scary dogs

[babscartland]

My friend has just got a dog its a cross between a bull mastiff and a stafforshire. now shes got 2 children under 5 and i told her it wasnt a ideal choice. does any one have a experience of these dogs? are they good with children?

[lankeela]

I am always wary of 'breed specific legislation' - no particular breed or cross breed in normal circumstances deserves to be labelled dangerous.

Staffs in fact have the nickname 'nanny dogs' as they are generally good with children. But ask yourself this - are the children good wth dogs? Will they treat the dog with the respect it deserves? Are they likely to poke and prod the dog or tread on it or disturb it while it is asleep? Will they try to take toys or food away from it?

Is the mother with two young children going to be able to provide enough exercise and stimulation for a dog that needs lots of exercise and being kept occupied?

Are the children's friends going to be trusted to treat the dog with respect and is the dog going to be allowed to become over protective of its 'own' children?

Would any breed or crossbreed be suitable in this situation?

I have a small breed (just ten inches at the shoulder) generally a friendly breed but I have one bitch that absolutely hates children and would take great pleasure in fanging one at any given opportunity. I am very careful when there are children about and make sure I warn them to ask first before touching any of my dogs.

Lets hope the answers to some of my questions are positive, or another poor dog will probably end up in rescue or being put down through no fault of its own.

[saxy_jag]

My very limited experience of both Staffs and Mastiffs is that they're generally excellent with children. Tolerant and protective.

Would depend very much on the dog's individual background, though.

[orange-gnome]

I have had a staff and she was absolutely brilliant with kids and babies, she thought nothing of being prodded and poked (which you can't expect children NEVER to do, no matter how good you are at explaining and teaching them how to treat dogs) she was so patient with him and never gave him so much as a nasty look!
As for mastiffs I can't say that I have had any experience with them with kids but in general they are real gentle giants and to be honest its a bit of a misconception that these dogs are bad to have with kids... I would much rather have a staff or a mastiff with children than I would a sheltie, westie or something similar.

Its really up to the owners of the dog to do their best to educate the children but more importantly the dog, to listen to them and know how to behave calmly around the kids. If they end up with a dog that hates kids its the owners fault not the dogs.

[orange-gnome]

I forgot to ask how old the dog is?
If it is a puppy then I definitely think you have no need to worry, if a dog is socialized properly and in the right way from a young age with small children then he'll be fine!
If not I assume he is a rescue dog (??) in which case the rescue centre wouldn't have rehomed to a family with young children unless they knew for a fact that he was good with kids.

[orange-gnome]

LOL keep thinking of more things to say!!

Just wanted to add that of course you can never trust any dog 100% with kids i.e you shouldn't leave them alone together.... the risk is too great! Though I am sure you know that : )

[RATTER15]

I'm sorry but this is a very bad cross.

I know terriers! I have kept them all my life, I know Staffies!
Yes they are one of the most stable of terriers, Mastiffs are fairly good as well.

I have never had a terrier that has bitten but I know how powerful the bite of a Staffie and also know that terriers can just snap and bite anything that it feels like biting. I know how much power is in a mastiff, put those together and you have a powerful dog that would bring down a cow and probably consume it.

This dog is most likely going to be a safe dog, but is "most likely" good enough to have around children.

As I said My terriers have never bitten anybody and great around kids but always aware of what even a Jack Russell can do.

I would never trust it!!

[orange-gnome]

Ratter... I think your answer is incredibly harsh and is only going to unnessecarily worry babscartland. You can't generalise on crosses like that... its ridiculous! Sure a mastiff has lots of power but being crossed with a bull terrier makes it no more dangerous. A mastiff or two without the cross could probably take down a cow but does it? Not unless you train it to.
Also bull terriers are not snappy like normal terriers can be in some cases, so that doesn't even apply.

[jenstar]

Dogs are a bad idea anyway. I am sitting here typing this with my right leg bandaged up after being attacked by a dog in the street, again. People who insist on owning these dangerous animals are brainless scum. (As can be seen from the fact that they continue to insist that their dog is "just being friendly" even AFTER it's attacked you, wilfully ignoring the rips in your trousers and blood oozing out from the gashes in your leg.)

[orange-gnome]

OMD Jen, I am sorry to hear of your attack!
It really is the brainless idiots and not the dogs who are the problem though.

[RATTER15]

Orange-Gnome I have not generalised I am very specific about the two breeds involved, and I am very sorry but crossing a Mastiff with any bull breed is a mistake!! any terrier has the propensity to flip, more than most dogs, the staffie whilst being one of the more stable still has this propensity, and crossing that with a mastiff is wrong when there are children. I'm sorry if I have worried babscartland but she asked a question out of concern and I have answered out of concern, I'm sure she wants the truth.

I know what I am talking about and had many dealings with both breeds!!

[RATTER15]

I think the point here is there are children involved!! is it worth taking chances or do we just hope for the best.

[babscartland]

hi, babs is back.
the dog is a puppy and as for taking it for walks im not to sure on that one. apart from up the off licence for a vodka top up,you with me? small garden area,not quite to sure how this is gonna turn out. I think that if you are going to get a dog you have really got to think about it carefully. the exercise will be zero,i do think that she has made a big mistake.but ohh is"nt he cute. umm yes but how cute in a years time. thanks for all the answers friends.

[lankeela]

There is no mention of the dog being a mastiff cross. It says Bull Mastiff which is a completely different breed.

My worry would be whether or not it is actually a first cross of these two breeds, both of which can be very nice natured, or whether it is in fact a 'pitbull' type that they are calling crossbreeds as pitbulls are banned in this country.
Another way round is to call them 'Irish Staffs'.

Sadly I got the impression from the initial post that this was going to end up being got rid of. Why did the breeder sell it to someone in this situation? (Rhetorical question, the breeder sold it for the money!)

[Snappy]

The dog isnt the problem, it'll be the owners!!

[eileenb]

Sorry to be on the negative side here,but please remember that ALL dogs however cute,cuddley/ placid they are.are descended somewhere along the line, from animals that were originally predators.
Even the most docile animal can have an "off" day.

I've been associated with a few dogs in my life,ranging from mutts/terriers/rottweillers and presently have a barmy border collie,(and a few scars to go with it)

[LaLa1705]

Oh dear.Puppy will grow big very quickly, it doesn't need much exercise at mo, too much is bad for growing bones, however the pup definitely needs socialising urgently and you can bet that's not going to figure!But in say 8 months time this dog is going to need so much exercise and stimulation if it's not to destroy the house and worse. In my humble opinion, and this is a bit controversial, but children under 8/10 and dogs shouldn't be housed together unless the parents are responsible, knowledgeable animal handlers !This is because children seem to be generally out of control, animals are seen to be purely for their entertainment with not much thought for its' welfare or needs,parents have no idea what they are doing with either kids or dog and so many dogs are bred by total idiots who don't care where they end up as long as they get their cash and the end result is .........the worst scenario. Whichever idiot put those 2 breeds together needs a smack,what he has bred is a first cross bullmastiff type,a guard type of dog with massive biting power and a need for serious exercise, which it's not going to get ...it's not the dogs' fault, it shouldn't have been born but it has found itself in a timebomb situation. What the hell is this woman thinking ?? Please try to get her to take the pup to rescue, not back where she got it as they won't care...tell her to concentrate on giving her kids a decent upbringing and leave dogs alone! I'd tell her myself! I have had to put no end of this type of dog or similar down as it has had ignorant owners who should never have got it in the first place.They are only for the experienced person.Will she listen to you or will it take a bite to make her listen?