Dog issue (Staffie)

semi-pro waster said:
I don't have children myself but quite often see small children who appear to be petrified of dogs
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Well at that age their developmental wiring teaches them to be frightened of anything and everything. It's nothing really to do with the parents and everything to do with genetics. Although unhelpful and anxious parents will make it worse. If you watch a child's development of fear of say strangers it follows quite a logical pattern - nonexistent at the start (no need as always with the mother therefore a stress response would be wholly negative) to developing at crawling age (stranger fear from removing from the mother - a stress response would increase chances of survival) to completely in overload (toddling age when often away from the mother - a stress response would almost certainly increase the chances of survival). I guess what I am saying is that it is unrealistic to expect children not to be frightened of dogs or anything at such ages - it's quite normal.

As to this specific dog - well it's from a breed that has been bred for a purpose rather unrealistic to expect it completely placidly in all circumstances. But most dogs will be more indicative of their owner than their breed but saying that I would not leave the kids alone with the animal no matter the owner or the breed.
 
I see you've already decided but I would have three questions really...
What is the dog owner like? Is their dog under control or rule the roost?

What are your children like with dogs?
If your kids respect the dog, don't pull it's tail, don't make quick movements towards it, don't scream, don't reach to pat the top of it's head, don't pull it's tale, don't bonk it with lego etc. there isn't a reason for any problems.

I see far more kids who don't know how to understand dogs than anything...my nephew was just the same. He loved dogs but wasn't really allowed near then due to his mums fear. When he met our German Shepherd he didn't know how to react with it so would dart his hand out to it's head quickly. Poor dog just looked at me with the "why would you inflict this upon me" stare.
When we explained to him how to behave with a dog they got on fantastically.

Every time he came round after that he wanted to meet the dog, much to his mums annoyance. :D
 
Kenai said:
You say that like you're speaking from experience? :eek:
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:o + :p

I've had Frank ten years with very few incidents & none that any other breed wouldn't have & thinking about it the trouble has Always been caused by another breed dog off a lead approaching Frank on a lead.
Even though my house is around 15 yards from the park I walk around the streets 2 to 3 times a day & keep Frank on his lead because other owners are not as responsible as me. :(
 
Well every dog is different but my dog is so good with children that he won't even snarl when they pull his fur and he's got a lot of it as he's a samoyed (snow dog). If a dog really is good with children it's quite cute to watch, my dog tends to round them up and keep them together haha.
 
Xordium said:
Well at that age their developmental wiring teaches them to be frightened of anything and everything. It's nothing really to do with the parents and everything to do with genetics. Although unhelpful and anxious parents will make it worse. If you watch a child's development of fear of say strangers it follows quite a logical pattern - nonexistent at the start (no need as always with the mother therefore a stress response would be wholly negative) to developing at crawling age (stranger fear from removing from the mother - a stress response would increase chances of survival) to completely in overload (toddling age when often away from the mother - a stress response would almost certainly increase the chances of survival). I guess what I am saying is that it is unrealistic to expect children not to be frightened of dogs or anything at such ages - it's quite normal.
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I'm afraid I haven't been specific enough which has led to a bit of confusion, I'm not just thinking of children in the age range that Maximum Triceratops has. Part of my observations have been with a worried mother/father shouting at a dog owner whose pet is simply walking over to investigate which is why I'd have thought that a learned response was the cause. I don't know whether after say 5 years old that may be a more likely explanation for a fear of dogs but it's my fault for a lack of clarity so thank you for the explanation anyway.
 
With anything with dogs regardless of the breed, never leave them alone with children. Always monitor them together.


A recent study carried out on 6,000 dogs and their owners found out 33 of the most aggressive dogs, and also those which have good temperaments. The study involved collecting data from two different groups. The first group consisted of 11 different breeds and the second was an online survey mainly involving owners, including 33 breeds. The conclusions from both groups were similar. It looked at the different types of aggression such as towards other dogs, towards strangers and towards owners. Some of the results were surprising, below are the top ten most aggressive breed:

Dachshunds
Chihuahua
Jack Russell
Australian Cattle Dog
Cocker Spaniel
Beagle
Border Collie
Pit Bull Terrier
Great Dane
English Springer Spaniel

Some dogs that have a bad image and are considered aggressive are the Boxer, Bulldogs, Pit Bull Terriers, Great Danes, Mastiffs, German Shepherds and Rottweilers. According to this study this is how they ranked:
Great Dane: 9. This breed is actually very patient, gentle and affectionate. Although its size can be an issue with small children, it gets on well with children.
Rottweilers: 15. This dog is very loyal and can be fiercely protective which may cause it to be aggressive. However, it is a hard working, powerful, devoted dog that gets on well with children if they are brought up with them.
Boxer: 16. These dogs are actually good with children. They make good watchdogs. As they have a protective nature; they may be aggressive if they feel their owner is being threatened.
German Shepherds (Alsatians): 17. An alert, loyal, courageous and intelligent breed. These dogs are good with children and they are very protective making them effective watchdogs.
Mastiffs: 21. These dogs are very dignified, loyal creatures with a pleasant nature, resembling gentle giants. Their size means they can be a problem with small children, but they get on well with children.


http://www.dogbiteclaims.co.uk/dangerous-breeds.html
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4T5 said:
:o + :p

I've had Frank ten years with very few incidents & none that any other breed wouldn't have & thinking about it the trouble has Always been caused by another breed dog off a lead approaching Frank on a lead.
Even though my house is around 15 yards from the park I walk around the streets 2 to 3 times a day & keep Frank on his lead because other owners are not as responsible as me. :(
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The only issue I know of with our old staffie, was that one day he did go after an Alsation (I believe he was on a lead at the time). Thing is, he'd been attacked by an Alsation as a pup, so it was understandable. No other issues I believe.

j0s said:
With anything with dogs regardless of the breed, never leave them alone with children. Always monitor them together.
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To be honest if I had a small kid I'd be more wary of a jack Russell than a staffie... Well if owner was the same... We just don't see Jack russells as an issue as adults because if one tries to attack you, kick one and it goes flying.

kd
 
semi-pro waster said:
I'm afraid I haven't been specific enough which has led to a bit of confusion, I'm not just thinking of children in the age range that Maximum Triceratops has. Part of my observations have been with a worried mother/father shouting at a dog owner whose pet is simply walking over to investigate which is why I'd have thought that a learned response was the cause. I don't know whether after say 5 years old that may be a more likely explanation for a fear of dogs but it's my fault for a lack of clarity so thank you for the explanation anyway.
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Well kids of that age still fear an awful lot and the ability to fear is quite pronounced in them. How that fear presents in explicit examples is as you highlight an environmental factor in the main eg drowning incident = fear of water etc some fears appear to be hardwired though eg snakes or falling etc.

What is important though is that the fears are dealt with and rationalised as unhealthy fear causes stress and frequent exposure to that would actually drastically hinder a child's development. So if you are the kind of parent who does worry a bit then it's probably not best to live next door to a person who has a doberman. I am also not totally against the idea that if say that parent had themselves suffered a stressful event, eg a dog bit them, that a memory of that event in some form would be retained in the child. I did some work many years back with reactions to hippos of all things where familial reactions were statistically consistent despite no personal exposure to the creatures. Nothing serious research wise mind but I would like to take it further one day.

You can't blame the parents in that case though really. It's also a natural reaction. Most dogs would never attack the child but some would. Most guns are not used to shoot people either but I wouldn't want one around my kids :-)
 
wouldnt let a staffy anywhere near my kids, i was brung up with Dogs, and understand full well, they can spin on a penny mood wise.

they just need to be unwell, or ****ed of that day to snap at kids.

kids and a staffy are a no go as far as i am concerned, no matter how many 'hes as cuddly as mickey mouse' posts i see.

as long as there is a tiny chance they can turn, thern thats enough for me.

you dont know the dog, dont take peeps word for it. take no chances, refuse to have it in the house, until at least you have got to 'know' the dog without kids around
 
My staffy is great with kids about 5 and above. Around my friends daughter who is 7 he knows to be cautious with her, and she also knows to approach him slowly from the front and not to go near him when he's eating.

They have a 3 year old daughter too, and I either leave him on the lead or shut him in the bedroom when she's here. I dont want to take the chance of her poking or doing something and he reacts.
 
soundood said:
wouldnt let a staffy anywhere near my kids, i was brung up with Dogs, and understand full well, they can spin on a penny mood wise.

they just need to be unwell, or ****ed of that day to snap at kids.

kids and a staffy are a no go as far as i am concerned, no matter how many 'hes as cuddly as mickey mouse' posts i see.

as long as there is a tiny chance they can turn, thern thats enough for me.

you dont know the dog, dont take peeps word for it. take no chances, refuse to have it in the house, until at least you have got to 'know' the dog without kids around
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Fenris said:
With that attitude I'm amazed you can even leave the house.

ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN!
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Personally I agree with soundood, as said already gonna tell the missus to keep them apart, not worth the risk even if it is a very small risk.
 
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