I have three dogs, a cairn cross terrier, a labrador and a staffie and each is gentle and well balanced. Our staffie is a youngster and he attends training classes so that he can socialise with all kinds of people and dogs, he loves it, it’s fun for him and fun for us and when he sees other dogs on our walks he wags his tail and doesn’t feel threatened. I attribute many of the bias and stigma associated with certain breeds, to the press and their inability to write a decent story regarding dogs in the UK. It’s either a slushy sensationalised ‘essay’ piece regarding some enormous birth of pups that’s made the Guinness book of records, or a cruelty story that has nowhere to go save the headlines (the press make news, they don’t care about making better news by telling people how they can help) or it’s the usual ‘devil dog bites child’ story with a horror picture trundled out every time to shock the country into thinking we all live next door to a mad dog that will kill us and our children if we step outside.

It’s time for the press to begin writing more careful and informed editorials that they have actually taken some time to research and it’s up to all of us to be responsible owners of pets that enjoy life and get the most out of it that we can possibly provide.

As for sensational stories about dogs biting children, yes a dog bite is a terrible thing, it’s tragic when a child is bitten and I also have children and I feel concerned that we must do as much as we can to prevent such attacks. But, there is always another side to the story and it is usually one of human negligence when a dog bites a child. Where are the parents? Where were they when the child was bitten and could this bite have been prevented?

My children were raised with dogs and I grew up with dogs myself, my mother taught me how to respect them and how to stay safe around all kinds of dogs, it’s common sense and good parenting and animal care, we can all do it and it’s not rocket science. I was never bitten as a child and neither were my children. Apparently a lot of dog attacks happen to children when they are visiting their grandparents, well when I have grandchildren I will be as careful with my dogs and my grandchildren as I am with my own kids and I remember what I was taught as a child and that will hopefully be enough common sense to always keep my dogs and children safe.

Today’s law makers are quick to slap a plaster on a problem instead of getting to the root cause of it, legislation against so called ‘dangerous breeds’ is not going to teach common sense or educate people and children, it’s simply a knee-jerk reaction to a bad incident that in most cases could have been avoided with a little responsible and ‘aware’ behaviour from those who should know better.

If we always think it’s someone else’s problem we will never manage to think for ourselves or change this country for the better and we will simply be stifled by more and more suffocating laws that do not encourage grown adults to be responsible for their own actions.

How can we teach the next generation if we are not prepared to learn ourselves?

If you don’t agree with the way this country tackles dog issues, get involved and have your say, don’t be a victim of apathy or someone who moans and forgets about it.

Next time you see a ridiculous and sensationalised dog story that demonises a certain breed, write to the newspaper and tell them, the editors will soon realise that we do care and we have a voice and we can use it!

Our dogs don’t have the luxury of a speaking voice of course but if they did they’d probably tell us all exactly where we are going wrong!

It is ignorant of you to generalise that all owners of staffies are “irresponsible”.

I hope one day thick people will be banned from breeding but hey ho.

Lots of love,

Responsible Owner of Two Fantastic Family Staffies

Several of our friends in England have Staffs, they are all responsible owners and responsible dogs, well trained and beautiful.

I have read the comments above regarding Staffs and Bull breeds, some of you obviously understand this amazing, friendly, loyal breed and love them as much as I do, we have had people allowing their dog to “have a go” at our dogs in the past, which has now made our male dog untrusting of other dogs.

Pit Bulls are legal dogs here in Trinidad, they have the same temperament as Staffs, with the right owner, just a bigger size, just as loyal etc.

I never owned a dog before until we had our two staffs, I would never own another breed, ever, these dogs will always be my first choice.

But never leave any dog alone with a child, children are unpredictable and do strange things, the dogs generally react to that.

To the person who said all staffs should be an eventual banned breed, find a responsible owner, get introduced properly, I am sure you will change your mind.

One of our dogs was attacked by a spiteful Westie, all the owner said was “Well your dog’s a staff what’s your problem”

I guess if my staff had attacked his Westie he would have wanted our lovely girl put down.

I agree with what Steven Sharpe says above about certain dogs running up to others and being aggressive. My Staffie happily played with other dogs for ages, but in the last year he’s had german shepherds, huskies, and a whippet growling at him (I think the huskies were only making a few noises, but the german shepherds were snarling and barking, and the whippet was going for his neck).

Initially, he would submit, he rolled on his back after the whippet climbed on him. After each time he starts to retaliate more, going from a growl to really snarling. So I no longer let him off the lead unless he knows the dog, it does seem to be certain breeds he’s scared of (huskies and german shepherds).

What really hacks me off though is when someone’s dog is going mental off the lead and the owner says “oh, it’s because your dog is on the lead”. One guy was quite aggressive to me as if it was my fault his two german shepherds were snarling. Why don’t people get their dogs to not do that or have them under control?