Feeling a little sad:-(

Just got back from our usual walk on the common. Some of the walkers there are lovely, although there is this group of hunter boot wearing lab walkers (you know what I mean), that just refuse to allow jasmine to interact with their dogs. Yes, she is a puppy. Yes, she is a bit nutty. But I always got the feeling it was because of her breed. I do understand some dogs don't appreciate a wriggling panting jasmine all up in their face, but it's not the dogs that mind. To top it off, one of them said to me "oh, I do hope Your doesn't turn out like all those other staffies". I replied with the usual "it's not the breed, it's the owner", to be greeted with a pitying look as they walked away. I wish people weren't so ignorant. It just makes me feel so down heartened. My girl is the friendliest, most obedient and dare I say gentlest (she has her moments!) pup you will meet. But u all know what I'm saying already. X

It can be upsetting but don't let it get to you - not all dogs need to be friendly with each other and I'm sure Jasmine will find plenty of other playmates on her adventures  

Hold your head high, these people are just ignorant & I'm sure jasmine will fine nice hoomans and pooches along the way. All you can do is educate them as best you can

Ignore them but also train Jasmine that she shouldn't run up to all dogs, she could get hurt if its a dog thats DA, (oh and I love my hunters lol)!

Lol Janey, me too:-), but u know what I'm saying. Any tips on how to do that, as she did run into a DA staff the other day (who was off the lead), but luckily I was near enough to pull her away?

Personally before they know recall and not to approach straight away then I would have her on a flexi lead, I know its a pain but they really need to learn and at that age its a must, a DA dog shouldn't be offlead imo but if its minding its own business Jasmine needs to learn some manners Xx

Yes I agree. She has been 'told' by a few dogs, but I don't want her face bitten off at the same time!

A side note, hunters are terrible wellys, dont last a puddle.

Agreed. They changed manufacturers a few years ago and are no longer the wellies they used to be.

janey wrote:Ignore them but also train Jasmine that she shouldn't run up to all dogs, she could get hurt if its a dog thats DA, (oh and I love my hunters lol)!

Jasminesmum wrote:Lol Janey, me too:-), but u know what I'm saying. Any tips on how to do that, as she did run into a DA staff the other day (who was off the lead), but luckily I was near enough to pull her away?

I'd invest in a long training lead until you're certain that she'll come back no matter what!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R4.TR10.TRC0.A0.Xtraining+lead+50%27&_nkw=50ft+dog+training+lead&_sacat=0&_from=R40

No dog should be allowed to just run up to a strange dog without the owner's permission. So many people allow their dogs to do that to Dempsey, and he's never very pleased about it! 

I bought a 5 metre extendable today to use on the common. Her recall in the woods is a thousand times better for some reason.

I too would recommend a flexi or training lead at least until Jasmine's recall is 1000% reliable.

It's not only lab owners in posh wellies that don't want their dogs to associate with other dogs, of whatever breed and even puppies, unfortunately. It's their dog's loss. It's hurtful, but don't let it get to you - tread carefully until you get to know individual owners and individual dogs, who can be played with and who can't.

I would also add, even if it kills you inside, to be polite and friendly to even the most hostile of dog owners - not only to be on the moral high ground but also to promote the Staffy's image.

Absolutely agree Lynda. I always smile, be extra polite and remain unphased by the attitudes, as I believe it is also about educating people about the breed. I do realise it isn't just Lab owners. I love Labs. But in my experience, I tend to find them the most judgemental. I guess it's because Labs are painted to be the gentlest breed, although I know this to, again, be just a stereotype. There is a lovely older lady that walks her Staffy there, and has a sadly similar experience with a few of the walkers. Such a shame.

Do what I do turn the tables I wear a keep calm and walk the staffy t shirt and jumper and when ever people are with there dogs near me I say IS YOUR DOG OK WITH OTHER DOGS lol it's a great turn around then if they say no I smile walk away and praise blue and ice for being good dogs
 

Love it Andy!!! And where did you get the sweatshirt from? I want one!!

From ebay when ever I get a chance on they go I have even been to dog shows with it on lol and showed blue boy it's great

Yeah I do that too! (not the T shirt) but ask if their dog's OK and it's amazing how often they admit "No"!

That's great. Gonna check those out!

I got a blue one and a grey one to go with the dogs if you go on ebay just search 

Keep calm and walk the staffy

Hayley wrote:A side note, hunters are terrible wellys, dont last a puddle.

Completely off topic but I love mine! Comfortable and have lasted a year, only bought new ones cause I like the colours lol

Of all the dogs Peppa and I have met on our walks, I hate to say the dogs I've found to be most dog aggressive are labs! It is really disheartening when others judge a staffy but it makes me all the more determined to prove what amazing dogs they can be x

When I got Romeo, I recieved a lot of comments like 'oh good luck with him' and silly,small-minded things like that. Just brush it off hun,my fav quote is 'my dog is a reflection of me,not it's breed'. Staffies are cuter anyway  

I totally get where your coming from - it's such a shame that people carry this perspective of this breed.
I experienced this last week when I was on the beach with Otis and this woman with two large dogs (on-lead) started to approach and she just got closer and closer. We were just about to put Otis on the lead and he decided he wanted to go and say hello to them, I told him to come away but he had turned his tin ears on. I apologised and said he's friendly, whilst she was furiously trying to shoo otis away with her hat and told us well mine aren't... but then moments later her dogs were off lead running around with others...  
I wouldn't take it to heart, you get some fabulous people and then you come across some really awkward ones. My best advice is be knowledgable about the breed, be polite and ask if they can play first.

Thank you everyone. Sarah, thanks for your comments. I totally agree. I'm a lover of dogs in general. ALL breeds. Before getting Jasmine, I thoroughly researched which breed would be suited to our family (we have four children from 14 to 2 year old twins), and decided on balance, the Staffy was perfect. I have had one before when my eldest was small, and just no other breed came close as far as I'm concerned! I am not small minded enough to believe that there are breeds out there that have no capability if aggression. In my experience, my dogs have been on the receiving end of aggression from Labradores to Yorkies. At the end if the day, they are animals! It's just we all know when a Staffy and certain other breeds decide to go, they can do serious damage. I take great care to be polite, knowledgable and keep up the training every day, I can't tell u how many times I have been training Jasmine in the fields and walkers have complimented me on how good she is for her age. I now have her in an extendable, and ask before letting her off near other dogs. The majority are really friendly and love her. But some, particularly the fluffies, seem to think it's ok for their little darlings to run around the park having a go at everyone's dog, because their 'cute'. Imagine the uproar if a Staffy owner allowed this, or a GHD for example?? I am proud of my girl and will continue to defend this amazing breed, no matter what!

I had a lovely experience this morning was walking sasha back from the park after her morning run and she was on her lead as usual. A guy was tinkering with his car when sasha spotted him he asked if it was ok to stroke her and I gave sasha the all clear to have a sniff and greet then his elderly mum came over and I said if you hold your hand flat out so she can see there's nothing to harm her. Which she did within a few seconds she was on her knees giving sasha a belly tickle she even got a thank you kiss off sasha. As I called sasha to come so we could continue she said thank you for letting me stroke your dog shes beautiful and wonderfully trained for such a young dog. I was very proud of my girl and no excited wees either

People are so ignorant and uneducated, just ignore them and hold your head in the air.
Remember the vet on the dog programme said there were more hospital reports for dog bites from a Labrador than a staffy