Help, Maggie has turned anti- social with other dogs

Maggie is brilliant with people, she loves the attention and fuss but when it comes to dogs she will pull to get to them when on her lead and once nose to nose, will have a sniff and then growl before lunging to nip them. The thing is her tail is wagging when we come upto a dog so don't think its initially agression to start with yet she turns even when the other dog does nothing to make Maggie do this. I really want to nip this in the bud before she turns fully agressive towards other dogs I just don't know how to do it.
Maggie has had a couple of scuffles with two other dogs while off the lead and this has now made me nervous (which I know doesn't help the situation) when we come across dogs that are loose.
I'm always aware of whats going on around me and wont let Maggie off her lead unless there is no other dogs about, this is because Maggie has another real bad habit of turning deaf when there are other dogs about. As soon as she sees one she is gone and no amount of shouting, calling or whistling will get her back. And because I am weary of how she will be or how the other dog is its not helping matters.
So my questions are 1) How do I get her to be better behaved with other dogs, no growling or biting and 2) How do I get her to come back to me when there are other dogs about? Her recall in general is normally good she always comes back to me unless she sees another dog or a cat, thats when her selective hearing comes in.
I know I need to socialise her more with other dogs but I have no friends with dogs of their own and my parents dog is dog aggressive so we have to keep them apart anyway. I was thinking of taking her to dog training classes but is she too old for these as she isn't a puppy anymore and if she is becoming dog agressive would they even allow her to join the classes in the first place? I have no concern or worry when it comes to Maggie meeting new people just when she meets dogs so any help or advise would be brilliant. Thank you

I wish I could help you Emma, but I have very little experience in this area so I hope (and am sure) that other members will be along to advise you.

How long have you had Maggie?

Oh, and btw, I share with you the selective deafness to recall when other dogs are around, we are not alone!

Ah thats some comfort there knowing its not just me who has the selective hearing staffy We have had Maggie nearly 10 months now but this slight aggression to other dogs has only happened in the last couple of months. Before that she was fine with meeting other dogs so I'm not really sure where this has suddenly come from. And sometimes she fine with meeting other dogs on or off her/ their lead and other times she's a real grump and growls after she's the one who's pulled me over to say 'hello'. So I'm really confused and unsure of what to do.

Is she spayed?

Are you certain it's aggression. They do play on the rough side and barking and growling are often a part of this. Here is a link that should help

http://staffy-bull-terrier.co.uk/dog_body_language

Yes she is spayed, as she's a rescue its a standard thing to have done. I will read up on the body language link as well, thanks for that Jstaff hopefully that will help me work out what it is shes trying to do. I'm also thinking about getting her into training classes just to help with her socialising and see if that helps as well

Sounds like a good plan Emma. Good luck with Maggie and let us know how she gets on!

Will do thanks Lynda

I think the training sessions would be a great help with her socialisation with other dogs in a controlled environment. May be have a word with the trainer before you start to let them know what situation you are in.

Kathy wrote:I think the training sessions would be a great help with her socialisation with other dogs in a controlled environment. May be have a word with the trainer before you start to let them know what situation you are in.

Yeh thats what I thought, nothing worse then turning up to our first lesson and Maggie ends up fighting with the pupils
I also think that not only would it help Maggie but will also help me, I get quite nervous with her and other dogs so I know I don't help the situation either.
I have the number of a place near me so may give them a ring in the week to see what we can do

I get quite nervous with her and other dogs so I know I don't help the situation either.

This is probably one of your worst problems, if your nervous and unsure in these situations your dog will pick up on it and behave differently.

Do you walk with other dogs at all?

Going out on walks with other dogs will help as long as you reenforce the good behavior and correct the bad behavior.

My advise would be don't let your dog off lead if recall is not 100% even more so if your dog can be dog aggressive.

Sounds like you are going to have a lot of work ahead of you to retrain how to behave with other dogs. In order to do this you need other people with other dogs though to practice and train the behavior you find acceptable.

Professional training classes would be the best bet on fixing this problem as you will be forced to be around lots of other dogs and you will both be forced to work on socializing with other dogs.

When we took Rocky to some training sessions we found that we were learning as much as Rocky was, so it may work out that you learn as much as Maggie does.

I would be really interested to know how you get on as i have exactly the same problem with my 4 year old rescue staffie who adores people, hates other dogs but not knowing his history doesnt help

Hiya hun . I have also rescued a staffy boxer cross and have exactly the same problem . We have had sasha 6 weeks and i take her to training classes mainlyto socialise her with other dogs . It working well only on 3rd lesson and she is so much more chilled out with other dogs . I did speak to the trainer in detail before taking her and she is very supportive . Keep us updated how u get on

As for training classes have given me more confidence in myself and sasha x