please help :( he's gone for all 3 of them!

Well Dodge (the staffy x, OH decided we were keeping his name) came home tonight, and he is perfect! Except...


He is completely agressive to all 3 of of ours we expected some issues from Grey, but grey has been perfect, but Dodge has gone for all of them, even the girlies


He is currently in prison (the crate), just so we can relax, Grey has a scratch on his muzzle because of him (not bad, not broke the skin) and he's only been here an hour and a half. We havent risked letting him off the lead yet because we dont want the others to get hurt


I dont know what to do He is perfect in every way otherwise, he is fantastic on lead, and very loving, works really well for treats. He has lived with other dogs before and is supposedly fine with all dogs


Can I sort this out? Im worried that even if we do get him to accept them, that he will turn again when Keyu comes into season (he still has his balls)

you have to be the boss he trying to become the pack leader, i only need to look at my dog to stop them fighting these days.

oh he listens to me, i dont have an issue with that, but he is just going for my dogs, and no matter how much he wants to be 'pack leader' (a theory in which i dont believe personally) i cant have him attacking my dogs

when you have more then 2 dogs they are in an little pack, my billie used to have problem with my xena what i did was remind her that i'm the boss and that type of behaver isn't accepted in the house by place her bed and she couldn't move till i said.

You know my experience of staffords is that unfortunatly they arnt good at instant bonding and even though some will tolerate others then if it were to kick off it will big time, and a entire male isnt going to back down if challenged especially with the scent of a bitch in heat.
A bred to type stafford is tenacious, fearless and has outstanding courage it is what it states and there is no getting away from that.
If you were to want this to work then it should be slow walks together crates side by side ect.
Some will prove me wrong but it all boils down to the personality of the dog and the introduction if it will work good luck

Check out this website/blog/book http://howmanydogs.com/

She's very knowledgeable about how to make bigger packs work, all positive methods and none of the old fashioned "alpha dog" stuff. I was just looking at her book today thinking about getting it just because it seems like a great book.

Agree the introduction has to be done slowly. Take them for a walk with the dogs on the opposite side of the handler and put their crates side by side. Don't leave them alone unsupervised and things should progress

they have all been walked together, and he was introduced to them again one by one once in the house (the other 2 in crates)

Im really annoyed with OH's friend though, surely this agression has shown itself at some point, yet we were told he was fine with all dogs. We would not knowingly bring an agressive dog into our house, as having an agressive dog would escalate greys issues outside of the house (he can be funny with some males when he's onlead), and I would not put my dogs at risk. Im really tempted to get OH to ring him up and tell him to come and get him tomorrow, but at the same time I dont want to quit on him

I also found out that he's 9 months, not 6 months

How long should we give him to settle in?

sid_wolf wrote:oh he listens to me, i dont have an issue with that, but he is just going for my dogs, and no matter how much he wants to be 'pack leader' (a theory in which i dont believe personally) i cant have him attacking my dogs

I don't follow the 'pack leader' theory either, but it's possible that he is trying to sort out who's in charge between the dogs. Being friendly with other dogs in the park/street isn't the same as being friendly in a house/home situation.

While you are obviously the boss, and I'm sure he accepts that, he's trying to tell the others that he's no.1 with them. I would keep him on a lead for a while in the house (and obviously not leave them alone together), that'll give you more control over the situation, and hopefully, as things settle & the dogs all get to know each other, he'll improve. However, you may well get problems again when your bitch comes on heat.

Perhaps the new dog is anxious and lashes out because he is feeling insecure. he is in a whole new environment and has to contend with new pack mates as well. Give him a chance to settle in. Caryll always gives sound advice.

he also went for me last night I came down to let him out (he was awake and barking) and he just went mad, came running at me baring his teeth, so I went to walk towards the back door and he started coming at me

OH wants him gone today He's not only a risk to our dogs (he is showing exactly the same behaviour today) but he has now shown human agression

I have to say that I wouldn't be happy with that, either.

It makes you wonder the real reason for the previous owners to get rid of him. Have you spoken to them? Ask them to be honest with you, because otherwise this dog will end up being pts. No rescue centre would be able to rehome him if he's human aggressive.

i think he's fear agressive, when i came into the room he had messed the floor, and he is a tad flinchy. He's been fine with me today

we've done it all through a middle man so to speak, OH's work friend sorted it out, it was his teenage cousins dog, she said she couldnt afford him or have time for him. He has lived with the friends dogs in the past, but he just really doesnt like mine.

we took a walk to pets at home today and he's now loose but muzzled. He's still going for them but he cant hurt them

we're willing to give him a few days, but its not looking good, my boy isnt happy about him attacking his girls!

I think there is some serious trauma going on in this dogs head. Something either happened to him that was traumatising, or he's not been worked with correctly. A professional 1 on 1 behaviouralist may be able to help you out with him =/
Sorry to hear this has all gone on =/

I agree, he really seems fearful, poor lad He apparently peed himself (on the sofa, how lovely! lol) when OH's dad came down this morning (he gets up at 5) and let him out of his crate, he said he seemed terrified. Though that may have been because he had just woken up in strange surroundings?

Well he is still muzzled, but he isnt attacking at the moment, and he's just curled up on the sofa to sleep, and ive wrapped his blankie round him because he was a bit shivery (we tend to keep the house kinda cool for the huskies, he has a hoodie coming for indoor use)

Keyu and Grey have both been up to see him and sniffed him, and he hasnt retaliated. Kira is keeping her distance - clever girl! lol. Grey isnt too keen on him atm, he isnt one to back down if a dog is attacking, he also doesnt forgive easily. But they're both on the same sofa atm

To be honest, and it's not often that I sugest this, I'd get him neutered (if you do decide to keep him). Especially as you'll get terrible problems when your girl comes into season. That's when you'll see real aggression from both the staff & the huskies.

yes, if we decide he is staying then he will be neutered before she comes into season, we wouldnt want to risk a mating either

Oh my. So sorry. I have been there with a fear aggressive dog and it can be very trying as you attempt to get to know them. Sounds like there was aggression and that is the real reason for the rehome to me. I'd be very careful if I decided to keep one like that. As heartbreaking as it may sound, you have to think of the rest of your family and the other three dogs as they have priority. He came into their home and not the other way. Again, so sorry that you are having to go through this as it really isn't fair.

Update!

He's NOT DA!!!!!!

On the way to pets at home he met 2 little dogs abd was fine with them, so i wondered if it was just bigger dogs, but i took him out with a friends husky a couple of hours ago and they were both offlead and he just played the whole time!

So its obviously just problems adjusting to life in a pack, he has had his muzzle off indoors for about 2hrs and has let the others come and investigate him with no issues! He is still aa bit nervous of them but loads better

At least now i know thats the issues are with the pack and he's not simply aggressive, im a bit more confident that we can work with him

He also has a new name - diesel. He's responding well to it, new start = new name

I will post pics soon, just got to work it out on the tablet as my laptop is sulking!

Hopefully it was just the anxiety of suddenly being in a pack of strange dogs. Only time will tell, but do keep a very close eye on things. I'd seperate them at night & when not supervised if it was me.

Oh good! Keep us updated! Hope for smooth sailing from here out.

I do hope everything works out for you, you seem to know a lot about dogs and care a lot

Just asked in the gallery how he is getting on, hadn't seen this post. Just read the whole way through it and so glad you have some small progress. Really hope he is just adjusting and will settle eventually, poor boy being passed around at such a young age. No wonder he is responding like this. You certainly seem to know a lot about dogs though, which is good and hopefully you will be able to work through this and bring him out of his shell a little. Good luck with it all. And well done you for persevering so far with him!

So glad to hear things are going better for you

thanks to everyone for the support and nice comments you have been a great help

another quick update - him, keyu (youngest bitch) and grey are now playing well together i am stopping play from getting too rough and noisy atm as he is still not completely sure, but his tail has been going like crazy and he has been initiating play! I'm really pleased

my eldet bitch kira is still sulking (she always does for a few days when she realises they arent leaving, spoilt brat lol) but she's had a good sniff and is less wary of him now, she'll come round in a day or 2 and start wanting to play aswell

It looks like he's here to stay!!

Brilliant news! Keep us posted!

Good news! I am so happy Diesel is settling in.

Brilliant! Some pics of them playing would be lovely!

none of them playing yet but heres a cute one of him having a cuddle with kira!

Lovely pic

Great news they are starting to play together and lovely pic of them cuddling