Fuming!

Last night the in-laws brother and his wife came over to join in the birthday fun.

They'd been hunting that morning (Matt's auntie is hunt master) so they'd been drinking all day.

We let Chase out his crate once everything and everyone settled down and he was happy just to get love and fuss.

This is how the conversation went ...

Her: you know he's a staffy don't you?
Me: well, yes!
Her: you shouldn't let him rag that rope, that's how people get mauled by dogs!
Me: he's just playing, he's a puppy, we're teaching him to be gentle along with other things.
Her: he's a dangerous dog you know!
Me: he isn't a dangerous dog but in the wrong hands he could become dangerous. That's why we're getting him trained by people who know what they're doing and can pick up on things we might miss.
Her: he's a lovely dog but he's dangerous!

Fortunately at that point my son woke for a feed so I left the room fuming!

Next thing I know Matt came upstairs in a rage ...

Matt: she's just said "why not bring him to the hunt kennel and we can shoot him there and then before he rips your children apart" I had to walk away, I nearly blew my top!
Me: Wtf is wrong with people, it's that sort of people that give Staffies a bad name!

Matt's mum then came up and managed to calm him down so he could go back downstairs.

I then hear ... "sit" ... "no, sit" ... "good boy, stay" ... "no, stop jumping"

I put the baby back to bed, go downstairs and find her trying to give him commands.
So I walk over to his treats, take some out and show off what he's already learnt and what we've taught him.

Her: oh wow! You've taught him this in four weeks?!
Me: yep! He just needs love and guidance, he most definitely is not a bad dog or dangerous, he's just an unruly puppy until he's had more training!
Her: your doing brilliantly, look at the way you have control and the way he looks at you!
Me: he just needs reminding who's boss sometimes. He'll get there in time.
Her: you keep it up, it's working!

Stupid bloody woman grrrr!
Sorry it's long but I'm fuming still! How dare she! Some people need to mind there own business!

That was the PG version!
I can assure you there was a lot of swearing going on lol.

Oh dear. The old hunt brigade. Given that this woman will belive it's ok to rip a fox apart and will hide her pleasure sport behind the defence of 'managing vermin', she's clearly not going to be one of the most open minded from the start. My in-laws are deeply into hunting, it's something we don't see eye to eye on.

All I can say is well done for showing her how good Chase is. She'll probably never admit she was wrong, or that she's ignorant about dogs and training, so that she could at least see some good in Chase is an achievement (another to add to your list!).

Matt's side of the family are big into hunting. I used to be very horsey too when younger so can see hunting from both sides.

The fact is that Chase is not a hunt hound or a pack animal. He's not "just another dog" that won't be missed if it's shot!
He's our family pet, a companion to join in life with us!

I did my best in explaining that it's the other end of the lead that's the problem. Instead of looking at the dog, watch the owner and how they "control" their dog ... Or not!

Ugh ... Some people!

I actually felt sick reading that conversation. I wouldn't listen to anyone's opinion who thinks it's ok to see an animal tortured.

They often say that alcohol removes all inhibitions, at least you know what this woman really thinks.
Well done on you for showing her what a beautiful relation you and Chase have already formed in only 4 weeks !

Alot of people hunt here, I drew the line in requesting that a certain vet who hunts no longer touches my animals. (He's also a patronizing git who spoke to me as if I was a kid and I'm long past that age, but that's another story)

Stupidness often follows a drinking session and I think that conversation amply demonstrates that. You did the perfect thing by taking control of the situation and showing how good Chase is and what he's learnt in such a short time.

I sobbed myself to sleep after all that last night.
Chase has been nothing but brilliant this weekend in a totally different house with new people to meet.
He slept brilliantly both nights, didn't hear a peep from him bless him.
We're about to do the journey home and forget last night ever happened!

Our boy is staying right with us until the angels take him! Anyone even suggesting getting rid of him will be getting an instant black eye!
(im not usually violent, I promise!)

Chase did great showing what a wonderful breed they are! I would of punched her I'm afraid!!!!

Ha being in the horsey community i too have faced this from hunters - human aggressive hounds are not tolerated, due to the obvious fact they can not be harming their handlers. What many fail to realise is that that is exactly how the staffy was bred to - human aggression was NOT tolerated. BYB and bad owners and a hell of a lot of media bullcrap has given them this rep, not the dogs themselves.

I missed this post but id have punched her right in the face too and I've never got into a fight in my life but anyone were to say that about my boy would be a totally different story! horrid woman. I too disagree with hunting so that would have made me mad to start with never mind what she said about chase. I never thought in my whole life before I got hank how protective I would be over him its crazy.

So chuffed he showed what an extremely clever and good boy he is
Bet you're a proud Mam


Grrr that woman!

Oh lawd, what an awful woman! She sounds abysmally ignorant. Well done on not losing your rag completely, I'm not sure I would have been half so polite.

Still in utter shock about taking him to shoot him! Like my mother in law hates all animals and has a meltdown when we bring hank over but she wouldn’t even think about saying anything remotely like that