[News] Staffie attacks 5 yr old girl biting half her cheek off

[Live by the sea]

Vicious dog bites chunk of little girl's cheek off: Five-year-old left with life-changing horror injuries after neighbour's Staffordshire bull terrier pinned her down and mauled her face​

Headline in todays news . Made me feel sick .

Surely it’s time for Staffies to be banned in the UK . Every time I read about a similar attack it’s nearly always a staffie .

I’m aware of the ‘ it’s the owners not the dogs fault ‘ but to be honest I don’t care , these dogs are dangerous , shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a child and should be banned .

 

[Questions]

All the Staffies I know are ok but I am weary of them… I wouldn’t let one anywhere near my grand children unless I really knew the dog…. A lot of breeds though when popular have gotten the bad press. I remember back in the 70’s when Alsatian’s were the devil dog.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

My mum has had two staffies (sadly one is no longer with us) and they are gentlest dog I’ve ever met. My kids all adore the one that’s left and it adores the kids. The problem is rarely the dog but how it’s been raised by its owner, that tends to apply to most breeds.

 

[Easy 10]

Vicious dog bites chunk of little girl's cheek off: Five-year-old left with life-changing horror injuries after neighbour's Staffordshire bull terrier pinned her down and mauled her face​

Headline in todays news . Made me feel sick .

Surely it’s time for Staffies to be banned in the UK . Every time I read about a similar attack it’s nearly always a staffie .

I’m aware of the ‘ it’s the owners not the dogs fault ‘ but to be honest I don’t care , these dogs are dangerous , shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a child and should be banned .

I could not agree more. My blood runs cold when I see babies / toddlers in proximity with large, powerful dogs (not just staffies). Its always blamed on the owners, and that may well often be the case. But its still an animal, and is still has powerful jaws that can do devastating, permanent, life-changing damage in an instant, if it turns. Poke it in the eye accidentally and who knows what could happen.

Animals do not understand boundaries. And they only have to snap once. ONCE. Sorry, but "he's the gentlest, soppiest dog in the world" just doesn't wash with me. You can never totally trust them, and I would have a very big problem if my daughter decided to introduce such a beast into her house, with my 1 year and 4 year old grandkids.

Nope. Its simply not worth the risk..

 

[Springal]

Maybe we need to ban parents who leave their children around dogs without supervision ?

 

[birthofanorange]

I could not agree more. My blood runs cold when I see babies / toddlers in proximity with large, powerful dogs. Its always blamed on the owners, and that may well often be the case. But its still an animal, and is still has powerful jaws that can do devastating, permanent, life-changing damage in an instant, if it turns. Poke it in the eye accidentally and who knows what could happen.

Animals do not understand boundaries. And they only have to snap once. ONCE. Sorry, but "he's the gentlest, soppiest dog in the world" just doesn't wash with me. You can never totally trust them, and I would have a very big problem if my daughter decided to introduce such a beast into her house, with my 1 year and 4 year old grandkids.

Nope. Its simply not worth the risk..

Yep, whilst in agreement that all dogs can turn and that owners can be at fault, it's a simple fact that certain breeds can (and do) cause immeasurably more harm, should the worst happen.
It's akin to comparing a lion with a polecat, and I know which one I'd rather face, given the choice.

 

[jcdenton08]

I would like to see proper prison sentences for this kind of tragedy. Completely avoidable. Completely the owner’s fault. If you have a child - or a dog for that matter - you are taking on responsibility and are directly responsible for their well-being. A custodial sentence is the only option, morally.

 

[The Clamp]

Breed is a big consideration. For example one of the breeds with the highest recorded number of biting incidents is the Golden Retriever. But they they tend to bite and let go, message given.

However, Staffies, Bully XL’s etc are wired differently. They have a trigger in their make-up and once that goes, they’ll not stop attacking until the victim is dead.

Anyone who tries to tell you that their Staffie or whatnot is “harmless” doesn’t understand dogs, let alone the breed they are in charge of.

And then we have the type of person that deliberately raises their dog to be aggressive. If that’s the case, there’s hope for neither the dog nor the owner.

 

[WATFORD zero]

It's very simple for me. I wouldn't want my kids around something that could do them damage

A 10-12 year old around miniature/toy dog ? I might be persuaded

Anything more than that ? FFS if you want children, you should be prepared to make sacrifices. Look how big the bite is of any animal you want to put around your kids, It really isn't rocket science

 

[Guinness Boy]

It's very simple for me. I wouldn't want my kids around something that could do them damage

A 10-12 year old around miniature/toy dog ? I might be persuaded

Anything more than that ? FFS if you want children, you should be prepared to make sacrifices.

Really not the way to look at it.

My daughter started campaigning for a dog at the age of around 7 and we finally got one when she turned 11. He's not a Staffie or German Shepherd but he is a medium sized dog, a big 15kg cockapoo, thanks to being the product of a standard poodle and working cocker.

He's been hard work but we've all trained him together and she's done the work we said she needed to when we finally agreed to get one. We're now happy to leave the dog with her and her 16yo brother and for the kids to walk him too.

You have to be in control of a dog and that takes a lot of time, effort and love. But, guess what? If you do, they'll give it back.

One of my dog's best early morning walk mates is a Staffie. His owner is a local teacher and massive BHA fan and the two of them play beautifully.

Dogs that attack come from chaotic homes where the owners neither train their kids, nor the dogs. It sounds snobbish but it's an absolute fact. And probably all they need is a bit of support, some assistance with training the pooch and some parenting lessons, since they've likely been raised in chaotic homes themselves.

 

[vegster]

All the Staffies I know are ok but I am weary of them… I wouldn’t let one anywhere near my grand children unless I really knew the dog…. A lot of breeds though when popular have gotten the bad press. I remember back in the 70’s when Alsatian’s were the devil dog.

I genuinely remember a distant friend who got himself an Alsatian puppy, he thought he was a bit of a hard nut, he had it on a thick chain lead and called the poor thing " Satan " .

 

[portlock seagull]

I could not agree more. My blood runs cold when I see babies / toddlers in proximity with large, powerful dogs (not just staffies). Its always blamed on the owners, and that may well often be the case. But its still an animal, and is still has powerful jaws that can do devastating, permanent, life-changing damage in an instant, if it turns. Poke it in the eye accidentally and who knows what could happen.

Animals do not understand boundaries. And they only have to snap once. ONCE. Sorry, but "he's the gentlest, soppiest dog in the world" just doesn't wash with me. You can never totally trust them, and I would have a very big problem if my daughter decided to introduce such a beast into her house, with my 1 year and 4 year old grandkids.

Nope. Its simply not worth the risk..

The problem you’d have is your daughter ignoring you! But in all seriousness, I agree. I wouldn’t be comfortable with owning a staffie great family dogs as they are. Simply because others including kids are wary of if not scared. And I don’t want people in my vicinity feeling that, even if I’d not know most of the time. You don’t tend to get that fear or unease with many other breeds. And there are hundreds of others to choose from so why go for one with this reputation, maligned as it may be? But it is all about the training and upbringing, I disagree with you on that front. Sadly the “type” of owner that has a tendency towards this breed…well, they shouldn’t be allowed to breed themselves in many instances! I very much doubt many do even the basics, and yet it takes hundreds of hours of love, care, attention and training to raise a dog. Snooby remark I know, but let’s face it. It’s never a golden retriever in Alderly Edge when these tragedies occur is it? Always a staffie or Mustaff in St Helens, Redcar, Warrington, Bermondsey etc.

 

[Live by the sea]

Really not the way to look at it.

My daughter started campaigning for a dog at the age of around 7 and we finally got one when she turned 11. He's not a Staffie or German Shepherd but he is a medium sized dog, a big 15kg cockapoo, thanks to being the product of a standard poodle and working cocker.

He's been hard work but we've all trained him together and she's done the work we said she needed to when we finally agreed to get one. We're now happy to leave the dog with her and her 16yo brother and for the kids to walk him too.

You have to be in control of a dog and that takes a lot of time, effort and love. But, guess what? If you do, they'll give it back.

One of my dog's best early morning walk mates is a Staffie. His owner is a local teacher and massive BHA fan and the two of them play beautifully.

Dogs that attack come from chaotic homes where the owners neither train their kids, nor the dogs. It sounds snobbish but it's an absolute fact. And probably all they need is a bit of support, some assistance with training the pooch and some parenting lessons, since they've likely been raised in chaotic homes themselves.

Never heard of a cockapoo taking off half a child’s cheek that’s the difference. Staffs are potentially very dangerous, even in a good home . No kids should be left along with one .

 

[Guinness Boy]

Staffs are potentially very dangerous, even in a good home .

No. No they aren't. They're a loving and loyal breed if trained correctly and if children around them are also raised to understand dogs. Unfortunately they do seem to appeal to people who can't be bothered to do either, but they're in a tiny minority.

I own a dog who is 15kg of living flesh with razor sharp teeth and, as a puppy, shifts like shit off a shovel. I've more chance of catching rabies than him in full flight. And I'm perfectly fine with my kids looking after him, now he's trained.

Perhaps you ought to research what social services and a dog trainer's response would be to your attitude. They certainly wouldn't take your position. But, obviously, Staffs and other muscular dogs need owners who will take care of them and not use them as weapons or neglect their training or put them in stressful situations.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

I remember back in the 70’s when Alsatian’s were the devil dog.

Me too, then it was doberman's for a while. Worth stating l think that any breed of dog can turn vicious if/when mistreated.

 

[BN9 BHA]

I like Staffies, great dogs and good fun. I looked after a friend and fellow Albion fans Staff for a week, I had only met this dog a couple of times, but during a long days drinking I agreed to look after her at my house when he went on holiday.
She was fine and we had a good week, the only downside was she doesn’t like other dogs and had to be on a lead on countryside walks.

I really wouldn’t leave any dog unattended with young children though.
I meet many dogs working in occupied homes and have been bitten several times (nothing serious) but never had a problem with a Staffie, they usually think I have come to see them and want to play.

 

[schmunk]

Just Google "Staffie attack".

The sheer number of different but very similar stories of people being attacked by these dogs tells me very clearly that they're not "soppy", "gentle" or "loving".

 

[Popeye]

Awful what happened to this young child obviously, but should never have been left alone with a dog that big anyway, and people really need to read up on certain breeds and how to properly care for them before they take on the responsibility. Pit bulls another example of that.

 

[jonny.rainbow]

A dog that was bred for fighting and baiting as a family pet?

No thanks.

 

[Insel affe]

Was this a Staffordshire Terrier or an American Staffordshire Terrier, big difference in breeds, size, aggression and mentality.
The English Staffie has the nickname the nanny dog, due to its behaviour around children.