Berty

Hi,

We (Sue and Ian) are new to the site having recently adopting Berty. He's 2 and a half and was no longer wanted by his owner, who we believe didn't treat him too well.

We love him to bits, he's great with people, playful, does tricks for his treats and is overall quite well behaved at home. We changed his name, which he has happily accepted and appears to love us just as much as we him.

The trouble begins when we take him out. He pulls but we've taught him to stop and sit at all curbs. It's just when he sees another dog! We've had a couple of incidents when other dogs not on leads make a bee line for him and he retaliates. We want taking him out to be a pleasure, not a drama. It's getting to be more of a case of planning a route in order to avoid other dogs!

Help!!! Any advice please?? All the sites I've read say he should have been socialised as a puppy. Is he too old now? Sue and Ian

Hi &

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Hi & welcome.

Well, he's too old for traditional socialisation, but that doesn't mean you can't do anything! Is he aggressive towards dogs or just excitable?

Hi Caryll, Thanks for replying to us. Berty isn't initally aggressive towards other dogs. Very excitable and strains the lead to get to them, but it does turn to aggression when they are aggressive with him. We've just been to the vets with him for his jabs and Ian waited outside until it was his turn as last time he wanted to go to everyone in there. He was great while waiting and only got excited with one dog. Please tell us there's hope as we really don't want to lose him.

Hi and welcome to the forum from Rocky and me.

Have you thought about looking at training classes for Berty ? That way he can get to socialize with other dogs in a controlled environment. If you decide to book just explain what has happened when out on walks and they should know which class to book you into.

I'm sure he is not too old to learn how to behave with other dogs, he probably just needs to learn the correct procedure for approaching them. Have a look at the link below for body language as this help to see the first signs if anything is going to kick off:

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

Of course there is hope! Its going to be harder as he is older and also because of his unknown background, but when you take on a rescue, there past comes with them unfourtunatly.

If he is fine apart from dogs aproaching then you may for a time have to walk him away from places with lots of dogs (tbh you shouldn't have other dogs running over to yours whilst he is on lead, but some owners hay!)

Its early days yet, and if he is only growling when they come to him I would be inclined to shout to the owner that he may not be friendly, doesn't mean he will never be but some staffs are just like that, doesn't mean they should make the walk unpleasent for you though.

Hi and welcome BTW

Thanks Kathy and Janey. We are going to try classes. We are going to see how we get on with them now. Berty looks very like Rocky. We really are going to put the effort in with him. He's not had the best start to life and is already giving us so much love, and bruises from his bouncing. Everything is at full throttle with him. He's lying asleep on Ian's lap at the moment. Only his gas to break the peace!!

We'll let you know who the classes go. And thanks for the welcome to the forum.

Hi and welcome from us and Suki. You could also try to find an older well socialized dog for him to walk and socialize with so he can get used to it.

If he is food motivated keep some treats with you out on walks so you can get his attention.

Welcome from me and Tilly, just go with the advice given we have faithin our members

The Parti's wrote: Please tell us there's hope as we really don't want to lose him.

Of course there is! Try training classes & keep up the work & he'll respond soon enough!

Many Thanks everyone for the advice and support. Berty has been to training class and we've been taught some tricks on how to handle him and he's responding well. The trainer said how intelligent he is and so quick to learn. He is a clever little mite and I think he's the best dog ever, even though he chews! We can see the progress he's making and know he's always going to be a part of us now.

Sue

People are often surprised at how intelligent staffords are. They're not like Border Collies in that they won't just jump to do your bidding, though. They need to have a reason. If you tell a Border Collie to jump it'll say "Sure, how high?" If you tell a Stafford to jump it'll say "Well, alright, but what's in it for me?"

The Parti's wrote:Many Thanks everyone for the advice and support. Berty has been to training class and we've been taught some tricks on how to handle him and he's responding well. The trainer said how intelligent he is and so quick to learn. He is a clever little mite and I think he's the best dog ever, even though he chews! We can see the progress he's making and know he's always going to be a part of us now.

Sue

They learn very quickly! Great update

We rehomed Maggie our 2 year old staffy cross back in November. She was picked up as a stray, so there was no history on her. At the rescue she was barking and throwing herself at the bars when we walked past.

When we initially got her home. I don't think she had any training at all. When we walked her she pulled like a train all the time and would stand on her back legs to get at any dogs, or people that went past. When we got back she would try to race round the house. Would try and get any food you had. Wasn't house trained very welll and she suffered bad separation angsity. If we left her for only second she would wee and poo everywhere.

When we took her to the vets a week after we got her, in to the treatment room she threw her self on the floor shaking. In busy areas she would hide behind is and shake as welll.

We did get a behaviourist out a couple of times who said the reason she is so reactive to the dogs etc is that she wanted to be social with them, but doesn't understand how to, so gets frustrated, so thats why her reaction is so bad. She also said for these types of dog do a lot better when the dogs they meet have big open spaces so they can got away. So we do take her to the beach as often as we can.

We started taking her to dog training classes in the January once she was a little more settled. She still has a corner of the hall so that we get a bit of room from the other dogs when we sit down. I also started walking her our with my frend's well trained jack russell gang.

After a lot of work, she had improved no end since we got her. In the house she is house trained, you can leave her fine and doesn't even look when were eating. Will retieve a toy and let you have it back. She can now sit and stay and and leave a treat straight in front of her. Has a good recall as long as we have in the same field and there are no dogs. On a walk so only pulls when she sees a dog, but doesn't stand up.

She still need a lot more work especially with the socialising with dogs. And I'm still not brave enough to let her off the long line in other areas yet. But she is defniately heading in the right direction. Oviously we don't know how good she will be finally.

So hopefully if you stick with it and try to take him out in some open areas with dogs and you can get out as much as possible, you should see some good improvements.

Good luck with him, you'll have to keep us updated in the progress.

Good advice given. All it takes is consistency and the basics.