don't know also, they can be noisy, Collies really like the sound of their own voices ;D - something that annoys some, but never fails to have me in bits with laughter.