Violet the Staffy Dogbassador of Glasgow South

At the park yesterday, Violet was being her usual lazy self and just having a sit down instead of doing any actual walking. A little fluffy dog bounded over to us, and it's owner announced that Violet was one of those devil dogs that he had seen in the press and he had a phobia of them and tried to keep his dog away from us.

Violet then ran away and hid behind me from the little dog, before rolling about on her head at the mans feet when he caught up with his dog and picked it up. "Oh look, my devil dog is frightened of your dog". He then decided that Violet was lovely, and wasn't bad, just excitable. I explained that she is only kept on a leash because there are kids about, and whilst she isn't a nasty dog, if she bumped into a kid when she was in full running mode, there could be an accident. He maybe just said Violet was nice because I had my radge badge on over his comments, but I'm very proud of Violet for behaving for once and being the complete opposite of what he had previously thought of staffies.

I'm still annoyed though. It can be hard enough to get your dog socialised without someone bellowing across the park that she is a dangerous dog

How can you have a phobia of a certain breed of dog. A fear OK understandable sort of but phobia . Just have to put it down to ignorance I guess

Once again why am I not suprised! Great outcome, but media has a great play in peoples attitudes of a breed.

violet is a little star

Well done It's a shame people let the media think for them instead of thinking for themselves though

Well Done Violet! Some people let the media influence them too much. I saw a woman in the park go into a complete panic because a staff puppy abotu 4 - 5 months old ran up to the fence of the enclosed area

Ive probably already posted this somewhere but it reminded me of when we were over the field near to out house Kaos and Ty were off lead but i noticed a few dogs coming into the field off lead also so i put Ty back on. As they got closer one was shouting and waving and pointing to kaos and waving his lead. I thought "no way mate am i putting him on lead when yours are running round like loonies" so i ignored him. 10mins later up come bounding like 4 yorkies and a chiwawa (or however u spell it lol) closly followed by the owner screaming "dont let ur dogs eat mine" haha i was like "ummmm my dogs dont generaly have dog in thier diet" anyway cut a long story short all 4 yorkies and chiwawa then proceeded to chase kaos round the field and scare him half 2 death by barking at him, he came and hid behind me. I then said politley "do u mind putting your dogs back on the lead as i dont want them to eat my dog" hehe

Millie&Bella wrote:Well Done Violet! Some people let the media influence them too much. I saw a woman in the park go into a complete panic because a staff puppy abotu 4 - 5 months old ran up to the fence of the enclosed area

It's pretty ridiculous! Violet is only 6 months old herself, so hardly mega-jaws I was just so annoyed at him shouting she was a 'devil dog' in front of other dog walkers. I think if anything, because of the press depiction of staffies, I am extra concerned about keeping Violet in check, but you just can't please some people

blaze wrote:Ive probably already posted this somewhere but it reminded me of when we were over the field near to out house Kaos and Ty were off lead but i noticed a few dogs coming into the field off lead also so i put Ty back on. As they got closer one was shouting and waving and pointing to kaos and waving his lead. I thought "no way mate am i putting him on lead when yours are running round like loonies" so i ignored him. 10mins later up come bounding like 4 yorkies and a chiwawa (or however u spell it lol) closly followed by the owner screaming "dont let ur dogs eat mine" haha i was like "ummmm my dogs dont generaly have dog in thier diet" anyway cut a long story short all 4 yorkies and chiwawa then proceeded to chase kaos round the field and scare him half 2 death by barking at him, he came and hid behind me. I then said politley "do u mind putting your dogs back on the lead as i dont want them to eat my dog" hehe

I think a lot of people don't think to train little dogs. I like chihuahuas, but I don't much fancy having one attack my dog - it could do a lot of damage from her knees down