“The Staffordshire Bull Terrier came at the top of K9 magazine’s all time best dog breed list. We judged the breeds on a multitude of factors and the Staffie came top with the best average. This breed is often favoured for his typical Englishness – strong, fearless, and intelligent with a definite sense of fun. The Staffie, despite his robust physique and no nonsense personality, is a darling around children and with many people who keep one as a pet, stick with the breed for life.”

Doreen Patrick, KENDAL, CUMBRIA

Miss T, Melbourne - "Animals both male and female should be spayed and neutered to prevent the birth of unwanted litters"

Don't be ridiculous! The purpose of removing the testes is to induce hormonal changes in the animal. Dogs can have a vasectomy just like humans - all my dogs have had the snip, so they can make love but won’t produce young. I think I am a very responsible dog owner. I just couldn’t mutilate an animal through castration, just to change the way it behaves.

Mike, Newport, UK

Again, where are the parents?

Rachel , Leeds,

Dear Citizens

We are living in a violent world were a generation in the UK are running amok and carrying on in ways were their behaviour is demonic. The Goverment is not doing enough in the UK to tackle the criminals, thugs.
I recently read about one of their passtimes where they use an innocent animal and then look at what happened to it after the dog or dogs had their time with it.
This all goes on in living areas.
Don't you think it would be better for the army to be on the streets in assisting the brave police because sadly this is the level we have sunk too.
There is enough violent happenings the last weeks and it is time to crack down once and for all.
Protect the innocent people and deal with the scum.
Wake up Mr Brown and company.

Mr Walmsley, originally Manchester area, England

I'm absolutely astonished as to the number of people who seriously think the dogs are to blame!? Why can't people understand that it's the way the dogs are bred, not which breed they are, which determines their behaviour. It's absolutely RIDICULOUS that there are still some people in this world who have such trouble understanding such common sense. Everyone in this world grows up and matures differently according to the socialization that they're exposed to as they're growing up. Whether they are a human or animal the same rule applies. If a dog is rtreated badly, then it will behave badly. These dogs fight because they've been trained to fight. NOT BECAUSE OF THEIR BREED!!!!!!!!

I hope all these ignorant people who seem to blame the dogs, one day wake up and see who's really to blame, (and that's the owners by the way).

Carly Jones, Bethesda, Gwynedd, UK

Bring back dog licensing, soirrisponsible owners can't afford to own one. There are dozens of kids in my neighourhood with these dogs beleaving they are cool, with no regard for others the dogs deficate on the footpath and frighten the elderly.

rob, london, uk

This government will be appalled and disgusted at this report. We will be told that they are keeping an eye on it and it will go on for ages until it reaches epedemic proportions. Then we will be told by one of the concerned M.Ps. that it will be nipped in the bud. What a joke.

trevor, Birmingham, England

"Think how many thuggish humans would benefit from being neutered, but the thought is unbearable!"- Mike

I dunno, it would certainly be a scarier prospect for some career criminals and idiot youngsters than a year or two in prison- behave or we whip your goolies off!
(apologies for the tangent, folks!)

I've known rottweilers and staffies with the sweetest dispositions and some utterly horrible "safe" breeds of dogs. It's the attitudes of the owners who form the nature of the animals. Unlisenced breeding and irresponsible ownership are what we should be looking at.

Sarah , Loughton, Essex

Dog are as dangerous as shotguns - and need similar regulation.

Sean Shalor, Coventry, UK

Maybe we should eat them, like they do in China. If Rover had to sit and watch the family tuck into his best mate with a side of veg on a Sunday afternoon, he'd soon improve his attitude.

Colin, Blackpool,

The thing that a lot of adults don't seem to realise is that the young people who use dogs in this way know what they're capable of, otherwise they wouldn't use them, they'd use a gun. They're proud of scars and wounds, calling them "battle wounds" and horrificly appaling things like that.
Showing them a victim of an attack and having him explain how much he loved his dog before it was put down will not make them think, "Oh, I didn't realise dogs could be so dangerous. I love that dog, and my friends." These people need to be hit hard, and where it hurts. Fine them, imprison them. Bring back the dog license. If you want to have an animal to keep as your own, why shouldn't you pay for the privilege?

Tom Bettley, Leeds,

This criminals are reported to be between the ages of 12 and 18. One has to ask, where are the parents in all this?
Surely they know their child has a dangerous dog in the house, or do they simply not care?

Matt, Oxford,

The simple solution would be to make sure dogs outside the home have a muzzle. In some countries this is mandatory.

Stephen G, Ruislip, UK

I never understood why the modestly priced annual Dog Licence was abandoned - it nailed the irresponsible owner to the dog.
It seems to have taken a long time for authorities to notice the upsurge in "dangerous" dogs owned by delinquents - anyone here( super, home counties!) can confirm that dog of choice over the last 5-6 years in the nearby local council estate has been 'stafford', aggressive.
Most of the dogs start OK and then get goaded into aggression by morons.
Why do so many pub landlords have Rottweilers etc., crammed into upstairs flats, when their instinct is open space, and then they turn on their own?

MikeM, St. Albans, England

the problem with the world is that when any attacks occur with a bull type breed its reported in the news people dont realise that the breeds they have in thier living room is far more likely to attack a child than a staffordshire bull terrier a kid could do anything to mine pull his ears run and jump on him anything and he would just try to lick them he's good around strange horses, cats and all animals including dog's he turns away from fights unless cornered which has only happened twice and as soon as i got in between he stoped one of the yourshire terriers jump up and was hanging off my neck. if you want to ban breeds use the stats and not the media to decide where to start I dont think any dogs should be baned it lets people think that thier dogs are not likely to attack because they are not dangerous dog types, I dont think people should have to get a licience but i think that you should be prosecuted for what your dog does as if you have done it yourself

Paul Treggs, pembrokeshire, wales

Mike from Newport, what an irresponsible comment. Animals both male and female should be spayed and neutered to prevent the birth of unwanted litters who are condemned to be drowned in rivers or abandoned, not just so that males 'don't bark or want females'.

Your comments about women are misogynist and offensive - for you to equate responsible pet ownership with some sort of vicious anti-male agenda is childish. If you express your masculinity through your dog then you should have a good look what you consider a man to be.

Responsible people ensure that their animals are well-cared for, loved and healthy - and that includes neutering and spaying. If you need to see the results of entire animals being allowed to breed, which they do, I suggest you attend your local RSPCA or animal welfare clinic and ask them how many unwanted animals have to be put down each day.

Miss T, Melbourne, Australia

These beautiful dogs must be saved from these hideous people.

Mary Day, Aylesbury, UK

Why stop a just 4 breeds? - Ban them all!!

Ian, Chorley, UK

The Bull Mastiff is a weird choice of dog to be a status dog as they're very family friendly and far too expensive for most kids to afford.

Wesley, Milton Keynes,

Not all dogs are vicious!!!!!!!I have 2 staffies, and I am a 52 year old woman. It is the owners that make the dogs nasty, do not tar all dogs with the same brush. My 2 girlies are the nicest, friendliest dogs you could wish to meet, because that is how they have been trained to be. They have the shiny harnesses and collars too!!!!! But they are not a stret weapon nor a fashion accessory, just my loving pets.

Lyn Gannon, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Dogs never stray from their nature of being a pack animal. Statistically, more dog bites by small dogs are treated in hospitals than large "dangerous" breeds. Every dog has the capability to become aggressive if it is not handled well or if leadership and signs are ignored. Why punish a breed for an individuals irresponsibility? Shame...

walt daveys, Bellford,

hugh

i do realise that SOME owners get these types of dog to look "well ard", but I dont see why the should all be banned when a small minority of owners use them as wepons.

and if you ban them, it may enforce their "well ard" image, which will encourage criminals to get them,
There was a study in the United Kingdom concerning whether breed specific legislation works. This study, reported in Canadian Veterinarian in 2005, examined the frequency and severity of dog-bite injuries at a Dundee hospital accident and emergency department. The study showed, two years after breed specific legislation and covering aperiod of three months, that the number of bites was the same. Before the legislation wasput into effect there were 99 bites in the three-month period, 3% of which were by pitbull types. In the second study of three months, two years after the ban was implemented,there were 99 dog bites, 5% were by pit bull types.

emm, uk,

It is my view that no-one under the age of 18 or even 21 should be allowed to 'walk' a dangerous dog on the streets - these dogs should be kept under supervision by RESPONSIBLE adults at ALL times. One of my neighbours is breeding dogs in her garden shed as they fetch a LOT of money, although its against the housing rules to keep animals in a garden shed....the dog that fathers the pups is totally mad and would tear you to pieces. I've seen female dogs brought round bt teenagers, tied up in the garden, whilst the male dog humps them...and teenage boys training the dogs to tear things like teddy bears and baby dolls to pieces!

Poppy, Preston, UK

This is not about banning dogs. If it was then banning the 4 breeds already illegal would have worked right? It hasn't has it. No. The problem lies not with the dogs but with the owners. Licensing is essential. You must be over 18 and have no criminal record (including caution) involving anti-social behaviour with the last 2 years in order to have a license. If your dog is found in the posession of a person who not be allowed a licensed dog of their own you should be fined. If you have a dog and you later get a criminal record for anti-social behaviour your dog may be taken away.

Jon H, Woking, UK

aslo there have been manny cases in america were pitbull, amstaff, staffie bans have been intrdoced, but the number of reported dog attacks went up. I know of one case were pitbulls, amstaffs, staffies have been banned, but the number of reported dog fights increased, more than 2fold.

or theyll simply switch to a new breed, when they banned pitbulls, thugs turned to staffies, if you ban staffies, theyll just turn to mastiffs, if you ban mastiffs theyll just turn to presas, if you ban presas, theyll turn to ambulls, if you ban ambulls, theyll turn to collies, if you ban collies, theyll turn to labs, and so on and so fourth

emm, uk,

The RSPCA figures and predictions are misleading but self fulfilling prophesies.

The more they yell that staffies and their crosses are the chosen dog of youth gangs the more the wannabe hard lads will want them.

Before we believe any of the figures given by the RSPCA we should be told how many of the complaints they receive are false or malicious.

As for buying accessories to dress their dogs up - well really! Would the RSPCA also condemn the legendary cartoon Colonel who owned a bulldog called Towser which always wore a studded collar and had lots of teeth showing?

A third of all unwanted dogs are staffies and staffie crosses. A third of all dogs needing treatment are staffies and staffie crosses. The increase in popularity of the breed has increased its numbers relative to other breeds. Wow! Rocket science!

Note also the carefully chosen comparison dates. A third of all unwanted dogs were staffies & crosses, up 23% from 2006.Then we compare the rise in dogs treated at Blue Cross hospitals with 2002! Why? Where is the table that shows the rise year on year over the past six or eight years? Or would that fail to show what we are being told?

Quite frankly this article consists of lots of opinion presented by those with an agenda and very little by way of facts and figures that actually mean anything.

Nick, Birmingham,

There's too much "pussy-footing" regarding errant youths and their attendant anti-social behavior. They should be forced to be interviewed with their parents in attendance AND heavily fined, especially if found heavily drunk/owning a knife or with an agressive dog.

Mike Southern, Shrewsbury,

To Amy LDN..."all of theses dogs need to be banned i dont understand why any body would want them" thats a little narrow minded i dont understand religion but i dont ask for it to be banned . infact i am a little sick of this mentality.

i have a staffie a wonderfull pet very loyal and extremely well behaved , the problem is not the dogs its the people who own them and dont train them . if you have a dog you need to train it .....the most vicious ones are the little toy breeds who have no training or restraint ...but they are cute so nobody minds.

why dont we just have responsable citizens , ones that train there dogs and there cildren this anti social youth culture is just bad child training form the parents, change our culture to where a child is included in the family and grows up to be a more stable part of the famliy and get away from the culture of living different lives from our children.

Simon, manchester,

I realise that people like dogs, I like them myself, however unless its a working dog there is absolutely no reason for anyone to own them, especially in a city. The only reason is for the persons pleasure, which is extremely selfish, a dog should be running free in the woods. It gets excited when you offer to take it for a walk, do you really think it would thank you if it realised the life it should be living, it cant even go to the toilet when it wants, totally reliant on the selfish owner. Ban all private dog ownership outright. Scrap the welfare system and the parasites explained in the article will soon wither on the vine, in a generation we could be scum free, dont feed the animals.

simon, london,

The authorities and the police are fast asleep on this matter.

Forbid the sale, purchase, breeding or ownership of dangerous breeds of dogs. Jail first time offenders a minimum of one year. That includes sellers, purchasers, breeders and owners.
Let the owners prove they are not frightening the public with their dogs. Can't prove it? Jail.
Slaughter all dangerous breeds of dogs--so called "gentle dog" or not. We are talking about Rottweillers, pit bulls, bull terriers, bull mastiffs etc.

The authorities and the police are fast asleep on this matter.

Rodin, Metepec, Mexico

I am an animal lover, but I think this type of dog should be banned -- something tells me that 'educating' the youths that use these dogs as weapons is not going to be highly effective

J, London,

i own a bullmastiff and and rottweiler i am a nurse, in my mid thirties and have attended training classes with both dogs. i am sick of people steroe-typing the breeds i like (hugh from London!) any dog can be dangerous in the wrong hands its about time breeders were investigated and restrictions put on the numbers of puppies produced

corinna, warwickshire,

All such dogs should be confiscated. No lliberal excuses just in case that is tough on the odd innocent, but just do it. The dogs can be neutered and cared for. The young thugs can be put down. Problem, and a lot of others going forward, solved. It is too late for this generation of degenerates. Stop messing around with the problem and have the courage to prevent it infecting the next. Liberal answer equals no answer, but lots of lovely jobs for social workers, so do not hold your breath, just your wallet.

D.L. Stephens, York, England

Why would you castrate a dog? Typical that people think they can do something so sick to an animal to make their lives easier. They don't want a dog that barks and wants females - cut its testicles off. Think how many thuggish humans would benefit from being neutered, but the thought is unbearable! Only a woman would consider castration as a solution, any man would refuse to have the procedure performed on their animal.

Mike, Newport, UK

I feel so sorry for the dogs, mans faithful friend is only doing what it has been encouraged to do by these dreadful people. The dog is the fall guy and will sadly pay the ultimate price. I hope the owners won't escape scot free.

Russell Taylor, Bonar Bridge, Scotland

This is a HUGE problem in most American cities, especially since the rise of rap music. Having a pit bull is glorified, and many of the gangsta rappers use them in their videos to make themselves look tough and mean. Many cities have begun to ban pit bulls, as that breed has become a symbol for these idiots. Too bad, though. The breed actually has a long history that has been tarnished in only the last few decades. Helen Keller had one. Now who can argue with a deaf, blind, mute woman? If you go to animal shelters in every major American city, pit bulls can account for more than half the sheltered dogs, especially in economically depressed areas. In Seattle, all pets are required to be licensed. That way, wayward animals can be easily returned to their owners, and increasingly, the owners can be tracked down when the dog attacks someone. I agree that spaying and neutering should be mandatory. Plenty of shelters provide inexpensive or free clinics.

Chuckles, Seattle, USA

i'd love to see all these types of dogs put down.

although they can be safe if trained well, the type of person who wants to buy a potentially dangerous dog is exactly the type of person who isn't going to train the dog at all well, and you're just left with a dangerous animal in the hands of a thug.

Hugh, London,

It is not the breed of dog that is dangerous, it is the breed of human.

Traci, Baltimore, MD USA

So why is the Dangerous Dog Act not brought into force by the Police to deal with this then?

marina, hemel hempstead, Herts

Personally I am sick and tired of this violent youth culture thats built up... I blame the parents of these sick and twisted children for not bringing them up properly (there are NO acceptable excuses in my book), and I blame the government for restricting the authority of schools in the discipline chain and neutering the police.

People I think give too much time and emphasis to discussing the problem when in fact the solutions are pretty clear... enforce parental responsibility, give schools a greater say in maintaining discipline and give the police greater arrest and enforcement powers. It may not save us from the current crop of reprobates but it may limit the damage they cause to others and potentially make the problem easier going forwards.

anthony harrisson, London,

I have seen gangs of kids with theses dogs. Its very sad and very dangerous. Treating the animals as weapons instead of living breathing creatures is dispicable. I think there should be requirements met when people under a certain age own pets, esp large breed dogs.

heather, carluke , UK

I love dogs but these pit bulls and staffs that you see hooded youths parading around with are frankly scary. There is virtually no defence for irresponsible or crime-prone youths being allowed to own or be in posession of these dogs. In the wrong hands they are as dangerous as an illegal,loaded firearm.

patrick, the Hague, Netherlands

The Staffie (Nanny Dog) and the Bully (English Bull Terrier) are wonderful dogs and family pets. I have owned a bully for years, shown him to Championship, and have never feared him or worried that he would bite or harm an adult or child.

The problem is most certainly not the breed but the moronic thugs who think that abusing an animal and making that animal confused, angry & aggresive - somehow makes them (thugs) more tough or manly.

Truth is it doesn't - abusing animals is pathetic and so are the yobs who do so. It is also an indication of psychopathic behaviour and reports of animal cruelty, here in the USA, are now frequently investigated in conjunction with interviews of all family members to make sure people are not also being abused.

M Lawlor, Florida , USA

anyone should be allowed to own these dogs as long as they are neutered along with the dog

andy, london,

I worked at a vet hospital for nearly 2 years (as a kennel cleaner, general helper etc) and found that, ironically enough, all the staffies i met were friendly and fairly harmless whereas the dogs more likely to bite are the mini poodles, and other small toy breeds. although i can understand that staffy type breeds can look threatening and 'macho' to cetain people.
A lot of strays that have to be put to sleep are staffies/bulldog type dogs, probably found wandering around because their owners didn't care- what a shame.

Elizabeth, Bedfordshire.,

Council estate NEET scum - why are we wasting our tax money providing any social services or benefits to these parasitic specimens dredged up from the sump of the gene pool. The cops are quite obviously scared of them. At the local park my dalmation was attacked by one of these dreadful pitbull type dogs and I had a narrow escape from being similarly attacked by the gang of spotty pinch faced youths when I used my tennis raquet to drive the brute off.

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

Bring back the dog licence and charge £200 for it.
If you havent got it on you then the police/warden can sieze your animal.

Phill (Responsible Rottie owner), The Wirral, England

As a responsible dog owner I am in favour of bringing back dog licences.

If potential owners have to meet certain criteria to get a licence then the 'authorities' can ensure that only responsible owners will get one. If these yobs can't produce a licence then the police should confiscate the dog. Zero tolerance.

Remember it's not the dog at fault but the owner.

The only flaw in this argument is the 'authorities'. Likely they will restrict all dogs except Yorkshire terriers as they are 'risk averse' and then they will lose our records and charge us a fortune for the licence (or dog tax)!

Lee, London,

All animals should require to be licensed. Some because they are dangerous, some because of their nuisance value and others because of possible diseases they can spread.
Large dogs fall into all three categories and to obtain a licence to own one should therefore require a very good reason. Severe penalties, similar to those for firearm possession, should be introduced for those in possession of an unlicensed dog. In general animals are not suited to urbanised areas where they pose a threat to innocent people and cause mess which many of the owners do nothing about.

Tony Woods, London, UK

So what these feeble individuals are saying is "I'm not hard, but my dog is"?

And by carrying a gun or a knife, it's the same sort of thing "I'm a coward, who can't face another human without a weapon".

And gangs are all about that same cowrdliness "I'm not a man on my own, but when there're 10 of us, I am"

No respect for people like this. Lock them up, throw away the key. Make the sentence so hideous, that it actually manages to act as a deterrant. A 3 strikes and you're out policy would work for me.

Name Witheld, Manchester,

Arthur,

They will help old ladies cross the street, but they will also nick their purse at the same time.

Gary, M/Stone, UK

All of these breeds need to be banned. I don't understand why anybody would want one of these except to intimidate other people. If you really want a dog, get a spaniel or whatever.

Amy Allen, LDN,

Plans to solve the problem, are based upon ideas that the type of people who buy these dogs actually care about the dog, or anyone else.

Some people just do not care. Accept it. Dont assume everyone is a lovely person inside, and it just waiting for the opportunity to help an old person cross the road.

Arthur, Newcastle,