Guest Ams Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/logan/staffies-in-attack-spotlight/story-fn8m0u8i-1226279853727 A city-wide report into dog attack investigations has revealed one in seven incidents involved staffordshire terriers or one of their cross-breeds. It showed that of 702 dog attack investigations carried out last financial year where the breed was recorded, a staffy or staffy-cross was involved in 104 cases. The second highest number of attacks was by cattle dogs with 69, closely followed by rottweilers with 46 attacks, mastiffs with 41 attacks and german shepherds with 38 attacks. From the incidents, 27 dogs were declared menacing and dangerous, including four staffies, and 46 dogs were surrendered to the pound. RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said the high number of staffy-cross attacks could be attributed to the popularity of the breed. "Virtually half the dogs in Queensland would be staffy crosses, so it would be unfair to blame the breed," he said. "Purebreds tend to be good dogs, the problem is when you mix them with other breeds, and if they are in the wrong hands with people who shouldn't have dogs. Anvet Beenleigh practice manager Anna Graham, agreed that the high concentration of staffy-crosses could explain why there were more recorded attacks attributed to them. She said staffordshire bull terriers were good family pets, but owners had to bear in mind with any breed of dog, they were traditionally bred for specific purposes or traits. "It's really important before they (owners) get a dog, to look into what's involved. A lot of adult dog behaviour links directly back to their life as a puppy. "Dogs will attack people because they're defending their territory, aggression motivated by fear, fight or flight instinct." Ms Graham said it was important to have a puppy well socialised and habituated, meet different people of varying ages and races, and always have positive experiences with people so they're not seen as a threat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) Hardly suprising, given that any brindle mongrel less than hip height is labelled as one. I like to see no dogs registered to as a particular breed unless they are microchipped as such and matching ANKC papers are provided as proof of breed. Edited February 25, 2012 by Pav Lova Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lavendergirl Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I saw a copy of this local paper and it had a picture of a Staffy - or might have been Staffyx - on the front with the banner headline "PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER 1". It did go on to quote a breeder talking about the problem being irresponsible owners etc but the headline was just ridiculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra777 Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Here's two "staffy crosses" - and people wonder why there's a problem? Both dogs were rehomed out of the same pound, both dogs are registered with the same council as "Staffy cross" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Here's some more classic examples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 (edited) You would be amazed at the amount of people that do not know what a real staffordshire bull terrier looks like... I adopted a gorgeous staffy cross from the local pound when Ollie dog went to the bridge and the amount of people at the local dog park who think he is pure just stuns me... I had one woman say today he is a lovely example of his breed and has such a great temperament. I explained to her that he is a cross breed and obviously has some staffy in him but he is way to big to be a stafford at almost 11 months old and already 23kg.. She thought they were all that big. Just on cue, my adorable little foster girl, Coco, who is a pure stafford turned up for a play date and I showed the woman what a real stafford looks like... She said, 'I would have thought she was the cross as she is so small'... Coco is 14kg... So many people genuinely don't know what a real stafford looks like... Edited February 26, 2012 by Staffyluv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra777 Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 You would be amazed at the amount of people that do not know what a real staffordshire bull terrier looks like... I adopted a gorgeous staffy cross from the local pound when Ollie dog went to the bridge and the amount of people at the local dog park who think he is pure just stuns me... I had one woman say today he is a lovely example of his breed and has such a great temperament. I explained to her that he is a cross breed and obviously has some staffy in him but he is way to big to be a stafford at almost 11 months old and already 23kg.. She thought they were all that big. Just on cue, my adorable little foster girl, Coco, who is a pure stafford turned up for a play date and I showed the woman what a real stafford looks like... She said, 'I would have thought she was the cross as she is so small'... Coco is 14kg... So many people genuinely don't know what a real stafford looks like... Totally agree. I have had people argue with me that neither of my specialist BIS winning bitches could be pure bred because they were too small. I did offer to fetch the registration papers for one man :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebbles Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I sometimes go through the pound sites around here and it just horrifies me at some of the ID's that are given. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I sometimes go through the pound sites around here and it just horrifies me at some of the ID's that are given. and those very same council officers are the one's who ID dogs when attacks happen. Sure some owners chip their dogs as the breed they think it is or would like it to be but many of those ending up in pounds or attacking have no chip at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpotTheDog Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 The only problem I have with the promotion of pure bred dogs is how somehow, the message that breed is a good indication of traits, size and behaviour got twisted about so people are now determined to identify any and all breeds that are in their dog. I'd like to reclaim the word 'mongrel'. When people ask me what my dog is, I say 'a mongrel'. And they press and say 'well yes of course, but what BREED is he a cross with?' And I usually say 'No idea, I don't think it matters really though. He's quite the mongrel.' If we all used 'mongrel' a lot more there might be less emphasis on breed - the pictures show the ridiculousness of identifying a dog as a staffy X. I started posting on these forums after getting my dog from a shelter in Victoria who had him listed as a staffy X. I told them I felt he was more Bull Arab (another glorified term for 'mongrel' really, but with more of a suggestion of size) and they told me 'Yes, but we always just say 'staffy X' because people don't like the word 'bull' and everybody loves staffies'. (Yes, I'm aware of the stupidity of not realising that staffy is short for staffordshire BULL terrier.) The upshot is my mongrel landed at his adult weight of 30kgs aged nearly two years. He has shoulders like a tank, a head that's pitbull type, one ear like a staffy and the other that sits upright like the Tramp from the Disney movie, and an arse like a greyhound. I have him registered as a bull arab X, (partly because the irony of registering my dog as a mongrel mongrel entertains me, but also because again I think it's a more fair indication of size). But seriously, can we have the word 'mongrel' back? Can we register our dogs more honestly like 'terrier type mongrel, 20kgs' or 'bull type mongrel, 25 kgs' or 'sighthound type mongrel, 70cms, 35 kgs' instead of making up some crossbreed rubbish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandybrush Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 yes they are a very popular breed. but any breed that has alot of idiot owners buying them are in chance for becoming the most "aggressive" breed I really think that by law every new puppy owner must do preschool with the pup. at least. that will weed out anyone who doesnt want to give the puppy time and training. I know it would be another hard one to follow up on, but pple need training and to learn really how to handle their dogs just my 2 cents anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandgrubber Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 The only problem I have with the promotion of pure bred dogs is how somehow, the message that breed is a good indication of traits, size and behaviour got twisted about so people are now determined to identify any and all breeds that are in their dog. I'd like to reclaim the word 'mongrel'. When people ask me what my dog is, I say 'a mongrel'. And they press and say 'well yes of course, but what BREED is he a cross with?' And I usually say 'No idea, I don't think it matters really though. He's quite the mongrel.' If we all used 'mongrel' a lot more there might be less emphasis on breed - the pictures show the ridiculousness of identifying a dog as a staffy X. I started posting on these forums after getting my dog from a shelter in Victoria who had him listed as a staffy X. I told them I felt he was more Bull Arab (another glorified term for 'mongrel' really, but with more of a suggestion of size) and they told me 'Yes, but we always just say 'staffy X' because people don't like the word 'bull' and everybody loves staffies'. (Yes, I'm aware of the stupidity of not realising that staffy is short for staffordshire BULL terrier.) The upshot is my mongrel landed at his adult weight of 30kgs aged nearly two years. He has shoulders like a tank, a head that's pitbull type, one ear like a staffy and the other that sits upright like the Tramp from the Disney movie, and an arse like a greyhound. I have him registered as a bull arab X, (partly because the irony of registering my dog as a mongrel mongrel entertains me, but also because again I think it's a more fair indication of size). But seriously, can we have the word 'mongrel' back? Can we register our dogs more honestly like 'terrier type mongrel, 20kgs' or 'bull type mongrel, 25 kgs' or 'sighthound type mongrel, 70cms, 35 kgs' instead of making up some crossbreed rubbish? Mongrel is derogatory. I'd prefer 'mutt' . . . which sounds more loveable. If the shelter/pound just labels the dog as 'mongrel' people are still going to come back and ask what breeds its parents were. In my experience in boarding kennels, 'staffy X' is a common label for short-haired, middle sized, DA dogs. It may have nothing to do with bloodlines, but the reputation sure is there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpotTheDog Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Mongrel is derogatory. I'd prefer 'mutt' . . . which sounds more loveable. If the shelter/pound just labels the dog as 'mongrel' people are still going to come back and ask what breeds its parents were. In my experience in boarding kennels, 'staffy X' is a common label for short-haired, middle sized, DA dogs. It may have nothing to do with bloodlines, but the reputation sure is there. It's only derogatory in Australia. ( Australia, where 'mongrel' is derogatory and 'wog' is in everyday use... :laugh: ) Or even 'Bitsa' or some other term meaning 'crossbreed' or 'dog of unknown heritage'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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