Paul O'Grady

[sammy13]

Fair play to him -

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/paul-ogrady-defends-staffies-a-4505911?ICID=FB_mirror_main

[decoy]

have know a few staffies all have been soft as muck and awesome dogs
as said it the owner not the dog thats the prob

[thatguy]

I am not a fan of staffies myself, but I love Akitas. Most people see them as dangerous dogs, but if well rasied they are THE BEST animal to have around families, especially children. They develop stong ties to people they know. I've known many people with them as pets and the only danger they ever posed to me was licking me to death. They are beautiful creatures and the fact that idiots who cannot take responsability for their own lives, never mind a dogs give thema bad name should not detract from the knowledge they are loyal and loving animals.

Dogs, just like people are a product of their upbringing. Dogs are not born aggressive, this is a trait they learn through training or abuse.

[Perpetua]

I'm a huge fan of Paul O'Grady and religiously watch his For the Love of Dogs series he makes in conjunction with Battersea.

All dogs have the potential, if trained incorrectly/bought up in the wrong environment to do harm . . . sadly the breeds are given the bad name, rather than the owners.

My little Sammy's best ' friends ' were 2 Rotties and a GSD - they were all without exception, so gentle with him.

[igual]

Staffies are also known as the nanny dog for good reason.
Any animal if bought up badily or bread badly will have issues be it temperamental behaviour to severe aggression. ( puppy farms have a lot to answer for) as genetics do play a role in dogs psychological makeup as well as physical.
My stepdaughter had a staffie for many years called molly.
Dopiest soppy thing and she was great natured. I would trust her with the kids.
Now my dog koda is a German shepherd, she's an autism support dog that we trained at expense to work with autistics special needs kids. She's is also a hospital dog.
Her breed gets a fair bit of bad press as they are used by police, military, security, rescue sectors.
We have had situations were peeps have been afraid of koda due to the breeds reputation, including peeps actively crossing road etc.
They are amazing guard dogs but very intuitive same as a staff.
Staffs might lack a little in the brain department they make up in love if bought up right.

[Deleted]

Barbara Woodhouse said 'never a bad dog, just a bad owner' sic. Loved that woman

[Greg]

Christ when I saw the title I thought he was a goner !

[chrisintheuk]

I have always said that its mainly down to the owners of the dogs if it is nasty, I have owed English Bull Terriers for the last 20 years and I have never had a problem and always found them to be very loyal and loving dogs

[Phoenix .]

The one thing that puts me off this breed..they smell terrible, don't know the reason for it but my daughter had 2 and they smelled even after having a bath?

[300]

I've been attacked & on occasion bitten by various breeds of dog, Collies, JRT, GSD, Rhodesian Ridgeback, even had a Shar-Pei sink it's teeth... customer says 'oh, forgot to say the dog likes to nip!!!!' & of course not forgetting Staffies, despite this i still love dogs.... on a lead & under control.

Once had a Staffie hanging off my trouser leg & woman had to drag it off, dog turned on her, made a right mess of her hand, terrifying experience.

Working at a customer's property, lady took a phone call from her Sister, lady was distraught, Sister's 11yr old Son in hospital, been attacked by family pet of 7yrs, was a Staffie, Sister wanted her to collect the dog & take it to vets to be PTS, it gets worse, dog was from a litter that this lady had bred.

Out walking our dog one evening Staffie launched itself at us, it dragged the woman to her knees, i got a string of abuse when i told her to get it muzzled.

Out in our local country park an old guy got pulled flat on his face by a Husky snarling & frothing at the mouth, guy bust his glasses & covered in mud he never said a word, think he was in shock.

Walking the coast path at Perranporth our dog on lead was attacked by two Terriers, had to stick the boot in to get them off then had a massive argument with this guy & his Wife that nearly ended in fisticuffs 'cos i dared to touch his dogs.

I guess what i'm trying to say is aggressive behaviour is not breed specific although some breeds have potential to inflict more damage than others & also that i don't trust other peoples' dogs. When you encounter a dog for the first time you have no way of knowing if it's friendly or not until it's too late.

When we're out with our dog & there are other dogs or kids about then i show some courtesy & keep her on lead until i know they're OK together then let them off to do what all well behaved dogs normally do.

The thing i hate the most is those who have agressive dogs & know it who say 'that's what dogs do, leave them alone they'll sort it out themselves.'

I carry a Biteback spray at work & when we're out walking, it's saved my bacon more than once, it's not guaranteed to work in every situation but it's better than nothing.

I don't concern myself with the reasons for the behaviour of somebody else's dog, there's nothing i can do about that, my only concern is our own safety / behaviour.

[sammy13]

I love staffies, if I could have a dog where I live it would be the one.
I have had relatives and friends who own them, and they are strong yes, powerful yes, but soft as old boots, loyal and loving.

[sammy13]

Oct 26, 2014 12:07:15 GMT 300 said:

I've been attacked & on occasion bitten by various breeds of dog, Collies, JRT, GSD, Rhodesian Ridgeback, even had a Shar-Pei sink it's teeth... customer says 'oh, forgot to say the dog likes to nip!!!!' & of course not forgetting Staffies, despite this i still love dogs.... on a lead & under control.

Once had a Staffie hanging off my trouser leg & woman had to drag it off, dog turned on her, made a right mess of her hand, terrifying experience.

Working at a customer's property, lady took a phone call from her Sister, lady was distraught, Sister's 11yr old Son in hospital, been attacked by family pet of 7yrs, was a Staffie, Sister wanted her to collect the dog & take it to vets to be PTS, it gets worse, dog was from a litter that this lady had bred.

Out walking our dog one evening Staffie launched itself at us, it dragged the woman to her knees, i got a string of abuse when i told her to get it muzzled.

Out in our local country park an old guy got pulled flat on his face by a Husky snarling & frothing at the mouth, guy bust his glasses & covered in mud he never said a word, think he was in shock.

Walking the coast path at Perranporth our dog on lead was attacked by two Terriers, had to stick the boot in to get them off then had a massive argument with this guy & his Wife that nearly ended in fisticuffs 'cos i dared to touch his dogs.

I guess what i'm trying to say is aggressive behaviour is not breed specific although some breeds have potential to inflict more damage than others & also that i don't trust other peoples' dogs. When you encounter a dog for the first time you have no way of knowing if it's friendly or not until it's too late.

When we're out with our dog & there are other dogs or kids about then i show some courtesy & keep her on lead until i know they're OK together then let them off to do what all well behaved dogs normally do.

The thing i hate the most is those who have agressive dogs & know it who say 'that's what dogs do, leave them alone they'll sort it out themselves.'

I carry a Biteback spray at work & when we're out walking, it's saved my bacon more than once, it's not guaranteed to work in every situation but it's better than nothing.

I don't concern myself with the reasons for the behaviour of somebody else's dog, there's nothing i can do about that, my only concern is our own safety / behaviour.

Gosh you don't have much luck with dogs .

Some breeds I do believe have a viscious streak in them which has to be calmed from puppy stage, Dobermans and aquitas especially

[bonnieboy]

Oct 26, 2014 10:57:39 GMT chrisintheuk said:

I have always said that its mainly down to the owners of the dogs if it is nasty, I have owed English Bull Terriers for the last 20 years and I have never had a problem and always found them to be very loyal and loving dogs

 chrisintheuk Totally agree both about the owners and of course Bull Terriers

[Perpetua]

Oct 26, 2014 10:25:14 GMT @spikeyfridge said:

Barbara Woodhouse said 'never a bad dog, just a bad owner' sic. Loved that woman

Me to . . . an eccentric at the time, but she actually spoke a huge amount of sense.

I bought 2 dogs up the Woodhouse Way  - they lived until the grand ages of 15 and 16:

[Deleted]

My Spook nipped a workman in the house. I was mortified! I ask folk to say hello to the dogs if they come in but I cage them cos they go bananas when someone knocks on the door.