Help Needed

I got Buster about 6 months ago he was already 6 months old the old owners said their son was alergic to dog hair... later on after having him i didnt think that was true i think the real reason was because he is full of energy always wanting to play....

i take him for a walk 2 times a day and their about half hour each time... reason im posting is im wanting to train my dog to fully obey me, he lisens to me when in the house not all the time but majority of the time, hes full of energy even after walks he still wants more i recently took him out with my parents dogs i walked round the woods for 2 hours changing routes making it look like i was hiding just to make him tired we got back to my parents their dogs got laid down as they was tired buster just wanted to play 2 hours walking and he still got alot of energy,

I trained him to sit and give paws with and without treats i also learnt him to jump up and give me 5 which he does everytime..
Im wanting to train him so wen we go for walks if he sees another dog he doesnt run off towards the dog as he doesnt lisen at all wen i shout him back i have left him once wen this has happened and he come back wen he noticed i wasnt their (took 5 mins).
when in the house if he is full of energy he decides to chase his tail or jump about i find it kinda funny but he needs training unless he brakes something.

Any ideas id be more then welcome to hear and also try
I love him to bits and im prepared to try anything as he aint leaving me.

Simon

what kind of food do you feed him, he could be hyperactive due to the food if he is getting plenty of excersie

i get him tinned dog food (from pound shop) its called Ruffs and some working dog buiscits from post office

The Tinned Meat is called - Rufus Sport
Dog Buiscits - CSJ Specialist (Working Dog - Food)

They are indeed full of energy and can be a handfull. It seems as if you are doing well on the physical exrecise but sometimes walks aren't quite enough for them. They are a high energy breed. If he is socialized off leash play helps to tire them out. If he isn't at that stage or is dog aggressive try playing tug with him a few times a day. It requires alot of energy for him and should help out.

Mental stimulation is also important. Try to teach him new things everyday or at least have him perform various tricks for 15 minutes or so a couple of times a day. This will stimulate his mind and also help to make him tired. It's important to make him tired both mentally and physically to have a well balanced dog. They have a strong desire to please you but just have to be taught how to get the energy out.

You could also consider using a backpack, running, roller blading or using a bike when he is around 18-24 months. He is just a stage in life where he has alot of energy and if it isn't directed in a positive way he can misbehave.

see here for a list of foods,
i think it may be your problem, what you feed them has an effect on their behavour

http://staffy-bull-terrier.co.uk/dryfood.html

or you can try raw

Completly forgot about food You should always feed as best as you can. He will calm a bit with age as well.

ahh yeah i see thats what my parents said when he ages to about year and half he should start to calm down. he gets fed loads of stuff (not crap) mince, chicken, beef lamb all proper meat not tinned i do give him tinned bt like to swop from meat to tinned i shall see about food see how he copes

look at the dog Biscuits as well can they can contains loads of cr*p

i think the clue is in the title of the biscuits! working dog biscuits = lots of energy for a dog who is supposed to be working all day! Definately change the biscuits and I think you will see a big difference.

Age also has alot to do with it. My boy has been very very well trained, obedience wise and indoors, since he was 3 or 4 months old, but outdoors he had selective hearing. If he wanted to go and greet a dog, he would just go, even if I called him back. It made me nervous, as he quite regularly went up to dogs that were not up for it and got told off/snapped at, and of course, i got a mouthful off the owner for not having him under control.

Because of this, whenever I saw a dog within 20 feet or so of us, I put him straight on the lead and made him sit and wait as they went past, unless the owner was happy for their dog to play with mine, in which case I would let him off lead. Now, as he's older, I don't worry, because he has calmed down so much in the last month or so (he is now 14 months old) that I know that when we are out, he will come back to me as soon as I call him, regardless of whether there are other dogs around or not.

I just kept reinforcing all of his training at home, and when we were out, I would call him back now and then and praise him when he came back and let him go off again.

I do keep an eye an his body language though, because with big dogs, he gets a bit cocky and can occassionly try to dominate, so that's something I'm always wary of.

Sorry, this is a bit of an essay! I would also advise changing his food to a good quality dry, and just keep reinforcing his training at home, and call him back to you periodically when you're out with him, loads of praise when he comes back, and he'll eventually, as he matures, he'll have a reliable recall.