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Hi everyone, I got a blue brindle staffy at eight weeks old, she is now just over 3 months, I am new to staffies but not new to dogs, but I must admit I am struggling a bit with her 'dominance issues' It is probably me reading her wrong, but I could do with some advice as I know this is an important stage in her life, and I have lots of conflicting advice from owners, every dog is different, and responds differently, so If anyone out there has any experience of my staffys behaviour at the moment and the best way to deal with it I would be grateful.
I think the main problem is that she has started to growl at me when I stroke her when she's eating, she will sit and wait for her food until she has the signal, but then growls when I stroke her, I have been doing this since I got her and never had a problem, she also snapped at my grandson, (the growling at me started after that. She is also very attention seeking, and will bite my legs, knees, clothes, and growl and pull. I could do with a bit of advice as I don't want to get the better of me as I think she is. Thanks

Hi &

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Hiya from me and Vinnie, not much experience in this sorry, but someone will be able to give you some advice shortly. 

We would love to see some pics this link below will help you

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t12017-how-to-post-a-photos-onto-the-forum  

Hi and welcome from me and Daisy  

This link may help with biting

http://staffy-bull-terrier.com/stop_your_staffy_puppy_biting

If you don't get all the answers you need here then feel free to post seperate queries in the other forums  

Hello and welcome to the forum from me and the kids

Hi and welcome to the ofrum from Rocky and me.

The link below may help you to read some of the body language:

http://staffy-bull-terrier.com/dog_body_language

hia from me and sasha  
not sure why she would growl at you may be she just wants to eat her dinner ??when sash was a pup we would make her sit and wait for her dinner and some times we would take it away from her half way through just so she would'nt get food aggresive,remember she is just a pup and her growling is just having a moan!

Hi & welcome from darcy & me

Hello and welcome to the forum

Nikita & Shéara

Hi and welcome to the forum

Hi & welcome to the forum

Welcome to the forum from Rocky and I

Hi and welcome to the forum from me and the zoo xx

welcome  

Hi there & welcome.

Poor you, I really do sympathise. There are times when all of us have thought that we'd bought a pirhana into our homes instead of a puppy!

With the nipping/jumping up etc, the second she does it give a firm "No!" and turn away from her. If she carries on, just pick her up & take her out of the room, and shut the door for a minute or two - just until she's calmed down. If you (and everybody who has anything to do with her) do that every time, she will soon start to realise that nipping = no play, & not nipping = play/fuss.

The food is slightly different. It isn't what I would call full on aggression. What she's doing is telling you that she doesn't want you to touch her/her food. I'm not saying it's right for her to do that, though!

Something you could try is at dinner time, put her bowl on the floor (empty) and tell her to sit/wait (whichever you do). Drop half a handful of food into the bowl & let her eat it, but don't move away, stay right by the bowl. Every time she finishes the food, drop another half a handful into the bowl. Once she's ok with that, place the food in her bowl (ie actually put your hand in the bowl before you release the food) half a handful at a time. The idea is that she sees you as the food provider, but also that there's no worry about you taking her food away.

Once she's happy with that, place the food in her bowl as above, but when she starts to eat just lightly rest your hand on her back. If she growls say "No!" (but don't shout), stand up & walk away - no more food for a few minutes. Then come back and try again.

Hopefully that'll help, but if it doesn't please do come back & we'll find something else for you to try!

Please don't worry - I would say that only about .0001% of puppies are actually aggressive, and even those are usually only aggressive because they've been treated badly. I'm willing to bet that your little madam is just seeing how far she can push you!

Excellent advice given by Caryll above  , this is just what I would do too

P.S. At 3 months+ she may well be starting to teethe. Her gums will be sore and she'll be a bit crotchety. What might help is to rub her gums with some teething gel (doggie one only!), and to give her something frozen to gnaw on (wet tea towel, a banana, a carrot). That will give her something to chew, and the cold will soothe her gums a bit.

once again thanks for all the advice, especially Caryll re: food, makes sense. I have been taking off her when she growls at me and giving it back, too me I feel that she thinks I will take it off her all the time hence growling, even though I give it back. She will eat quite happily if I hold the bowl, so I will try the handfull at a time idea. Re: biting, she seems to do it more when I am not giving her full attention, I have lost it with her a couple of times which hasn't helped. Thanks

Hi &welcome to the forum! I also sympathize for you! Gwen is now 7 months old and for awhile was an absolute nightmare! She still is sometimes but she has improved and made progress! It takes time, A LOT of patience, and consistency. Caryll's advice was fab. If you follow that you will see progress! Try to stay positive!