Donkey Rescues Sheep from...wait for it...Staffordshire (Pit)

[Trakehner]

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/281135.html

A donkey (Dotty) rescued a sheep (Stanley) who was being attacked by a...wait for it....Pitbull (well, Staffordshire Bull Terrier...basically, a better bred pitbull).

The owner started to go after the dog, but the donkey was doing a better job.

Good donkey, poor sheep (he survived)...Bang! Bad doggie.

[ponies123]

Sad :no:, but posts/comments like yours are the reasons pitbulls have such a bad name. Sure some of them are mean dogs that attack - but any breed can do that. A Staffordshire is not a Pit just like a Lab is not a Golden. Most people see a dog that looks like that and automatically thinks Pitbull when really it can be a huge variety of dogs including Staffordshire, etc. That's why Pits have such a bad rep, because they're constantly taking the blame for lookalike breeds as well.

[ddashaq]

I am not a dog expert by any stretch, but my understanding is that a pit and a Staffie are essentially the same thing. I love both (if there is a difference), so don't get me wrong-- in the right hands both are fabulous breeds. I entirely blame the idiot owners of the world that don't train their dogs and then let them run loose.

Regardless of the breed issue, I am glad that the attack was stopped.

[mrsbradbury]

That's too bad. We always hear about the Amstaffs, Pittys, and mixes thereof. Yes, I admit they can be tricky dogs in the wrong hands.

I have an AMstaff, as well as mix like that was a stray. These dogs spend all day in the barn with me, are great with people and other animals. The have been obsessively socialized, and have rules.

Was this thread started as a pitbull bash?

I worked for the St. Augustine Humanne Society for a couple years while free-lancing in FL. We euthanized a pack of beautiful Great Danes for killing goats on their neighbors farm. These young dogs killed these people's goats several times, before the Agricultural Deputy passed the order.

Danes, not Pits.

Trekhener, are you of the school that feels that there should be dangerous breed legislation rather than owner accountability?

[Trakehner]

I am not a dog expert by any stretch, but my understanding is that a pit and a Staffie are essentially the same thing. I love both (if there is a difference).

In this country, the two are pretty interchangeable...such as German Shepard, Alsatian, Shiloh Shepard and the few other names attached to the breed).

But I did like: "...posts/comments like yours are the reasons pitbulls have such a bad name."

Uh, no, that would be due to the actions of the dogs.

This was a story about the Donkey rescuing a Sheep...funny how it got filtered into "all dogs can be bad".

Good donkey, poor sheep...bad doggie.

[Riley0522]

This was a story about the Donkey rescuing a Sheep...funny how it got filtered into "all dogs can be bad".

Good donkey, poor sheep...bad doggie.

Well, you didn't really seem to make it that way by throwing Staffordshire aka Pit in the title. They are two different breeds, regardless of them being "interchangeable" in this country. You clearly did want to call out the breed. I recall there recently being an extensive thread on here about someone's dog biting humans and they didn't label it - "HELP, My Catahoula Leopard Dog (pretty sure that's what it was) bit someone for the second time!" A dog is a dog is a dog, and they are all unpredictable animals and poodles are just as capable of attacking other animals as Pit Bulls...I mean Staffies...I mean Staffy Bulls...whatever they're all the same right? Wrong :no:

[Sansena]

Sad :no:, but posts/comments like yours are the reasons pitbulls have such a bad name. Sure some of them are mean dogs that attack - but any breed can do that. A Staffordshire is not a Pit just like a Lab is not a Golden. Most people see a dog that looks like that and automatically thinks Pitbull when really it can be a huge variety of dogs including Staffordshire, etc. That's why Pits have such a bad rep, because they're constantly taking the blame for lookalike breeds as well.


Oh, yes, of course, it's Trak's fault the pits have a bad rap.
Not behaviour.
Not the media.
Not poor owners.

It's Trak.

**headdesk***

[Quinn]

FYI Trakehner, the proper spelling is "German Shepherd." If you're going to use the term please learn how to spell it. You are a funny old sod. Someone referred to you yesterday as a bully and I thought to myself.....nail meet head.

http://community.webshots.com/user/ballyduff

[JSwan]

Oh, yes, of course, it's Trak's fault the pits have a bad rap.


It's the donkey's fault. He's obviously biased against the breed/type and staged the whole thing. The sheep was probably in on it too. You can never trust sheep. Beady eyes. Bet both of 'em sat up all night and convinced a herdmate to sneak over to the dog owner's house and let the dog out.

[WalkInTheWoods]

My perception of this thread's title is that it is about a donkey with discriminatingly good taste and sense of right and wrong. Kind of a take-action guy. YAY longears !

[Chief2]

Hurrah for the donkey!

Dogs earn whatever reputations they get, and this one earned it fair and square. Any dog chasing the livestock should get taken out by a donkey.

My donk did a great job of this. Some of these dog owners are so stupid. We had an owner of one of those breeds turn his dog loose in the pasture to let it run for a few minutes. Never asked permission. Just turned it loose! The chaos that ensued was ridiculous. Horses being relentlessly chased in circles or into their stalls. One of my teenage apps ran into his stall, waited for the dog, then double barreled him in the chest. The dog flew through the air, landed on the concrete, shook himself off, and took off after my old geezer of a horse, chasing it relentlessly back and forth in the field. The donk got into the mix when the thing peeled off and made a beeline for his girlfriend. He raced to head it off, confronted it, reared up and wanged the thing in the head with his front hoof. With any other dog, that would have been the end of it, but this thing would not come off of his pursuit. When it tried to return fire, the donk reared up and came down full force on the dog's back. I though the dog would be dead. It still had enough left in it to slink out of the pasture and go back to its owner's car. I never saw anything like it. AND, after his owners threatened me with any ensuing vet bills for the dog, the thing actually passed his vet exam the following morning! I couldn't believe it! I'll tell ya though, it never chased another horse at the farm again. Just laid down in the doorway and watched.

They may be sweet when reared correctly, and obedient when handled properly, but that is one tough, relentless breed of a dog, and it has no business chasing livestock in the pasture. I hope the vet knelt down on the ground and shook the donkey's hoof. That's what mine did! :)

[Equibrit]

Staffordshire Bull Terrier; http://www.bulldogbreeds.com/photos/staffbull296x265.jpg
American Pitbull Terrier; http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images21/PitBullTerrierTiggerFetch1.jpg
Donkey; http://www.longislandfilm.com/images/films/donkey%20oatie%20image.jpg

[fabulousfred]

Pit Bulls are dangerous and that's all there is to it. You can defend them all you want but the stats are un biased.

[Riley0522]

Pit Bulls are dangerous and that's all there is to it. You can defend them all you want but the stats are un biased.

Yes, they are just as dangerous as any other dog of their size.

I really don't understand the statistics argument...I don't see any of you people not riding because tons of people get seriously injured or killed in horse-related accidents every year. The Pit Bull statistics are skewed because people think they are cool to use as guard dogs and starve/beat/train them to be vicious, Fluffy the Golden Retriever just doesn't look bad ass enough to protect a drug stash, yo.

[kookicat]

Good Donk! :D

Scarborough isn't all that far away from me. Small world.

[Simkie]

Would you have even posted this if a lab attacked the sheep?

Would the story have been picked up by the media?

I think not :(

[3boysandafilly]

I don't usually get involved in any threads that are going to become potentially "heated" but this is very timely for me.

I love dogs, breed them, adore them. Never had a biased against any breed. But last night I saw something happen that scared the crap out of me!

I was teaching a lesson at a students home and the neighbors Pit Bull came running across two fields headed straight for this students old english sheep dog that was sitting next to me in the ring. Growling and barking the whole way. Sure enough when it got to the Old English it latched on to it's neck and would not let go! I had two kids on horses and a dog being attacked in front of them for no reason I could see.

I was afraid to attempt to seperate the dog as I didn't know it or it's history so we yelled for the neighbors to come and get their dog. Who comes over?? Two little boys that couldn't have been any more than 6! They yell at the dog, grab it by it's collar and take it away. I was told by my student that her mom had already gone over to the Pit Bulls' home and spoke with the adult owners because it had done the same thing to their other dog just a week before. The mom was on her way over to have another talk with them when I left.

Luckily my students dog was fine, all that hair came in handy. But the aggressiveness I saw was scary. So, bad owner, obviously. They shouldn't have let that dog get loose. But I know they didn't train that dog to be aggressive. So what switch flipped in that dogs head that it thought it needed to do that? I just don't get it. But it was scary and I hope I never come into contact with that animal again.

[cloudyandcallie]

Uh did Trakehner make the dog attack the sheep (I love the name Stanley Sheep) or are you complaining because he reported it factually?
Here in GA recently 2 pits attacked a mini that a man bought for his child's birthday, both dogs were found and dispatched by animal control.
Lots of dogs are bred to attack animals. Lots of dogs are trained to attack animals. Fact of life.
Or are you saying that Trakenher is a bigot and discriminates against Staffordshire terriers?
Good donkey, bad dog.
(MY dog trainer owned the well trained-but also attack trained-female pit who starred on tv in the series in the heat of the night, and sat in the chair in the office of Pat's dog training school in Alpharetta.)

And for those of complained if a lab had attacked, uh, my English Lab might have licked the sheep to death.

[MajesticDynasty]

Pit bull type dogs can be GREAT dogs. But just like not everyone should have a german shepherd, not everyone should have a pit bull type. I wouldn't touch an aussie because of the energy level and I know I can't handle that. I'd take a pit bull in an second.
I've had many pit bulls attack my dogs, never me thankfully. But I know I can't blame the dog, their owners keep them in a tiny yard and reward aggression. Bad owner, not bad dog. I grew up with my best friend having an AmStaff and that dog was a saint.
If you want to talk about the dog bite stats, those are only the ones reported. What about that pomeranian, chihuahua, or what not that may have bitten many people but wasn't reported because it's "cute" and little? I know where I use to live a jack russell mix bit over 10 kids before someone reported it.
The media takes these stories and runs labeling pit bulls as not to be trusted. But man, I don't know about you, I'll take a pit bull before I touch a spoiled little dog.

For those who like pit bulls, here's a couple good images. A UKC reg "game bred" pit bull:
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z144/hau_kea/IMG_3725.jpg
Yes, she's loose not thrilled about that but her owners trained her well. My corgi just loves her.
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z144/hau_kea/IMG_3714.jpg
Does that look like a face that'd bite you? lol

[Quinn]

Cloudy, I think you know I have been on this board for many years. I don't "rise to the bait" too often. I am happier than hell the dog was put down. I am happier than hell the sweet donkey did what it did. What annoys me, is this particular poster along with a few others, seem to take great pleasure in stirring the pot. It's not one post or two, it's most. That's what makes me refer to him as a bully. He likes to "poke the stick." I have never been fond of that mentality. I would feel the same if this had been a poodle, a German Shepherd OR an American Pit Bull Terrier. It's the way the OP tends to take such glee that gets my dander up.

http://community.webshots.com/user/ballyduff

[cloudyandcallie]

Okay it is just that darn, I hate goldens cause they disemboweled and emasculated my Manchester Terrier (he got up and fought back) in my own yard many years ago, so my experiences with goldens have been bad, but I think if anytime an equid saves another animal, it is cool. Whether it was from a coyote or a Staff. Terrier, or one of the Catahoulas (Daddy's friend Justin Wilson used to have them and said they are mean dogs.).
So good donkey. Safe sheep. Oh and the dogs that killed my aunt and uncle's flock of sheep in SC years ago were all mixed breeds.

PS Quinn, I was going to ask if it was a white Staff. Terrier.

[Midge]

They may be no more aggressive than other dogs (yeah, right.) But the only dog that ever pinned me to my camper steps and had me screaming for help like a '60s teenager at a Beatles concert was a Pit and it happened Monday. The power and aggression that dog displayed was the most frightening thing I had ever seen in my life and I stood there thinking, 'This is how it happens. I am about to be mauled by a pit bull and it came out of the blue.' I apparently witnessed something of a miracle since more than one person, including the animal control officer, has expressed amazement that he stopped and trotted away.

I have been going to dog shows for 25 years and the only serious dogs fights I have ever seen involved pit bulls. One of them belonged to a friend of mine and as she was writing yet another vet bill check, I told her, 'She ever grabs my dog I will do everything in my power to have her put down.' Why the horse shows and other dog owners never did anything astounds me to this day.

I obviously don't know about every dog, but these two I know weren't this:

their owners keep them in a tiny yard and reward aggression.

or this

people think they are cool to use as guard dogs and starve/beat/train them to be vicious, Fluffy the Golden Retriever just doesn't look bad ass enough to protect a drug stash, yo.

As for this:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/IMG_3714.jpg
Does that look like a face that'd bite you? lol

That is the face of the dog my friend owned. She never bit a person (that I know of), but she sunk those teeth into a whole lotta dogs. She was a great dog...until she wasn't. I am sure a whole lot of Virginians can back me up on that.

[Nojacketrequired]

Trekhener, are you of the school that feels that there should be dangerous breed legislation rather than owner accountability?

Coming from Ontario, where pit bulls and look-alikes are banned, I'd have to say that I now am of that school.

Why? you may ask?

We went from 1-2 stories in the paper a month about children, mail carriers, dogs, being attacked and injured by pit bulls to none, after the ban.

Seems to have worked out well for all those potential victims that may have been saved by the ban, yes?

Existing pits were allowed to stay as long as they were neutered, contained when on the property, and muzzled when off their own properties. They will not be replaced with new pits, which are banned.

I don't get this arguement that it is the owner's fault. Yes, to a great extent it may be, but those people and other animals that have been injured, maimed, killed and traumatized don't really CARE whoes fault it is when they are fighting for their lives. Other breeds of dogs bite, yes. But few with the ferocity, strength and single-mindedness of a pit bull.

NJR

[bort84]

Ugh, do we have to start another one of these threads?

If anyone wants to see if they've missed an argument that might be effective in getting one side to agree with the other (ha!), there have been multiple threads on this subject. So go check them out. If, somehow, we've missed some critical topic that is going to get everyone to realize how silly they're being (pick whichever side you disagree with), then, by all means, please bring it up on this thread. If not, well, let's skip it.

It would have been awesome if the thread had started as "donkey protects sheep from attacking dog." Then we could have avoided yet another breed bash... I would agree that Trakhener seems to take a bit of delight in being able to point out that the breed was an AmStaff... wait, Pit Bull? Hmm...

And, for those that care, I'm definitely not of the "ban all pit bulls school", and the thought of having to defend them again to the COTH masses makes me a bit weary (please see old threads for that - there are SO MANY ALREADY).

So perhaps we can nip it in the bud and just congratulate that fiesty little donkey! I've heard they can be great herd protectors, apparently llamas can too! Who knew? So cool.

[Nojacketrequired]

Congratulations, feisty little donkey!

NJR

[BLBGP]

I have been going to dog shows for 25 years and the only serious dogs fights I have ever seen involved pit bulls. One of them belonged to a friend of mine and as she was writing yet another vet bill check, I told her, 'She ever grabs my dog I will do everything in my power to have her put down.' Why the horse shows and other dog owners never did anything astounds me to this day.



But see, this takes us back to the bad owner thing. Why did your friend keep putting the dog in situations where it could harm another? Talk about bad representation for the breed.

[Midge]

I absolutely agree she was a horrible owner for that dog. However, she did not train it to fight, it just did it. In another situation, perhaps that behavior could have been modified, but the behavior was there from the start. She was a sweet dog with a loving personality...until she wasn't.

[bort84]

Congratulations, feisty little donkey!

NJR

Wee!!!

[Moderator 1]

This isn't horse-related, and we've had similar debates before in Around the Farm, so we're closing the thread.

Thanks,
Mod 1