Dog Getting Grumpy

Hi all.
I have owned a staffie for 8 years now we brought him home at 7 weeks old, and he was the same age as my daughter at the time, they grew up together, and he lives in a house with me and my four daughters, he up to about 6 weeks ago, was the most loveable, soft dog you could imagine, he has always been a bit cautious around boys / men, but i just put this down to him living with all the girlies, and so was always cautious when anyone came to the house. Just recently all i can explain is that he is getting grumpy, but to my sadness he snapped at my nephew the other week and today for the very first time, jumped up and 'went for' a young boy. Around other dogs he has always been very playful, never nasty but again the last two weeks, he is realy pulling to get at other dogs, something he has never done before. Can anyone suggest anything? or have any ideas....is it jus thtat hes getting old, does he need company - I had consider getting another dog but not sure what you all think.

any suggestions would be welcomed.

only thing i can suggest is speaking to a vet as some illnesses/bone or muscle problems can manifest as aggression

how many time and how long does he go for walks?

he goes out everyday, though the week just short walks, and on a sat and sunday about 1 and half hours saturday but has a realy long walk on a sunday 2 - 3 hours, he plays out most of the afternoon with the kids, he grew up with the second youngest girl, as I said they are the same age, I didnt know whether he missed her?

I a tad worried though

he need a hour plus in the morning and a hour plus in the afternoon, a bored/untired dopg is a problem dog, a tired dog is a good dog

thanks so much, I shall split the walks through the week so hes getting two and see how i get on. I feel a bit cautios though about taking him out now after he went for that boy! hes never ever done anything like it, so out of characther.

sound like he not going for walk enough, walking is a great socializing tool they need a good walk every day 2/3 times a day. if i wasn't getting enough walk i would get peed off and take it out on people who i didn't know.

Do you think if it was just his walks it would of manifested before now, im just sat thinking hes 8 and ive never realy changed his walking pattern so he has been walked the same all the time we had him apart from when we I was poorly few years back and he didnt go out much at all bless him, for a few weeks, and he was ok then, sorry - ha

he prolly hes a breaking point if he only getting sohrt walks in the week, it be like jail for him

I def think get him checked at the vet for something that maybe frustrating him (physically) I don't think it could only be from the walks, as you said it's been 8 years why would it only pop up now - although a lot of walking would probably help with the aggression so it doesnt hurt to up the hours.

my 15yr old dog is getting more grumpy as she ages, started barking at other dogs which she never did before. the vet says she is showing signs of senility and is just telling strange dogs to bugger off

I agree with the increased walks as well as a trip to the vet just to be safe.

Sounds also like he may be in pain somehow, time for a vet check up??

As above try to increase the amount of exercise both physical and mental.

the dog is getting short walk in the week it's bound to affect his behaviour. i would start doing 2/3 walks everyday give it a 2/3 months and if nothing as change take him to the vets

Although I agree with Steve that it could be lack of exercise, I would err on the side of caution & get him checked by the vet first. If he is in any discomfort (bearing in mind that staffs have a very high pain threshold and may not show signs of discomfort until it's been going on for quite a while) then that could cause him to be grumpy.

Of course, it could also be his age, and he may need to be kept clear of anyone who is too boisterous.

He may be in pain, as said if he wasn't getting enough exercise it would of showed up before now, unless it did and you just didn't notice it (slight curl of the lips) or it was maybe something very minor. like you said he never liked men/boys why was that never addressed??? should never of been allowed to escalate really, if you don't address things like that he'll think its alright to do it to everything because nothing bad (a correction off you) comes of it. Have a vet check him over so see if its pain/sight/hearing related first before you increase his exercise.
My dogs are great around people but on the streets i don't allow people to pet me dogs, they do it wrong/approach wrong/ and its only for their benifit not my dogs, maybe he is just getting pi**ed off with hands coming towards him, i know i would.