Ignorant Idiots are Driving me Insane

Hi everyone ,

Feeling rather peeved and just after some moral support. Over the last couple of days I've come across some total morons. Yesterday I was walking my lovely boy who's 16 months and we passed a man with one of those terrier dogs that look like a sheep (can't think what they are called). He was mouthing off and we said he's friendly and he said "well that's what the last person that had one of those said and it cost. £450 in vets fees!". And then today my pathetic uncle said that all staffie owners say they are nice until they change! This attitude is totally making me nervous to take him out eventhough he's got a really lovely nature. We take him to a dog park nearby and it's never him caught up in drama. He's so sociable and loves playing with other dogs.

Try not to let it get to you, we all come across this ignorance from time to time   

I'm quite lucky where I live, I have only ever had 2 negative comments since I got Mia and she is coming up for 2 years old. And yes it is annoying   

Your best bet is to PROVE them wrong by bringing up a well trained and controlled dog stick with his commands/don't allow him to run up to random dogs or people/clean up his mess and socialize him.

If you continue to get harassed then that's really a problem with them, not you. The media creates sheep, but unfortunately irresponsible owners back up their views of our wonderful breed.

I have to say we are lucky we hardly ever get any bad comments.  We get lots of people who come over and say how much they like staffies.

When I was at agility last night I was talking to some one  who said she had met a staffy at another agility.  And it had all it leather harness on and she said she was scarred of It.  But that it was friendly with her and her dog.  So at least there are people who are willing to learn that the bad reputation staffy have is just that.

I too have suffered this ignorance   

As Rach says, the best way is to PROVE them wrong. Me and Flo take great pleasure in doing this    it may be one person at a time but they always leave us with a different perspective of our wonderful breed.

If you get this type of ignorance, I always reply politefully but if that fails I just ask them if they really do believe all that they read in the tabloids  

Just ignore them and if they make a sly comment don't react. If you are polite (even thought you wan't to knock their block off!) it gives a good impression of Staffies and their owners   

I've had lots of this too, a vet nurse even said to me yesterday 'I don't like staffies but I like yours'. Sadly like everyone else has said all we can do is rise above it and prove them wrong. Like people all dogs are different regardless of breed, in my opinion its like saying all muslims are terrorists or all hoodie wearer's are going to mug you and beat you up (my husband thinks I'm a nutter for saying that haha). If people actually bothered to get to know the breed they'd realise how fab our dogs are!

I think it's a phase everyone who has a Staffy has to go through. There comes a point when you stop noticing/caring.

Unfortunately, you do have to go through it though. And it can really hurt your feelings.

Love to see some pics of your boy.