General Chat

Mrs P - When my dog died, it was a sunday morning, snowing and freezing cold. We buried our Sherry ourselves, with her lead, collar and toys, so emotional. I kept one of her toys, I keep it on the windowsill in my bedroom above where she died. I vowed I would never get another dog again, I didn't want to put myself through that pain again. But 1 year later my husband phoned to tell me he'd bought another staff, my Coco.

Some people are nasty due to their past or present lifestyle - others may turn nasty without warning. The same can apply to children, especially if they are not guided or disciplined This also applies to dogs. They need to be trained, whilst being treated with kindness, from an early age, and they need to be given quality time every day. Children and dogs are for life - sadly not everyone recognises that. Jay

oh bless her...xx Libbyxx my baby had been made to have pups to early when we got her..... she was a wreck....shes 15 now.....and i took so many pics this xmas as i know it will bw her last...CRYING NOW!! shes a huge lump of love...she has so many lumps and cysts.... she adored my son from the moment he was born...and when she goes....i dont know how we are gonna tell himxx

This case, like others lately gives a bad name to certain breeds. I agree no breed of dog should be fully trusted. I know people who own nasty tempered small terriers, which bite everyone except their owners!! A few years ago a local woman was set on by 2 Boxer Dogs & was quite seriously hurt! We had a labrador, but I never left her alone with my children, when were very young. (not just in case she should hurt them, but also so that she was not pulled about by them)

My dog doesn't make a guard dog either. I've owned a staff before, her name was Sherry, what a brilliant dog, never showed any aggression towards anyone except other dogs. She died on my bedroom floor 7 years ago, I hate to say it, but it was worse than losing a member of my family. I still miss her. I've got Coco now, she's 5, she's a good dog, a bit more scatty than Sherry.

Spot on Mrs P. We have photos of my daughter, sat in Bella's bed with her pups when they were ten days old - mind you she was a lousy mother - gave up completely after 6 weeks !! Libby

as soon as my son was born...we made sure 'TESSY' licked him...and got to know him.......

Carol.i don't think we can put staffs in the same category as pit balls...do you?? shes my babyxx

They are not kept apart I just wouldn't trust them alone together. My dog actually guards my daughter, when she was first born, visitors came, as they do, my dog wouldn't let no-one near her .She used to jump up them as if it was a warning not to touch.

I too own a Staffy, she is now nearly 12 years old. Must admit when hubby first said he was getting her I was worried, my daughter was just over a year old. Did some research and spoke to some owners. Best thing I ever did. Bella is as soft as butter, great with kids - has had to be. LOL. Lousy guard dog though!! Libby

Hiya I think that any dog has the capabilities to attack.. But in saying that i think that some breeds are more prone to this than others.. You can never really trust any dog..not 100% anyway.

I have a Staff...shes as soppy as ars..... do u really keep the two apart??? i'd never let somone muzzle my baby!!

Wasn't it just heartbreaking to hear of the fatal, savage attack on a 5 year old girl by a Pit Bull Terrier. Yesterday the police seized more pit bull terrier type dogs in the same area, they suspect are being bred for fighting. Did I miss something? but didn't a law come in to phase out these dogs in the late 80s or early 90s. I know not all pit bulls have the same temperament, some are gentle. If these dogs were being bred in this country, against the law, there must have been quite alot of people who had knowledge of this and turned a blind eye. Yesterdays seizure was a result of a tip off, it takes the death of a child for someone to do something. I own a staffordshire bull terrier, I also have a 3 year old, I would never leave them alone together, (not that I think this is the case in merseyside) because you never know, even though my dog is soppy as a sack. There's talk now of all bull terriers having to be muzzled in public, the only crime my dog could be guilty of is licking someone to death. I do understand totally if this law came into force, bull terriers are very powerful.Saying that all dogs whatever breed are capable of causing injury, or to the extreme even death.