Remember being told that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover? Classic saying, yet how do our canine friends fair when it comes to judgement?Recently I blogged about breed discrimination, but I didn't highlight one of the most bullied breeds in the UK: The Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Although I have never owned this breed, I have met countless Staffordshire Bulls, and they have been thoroughly delightful dogs, with equally as lovely owners. From childhood, when a friend had a gorgeous rescue Staffie, I've had a fondness for them, and they never fail to win me over with their gorgeous smile and endlessly wagging tail
(Images of Tara, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, owned by David Gray)
However, due to extensive media criticism of this excellent companion dog and those of a similar type/crossbreeds...both owners and Staffies suffer from daily discrimination and sometimes verbal abuse.
Here I am collecting examples from the public regarding negativity towards the Staffordshire Bull Terrier in order to highlight the issue, and hopefully shed light on how important it is to not judge a dog by it's cover.
Staffie Stories
Just Looking for a lift:
'OK. Well I'd just finished work and was driving down a country road near to where I live, when I spotted this dog wandering around obviously lost and at high risk of being ran over. It was what looked like a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, maybe a cross. I pulled over to try and get hold of it, fearing a car would come around the corner at any moment (very fast and winding road). But she was very nervous and would just run up the road whenever I got out of my car.
During this several cars did pass and I just managed to alert them in time. But they would just look at the dog and drive on, like they wanted nothing to do with it. One person did eventually stop but made references to it being a dangerous dog and that he wouldn't get too close. I said it doesn't look aggressive just nervous and that we needed to get it off the road somehow. The other driver hung around but wouldn't get involved in trying to lure the dog to safety.
After some time just trying to keep the dog to the side of the road I remembered I had some food I'd bought in the boot of the car and used that to lure the dog closer. After coaxing her for a while I was able to lure her into the car with the food and shut the door.
The other driver (who had been watching from a distance away, and by this time another person who'd pulled over but also wouldn't help) Came over and said "well what you going to do now, you can't get in there with that". I told them that the dog had eaten from my hand and was quite comfortable being fed. She was sat in the car earnestly looking at me for more food at this point and wagging her tail!
It was clear the other two people who had actually stopped, would not have helped this dog through preconceived ideas about its breed. Which is a shame as she was a lovely friendly dog that was just lost and scared.' Thanks to @DamianSomebody
During this several cars did pass and I just managed to alert them in time. But they would just look at the dog and drive on, like they wanted nothing to do with it. One person did eventually stop but made references to it being a dangerous dog and that he wouldn't get too close. I said it doesn't look aggressive just nervous and that we needed to get it off the road somehow. The other driver hung around but wouldn't get involved in trying to lure the dog to safety.
After some time just trying to keep the dog to the side of the road I remembered I had some food I'd bought in the boot of the car and used that to lure the dog closer. After coaxing her for a while I was able to lure her into the car with the food and shut the door.
The other driver (who had been watching from a distance away, and by this time another person who'd pulled over but also wouldn't help) Came over and said "well what you going to do now, you can't get in there with that". I told them that the dog had eaten from my hand and was quite comfortable being fed. She was sat in the car earnestly looking at me for more food at this point and wagging her tail!
It was clear the other two people who had actually stopped, would not have helped this dog through preconceived ideas about its breed. Which is a shame as she was a lovely friendly dog that was just lost and scared.' Thanks to @DamianSomebody
(An image showing how sociable Staffies can be, again thanks to David Gray for the lovely photo of Tara with DDB Red and his Sister's Akita)
High Street 'Hooligan'
'Walking down the high street I noticed a dog in the distance, as I got closer I realised it was a young Staffordshire Bull Terrier and it was loose. I could tell by its manner it was lost, and it was attempting to approach people, wagging its little tail, but glancing around...he was seeking help.
As I noticed individuals snatch shopping bags out of the pups way, with sharp intakes of breath, lots of dodging and shouts telling him to get lost, I knew I was going to be the only person to help him.
I caught his attention with ease and he soon came over, putting his paws in my lap as I crouched down. There was no collar and I soon realised why...his panicked, slightly embarrassed and relieved owner appeared. The pup had simply slipped its collar.
Of course, dealing with loose dogs is potentially dangerous, and I am confident with dogs and familiar with their body language. However, I cannot help but wonder, had this puppy been a different breed, would someone have come to his aid sooner? I'm pretty sure that would be the case'
Minding it's own business
I was talking to a friend, we were out with her dog and she spotted a Staffordshire Bull Terrier being walked in the distance. My friend motioned towards it and said ' I don't like the look of that dog, I hope it doesn't walk past us'. I glanced across and said 'it's just a Staffie, it looks well behaved'. True enough it seemed very happy and steady, very attentive to its owner. It wasn't pulling on a studded collar or matching up to media steryotypes. The owner smiled and said hello and the dog wagged it's tail as it went past. What was surprising was not my friends reaction, but my friends surprise when I played down the perceived 'threat'.