Can you believe it?!

As most of you know I have been ranting about our two previous organised group walks and the stupidity of some! These walks are actually organised by a so-called/self-proclaimed behaviourist, who has just called me to say:

1. Roxy is a problem and very challenging (this because Roxy is less than a year old and wanted to play with a dog who nipped her and scratched her)
2. The in-your-face staffie friendliness is signs of a "viscious" breed who must be kept on leash at all times
3. If we still decide to join the walks (not a chance) Roxy must remain at the back on leash ie: no socialising - which was the point of the walks and with every other walk she has had a ball careering around with her mates...the two times the woman invited dogs with issues their stress levels were blamed on Roxy
4. She had the nerve to say "who would want to take on a breed who is such hard work and must remain closely watched all their lives as they are killer dogs" (I told her that since we are younger than her we're up for it )
5. I would be punishing Roxy by not taking her on those walks (I told her it would be more punishment keeping her at the back on leash and not being allowed to run around when we have never had a problem with her)
6. She said that when the other dog nipped her Roxy was being challenging with her play bowing and happy tail......................

Enough said.

Cheek that's awful but I'm afraid its what people think of staffs. They don't know truly what they are like till they own one

Thats mad... obviously has no clue about dogs. If I were you I would get all the info you can about how wonderful the breed is.. starting with the Kennel Club and dogs trust and mail it to her.

Stupid Woman!!!

Dan330 wrote:Thats mad... obviously has no clue about dogs. If I were you I would get all the info you can about how wonderful the breed is.. starting with the Kennel Club and dogs trust and mail it to her.

Stupid Woman!!!

I am, I am!! I'm so tired of the lack of knowledge. At this very moment I am starting my own blog for owners in this country. (I'm a writer by trade and furious at the moment - it's a great outlet!).

Google "10 worst breeds to keep at home" - from what I've seen none of the bull breeds come up.

Still furious!

Until recently the Kennel club only recommended 3 breeds with children... one of those was the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The Dogs trust has a great downloadable leaflet about the breed that serves to re-educate people.

Keey us posted on what happens!

Thank you! I'll check it out!

The woman is a retarded bigot who probably belives every thing written in cheap headline grabbing newspapers, this sort of thing really annoys me

harlou wrote:The woman is a retarded bigot who probably belives every thing written in cheap headline grabbing newspapers, this sort of thing really annoys me

oh yes, we couldn't agree more!!!!

What an idiot. Find a better dog-walking group if you can.

There loss mate!

I must have a few then. Sorry you had to listen to that spew, but at least you know better than to believe any of the rubbish for even a moment.

Thanks for the support everyone! I'm up early doing an email to the woman about her lack of professionalism and stupid "killer staffie mentality." Couldn't sleep I was so angry!

Please let us know her reply!!!

Her reply was pitiful:

"Thank you for your e-mail, very sad to read as there are a number of discrepancies. I sincerely wish you all the best of fun with your fabulous dogs. Do stay in touch."

I'll paste my mail to her shortly. My OH says that the mood I'm in she should be more worried about me attacking her than our staffies

Here's mail I sent. It's long - but you all know how angry I am!

"We have discussed and taken in your conversation of yesterday and are somewhat disheartened. We were really enjoying the walks and are upset that after the last one, Roxy was the one to come home with puncture wound and scratches but she is the one suggested to be kept on leash. I feel that as she does not have any aggression issues or anything similar this may actually cause issues once she sees her new found friends running free ahead off her and she is unable to fully expel her happy staffy energy. The two incidences on the walks were down to dogs with aggression issues. If Roxy had been challenging Charlie that day, why was the advice from both you and his handler to “leave them?” You know that we do our best to control Roxy and had we felt she was in a compromising situation we would have put her on leash and walked away.

Although Roxy is a happy, in-your-face breed as you say, perhaps it’s best we don’t put her in these organized walk situations. Vinny is an Amstaff and as he grows I’m sure will be just as boisterous since your thinking is that this is the breed trait.

I was taken aback by your comment about “who would want to take on such a high energy breed…it’s hard work…etc.”

We initially required a consult to ensure we are doing the absolute best we can for our pups. As Vinny is maturing he and Roxy have sorted themselves out and get along famously, but are just as happy being independent of one another. The walks were going really well for them, but since there seems to be the ignorant “staffy mentality” onboard from numerous people, it is best we find a group to walk with who have a better understanding of the breed. This “killer mentality” happens in so many countries, it is just disturbing. Please feel free to take a look at what various Kennel Clubs and authoritative sources teach regarding staffies. In fact I draw your attention to a quote used in Wikipaedia:

RSPCA chief vet Mark Evans said: "Staffies have had a terrible press, but this is not of their own making - in fact they're wonderful dogs. If people think that Staffies have problems, they're looking at the wrong end of the dog lead! When well cared for and properly trained they can make brilliant companions. Our experience suggests that problems occur when bad owners exploit the Staffie's desire to please by training them to show aggression."

Please do take a look at both ends of a story and not just the “bad rap” certain breeds receive. Your comment that you doubt a staffie is the kind of dog that can ever be allowed off lead was unfounded.

As you have said, it’s real life to meet all sorts of different breeds and temperaments and I couldn’t agree more. However, as I stated, we strongly feel that it is up to handlers to do the absolute best for their charges and not put them in situations that will stress them out were possible (DA dogs on an organized walk, for example). You mentioned that there is only so much a human can do but we feel there is a lot a responsible handler can do.

One other point to address – on the last walk as Roxy was let off leash her energy levels were soaring as we agreed. The fact that she would not take treats was nothing new. Roxy is not a big eater – as mentioned numerous times - and even during her school classes she seldom takes treats (and that is not because her energy levels are high – there is no socializing on leash at school, we purely get on with it). I can only imagine what her energy levels would be like if we were to keep her on leash whilst her matched-energy friends ran free.

We are disappointed by this experience and that you did not feel it necessary to admit your lack of staffie knowledge before doing a consult. I guess we will look at a more energetic group to walk with, with dogs we know and owners who can handle the high energy the way we can."

I would just tell her to stick the walks up her ***e and not waste any more of my time

Dave wrote:I would just tell her to stick the walks up her ***e and not waste any more of my time

So, are you sure you still don't want to join them?!

janey wrote:

So, are you sure you still don't want to join them?!

What load of twoddle. I am ashamed of dog behaviourist and embarrassed that you got his reaction from one. Please believe me they are not all the same.

I honestly think you would be better off going on walks with just friends and people you know well. Roxy can still get her socialisation with both dogs and people alike.

This woman is a bloody snob you should avoid her at all cost .

firstly what a joker, you're all better off out of there and well done for staying so composed when she was talking such rubbish. Kathy you missed the bit in the first post that said she was a 'self proclaimed' dog behaviorist

OMG Roxy, Who the F.... does this woman think she is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She sounds thick as * tbh, Dont take your fur baby back.

Quick update: one of the woman's mates sent me a private msg on Facebook (my "private" facebook acc) slandering me and saying I was destroying behaviourist's reputation (I have never mentioned names, places etc) and basically having a good old go.
Turns out, these women have a bit of a vendetta against the doggie school we go to, and besides that, they have a reputation for telling people with dogs who have no issues not only to keep them on leash but to muzzle them too.
These people are a danger who will end up causing so many doggie issues to those who don't have. How very, very disheartening.
It's terrifying what's out there!

If it was me I would walk Storm exactly where they walk when they walk... As long as it is in a public place you can do as you wish, and let him do exactly what he likes to do, which is play, generally. If another dog snaps at him he thinks it's a game of chase and runs. If you are in a public place they cannot ask you to leave and if they do tell them that they will have to leave as you are staying, as is your right.

iamajc wrote:If it was me I would walk Storm exactly where they walk when they walk... As long as it is in a public place you can do as you wish, and let him do exactly what he likes to do, which is play, generally. If another dog snaps at him he thinks it's a game of chase and runs. If you are in a public place they cannot ask you to leave and if they do tell them that they will have to leave as you are staying, as is your right.

you should do this I bet the woman would go mental

F**K her stupid woman, tell her you know a few thousand owners that would love to socialise Roxy and Vinny with our pets

iamajc wrote:If it was me I would walk Storm exactly where they walk when they walk... As long as it is in a public place you can do as you wish, and let him do exactly what he likes to do, which is play, generally. If another dog snaps at him he thinks it's a game of chase and runs. If you are in a public place they cannot ask you to leave and if they do tell them that they will have to leave as you are staying, as is your right.

Love it!

dave742 wrote:F**K her stupid woman, tell her you know a few thousand owners that would love to socialise Roxy and Vinny with our pets

I'd love for Roxy and Vinny to meet their friends on this forum