Lets clarify the bulldog/pitbull/bull terrier situation.

[Phteven]

FWIW I think the thingg is that if you get bitten by a little fluffy dog (AKA a rat) chances are you will have some nasty scars but you will live to tell the tale but if you get bitten by a big mastif kind of dog you just might get killed.
That's one of the reasons that I got a small dog. I think that any dog will bite if it is pushed too far so I may as well have one that won't do to much harm if it is pushed beyond tolerance.
Then again bull terriers and bull dogs have high pain thresholds so their tolerance may be greater.

[Lulu]

Aaah, I geddit. I was kind of hoping that it was a typo and you actually had a catdog. I'd like one of those.

Chi's are mental, they scare the bejaysus outta me too. DS went to pat one the other day but I collared him before he got to it - the owner didn't mind when I told him they can be a bit mental cos she agreed.

[Phteven]

Aaah, I geddit. I was kind of hoping that it was a typo and you actually had a catdog. I'd like one of those.

Try a Siamese or a Tibetan Spaniel

[briggsy's girl]

i've got little "rat dogs" (for what it's worth, it's spelt chihuahua!) - they're actually Chi cross. they are the most beautiful natured dogs. we also have a cattle dog (used to have four) and they have been trained very well so behave beautifully - i have no issue with having them around kids at all. the one we have left now, Jack, we mostly keep chained when other people are around now - not that he's a dangerous animal, but he's older, and starting to think he's a puppy again so gets very jumpy around other people which can be frightening.

i don't have any issue with people having dogs taht are well looked after and well trained. i can't walk my dogs outside our yard though as there is a black staffy around that is NOT trained or controlled at all, and will attack other animals at every opportunity. it saddens me, esp given this dog was responsible for the death of one of our rabbits! i don't blame the dog - i blame the owners for not being responsible owners!

my dogs have been attacked by people being unable to control their own dogs in the past, when living in another town - a very boisterous lab, which didn't hurt them just scared them, and a doberman - this one peeved me big time - the owner, instead of admitting she was unable to control her dog, said "well if you had real dogs instead of rats..." hmmmm. if i'd had an uncontrolled larger dog like hers, rather than a well controlled pair of "rats" that i literally picked up by their leads (they use harnesses, not collars) it could have been very nasty!

pet ownership (no matter the breed) - means being responsible and having your pet trained and ensuring it is safe to be around. i tend to discourage children from being even with my little dogs unless there is an adult there - my girls are used to kids being around, but are shy and will hide until they get comfy with the people they're with - most younger kids will try to get them to come out of hiding - and this is where it poses a threat of them turning nasty out of fear (they haven't yet, but it's something i watch for all the time). having said that, i say the same about my cat! he's not used to kids and does get very upset at being harrassed so i tell the kids to let him come to them - don't pursue him cos he'll just hide!


sorry - lotsa waffle there! our next dog will probably be a purebred kelpie or a blue heeler. we DO live in town, but DH works with cattle and used to train dogs for working when he was breeding huntaway/kelpie cross pups. he wants to train one as a protective dog for around here seeing he's away so much, and one to take with him in the truck. he takes a long time to pick dogs based on personality of the parents and of the pup though so i trust him to make sure our dogs are safe for us...

[Chamberry]

I have a female staffy named Staffy lol Im so imaginitive but Id have to say the best dog Ive ever owned would have to be a rednose Pitty named Tank. Unfortunately due to council laws in brisbane he was taken from us and given a "pitbull test" where they do allsorts of tests on him to verify that he is a pitbull and not an american staffy and when the test came back positive we had the choice of relocating him so we brought him an airfare to Sydney where he stays with family now. Staffys are from the same bloodline as pitbulls and have the same characteristics just no where near as much game.

[Lulu]

better than ANOTHER staffy called Tyson...!

[New Dawn]

warning about to go off topic a little....


The thing that really annoys me is when I am out walking my dog ( a G shep ) people with little yapper whos dogs is carring on like a bannch trying to get to my dog... when walk past me or see me coming will pick up there little dogs and then give me the look of death if Jeda even sniffs there way while we walk past....

Ok I get that she is big and I am not so big, so it might not look like I have much control ( to be truthful if she decided to run or " go " something I proberly not be able to hold her back ) but she wouldnt hurt a fly, she is the biggest sook of a dog... I always have DD2 with me ( if not all of the winkies ) so they can see she must be a family dog but still they look at me like I have the evil dog....

I know its the same for owners of staffys as well...

I used to have a rottyx and I could only walk her if she was on a holtiy ( as she was the same weight as me ) as they were new on the market people would think it was a muzzle **** it was funny to see peoples faces when we walked by But hey my BHL is always away and living in sydney she made me feel safe... can tell you she came in handy when the neighbours were robed.... my house didnt get touched

OK back on topic BHL wouldnt mind a 2nd dog soon and we are thinking a staffy ( well he wants one ) I told him as long as I can dress it up I dont care now that would be a scream

[Chamberry]

Tali I know where your coming from, I gave up taking her to the beach for that same reason.