Billys has done it again - help

My OH just phoned me up, he has attacked another dog today, my OH went to stroke the other dog, they were playing, and BIlly went for the other dog, he said he could not get him off the other dog, my OH was bit by Billy, luckily the other dog was not badly injured,

What do we do?

keep him on the lead. get him a long lead to give him some freedom and when you see a dog near by pull him back till you know it save.

Some dog are just DA and there not much you can do about it, my sam never goes off the lead anymore because he just dont like bigger dogs.

sounds like Billy could have gotten jealous...

its like a personality change, that 3 dogs in just over a week

would he benefit from more training/ socialisation. but i would deffinately keep him on a lead. like steve said the extendable ones are great. the dog gets freedom and you get peace of mind by being able to reign them in when needed.

he has been socialised and was a very good dog, used to play with others no problem.

Could it be his food, he is on raw, should we try and change it to kibble,

Is it time he was done,

something has happened, for him to change so dramatically

His about the same age as my boy chase, and chase has turned into a terror lately. And a few people have also said they had the same kind of thing around the same age.

he is a lovely sweet natured dog, he does not chew, is not naughty, who sadly has just decided he likes to fight with other dogs.

From now on he will be kept on a lead, but wondered if anyone knew, what can cause this, is it something we have done,

I've had to accept that my two are never going to be happy with over friendly dogs. This started suddenly a few months ago after they had a go at a snappy jackrussel and it was a real surprise . I just need to put Kasidy on the extended lead if dogs are charging about. Also it is fine if they just say hello and we keep going, no time to get stroppy.It means i can't wander glackitly through the park like i was able to do with my lurcher who never needed a lead in the last 14yrs. I don't think it's something you did or didn't do, i thought my two were little angels, they just grew up and don't enjoy dogs leaping about them?.

I don't know what the cause is but their personality can change in the 1-2 year range. Sorry he had devolped a DA problem.

lynne wrote:he has been socialised and was a very good dog, used to play with others no problem.

Could it be his food, he is on raw, should we try and change it to kibble,

Is it time he was done,

something has happened, for him to change so dramatically

He's at that age, I'm afraid. The age when quite a few staffs decide they don't like other dogs, especially near their 'family'. This last one was almost certainly jealousy, but you may have to accept that he just isn't going to be good with other dog, now.

It's nothing to do with food, or even socialisation - ask gem, her boy was socialised really well especially as he was a show dog & got on well with dogs till he got to about the same age as Billy. He now has to be kept on a lead around other dogs.

It isn't yours or anyone else's fault, it's just that staffy nature that still asserts itself with some staffs. Part of their heritage, I'm afraid.

Keep him on the lead whenever there are other dogs around and make sure that other people are aware that he "may not be too friendly with other dogs".

thank you everyone,
Even though we live in london, it is such a small place where we live, and i can imagine everyone with dogs will now know about billy, i wouldnt be surpised if we dont get a knock at the door later on today

dog on dog isn't a crime the police will only say keep your dog under control in future.

I'm thinking try the Cesar Milan thing?

Steve wrote:dog on dog isn't a crime the police will only say keep your dog under control in future.

it is in Australia .. well if the dog nearly kills other dog ... we had alot dog attacks lately ... been Pit Bulls so government on war path now ... biggest problem most people think staffy is Pit Bull ... when I walk my girl .. people will walk around us with distance of 3m's or more .. she will jump at them ..wanting to sniff them and lick them to death !

Its nothing you have done lynn thats why I get so defencive when people say its because you havent sociolised properly as a puppy because if you only knew the lenths that I personally have gone to then you would understand. Thats the last thing you want to hear is that because you think youve failed your precious boy.
Its nothing to do with his food mine are fed kibble.
Billy is at the age of maturity hes inundated with testosterone that combined has changed his outlook on other dogs and the need to be high in the pecking order you could have him castrated but it may not make any difference.
My boy is just like billy hes so good ,never chews ,well trained and such a softy dont think billy will change there .
Its nothing new that staffords can be da its written in the breed standard indominal courage and tenacity, bold fearless and totally reliable depends how you read into that.
Over the next few weeks veiw his reaction and maybe he will tolerate females and not males but please keep him on a lead thats to protect him just as much as other dogs dont be hard on yourself like the others have said there are many out there who dont like other dogs and its okay you will be alright and learn how to deal with it and love him just the same ><
.

thank you gem, we are getting an appointment to have him done, (sooner than we would have liked) we have booked sessions one to one with a trainer to help us with body language, control etc

We are all a bit warey of taking him out for a walk at the moment, and also where to go, nearby we only have the woods and a park and of course it is were everyone else takes their dogs, so for the moment we are trying to find new places and avoid these.

gem wrote:Over the next few weeks veiw his reaction and maybe he will tolerate females and not males but please keep him on a lead thats to protect him just as much as other dogs dont be hard on yourself like the others have said there are many out there who dont like other dogs and its okay you will be alright and learn how to deal with it and love him just the same ><

lynne wrote:thank you gem, we are getting an appointment to have him done, (sooner than we would have liked) we have booked sessions one to one with a trainer to help us with body language, control etc
We are all a bit warey of taking him out for a walk at the moment, and also where to go, nearby we only have the woods and a park and of course it is were everyone else takes their dogs, so for the moment we are trying to find new places and avoid these.

Don't worry about other people! That sounds really uncaring, I know, but I mean it.

If you keep him on a lead unless you know there are no other dogs around then you'll be ok.

Watch him; get to know the signs he gives before he kicks off, and you'll be able to avoid problems. Above all, don't think you've failed him in any way - you haven't!

thank you caryll

Please also remember that although most dogs like to play with other dogs, they really don't miss out if they can't! Bandit was da and was never allowed off lead near other dogs and he was a sweet natured, happy & contented dog. He was actually far more stressed out when other dogs were near, than when he was kept away!

It's just from a social point for us in a way, it used to be nice having a walk around with another person to chat to.

What are your thoughts on muzzles

does he listen to you on the lead?

i'm not a fan of muzzles.

I really dont think u need a muzzel.......as long as he is kept on a lead and under control by you or OH. If another dog approches off lead then simply put your self in the other dogs way and sheild billy from it and do alot of shouting "away". My hubby always takes a big walking type stick out with him when he takes the dogs so if another dog bothers Ty he can move it away using the stick if all else fails. I no its a pain when they decide they dont like other dogs but it just means changing your rountine really. I love watching kaos play with other dogs seeing thier silly games etc and often wish Ty would be the same but he's just not so there it is! Good luck

I had the exact same problem with Tali, we can't trust her with dogs she doesn't know any more either And she went to 3 different training classes, did shows every weekend from 6 - 14 months and used to come to doggy-sit with me. But with her it wasn't just 'one day she changed' she was attacked by other dogs twice before one day she just went for a soppy old labrador which was harrasing her mum. Its sad but they don't change in any other way and as long as you perfect your recall should be fine. I let my girls off cuz I know they will come back and have their leads on rather than get told off!!

Having him snipped might help Lynne, don't let it spoil your enjoyment of Billy as you say he's a fine dog good luck with the training

Thank you all for sll you help and advice, he is booked in for next Friday, so there will be pics with his lampshade

Aw Lynne I feel for you. Charlie and Billy are almost exactly the same age and I'll be devastated if he suddenly turns DA. Like everyone has said though, it's not you, it's just something that happens to some of them at this age. I hope it all works out and you can adapt to the new situation. He is still your boy, he just doesn't like other dogs - as many others don't.

Ooh, p,s to Billy!

lynne wrote:It's just from a social point for us in a way, it used to be nice having a walk around with another person to chat to.

What are your thoughts on muzzles

I don't like muzzles unless they are absolutely necessary. It doesn't stop the behaviour, it just masks it, and could lead to him becoming very frustrated.

Caryll wrote:

lynne wrote:It's just from a social point for us in a way, it used to be nice having a walk around with another person to chat to.

What are your thoughts on muzzles

I don't like muzzles unless they are absolutely necessary. It doesn't stop the behaviour, it just masks it, and could lead to him becoming very frustrated.

It's not so cut and dry for me because although I don't like muzzles, I think they do have their place. If local people are aware of the problems with Billy, putting a muzzle on Billy will show that you are taking it seriously and do not want him injuring another dog, and if anyone 'official' comes knocking, you can say you are taking precautions to ensure that he can't hurt other dogs, but there is the issue of him looking worse than he is with one on and being unable to defend himself if the worst should happen. I wouldn't like to think that I'd put a muzzle on Charlie, but then again, if he attacked 3 dogs in one week, maybe I would...

I agree with what you say, Shontelle, but it's far too tempting for some people to put a muzzle on & then not deal with the underlying problem! If a dog is dog aggressive and you muzzle it you could find that the underlying tension of not being able to vent his feelings would affect his personality.

Yes, I do think they have a place, but only as a last resort. If you're prepared to keep your dog on a lead around others, then people will see that you are taking it seriously.

I agree with that to an extent. I wouldn't use a muzzle because I couldn't be bothered to deal with the problem, if I had to use one, it would be because I'm trying to be responsible and protect other dogs, and possibly other owners if there was an incident and they got into it, while I am dealing with the issue.

I know it could make a dog even more frustrated, but to me, I'd rather have a frustrated dog than a badly injured or dead other dog or a lawsuit from an injured peson who was trying to protect their dog.

And the thing about keeping Billy on a lead is that while he may be on lead and under control, we've all been around idiots that let their dog run off willy nilly to everyone and anyone or the owners that are so far back that they can't recall their dog or just plainly not taking any notice. Puppies, especially are so inquisitive and oblivious to danger. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

shontelle wrote:I agree with that to an extent. I wouldn't use a muzzle because I couldn't be bothered to deal with the problem, if I had to use one, it would be because I'm trying to be responsible and protect other dogs, and possibly other owners if there was an incident and they got into it, while I am dealing with the issue.

I know it could make a dog even more frustrated, but to me, I'd rather have a frustrated dog than a badly injured or dead other dog or a lawsuit from an injured peson who was trying to protect their dog.

And the thing about keeping Billy on a lead is that while he may be on lead and under control, we've all been around idiots that let their dog run off willy nilly to everyone and anyone or the owners that are so far back that they can't recall their dog or just plainly not taking any notice. Puppies, especially are so inquisitive and oblivious to danger. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

shontelle, you have hit the nail on the head, thats how i feel, but i hate muzzles, i think for the moment, we take it a day at a time, until we become more educated on how to deal with billy via the trainer and lots of help from you guys

Good luck Lynne, you know we're.all here for you.

thank you

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Don't forget, Lynne, you're not alone! There are hundreds of staffy owners out there who have dog aggressive dogs! Some manage to control it, others just learn to live with it.