little worried about how to handle things !!

hi all

my rescue (buster) which is now 14 months old had him since may this yr has always been ok with other dogs if one had a go he would lye down and sulk/cry, untill i tryed to rehome another(a bitch) which foamed at the mouth and went straight for him !!! to which he went very much on one! teeth in full show and it kicked off to which i just jumped in the bitch ment him harm and he knew it so was only protecting himself which i no !( neither dog got hurt )

now we have come across other dogs which most owners walk the other way when they see him coming which is sad but one asked me if he was friendly to which i said yes but he had been attacked,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, so they began to sniff and the other dog went at buster and buster then went on one teeth and all as if too attack i had to pull him back !

so now im worried that the dog i tryed to rehome has spoiled my buster !! should i just avoid other dogs now ? or keep trying him im just so scared incase he does anything with him been so young ! i have had him weighed today and he is 441bs and the vet comented on how much of a power house he was , i have had staffs before all rescues but never one as young as buster i can handle him just as i only weigh 8 1/2 stone me sel but feel gutted as the attack has made him this way and i don't want to be in a position thats not good .

What about taking him too classes to socialise him with other dogs, dont dwell on what happened if he feels you being tense etc when he meets other dogs he will want too defend you as he thinks theres something wrong.

I agree with Shelly

It's good to let him meet other dogs, but preferably only dogs you know have a stable temperament as you don't want him having more bad experiences. Also - try to avoid letting him meet other dogs while on leash - the leash impacts their dog language and makes fights much more likely. I'd also get a good book on doggy language - that way you can read his body language (and that of approaching dogs) so much better. (Something like Turid Rugaas' "On talking terms with dogs: Calming signals")

Here is a link about body language

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