There's no doubt about it, the Staffy alongside many other breeds has been adapted over time to be a good fighting dog. Fighting is now illegal but we are left with a strain of dog that still has a natural ability to cause damage if the right situation arose.
Of course ANY breed of dog, large or small has that ability but humans have done many breeds such as the Staffy a huge discourtesy (for want of a better word) by breeding a fighting machine.
I was in Thurso for the first time in an age last week and I was amazed to see so many staffies. What amazed me more though was the average age of the person walking the staffy looked to be about 17 . It's bizarre!
I completely agree that the responsibility of most attacks can be laid at the feet of the owner and that a dog reacts to the situation minute by minute. It does not reason as we do and it does not think as we do, it simply reacts instinctively and no amount of domestication has managed to dilute that instinct.
When a dog that has been bred for any kind of gladiatorial reason becomes a 'pet' then it needs an owner that better understand the nature of the beast or havoc and pain will no doubt follow.
I'm not suggesting however that no younger person should be able to have a staffy. If the person is experienced and understands the needs of these dogs then age shouldn't be an issue and the Staffy will most likely become a long term, loved member of the family.
Match the breed of dog to the owners personality, abilities and time and everyone should be happy! However that scenario seems to be an equation that is often gotten wrong or ignored completely anyway, people want what they want regardless of the risks. Unfortunately it will always be the dog that suffers in the end.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
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