What can be done about..........

[RATTER15]

the explosion of Staffordshire bull terriers (Staffies) this dog is now becoming a major problem as they are so fashionable to be seen with, creating the hard man/woman

The problem is, irresponsible breeders trying to make a fast buck and people buying this breed purely for the looks of the dog, often with no idea of training or the fact that they actually need to exercise the dog etc.

The dog rescue societies etc are full to the gunnel's with these breeds and they are being destroyed by the the hundreds daily!

I really don't have a problem with the breed, they are great little dogs when bred and trained correctly, but in the wrong hands they can be a big problem.

Would compulsory training be the answer maybe?

I think if these people had to commit to a compulsory training regime for one evening a week for 3 months, maybe they would think twice about the purchasing of these poor dogs. then the ones that went through with the training would then know a little about the dog and its needs and they don't get a dog license until the training test has been passed, they then get their license which is displayed on the dogs collar.

I don't think licencing alone is really the answer as often these people have the finances available to buy the license.

I think dogs should be licensed but i don't think it is the answer to these dogs being bred irresponsibly.

Your views please?

[RATTER15]

Woofgang, your inability to train your own dog is very evident in what you say, you done that much damage to your dog, not the trainer, how can you deliberately cause so much damage and not realise it, are you really that stupid?

Generally dog training is common sense, we only take our dogs for training to socialise our dogs and for a social evening for ourselves with like minded people and for club events.

"Ratter you are lucky that you don't have a problem with your dogs. Not all dogs are as easily trained "

how do you know how easily trained our dogs are?

"Lucky"!! no not lucky, just hard work and willing to learn and put in the time and effort to train them to the rquired and acceptable standard.

Wolfhounds are naturally very gentle and non aggressive dogs, however they can be very stubborn and actually not easily trained and at the end of the day, if your are not able to train your dog to an acceptable standard, don't get a dog!!

Incidentally, we never hit our dogs or raise are voice at them, we just establish pack leader from day one, that is the biggest part of dog training and the part that requires most time and commitment, the rest follows.

even aggressive rescue dogs can be trained to be be non aggressive if you know what you are doing, if you don't know what you are doing, you shouldn't have such a dog.

[LoftyLottie]

Ratter that is very harsh.

Woofgang has had dogs for years and years and well trained dogs at that. So have I. There are good and bad professional dog trainers. Personally, we have managed to train all our rescued dogs ourselves and had no problems, even with some of the dreadful problems those dogs had when we took them on.

No dog is 100% trustworthy. No human is 100% trustworthy.

[LoftyLottie]

Perhaps parents should go to compulsary training classes before acquiring their children?

[RATTER15]

Harsh maybe. We took our pup to a dog training school, it was horrendous, people were screaming and shouting at their dogs and dragging them around the hall on their leads, the trainer was at a loss and was useless, we never went back to that school and we told them why.

How can a knowledgeable dog owner permit that much damage to his dog and not realise it is happening?


I accept that there are certainly good and bad trainers but anybody with a little common sense will sort out the good ones and the bad ones within a lesson or two.

Look for a club that runs the good citizen award schemes, these clubs trainers are accredited by the KC and the examination at the end is by a representative of the KC.

I'm no fan of the kennel club but they do set a good standard for dog training.

[LoftyLottie]

Having kept dogs for 40 years now and having no need for training classes, I think I shall carry on the same way. Rescued dogs are not always easy. I just don't like the whole dog training cult thing. No two dogs are alike or need the same sort of training. Much like children in my opinion!

[icemaiden]

My terriers are off the lead when I feel the situation is right. But, sometimes I have to keep one of my Terriers on a lead. Why? Because stupid people who insist on coming up to him in a really stupid voice, crouching over him, reaching out to stroke him even though I say not to touch him. And they wonder why they get bitten. Why do people do this? I would NEVER touch a dog I don't know. He happily goes on his way and then some tw*t thinks he can come over and rough him up! It really annoys me!

And Ratter, Yes it is sad that some dogs will never run off a lead but whats the alternative? Put them down and have no life at all. These people may have huge gardens that their dogs run around.

[RATTER15]

Icemaiden, the answer is training!!

[icemaiden]

The last paragraph was directed at dogs who are aggressive not one's that havent been trained to recall. Yes, I agree that people should take the time to train their dogs correctly.

[LoftyLottie]

Icey, I agree with you. We have to respect that some people are actually nervous to see a dog off the lead, and I would never, ever, have a dog off a lead in a town/traffic situation. It unnerves people and distracts drivers as well. As I keep saying, no dog and no human is 100% reliable.

My little terrier has no interest in other dogs or other people and hates being approached by either. She just has a very nervous disposition and you can deal with and help, but not cure, nervous dispositions. She has never bitten, but does warn with a growl, but I wouldn't trust her not to bite if someone rushed at her shrieking, as some kids do.

She runs free off the lead, but not when there are loads of people around and when Iwe think it is suitable. She is quite happy on her extending lead and will walk to heal when we tell her. An extending lead also gives me peace of mind that she won't go and get stuck down a rabbit hole of which we have many in the surrounding countryside. And she spends her day running round the garden and enjoying herself outside. It fact she has a dog's life! ;o)

[LoftyLottie]

Yes, dogs should be trained, but not necessarily by qualified trainers. We train our dogs to our standards, quite high standards.

[RATTER15]

Like I said, we take all our dogs to training classes but more for the social aspect and socialising the dogs. We actually train our dogs the way that works for us and our dogs, these ways will sometimes conflict with dog trainers.

I have had terriers for over 25 years and worked them successfully, they are amazing but head strong dogs generally, but again I have never had one that I wouldn't totally trust in any situation, I have never had a snappy or yappy terrier.
It all comes down to ability, dedication and standards!

[LoftyLottie]

Sorry Ratter, you cannot trust dogs or humans 100% in unforeseen circumstances.

[icemaiden]

Ditto-Loftylottie

[woofgang]

Ratter I am not sure what I have said to warrant your abusive outburst. Your response to my first post on this thread was a bit chippy but I thought I'd ignore it. I am not going to ignore this one.
You don't know me or my dogs. Please do not comment as though you do.
I didn't say that your dogs were easy to train I said "as easily trained"...different.
I didn't say that the trainer had damaged my dogs, I said that the trainer had "made them worse".....different.
Anyway i have reported your post as abusive....the other reporting option was stupidity but abusive won it by a hair.
Have a nice day won't you?

[netibiza]

All dogs should be muzzled when in public, I was only up my own street last week and some damn staffie came hurtling towards me crowling and gnashing it's teeth, I was terrified but I stood my ground with large handbag at ready, when a female opened her door and said he won't hurt you, he then rushed at a woman holding a baby and just stood growling at them, I was terrified so said to the owner please get your dog (in spanish, difficult when under stress), after a few seconds (seemed like years) she cme and got the spitting howling creature. That should have been trained and that should wear a muzzle at all times. How do these owners know it won't attack, as Lottie says no dog is 100 per cent (can't find the symbol) trustworthy.

[RATTER15]

Sometimes the truth hurts!! ;-)

[LoftyLottie]

I would disagree that all dogs should wear a muzzle in public Neti. A muzzle would make a non aggressive aggressive and agitated. Some people should wear muzzles in public too. Ratter, you have shown yourself up badly on this thread. There was no need to be abusive to Woofgang, a mature lady who has kept dogs for many, many years and knows exactly what she is doing. She only gave her opinion (which others happen to agree with). For your own sake, I hope your dogs never let you down. They may surprise you!

[wolf63]

ratter - I know that you feel strongly about this, but your opinion (right or wrong) is just that - YOUR opinion. You have lovely and well behaved dogs, but so have many of the others who have contributed to this thread.

You are a regular AB contributor and your posts are usually helpful, intelligent and well balanced.

I respect you input to this problem dogs problem, and we all agree that Staffies (lovely little dogs that they are) are the latest 'accessory' in the Chav world. I only wish that I knew the answer to the problem. It is a shame that these terriers are Demonised because of the way that they are used and treated by humans.

Susan

[RATTER15]

Wolf 63. My dogs surprise me everyday but I also trust them 100% in any situation, I don't take all this credit myself, it is also the nature of the dogs we keep, you will very rarely find an aggressive Irish wolfhound.

Woofgang is a mature lady? the name led me to believe it was a male for some reason, I apologise for being so outspoken to a woman!
my views are the same but I would not have spoken so harshly to a woman.

I think most men could shrug off my comments as I often do.

My apologies Woofgang for being offensive.

and yes I know I get carried away and defensive sometimes, none of us are perfect but I don't generally let rip at Women.

Once again Woofgang I apologise.

[LoftyLottie]

Ratter, with respect, it shouldn't matter whether you are talking to a woman or a man. for all please ;o).
We all deserve respect. None of us know who anybody else is on this site. One rule
My normally well behaved terrier gave me a nasty turn today, instead of getting out of the car and going into the garden something caught her eye and she bolted towards the main road. It has never happened before and terrified me. Goodness knows what happened or why she did it, but it was strange that it was today and after what I put on this thread. Fortunately she stopped at the side of the road, knew I was angry and that she had done wrong and sat there shivering with expectation of my reaction. Yes, she got reprimanded, but the way she was acting it was as if she expected me to punish her with some awful beating! Hardly likely.