Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier type attacks child, lets include articles and pictures of Rottweilers!
Posted By Neil Burton Date: 28/09 Posted Under: Dog NewsA dog described as an Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross attacked a four year old child in Somerford Christchurch less than a week after the tragic events in Leicester Thankfully the child is okay but has extensive injuries, what line does the local press take, it prints a three page spread with three seperate pictures of Rottweilers and an article entitled ‘just how safe or suitable are Rottweilers as pets? The article then has three Rottweiler owners giving their opinions of the breed.
There is also a double page photograph of a Rottweiler owner and his dog with two puppies, why is this picture in the three page spread? What connection is there between Rottweilers and this unfortunate incident?Â
Is it right for the press to use Rottweilers as a ’sacred cow’ to be trundled out whenever there is a dog attack even when the dog in question is not a Rottweiler?Â
Author DetailsNeil Burton is a dog warden and chairman of the National Dog Warden Association. - See this author's webpage
Popularity: 56% [?]
Thursday, September 28th, 2006 at 8:21 am and is filed under Dog News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I heard that there was 600 incidents of dog related attacks on humans last year.
So, lets count how many attacks were by big dogs, and how many by small dogs. Stop using the Rottweiler dog as a scape goat…
Lets see a Newspaper report on a poodle, or a jack russel, many of who attack children daily…How silly of me, that wouldent sell papers would it ?
Matt, you said it, it seems to be about publicity , the papers don’t want to hear how a ball of fluff bit someone, the papers want blood, violence, big scary dogs, things that will have a big headline splashing across the page. Ridiculous isnt it.
I have to agreee with Matt & Jaylene !!! Ok lets talk to the postman who delivers mail to houses everyday or the paperboy/girl how many times have they been chased or attacked by a dog. How many of them were actually Rottweilers? I bet most of them were medium sized dogs (spaniels & terriers) or smaller (poodles). Poodles do make the top ten vicious dog list too! Only they aim for the face!!!! There are more little dog attacks by far everyday than anything else. Why do we not hear about them? Oh yeah that’s right there’s not enough blood & gore, HELLO there’s enough crap going on don’t you think!? Save the blood & gore for the movies!!!
me n my boyfriend have just bought a staffie hes a lil baby 12 weeks n a rascal i love him to bits!! wouldnt hurt a fly!
i have two irish staffs that love people and other dogs well trained and obediant.its time the owners of these dogs were named and shame and not the breed.
I adopted an abused Rottweiler from a shelter and never looked back. She is such a love even spite her puppyhood.
I have a rotti who is 10 weeks old. he is the most loving affectionate dog and everyone who has met him said the same. you never hear about little dogs in papers as they dont injure as much as big dogs but the truth is that there are alot more attacks by little dogs each year.
Just like people a dog has an off day or moment. being a different species we think we know everything and expect the dog to do exactly what we say when we say it whether they want to or not and then we look surprised when the dog relatiates in the only way he knows how even though a warning was given beforehand, which we though was either funny or did not take heed, why should we he’s “just” a dog, once the damage is done then the question of why!!! arises and who ends up with the wrong end of the stick ? the dog,Children get bitten because parents do not take the time to teach them that they should not abuse a dog, eg bouncing on them, pulling ears,tails teasing, smacking and most importantly going near a dog when they are eating or with a bone, do they not deserve to eat in peace, why does the child need to dig in the food bowl when he is eating, when a child digs around in our plate do we not repremand them and if they continue they get a smack on the hand, so what is the difference, child goes to bowl, dog growls, child continues, dog snaps/bites. When you are lying down either relaxing or you may have a headache or whatever and your child starts playing up, climbing on top of you etc.. what do you do, do you let them continue even though you are not in the mood, no you don,t, you warn them off, ( the dog growls) they continue you warn again this goes on until you finally get up and as a last resort punish them with a wack on he rear (the dog bites) because telling them to stop has not helped. I am not saying that this is always the case, in the majority of dog bite cases there is always a reason, for every action there is a reaction and we as the so called superior species need to take the time to understand the animals that we take into our homes and teach chidren especially, to do the same, if a child gets bitten by the family pet or gets bitten whilst visiting a house that has dogs , at the end of the day its the parents fault not the pets, it’s all about respect. All animals bite, be it the little hamster because you woke him up or squeezed him to hard, the cat because you scratched it;s tummy and he does’nt like it that poor beast of burden, the dog because you pulled his ear, but never took notice that it was infected due to a child pushing a stick into it.
They always know when you are feeling down and lend a furry head or a wet kiss if needed, but do you know him well enough to know when he is feeling down ?????.
I have a staffie, my second one, he will be 11 in february, and i could never wish for a better friend, spoiled rotten sure, he has never received a smack, ever, even in his younger days, a raised voice was enough he is loved by all that meet him to an extent that when friends call to say hello they ask how is beanie, when i feel down he comes and gives kisses and then rolls onto his back and wiggles around because he knows it always makes me laugh, hides my shoes when he sees i plan to go out then sits on the couch all innocent while i search for them, saved no only my life but my childrens when two armed men entered our home, do i know when he feels under the weather, yes, I know is every mood, his body language, the look in his eyes, will he growl at me if i tried to take a meaty bone from him, probably, but why would I want to. can i leave a sausage on the coffe table leave the room and come back 10 hours later, yes, will it still be there, yes without a doubt. If I ask him does he want to come with me to the shop he grabs my wallet and goes to the car and waits. will I miss him when his time comes, always…..with all my heart.
Quote: You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.-
I have a 2yr old staff who is loving & playful she welcomes visitors plays with other dogs . I also have 2 children who can play with her. she can even be approached when she has a bone. We also have a cat she also plays with him. if treated right from a pup they become loyal loving friends.
I have an Irish staffie who goes 62 pounds and 20 inches tall and I have to whole heartidly agree with ARI, she is my best friend, I would trust her with my life and that of my children. In light of recent events I would have to re-quote to term I found when researching Pittbulls and it said “Punish the deed not the breed” If ANY dog is brought up wrong or in an agresive environment it will behave the way it feels it is expected to! between my huby and I we have had a rottie, Jack russel and Alsations and boxers and without a doubt my staffie is the best behaved, easiest to handle and the one out of all of them we would trust the most!!!!!!
I have to agree with Charlie. I too have a staffie and i would trust him with my life too, he is great around my neice and nephew (ages 18mnths,8,7 years) and is also good with other dogs, when we go to the park I am the one thats worried…about other dogs I dont know attacking him! I totally agree..’Punish the deed not the breed’. There are STUPID people out there who use theses dogs for fighting and ‘looking ‘ard’ but dont punish the people who just love the breed!
In the last week I have heard many people express their opinion on PitBull terriers. This is mine….
Some pitbull terriers come from lines that are used for fighting. This is a fact as dog fighting does happen. These lines are usually inbred, this is to retain gameness or willingness to fight.
Now inbred dogs are temperamental and unstable,from whatever breed. With pitbulls this manifests itself in agression. When the dog has the option to fight or flee, it will readily choose to fight.
My reading on this tragic event in the UK is that a child is being minded in a house but does not live in this house full time. The dog is not so bonded with the child. Because of its breeding its an unstable animal and next it freaks when it hears fireworks. The rest is an awful tragedy. In short it is not the breed that is to blame. It is the Poor breeding within the breed that is the problem. Give a moron a weapon and see what happens. Bad breeding, bad management.
By the way I have been around these dogs for the past 35 years so I know what I am taking about.
I have a 1and half irish staff who is full of beans. She is nuts and chews furnature to pieces,but she is the most softest and gentle dog I have ever owned. I also have a EBT and they get on fantasically together. I have a three year old daughter and they adore her, they love her cuddles.I was reading an article by the mail on the net,and I am worried that people are gonna mistake the ISBT for a APBT due to the reporters idotic findings. It has really given the Irish staff a bad rapour.If the police ask me what dog is she, what do I say? Are they gonna confuse ISBT for APBT, and destroy her!!!!!!!
i have 2 staffie’s they are 5 y/o and 20 weeks and are the biggest babys!!! i work with loads of diffrent dogs every day and on of the most unpredictable dogs i see are collies, they are just so quick to turn and bite… i would never trust them at least with some of these “dangerous breed’s”!!! that we see will just turn an give u a warning look if your really upsetting them very few would snap or bite!!! it is wrong to presume that all staffies or pit bulls are aggressive just because of the bad owners out there who fight their dogs or make them aggressive just to make them look tough!!! “punish the deed, not the breed”
Sharon here again…..All I have to say is I agree with you Mel and Vinny and Philip…..Why should we all suffer abuse from passers by and people pulling their dogs away from our dogs because of these stupid imature people. Just today 2 young lads walked passed me with what I presumed a Staffie, so all I said was ahhh look at that Staffie(to my sister) and they redily replied ” Actually he is a PITBULL” as if he was proud of the fact of telling the public that! I dont mind Im sure the dog was a lovely dog but with imature people like that…gives all of us a bad name. My staffie is lovely and wouldnt hurt a fly but we are responsible owners and have attended The Kennel Clubs Good Dog Citizenship Scheme currently Gold level!
We have a Rottie bitch pup 6mths old and she is our 3rd Rottie, We have two young children in our household and we all are proud to be the keepers of such a lovely animal as we hope she is as happy at home with us.
Sure any idiot can go and buy a puppy!!! but can any idiot buy a gun, Well we all know the answers to that!!!!!
We have worked hard on socialisation of our puppy and she also goes to shuzhund training every week and will continue to be worked all her life as long as her health permits. She also goes to our little girls primary school every day to greet her after school and she is a big hit with all the kids who come and pet her on a daily basis.
Devil Dog Yeh right!!!!!
Some idiot stopped me the other day and asked was I not concerned about having a fighting dog so close to our children, where I directed him to the local libary to do a little reading about the origins of our wonderful pet!!!!!!!!
A little more study on peoples sutability of keeping a dog we think is needed rather than mindless persecution of a wonderful breed.
A dog is the product of its upbringing. So is a child. When I hear of incidents such as this (a child being bitten by a “vicious” dog) my first question is “what was the child doing to the dog???” Was the dog asleep and did the child step or jump on him? I’d bite, too!!
And just exactly what IS an “Irish Staffordshire bull terrier”?? Are they referring to a staffy bull from Ireland? Or a cross between a staffy and an Irish terrier?? Or a staffy/Irish setter cross? Irish water spaniel/staffy?
Ari, you’ve got it in one. There is nothing like a dog (esp Staffs.!!)
Someone once said something about when a dog bites, it dies. end of story - no one ever seems to question the validity of the bite, where the fault lies or anything at all. dog bites, dog dies. We, as a race, cannot even get on with our own kind so were hardly going to care about the whys with another race. Superior race? I think not!
they are. Remember they retain as much imformation about us as we do as them. If you don’t like you why would you expect them to like you.
Karen Stene
Animal Trainer
i have a staffie she is 11 month.s old she is very frendly she loves every one.people that say thay are bad dogs to have are wrong and dont know these dogs
HMMM!!! Central news tonight! Yet again another Staffie attacks a child! How can you say they are the sweetest dog? Have any of you stopped to count how many Staffies have attacked in 2007 alone?
my darling little cavalier,my daughter and myself were walking today when we saw a lady who said “i’ve lost my staf but,don’t worry he is a big softie” with that this horrible monster came charging towards my sweet cavalier,jumped on top of him pinning him to the ground,snarling viciously wanting to savage him,my poor little cavalier just lay there helplessly and terrified.The owner did manage this time to pull him off. if you want a vicious dog PUT IT ON A LEAD AND MUZZLE IT PLEASE. LITTLE DOGS HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO FOR A WALK WITHOUT BEING ATTACKED!
hate rotts, scary and untrustworthy. have owned a few staffs, great little dogs, best in the world!!!
5 yrs ago i brought the cutiest little staffie pup as she grew i noticed she was taller than a normal staff and better looking (sorry staffie owners) i looked on the net and identified her as dare i say a pitbull “irish staff”.things had being going ok just the usual eating things she sudnt eating herself out of the front door ,i already had a child when i got the dog but then had 1 after, everything again was fine untill i read about that poor child Ellie being killed,it made me very scared of my own dog so i went to get sum advice from the vet BIG MISTAKE.(if u own a pit NEVER ADMIT IT)they told me i sud not put my family pet to sleep but to DESTROY her, well as u can imagine i was not happy but then surpose the vets have got to cover there backs.i trust my dog with my kids but wudnt leave them alone with any dog,i now muzzle my dog when im out because yes she is ok with other dogs but i will not take that risk i cud never sleep at night if she hurt or killed sum1s family pet.ive had a lot of stress by owning this dog and i wudnt breed her i will not put more of these dogs out there 4 sum young plastic gangsta to ruin the pitbull name.pitbulls even in the right home are hard work its like having a 2yr old full of e numbers running around the walls also dont expect ur friends kids or family members to stay over as they wont be allowed i dont think id let my kids stay where theres a pit either (mad i know)so my advice wud be as much as i love my dog and believe i do and i wud fight my dogs corner to the end but i wud not reckonmend owning a pit.x
Does anyone else get the impression that it’s only responsible dog owners that are replying to this post? My dog was recently attacked by a couple of staffie-type dogs and I am now scared to walk her. I truly believe that it’s all down to the training and homelife of the dog. Guess what, the dogs that attacked mine belong to an alpha male neanderthal…
In my youth, I delivered newspapers and I was bitten regularly by nasty little yappy terrier/spaniel type things. My grandad had a mini poodle and that thing would attack me everytime it saw me, often drawing blood and not just a little bit.
I worked with dogs, all sorts everyday for 6 years, I was bitten once….. but a westie. Most of the dogs I saw on a daily basis were large breed dogs, who were all beautiful and well trained.
You cant blame a dog for doing what its told. If you teach a dog to sit, stay, heal etc then thats what it’ll do, if on the other hand, you’re the sort of thug who teaches their dog to attack other animals and people, then no one should be surprised when thats what it does. At the end of the day, as most others have said, the dog is the product of its environment and will do exactly what its trained to.
Wendy: I noticed that you were quick to blame the staffy breed as a whole. Please take the time to meet a wonderful staffy, like my own who has been bred by responsible people, trained and loved and treated correctly.
The breed is popular with thugs for the same reason that it is popular with responsible owners…. because it is wholly focused and dedicated to its owner and will do ANYTHING you ask of it for nothing more than a belly rub. Staffs are a hugely people oriented breed, they adore humans which is why they are so easy to train, either for the good or bad. Dont blame the breed, blame the sick people that are either teaching these poor dogs that attacking people or animals is the right thing to do, or not training them at all.
Let me ask you this, if all staffys are so vicious, how is it that so many are being stolen from cars and gardens?? Surely such a vicious, blood thirsty dog would rip you apart if you went near it?? Its just not true, the dogs that are raised properly, are more likely to lick you to death than owt else!! I agree that staffies have and do attack, but I defy you to find a healthy one that has been socialised and trained correctly that will do that. Dogs will only really attack if they’re taught, or if they’re ill/in pain or treated badly.
I would love you to meet my staffy, she falls over herself to meet new people and immediately rolls over and submits to any human.
She’s new to my home, 2 1/2 and I have 2 cats, they often take a swipe at her if she tries to sneak their food for example, and what does this supposed vicious dog do?? Rip them apart??? No, she whines, wets herself and runs off in fear!!
Im sure all responsible dog owners, regardless of their choice of breed are sick of people tarring the entire breed with the same brush just because thugs, criminals and idiots own the same breed.
Its like saying all children are ‘hoodies’ and will mug any little old lady just because they’re children.
lt makes me so mad when people judge an entire breed because a small minority of idiots also favour the breed for all the wrong reasons.
l have owned/trained and worked with dogs for 27 years and have only ever met 3 dogs which l can honestly say were ‘dangerous’ (2 of them were rescue’s so heaven knows what happened in thier past to make them this way) and were they Staffies? Rotties? Pitts?……..NO! A Dalmation, a Border Collie and a Jack russel!!!! None of these were breed typical or stereo-types but quite capable of inflicting serious injury.
Getting your dog from a good breeder is the best start as the parents do pass on thier character to the puppies, but you also have to have the right owner for the breed of dog or the partnership will not work. Training and early socialisation are also paramount to every dog.
l own an 11 years old Staffie who is wonderful, he’s well-trained and very friendly to all people and animals, l also have 2 Akita’s which are appearing more and more in negative publicity due to idiot owners and poor breeders cashing in on a rise in demand without thought as to what they are breeding, all these 3 dogs l know very well and as a responsible owner l would never put my pet in a situation where they needed to defend themselves, some owners don’t pay enough attention to what thier pet is telling them and when the pet reacts it takes the full blame for any incident as no-one speaks up in his defence as to provocation etc.
l also have several small poodles and they are also well socialised and friendly, all my dogs would rather kiss you than anything else.
ln the past l have owned German Shepherds and Rotties and can honestly say l have yet to meet a naturally nasty one (that hasn’t been taught to be nasty) so l agree with all the other posts about ‘Judge the deed (and owner), not the breed’ it’s about time someone spoke out for the dogs who cannot speak for themselves!!!
All this talk is rubbish. people are irresponsible, just look at all the debt the british public are in and all the abuse to children that happens and alcoholism and drugs and crime that take place on a daily basis, we have no moaralls really. Yet we want to make what are great athletic dogs look sour. what i mean is it is human nature to destroy things and pit bull type, staff, irish staff what ever you want to call them are being treated like its all their own doing. When realistically its us that put these actully beautifully natured dogs in the situation. i think we need to introduce dog licencing and micro chip evey dog to nail down the owners who are desroying the breed. Would you die for your parents because that is what these dogs do they put their lfe on the line for their parents(owners). Now i see that as a lesson we need to take frm these dogs. stick to keeping this breed away from thugs and drugs and the best wil come out in these dogs… Thats just my opinion!
[…] Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier type attacks child, lets include articles and pictures of Rottweile… A dog described as an Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross attacked a four year old child in Somerford Christchurch less than a week after the tragic events in Leicester Thankfully the child is okay but has extensive injuries, what line does the local press take, it prints a three page spread with three seperate pictures of Rottweilers and an article entitled ‘just how safe or suitable are Rottweilers as pets? […]
I have 3 dogs one of which is a very big very soppy Rottweiler called JT. He is fantastic with everyone and has never caused any problems, he knows exactly who is in charge and i would not have it any other way. I cant. ITS THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO.
I dont know if anyone has seen this link, it will come as no surprise to most of us on here, but most people are not open to listen at the moment.
http://grungedandy.vox.com/library/post/dog-dosnt-kills-owner-in-horror-attack.html?_c=ecn1
How responsible am i out of 10 on a daily basis as a Rottweiler owner - Every day 9-10 i have to.
i think it is terrible that staffys get the blame i have a wee pup and it wouldnt hurt a fly they get bad publicity because they look like pitbulls and some people cant tell them apart
my husband tied my 5yr old staff outside the shop and he jumped up at a little girl and knocked her over and we are now being cautioned and waiting to go to court to see if he will be destroyed or not,the little girl was not injured but on the bases that someone had given a statment that the dog had grapped the girl and throw her to the floor and was shaking her around “like a rag doll”,my dog has been brought up with young children,dogs,cats and he is so doppey and laid back,his only down fall he is to frindly and loves little and big people,i believe on the bases of his breed he has been punished.But after this incident he will be wearing a muzzel to protect him from a repeat of this allegation
Ann
Have you obtained the services of a solicitor who specialises in dog cases, if you are just going to attend and defend yourself, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the justice system. Also a behaviourist may be able to provide you with a report or even appear in the court to discuss their findings re your dog.
i agree with a lot of these owners who have commented. i too have an abused staff and she is a lovely little girl. i blame the owners and the parents for letting the kids tease the dogs. i used to work as a veterinary nurse and i can honestly say that the nastiest of dogs were the small breeds like jack russels and yorkies not rottweilers and staffs. blame the owners not the dogs!!!
I would just like to say i have just lost my Irish staff she was my best friend loved every one and every one loved her i feel so empty with out her she was another one of my children in my eyes she was my baby girl. It makes me so cross people put them down it is the owner not the dog.i have 3 children and she loved them all i could go on all night.
Any dog attacks is the owners fault not the dogs!!!!!!!It totally depends on the dog’s upbringing and not the dog itself. If the dog has had a bad past then the dgo is liable to attack but i have a four year old rottweiler (5 this year) and he is so soft and would never attack amnyone in his life. He has got a four year old boxer friend and 2 gerbils that sit on his head. Does that sound agressive to you. wake up and smell the coffee. Dogs don’t attack for no reason and it is us humans that mistreat them that make them the way they are.
(QUOTE, There is also a double page photograph of a Rottweiler owner and his dog with two puppies, why is this picture in the three page spread? What connection is there between Rottweilers and this unfortunate incident? QUOTE)
Absolutely none! The more I read things like this, the more I despise the media. A real shame the Rottweiler Is really getting a bad rap of late. Totally uncalled for and shame on those who published It.
Over the years I have come to the conclusion that there are three basic types of dog owner. 1. DOG LOVERS & PEOPLE FRIENDLY PEOPLE. They may have a breed preference, but ultimately love all dogs regardless of their breed, be it a pedigree, X or mongrel. They do not judge or harass other owners according to the breed that he/she has chosen. They are relaxed and calm around their dogs and when in the park are responsible at all times, whilst not being unduly uptight and aggressive about other people and their dogs. I fall into this category. The lowest category is 3. DOG OWNERS OF THE COLD HEARTED VARIETY. At the bottom of the list are people who ‘own’ dogs and treat them as objects rather than animal companions. These poor dogs suffer the worst kind of abuse in extreme cases or live lives where very little warmth and compassion passes from owner to dog. Its a grim existence at worst and and a lonely one at best. These people are morons and do not have a clue what caring for an animal invovles and are not interested in finding out. So having covered the two opposite ends of the spectrum there is the middle catergory. In between the two are a type of owner I have come across A LOT over the past 12 years being the owner of two Staffordshires. 2. THE DOG SNOB. For the many Dog Snobs out there, if you own a labrador and wear green wellingtons, then you are considered to be a wholesome person, who lives in ‘the nicer part’ of town, reads a broadsheet, drives a particular kind of car, is partial to pearl necklaces and listens to the archers on radio 4 while baking. If on the other hand you are a Staffordshire owner you will be deemed as automatically undesirable, unintelligent, will sign your name with an X because you are illiterate and have tattoos which were drawn on you whilst you were in prison for drug dealing or GBH. It will be assumed that if spoken to in a condescending manner, you will not be able to stand up for yourself and articulate, but will F and blind all over the place, or possibly commit another act of GBH, which will send you straight back to prison and create the opportunity for some more tattos at low cost to be added to the collection. If a dog belonging to a category 2. owner attacks Charlie (my dog), while he is on the lead and muzzled and he tries to defend himself and or my other dog Tallulah, nips the situation in the bud by sending the dog on its way WITHOUT harm, Dog Snob will become enraged and check his/her K9 for bites and wounds while ranting and raving and telling me that I am not allowed in the park. ????????
GET A GRIP !
i cant agree more rottweillers and pit bulls are always the scape goat for evrything! my motto is punish the deed not he breed!!!!
i happen to own a 3 yr old male rottweiller as well as a 2yr old pitbull mix they are absolutly without a doubt the best family dogs ever the rottie is the most intelligent breed i have come across growing up had every kind of dog WOULDNT TRADE MY BOYS FOR ANYTHING!
LETS HEAR ABOUT THOSE LITTLE DOGS BITING PEOPLE!