Owner says breed known for being 'kid-friendly'

The trouble with those statistics is that they are probably based on the total number of attacks by dogs generally, not per population of the seperate breeds. If that's the case they are not that meaningful.  I am not suprised that labradors recorded the second highest number of attacks because they are such a common breed. 

My point is not so much 'which dogs attack', because they all will in certain circumstances. It's the damage they inflict when they do that bothers me.  I would much rather be mauled by a spaniel than a pit bull, if you know what i mean.  

I think the problem in the UK has been the cross breeding and mislabeling of breeds to avoid the regulations, and I have read that it is relatively easy to import banned breeds from Europe. We would not have that problem.  I don't advocate putting down existing dogs because they are a certain breed, but I would like to see compulsory neutering to gradually reduce the numbers.  That would include crossbreeds where the genetics are obvious.    

The most useful  NZ relevant dog attack statistics - percentages of a dog  breed involved inattacks on humans –  aren’t easy to find. However, I found on the web New South Wales attacks reported to local bodies for the June 2005 year. In these NSW figures,  0.1 per cent of  Staffordshire bull terriers were reported as having made an attack. This compares with 0.2 per cent for German Shepherds and rotweilers, 0.4 per cent for mastiffs,  0.6 per cent for Kelpies, 1 per cent for pitbulls, and 0.8 per cent for greyhounds. Breeds sharing the same percentage as Staffies included  terriers of unspecified type, German shorthaired pointers, and Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

 A report in the NZ Sunday News on 31 January 2010 said in figures over two years from 13 North Island local bodies Labradors were responsible for the second-highest number of attacks, after pit bulls.

 Under the Dog Control Amendment Act 2003, four dog breeds are banned and cannot be  imported to NZ: American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Brazilian Fila, and Japanese Tosa.

 I’m a casual dog owner, with a Staffie after a string of German Shepherds. In exercising the Staffie, I  have encountered a Tosa, a red-nose Texas pit bull, and what the owners claimed was a Dogo Argentino.  The red-nose owner told me he had been able to register his red-nose as a Staffie, with lower fees and no home inspection.

Staffies are commonly known in the UK as the nanny dog, because they are usually child friendly. The banning of pit bulls in the UK, however, has led to deadbeats buying Staffies instead, becausethey think their animal’s bulldog physique makes them (the owner) look tough. There have been cases of mistreatment of these Staffies and a high abandonment rate as the ratbag owners move onto their next whim.

Regardless of breed, dog attacks usually can be blamed on the owner, rather than the animal.  There should be banned owners as well as banned dog breeds. [Abridged]

You make very sensible points, Clare. As you say, 'there is a lot of choice with dog breeds so why do we need 'risky' breeds'. You hear how stories of how the dog has never been known to do such a thing before - after ripping the face off some kid. Better to be safe than sorry, surely. Some breeds are just more unpredictable than others despite their handling by owners.

I think we're all missing the point here, The original article stated " while the woman who owned the dog - who would not be named - said Jayden had been "tormenting" the animal that day."  If it was recognised the dog was being harrassed, why was nothing done about it? Why was the boy, or the dog, not removed from the situation? 

I do not support "dangerous breeds" being controlled, because the truth is all dogs are dangerous when provoked. Dog ownership is on the rise, Dog safety should be taught in our schools maybe even kindys from a young age.

Most staffs are so gentle and kind natured. Meet one and know the breed before you start crying for banning.

Yes it's true that most breeds of dogs will bite if teased and tormented and also true that parents should teach their children how to approach and treat dogs. 

However there are some breeds that when provoked will not just nip or give a single bite,  they will attack until they kill. No one is in danger of my fox terrier ripping their ear off.  Unfortunately it is also true that many people have these dogs for exactly this reason, the aggressive tendency is fostered and encouraged and time and time again we read of attacks on both humans and other dogs or small animals. (sorry all you good owners but it's the truth)

We are never going to get rid of the people who have vicious dogs to complement their macho image and we are never going to teach every child how to be careful with dogs. There is a lot of choice with dog breed so why do we need 'risky' breeds? 

I am totally in support of banning dangerous breeds.  Only then will I be able to take my own minature fox terrier for a walk without having to be constantly alert to the possibility of attack.  

First off, let me state, I'm a dog lover. But I disagree with the statement "There is no such thing as a 'dangerous breed'."  All dogs are potentially dangerous.

The best dog I ever owned was a German Shepherd, I had her so well trained that I could control her with hand gestures, but I was the only person in the family she would obey.  The 'worst' dog I have ever owned was a Shepherd-Huskie cross, one of the most beautiful dogs I have ever seen, but it had the temperment of a wolf.

Having said that - I don't blame think that in situations like this, the dog is solely to blame, I think the dog owner, and the parents of the children may also need to reconsider their roles in such events.   One of the things that surprises me is that not one person has pointed out the fact that part of the reason that Staffies have gotten a bad reputation is because people in the UK have been selling breeds banned under UK law as Staffie crosses.

[Abridged]

Is this the same Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed that has attacked people in the UK? To my mind anyone that keeps the breed should ensure they are always controlled and not leave them anywhere with kids about..

It appears that this breed of dog stars quite often in this sort of behaviour.