SO frustrating!!

Sorry.. rant warning!!

Decided to skip essays and take Biscuit out for a big hike today.. had a really nice few hours.. took her for her usual people socialization walk at the shopping centre and thought as it was a friday lunch time i'd brave the woods as it would be quiet..

45 minutes went past without seeing a single dog, we then met a lovely big blue staffie boy who was really well behaved and polite and Bis said hello and wandered on.. the next thing a know a HUGE husky and 2 beagles appear out of nowhere, spotted Biscuit and all three ran directly at her with theirs owners miles behind.. I shouted for the owners to call them back at which point they started screaming at the dogs who ignored them completely, obviously! The husky not only pushed straight in and sniffed Biscuit's bum but then proceeded to lift her up and push her around to which she had a bit of a pop understandably (barking not biting) but with the 2 beagles being at the front end cornering her in she was terrified! To which I then had 2 snarling owners giving me filthy looks?! I mean WTF? Their dogs were clearly out of control and Bis was on a short lead and a halti. There's literally nowhere to walk around here without bad mannered owners and dogs swarming the place!

Nightmare!

i am so sorry that idiots ruin our walks ,it's so frustrating but also ironic that the staffy(which is supposed to be dangerous) was a complete gentleman well done him

Good on you and Bis, and shame on the other silly owners that you had to put up with. Very frustrating!

i so feel your pain. We are unable to walk outside without other dogs, rushing us or barking at us. My daisy looks like the bad one defending herself when it happens (with growls, barks, and sometimes pushing them on their back and standing over them, no biting ever) because she is the bigger dog. Umm hello people put your dogs on leashes, and teach them manners, but no they are stupid, and think beings they are little dogs rules dont apply to them also.

happens all the time love. i'll have romeo at the dog park and some cocky JRT will come up to him, stare hom down and follow romeo every where with his hackle raised, and when romeo does lose it and turns around and takes a snap... he's the bad dog and we are the ones exspected to leave

Yep, not long finished our walk and a chap with an off lead border collie was so busy watching Dexter (who was on lead minding his own, sniffing every leaf) that he didn't see his own dogs hackles and demeanour. Watch your own dog and leave me to watch mine!!

had something similar the other morning when i took spike out after a night shift.

on our normal route, had spike on a leader as there is quite a few dogs out on our route, spike shows no DA at all but is far to boisterous when he tries to play for most dogs that we dont know (well the owners anyway) as the dogs he does play with are, 3 other staffs, 1 rottie, 3 mastifs, a newfoundland hound, anyway lol.

we came round a corner and there were 3 women with 3 spaniels all off leads, the dogs all came running towards us barking, nastily, as the 3 women just stood chatting, not watching their dogs. so me and spike just kept walking, well spike was trying to run and play. as we got closer to the 3 women one of them said "oh, im glad you have your dog on a lead" WTF i replied "why?" the answer i got was great "well those kind of dogs are dangerous" as you all can imagine after finishing a nightshift i wasnt in best humour to start with, i said "hes fine, not a bad bone his body, could yous please get your dogs on their leads so i can get past as they are being aggressive towards my dog" sorry i couldnt resist lol

as the dogs kept barking and the women did nothing in the end i let spike off his leader, the other 3 dogs soon stopped barking and turned tail

quick shout to "heel" spike to my side and walked past the women

That's ridiculous. Loki's never not come back to me, but if ever he didn't, I'd be absolutely apologising to the person for it, not acting like it's their fault when it obviously isn't.

We just have to face the fact that we are in the wrong no matter what happens.

I was videoing Rocky one night when me and hubby were at our local park. They were a group of dogs all off leads having a good play, we walked over to them as some were Rockys friends. Rocky was on his lead, as his always is at least when meeting new dogs.

There was a large mastiff/mastiff cross dog there loose, with no owner in sight, and an akita amongst others. The mastiff dog started to really grumble at Rocky, who had a little grumble back. I have it all videoed there can be no question about which dog started it. Even while the big was grumbling still no owner in sight. We then walked away which was a shame as Rocky wanted to play with his friends.

We later showed the video to another dog owner who had said that the other owners there had blamed Rocky for starting it. It seems a shame that the innocent should suffer, as Rocky now dosn't very often get to play with those friends.

That is a shame Kathy, what a mad world when you can get it on video and still our dogs face prejudice.

As rubbish as it is I'm kinda relieved that I'm not the only one!! Just infuriating isn't it! Had a similar incident not long ago with two terrier crosses that wouldn't leave Bis alone, instead of retaliating Bis just lay on the floor salivating and making herself as small as possible while the owner of the other dogs laughed! I was FUMING and and gave him a piece of my mind in no uncertain terms, SO could have given him a piece of my fist though!!

I think we all get it at some point be it daily or weekly, I now don't allow Rolo off lead locally, he was kicked by a woman on a bike as she cycled past him, she said he "went to bite her", total rollocks as he was sat next to me on lead with my collie waiting for her to pass.. he never moved a mm, neither did my collie. Rolo has also been beaten by a lady with an umbrella when he was off lead on a local park, he had just stopped to look at her as she stepped out of the bushes,he was only 10ft in front of me, when she started screaming like a banshee and lashing out at him... needless to say she got told where that umbrella would be inserted if she crossed our path again. We've had everything from owners encouraging their dogs to attack him right through to being in a dog training class and someone saying they wouldn't attend the class because I was there with " One of those" We now go on play dates with friends, out across the fields away from the public... I love my boy, unlike humans, he doesn't judge.. just loves

I would have snapped her umbrella in half. No question.

you just have to get used to this i get looked at like a thug because i wear a hood and have a rotti and have always had a staff as well i put so much effort into my dogs training they are a joy but my rotti is muzzled and let off lead faultless obedience and basically iv just been sensible with my staffs buT PEOPLE WOULD ALWAYS LET THERE BAD MANNERED UN TRAINED UN SOCIALISED DOGS COME UP TO MINE IN AN INNAPROPRIATE WAY AND THEN LOOK AT ME LIKE IM SCUM LOL IV EVEN HAD P[EOPLE SAY LADS LIKE ME SHOULDNT HAVE DOGS LIKE THIS EVEN WHEN MY WELL TRAINED MANNERED DOGS ARE SAFELY ON A LEAD AND THERE DOGS ARE RUNNING WILD AND CAUSING HAVOC SORRY FOR RANT LOL

That's insane! I count myself lucky we haven't had anything other than the dirty looks or the road crossing (yet) that does my head in enough I cannot imagine what I would do if someone hit Dexter. That umbrella would be going up their back entrance until it came out as a diamond. What is wrong with people!!!!!!

I can identify with all of the above - I used to get it with my Dobermanns too when it was the fashion to hate Dobes.

I think it is knee-jerk reaction for dog -owners to blame the other dog, whatever the evident rights or wrongs. Only today, I had my 10 month Kuchar on his long lead and saw the chap with his big mongrel who we ran into once before and the mongrel pinned Kuchar to ground. Mongrel was again off the lead, and I caught up Kuchar's lead and had him really short. Mongrel again growled and snarled and tried to pin Kuchar. And AGAIN the owner said "he's just telling him off, he" (meaning Kuchar) " is too boisterous."

Words failed me unfortunately (I'm not one for a fight myself) but I am practising a few things to say if the same thing happens a third time.

And oh, picking up on a comment made a few posts back, it is a well-known fact that little dogs owned by little old ladies can do no wrong !!!

BTW I am a not so little old lady myself.

AT IS A FACTLOL LOST COUNT OF THE TIMES IV HAD MY DOGS ON LEADS AND OLD LADYS LITTLE DOGS HAVE COME RUNNING OVER CUE DEVENSIVE BEHAVIOUR FROM DOGS WORRIED LOOKS FROM ME I ALWAYS SEEMED TO GET THE SAME ANSWER WHENEVER I ASKED THEM TO BE PUT ON A LEAD :OH NO LOVE THERE FINE:

Very fustrating.

When we take Willow for walks she's off the lead but we look out for other dogs and people as she's very friendly and playful so she will go off and to see them to play and get attention. We put her on her lead when they come close only because you can not trust other's. But we get the looks of them because she's a staffy and we put her on the lead. We do it only for her safety, not there's. They dont even say hi, Even when we smile or coment on there dog. They just dont care.

Makes us angry.

I have decided that I am going to bark at the next people who are ignorant to my foster staffies.

Literally give it: "woo woo woo, grrrrr, arf arf" at them.

Me too!!! lol

THERE ARE SO MANY MISCONSEPTIONS ABOUT STAFFYS AND OWNERS BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE YOUNG LADS WITH HOODS INCLUDED LOL WHO HAVE STAFFS PITS ROTTIES AMERICAN BULLS ETC AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF US ARE A HELL OF A LOT MORE RESPONSIBLE AND SPEND A LOT MORE TIME TRAINING OUR DOGS THEN PEOPLE WITH MORE SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE BREEDS WHO DONT SEEM TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT A DOGS BODY LANGUAGE OR HAVE EVER HEARD OF RECALL TRAINING THATS JUST IN MY EXPERIENCE

I SUPOSE MY POINT IS WHATEVER BREED PEOPLE HAVE SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST PLAIN IGNORANT

Working dog wrote:I have decided that I am going to bark at the next people who are ignorant to my foster staffies.

Literally give it: "woo woo woo, grrrrr, arf arf" at them.

Brilliant idea!

PygmyParrot wrote:

Working dog wrote:I have decided that I am going to bark at the next people who are ignorant to my foster staffies.

Literally give it: "woo woo woo, grrrrr, arf arf" at them.

Brilliant idea!

Makes a change from me swearing in Russian at them.

lucky2012 wrote:I SUPOSE MY POINT IS WHATEVER BREED PEOPLE HAVE SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST PLAIN IGNORANT

Yes that is true.

But Keith - I hate to take you up on this, and hope that you speaking "tongue in cheek" , but to go grr grr woof woof or whatever at other dog's owners just MAY reinforce the popular belief that Staffs are owned by ignorant yobboes. You were just joking though weren't you

Personally I find that a smile and verbal reassurance that my dog IS non-aggressive, is just a puppy and just wants to play, goes a long way. Except of course with the mongrel's owner I mentioned earlier - I didn't get a chance or indeed the necessity to reassure him as A) his dog had mine pinned to the ground before you could say Woof and B) he has the defence strategy already in place that it's my dog's fault (and I bet he says that to every owner whose dog Mongrel has attacked). I swear that I WILL put him right next time it happens though (nicely of course - I'm only a not-so-little old lady!)

Multilingual insulting. It's the way forward.

I only know a few french cursewords but it's start

new Staffy owner wrote:

lucky2012 wrote:I SUPOSE MY POINT IS WHATEVER BREED PEOPLE HAVE SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST PLAIN IGNORANT

Yes that is true.

But Keith - I hate to take you up on this, and hope that you speaking "tongue in cheek" , but to go grr grr woof woof or whatever at other dog's owners just MAY reinforce the popular belief that Staffs are owned by ignorant yobboes. You were just joking though weren't you

Personally I find that a smile and verbal reassurance that my dog IS non-aggressive, is just a puppy and just wants to play, goes a long way. Except of course with the mongrel's owner I mentioned earlier - I didn't get a chance or indeed the necessity to reassure him as A) his dog had mine pinned to the ground before you could say Woof and B) he has the defence strategy already in place that it's my dog's fault (and I bet he says that to every owner whose dog Mongrel has attacked). I swear that I WILL put him right next time it happens though (nicely of course - I'm only a not-so-little old lady!)

If they're bigoted past the point of no return, it will make no difference.
I could add: "only joking" to the end of it though.

Oooh I love rotti's, would love to have one if I had the time/space! Totally agree about people spending more time training bigger dogs, most people seem to think that the toy breeds or just generally smaller breeds don't need training because they can just pick them up and walk away, therefore really just enforcing the behaviour and repeating again and again.

Funnily enough had a conversation about dobermans earlier, my friend's little saluki cross is very DA after not being socialized efficiently before they rescued her, she's mixed with a very tolerant dobe and as they bumped into some people on a walk the little old ladies actively walked towards the saluki to avoid the dobe (who just ignored them) while the saluki flew into a fit of aggression! They were so confused it was brilliant!

That's where stereotyping breeds gets you!
I love rotties too Rachel was awful in the nineties when they got all that horrid bad press, same with the dobes. My friend has a rottie called Rosie, and she must be about eleven now she is one of the most loving dogs I've ever had the pleasure of meeting!

Oh Rachel, just love your story - made my evening!

and Keith - I KNEW you were joking but just had to say it anyway (just in case anyone seriously thought it was a good idea). Put it down to the little old lady in me

I think they actually came out with the line "Oh but dobermans are always so aggressive in the films" For sure, Biscuit's got a play date with him next week hopefully!! She needs a big dog to play with, my friends have all got yorkies Ahh they're lovely aren't they, I'm hoping the stereotyping will die out with the staffs as much as it has with the dobermans, gsd's and rottis etc. Can't imagine what they'll move onto next though! Ah they're just big sops, all of my favourite boys in work have been rottweilers, they need a lot of work though that I couldn't give just yet. One day though

In the films???

Well it must be true then, I mean just this morning a 101 dalmatians were born

Rachel33 wrote:Totally agree about people spending more time training bigger dogs, most people seem to think that the toy breeds or just generally smaller breeds don't need training because they can just pick them up and walk away, therefore really just enforcing the behaviour and repeating again and again.

Yes, I have come across this time and time again - pick up a little dog and all is fine (no matter that it's just bitten at my poor dog's undercarriage time and again).

Thank you Rachel on your vote for Dobes - you might know by now that they were my first dogs and I only wish I could afford one now. Nothing against Kuchar of course, he is the most lovable dog EVER.

End of MY rant for the day!

brilliant Rach! Ridiculous huh!

It's just awful isn't it Lynda.. and so sad because I've also met some really lovely toy breed dogs that have been properly trained and are very sweet dogs! Aw wow really? I haven't been around a lot of dobermans but the one's that I have met have been beautiful, intelligent, kind natured dogs. I love staffs for their snuggliness and I can't see myself ever not having one, but I've got a long list of other breeds I'd like to own one day also!

Ah yes Rachel, there are many toy breeds I would love to own too, had I the time, space and money. My wish llist would be a Papillon, a Pomeranian, an Italian Greyhound, a Chinese thingummy (name escapes me - the bare one, like My Little Pony) - I could go on.

Dobermanns were always my first love and I had them for years, they are gorgeous dogs. Having a Staffy was my son's idea but now he's here I love him to bits, and I absolutely agree about their "snuggliness".

My ex boyfriend had a Papillon called Pineapple he was gorgeous! Like a my little pony??! that's brilliant! Chinese crested? I love Italian Greyhounds too I'd love to have a French Bulldog, Japanese Chin or a Shih Tzu if I was going to go smaller! And a Rottweiler, Dogue De Bordeaux, Great Dane or Pit Bull Terrier (I wish!) if I was going to get a bigger dog!

Aw I'm glad you're happy with your choice! I grew up with staffies always had a soft spot for them

Chinese Crested - that's the one! They DO look like My Little Pony don't they.

Well, until we win the Lotto I guess our dog wish-list will have to remain just that.

but I don't think even then I would love them more than our little Staffy - pain in the bottom though he so often is, I've never had a dog more demonstrably loving - or boisterous!

I'm the same, always loved staffies since knowing so many lovely ones growing up and feeling just a general love for the breed and their nature. If I was going to go smaller (or shorter)I would love a westie, or a basset (although I'm a bit active for a basset hound poor thing would be knackered in a week so maybe when I'm a lil old lady I would do that).
Bigger I would love a rottie, a german shepherd, a dobe or a mastiff or a newfoundland (would need a HUGE garden though!). Pit bull would be amazing, grieves me it's impossible.

First another staffie though!!!