Dog Attack

They are the dogs most likely to be dumped and staffis get a lot of bad press.   Some of it is deserved.  The recent attack on a little girl was terrible and shocking.   Some staffis are protective of their owners and need to be constantly supervised and kept on a lead in public places.   The same goes for many other dogs.   If they are not taught as puppies that people and other dogs are friends, they may grow up to  ‘guard’ their owner.

Some of the staffis we get in here as strays have this tendency.   Yes, we can rehabilitate any dog given time and patience, but that’s not to say they would be safe with other people – they are best friends with us and might be determined to look after us and defend us.    We have one staff who has been here fifteen years!   Even in her younger years she could never have safely been re-homed.

It’s all down to the owner and the importance of training.  Being realistic about your dog and his or her capabilities is vital.   Dogs have 42 teeth in their mouths and can do a lot of damage in a very short time.   Most dogs don’t though, they love people and are truly man’s best friend.  We have some wonderful, intelligent and lovable staffis in the sanctuary at the same time as attack chichuahas!   They’re little but it still hurts if they bite you!

All dogs have different personalities, they are individuals just like us humans.   Just watch the news on the t.v. – how many people are extremely aggressive – as a species we are far worse than dogs.   Even in a litter of puppies you can pick out the alpha male or the shy one, no two are exactly alike.

You need to get the right dog, some breeds are real softies and have a well deserved reputation for good manners.   Others are tearaways or a bit bolshie although there is always the exception to every rule.   We’d be happy to help you choose a breed or type of dog to suit your family and lifestyle – please get in touch if you need advice.

If you have a dog who shows signs of being over protective and is aggressive in any way the best thing to do is to talk it over with your vet.   He will have a realistic and commonsense approach and will be able to advise you on the best options.   The safety of others must come first.