A DOG trainer from Falkirk says people in the area should not be scared of Staffordshire Bull Terriers despite the fact one killed a toddler in England.
Fran Smith-King has been involved in training dogs for over 40 years and believes it is the owne
rs and not the animals who are to blame for any attacks which take place.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers and similar breeds – often reffered to as pit bulls – have been branded 'devil dogs' by some sections of the media recently, resulting in attacks on the animals, while a number of owners in Scotland are trying to hand their pets over to dog shelters for fear they will turn violent.
According to Miss Smith-King, however, people should not start panicking about pit bulls.
She said: "Unfortunately a lot of people who buy these dogs do so because of image, but the dogs themselves are not the problem.
''Any dog can be dangerous in the wrong hands, but people should not be worried every time they see a pit bull."
Miss Smith-King also believes people should be much more aware of how to handle a dog before buying one.
She added: "Some people come to classes saying their dog is out of control and we just think 'what have you done to this dog?'"
The sentiments of the local dog trainer were echoed this week by the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruely to Animals (SSPCA), who said they were very worried by the "confusion and hysteria" surrounding pit bulls at the moment.
A spokesperson for the group said: "In the wake of the tragic attack in Liverpool, the Scottish SPCA is receiving many calls from concerned dog owners regarding the safety of their children around their dog and in many cases seeking to rehome their pet.
''The first point to make to worried owners is that, despite a number of horrific incidents concerning dogs and children over the last year, it should be noted that these incidents did not involve 'normal' family pets which have been socialised and trained."
The SSPCA say dog owners should remember their dog's character is more significant than what breed it is when it comes to assesing if it poses a threat.
craig.rennie@falkirkherald.co.uk