Staffie pup (possibly X) biting and growling

Just taken a pup (we think about 11 weeks) from my sister, who had problems with her young daughter as the pup was biting her and the young children that came into the house. He would latch on to their hands, toes and even jump up and nip at their faces. We have two springer spaniels, one of whom (the bitch) is scared of dogs generally. We are slowly introducing all the dogs to each other, but now and again the pup is trying it on - learning its way - and growling and jumping up at the other dogs. The male springer is OK but the bitch gets agitated sometimes, and a barking match starts. The pup is lovely, sleeping a lot, but he will then suddenly jump up for a quick 'bite', and so far he has had my mouth, nose, boob and toes! Telling him No, firmly, makes him face me off and growl at me. I know these pups are quick learners, and spirited with a strong willpower (and, am told, no fear), but I need to know how to train him so he doesn't do this. We took him to the vet yesterday, and she said he looks like a cross, and if there is any pitbull or the likes in him, it has to be reported to the police. I would like to do my best to socialise him, get him to behave, but not sure whether they do actually get on with other dogs. Are there specific training methods to use with a staffy? ANY help and advise would be very much appreciated. I am not in great health, but I just wanted this dog to have a better home, structure and be properly trained, rather than possibly attack young children and end up getting put down.

i very doubt hes got real pit him in, why do you need to report it ot the police for?

you need to tech him what right and wrong if he ignore you and carry on place him in a nurghty spot.

Firstly I wouldn't worry too much as at 11 weeks old he is still so young.

You need to discourage it yes, but it is a staffy thing and although you have 2 springers and experience with dogs I'm afraid the bull breed is rather different. You do have to be firm, and all the charismatics of the bull breed you have listed are true! They do learn fast though, and he will.
You have to be firm.

Mine gets on with all other dogs but is a reacue and almost definatly a cross. I'm kinda lucky.

How long did your sister have him for as after it seems 2 homes in 11 weeks is gonna be rather unsettling. He just needs to get used his new surroundings.

Sorry to waffle but don't worry, training will stop the mouthing and it will be fine

Ps hiya and welcome, and the whole pitball thing, well I seriously wouldn't worry. Its all about the temprement and the owner. Thats all really

Thank you for this. The vet told us - she said she had had 6 dogs brought down from Lpool (I live in Dorset but my sis lives in Lpool and bought the dog there), and they were pit crosses and they had to be put down. I was devastated. The other vet said our pup looks like a Staffy. We took him in yest for his injections. Don't know anything about Staffy's other than they are wilful, bright, dogs and an be aggressive if not trained properly. I am desperate to give him a good life, and have a good life for my other two as well. Is it OK to pop him into the kitchen for about 10 mins if he keeps being naughty and won't respond? Some people mention getting crates - don't want him to feel he is being put out of the way.

Janey - thank you very much too. Definitely need the encouragement and advice of people like yourselves cos I feel, at the moment, I am floundering. I think two homes in such a short space of time is a lot for a pup too. Only got him yesterday though and he has learnt a lot more about toilet training (been out 4 times so far and done his stuff) and last night, his first night, we put him in his bed in our bedroom and he stayed there. Took him out just the once for a week, and he slept the rest of the night.

what i used to do is placing my dog in a like a naughty spot like what supernanny does but you have do it all the time u cant let the pup get away it 1 min and then punish him the next time.

its not going happen over night

Brilliant - thanks Steve. Put him in the kitchen earlier just to sort the other two dogs out, and he cried and cried. I must admit though, he came back in and jumped back on the sofa, and relaxed and went back to sleep. Previous to this he had kept nipping at me, and barking at me when I kept telling him no. I am happier now to put him outside for a little while, so he learns the behaviour is not acceptable.
The vet mentioned taking his 'crown jewels' off in this sort of breed. What do you guys think?

Thanks for the welcome too Janey. I am so pleased to have found this forum. It is great to converse with people who actually love and care for their animals. x

Aww, I have never crate trained so not the best to answer really but am assured they are fantastic and its not being put out the way, they seem to really like them.

A friend of mine told me Moo had pit in her and like a fool I was really shocked! Down the vets the next day and she assured me that even if she did, they go by temperment anyhow and if she shows know sign of aggreasion then not to worry. Again its the way they get bought up. And would never put a healthy/happy/friendly dog down.

Again sorry to waffle but I really wouldn't worry and crate training is fab, everyone on here can nearly advise on that

I think all puppie dont matter what breed there are they are all the same and it's upto the owner to make the dog how he or she wants. plenty of walks and alot of loving will make any dog happy

Awww bless him hes doing well as you havnt had him long he needs to know biting is not acceptible and you always have to tell him bad boy and no .If it becomes that you feel threatened by him and he is squaring up to you then completly ignore him let him come to you but only show him love when he is calm.As of the biting if you can hold him by his muzzle as he does it no pressure and say no he will learn to close his mouth and back of this should only be done if you feel confident you can without getting bitten.

Thanks Gem. He is a strong little thing already and I took him by the scruff earlier cos he managed to graze my hand and boob just nipping at me unexpectedly, and he has a little toy 'cat' thing (material thing) he plays with, so I let him get on with that. I will definitely try the muzzle thing, and I will do what Steve says and give him a naughty step type of thing - pop him in the kitchen.
Again, thanks guys. I have to go now but am so relieved by your advice. x

Hi, welcome!

Phew, you've got your hands full! The good news is, with training & consistency, it'll get better! Staffs, although strong & stubborn, love to have firm guidelines & they are happier knowing what you want from them. Be firm but fair - if you're not going to allow something, then you must stop it every time.

Most staffs (and you may as well put the 'pit bull' bit straight out of your mind - he's a staff & that's that! ) love attention & hate being ignored, it worries them. So, when he's naughty (ie nipping you) give him a firm, low & long "Noooo!" & completely ignore him - no eye contact, no fuss, nothing. If he carries on, then don't speak to him, just take him to his 'naughty space' & leave him there for a minute or two. When he is calm, you can calmly let him back & give him some gentle & calm praise.

If you need to crate him, there's a good topic on this here....

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t17-information-how-to-crate-train-your-dog?highlight=crate+training

As to castration, well, you'll find we all have different ideas on this! I personally don't neuter my dogs & I've never had a problem with that, but some people prefer to. You're better off searching for information on the internet, reading as much as you can, and making your own mind up.

Hi Caryll. Thank you very much - you guys have been brilliant. Really helped me out here. Am a lot more relaxed now! Night night guys. x

Night and enjoy him, its only been a day stop worrying!

Hi there and welcome to the forum,
I would DEF conssider a crate.. they are wonderful.. your springers may also love the fact that their new play mate has a little area of his own where they can also get a break...
I dont know how much springers chew... but we aware staffy's will eat everything... most are big chewers and if you cant watch them 24/7 and correct them putting them in their crate/bed will really help combat the damage/destruction.

Santa bought our baby girl so we have had her since xmas eve and not one thing has been touched..
we are firm with her and if she tries to chew or mouth anything we give a firm "ahhhh LEAVE IT" and she has learnt very very quick what is hers and what isnt.
also put ALL your puppies things in his crate... and then he will learn what he can and cant play with
hope this helps you a little xx

Janey wrote:Night and enjoy him, its only been a day stop worrying!

Definitely - we've all been there, done that & I just wish there had been a forum like this around when I had my first couple of dogs! Well, actually, I wish the internet had been around then a swell, but that's a different story!

Thanks guys. After reading some of the responses we thought we would opt for a gate. Just learning that he chews everything!! We have an open fire that we use wood on, and he goes around looking for bits of wood! Have to have eyes at the back of your head! But you're right - they learn SO fast! One of the guys has mentioned not to worry about the Pit X thing but it was the vet that worried us: she said they have to tell the Police and if there is a cross the police put them down! I was devastated! Flynn looks very much like your Holly, Mel. Cute as a button - never seen cuter looking dogs! What size do they grow to? I need to know when we go to buy the crate (or do we start off with a puppy one? Just asking cos we live in a cottage that is really small!). Thanks again guys. x

If the vet's being funny about it, just say that he's a staffy crossed with a spaniel! Or crossed with anything, really, just don't mention the pit thing! My vets are quite good when it comes to that sort of thing, they just pretend not to know ("we're not dog breed experts" they say!), it's just your vet being a bit officious.

They grow to about 17 or 18 inches tall, but it really depends what he's crossed with, if anything. Do you know for certain that he's a cross, or are you just guessing? You must post some pics so we can see him.

If you're going to get a crate, I'd go for the adult size one straight away, and if necessary put a small bed inside it so that he's not lost while he's still small! My place is quite small, and Dempsey's bed is under one of the kitchen work surfaces!

Lovely - thanks Caryll. I didn't mention anything to our vet at all - she told us she thought he was 'broad in the face' and had longer legs than a Staffy would have, and she was the one who told us all the stuff. I had tears in my eyes - couldn't believe what she was saying. He has to go back in a couple of weeks for his other injection and she said, as he will be older, we should have more of an idea then. I know he has to have his jabs but I am hoping we see the other vet there instead. She said they have, by law, to tell the Police and the police have to come to check!!

Oops - I meant opt for a crate! He has chewed the wooden door frame this morning, together with his little harness, the bottom of the wooden door, tried to dig up the sage bush (he loves that bush); problem is, take him out for a week and he sprints off about 90 mph and gets into everything! So we put a little harness on him to take him out on a lead. However, he doesn't do anything then. Take the lead off and he's Steve Austin (the $6m dollar man - that ages me!) off around the garden. They are funny little characters! My sister misses him but she wouldn't have had a clue and biting children just gets these little dogs into trouble.

Does your sister know if he's pure or crossed?

To be honest with you, I'd tell the vet that he's a full stafford, but he isn't kennel club registered. If he looks a little like Holly, then I would say he's pure bred. Your vet is actually being a little ignorant. There are all sorts of 'types' of stafford, ranging from the very 'terrier type' right through to the really 'bully type'. The terrier type dogs are not so bulky & have longer legs, and may have a smaller head (though still broader than, say, a GSD!). Could that describe your boy?

It really annoys me when people (especially professionals like vets) say things like that - they seem to think that all staffords have titchy legs & flat noses!

i would say for certain you could not say a pup looks pit looking at 11 weeks your vet is just being a bit funny even the police wouldnt come out to see a pup so young as there not dog experts either.
memphis is a purebreed staff and he got mistook for a labby pup at that age.
and re the cage i to would be gettin an adult size cage and i would go for a large size

Flynnsmum wrote:Oops - I meant opt for a crate! He has chewed the wooden door frame this morning, together with his little harness, the bottom of the wooden door, tried to dig up the sage bush (he loves that bush); problem is, take him out for a week and he sprints off about 90 mph and gets into everything! So we put a little harness on him to take him out on a lead. However, he doesn't do anything then. Take the lead off and he's Steve Austin (the $6m dollar man - that ages me!) off around the garden. They are funny little characters! My sister misses him but she wouldn't have had a clue and biting children just gets these little dogs into trouble.

Once he's had is jabs & can go out, see if there's a dog training class near you. A good one is worth it's weight in gold. They can help with obedience, but also socialisation. You also get to meet other people who have the same problems as you & you realise you're not the only one!

Thanks very much guys. They certainly are a breed apart - I thought springers were full of the joys of Spring! I am going to upload some photos of him, and look online for a crate for him now.

Guys - would you say 36" is about the right size please?

ye mine is 36"long24"wide and about 26"high

Ebay often have some good ones on there. I got a Rosewood one, which is strong & has lasted really well so far - no damage or anything from a real power-chewer!!! Mine's a bit bigger than Warren's, but that's only cause Dempsey's a big boy!

hi and welcome ive only had my staff 8 days and without this forum i woulda been completeley lost!
since ive had lola ive noticed shes very strong willed but very quik to learn and very very loving.i put her in a crate from day one and although she cried at first she now takes herself into it to chew her chewstick or just for some peace and quite. i think she classes it as her safe place.i understand males are a bit bit more hyper than females so bet youve got your handsfull lol but ive learned to take things day at a time with lola and shes seems to get better every day (although weve had a setback with house training today)
once you get in a routine with him he will realise what is expected then you can truly start to enjoy your new edition to the family

p.s. im learning every day she is and full praise to you for trying to give him a forever home

Super - thanks again guys. I am trying to upload a photo - bear with me. He is such a cutie!

Hiya and welcome.

My pup Charlie is 14 weeks old and the same as yours. He's a growler and an aoccassional (painful) nipper, and a barker and a chewer and a complete sweetheart despite it all! It's all just normal staffy pup stuff!!

My boy has had a crate since we brought him home. You can either put a divider in or let him have the whole space. I did divide mine's crate, but he's got a habit of peeing and pooing his crate at night so he'd end up laying in it cos there wasn't alot of space so now I've put paper at one end and his toys and bed at the other. I cannot recommend crate training enough and I'm sure Mel agrees with me.

Just hang in there. He is young,and will be a complete pain in the bum for a couple of months, but as long as you are patient and consistent, it will all be worth it. Make sire he is very well socialised with all types and ages of people and dogs and other animals, and obedience classes are a great idea too.

We're all here fo support and advice. Good luck with your boy, you'l look back on this in 6 months time and laugh

Just seen your avatar, he looks an absolute cutie!!!

And looks all staffy to me!

He has been good today, and only had 2 accidents indoors, although it is cold and rainy and I am sure they don't like doing in outside! He just gave a few nips and I put him in the kitchen for a minute. He needs his little 'mad 5 minutes', and usually has a go at the two spaniels so I am glad I am getting the crate. Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow. Thanks for the advice re dividing it. At night, so far he has been good, going into his little bed in our bedroom and staying there. No accidents last night either, and we take him out twice a night so am hoping he will get the idea soon. Very cute - do hope things calm down, for the spaniels' sakes. Lovely little characters though!

Vets annoy me so much sometimes they wouldnt no the difference between a pit and a staff. You tell him that you were so worried about what he had said that you contacted the breeder who showed you both the mother and father who were not pit bulls. Then tell him you have spoken to loads of people who staffords and staffordshire/crosses who have said that pit bull have a coal shuttle style head which you dont think he has. Also the development of him is normal they do go all leggy then fill out so thats normal. When my dog went to see a vet he asked me was he crossed with a patterdale terrier I turned around and walked out and got a full refund

We were both surprised although my other half, who is training one of our springers to be a drug detector dog, said he had wondered himself and the vet verified what he thought. Problems were that my sister wasn't given any assurance or paperwork by the breeder, and even his date of birth wasnt confirmed. Didn't even cross my mind about any cross - she bought him as an 'Irish Blue Terrier' - no idea what that is. She thought he was going to have a blue colouring, and then was told he was brown and white. She didn't care although she didn't know anything about pets, and when he started growling and biting, she got panicky, especially as her daughter is only 4 1/2, and the children coming into the house to play were similar ages. He bit a small boy and the mother of the boy whacked him. I knew there would be no structured training, so offered to go up there to get him. I am not physically well myself (neuro immune illness), so it really is only for the sake of the pup. Having said that, I would never have taken him if I didn't know we couldn't bring him up properly. I found this forum and it has been such a relief to read what you guys have advised. I am ever so grateful to you all for taking time to explain and help.

HI
hows are things going... So sorry I havent replied regarding the Crate and how big etc... but the others told you .. I have a 36" and it is fine... all her toys are in there and she has no issues sleeping thru the night from 10pm till 7am.

As the others have said..... flynn will cry, howl and scream for a few nights..
\I suggest you put him somewhere dark and with little noise.. It is like listening to a newborn/cat fight/lamb.... but the crate is VERY well worth it... dont fuss him if he is crying.. wait until he is calm and then go to him and let him out.
By putting his toys in there he will also learn what is HIS and what he is allowed to chew up
please let us know how you get along xxxx

did you up load some pics?.I have a peep at your avitar but a nice close up would be smashing.

PS..... If you google Irish Blue Terrier...... this is not a staffy???

Did you mean an Irish Staff Bull Terrier maybe?

Flynnsmum wrote:she bought him as an 'Irish Blue Terrier' - no idea what that is.

An Irish Blue Terrier is the common Irish name for a Kerry Blue Terrier - totally different to either a staffy or a pbt!

She may have meant an Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier. This has been a hot topic on here nefore. Some say that there is no such thing, and that it's just a way of getting around the pit bull ban. I don't agree. There are breeders in Ireland who are breeding staffords to look like they did (in their opinion) about 50 years ago, and they are keeping the strain 'pure'. However, it's VERY unlikely that your dog is one of these, as they tend to keep their pups in Ireland & within a very close-knit community.

Either way, your pup doesn't look like either of them! He looks like a stafford to me - every inch!

Hi Caryll - he looks like a Staffie to me too! I didn't know there was such a breed as an Irish Staffordshire; if the vet mentions his stronger jaw and legs again maybe I will mention that this is possibly what he is! As he was bought in Liverpool it is a possibility that the family was Irish but, as you say, he looks very much like a Staffy. So long as the vet doesn't keep on about pit bull and having to put him down, I will be happy. He was very good last night and stayed in his bed in the kitchen. He didn't do his toilet till I took him outside this morning. Very quick learner. Only problem is I can't leave him for a mo cos he keeps jumping up and growling at the bitch springer, and she takes off!! I am waiting for the crate so I can get some peace and structure. He is sat next to me now on the sofa on one side, asleep, and the bitch springer on the other side of me, asleep! I have the laptop on my knee trying to use the computer asap before they all wake up! I will be giving him a feed soon (how often are they meant to be fed a day? A book I have says 4 times. He eats as though he is starving and he eats the spaniels food too if he can get anywhere near their bowls, ha ha!

If I were you, I wouldn't mention anything to the vet other than "Staffordshire Bull Terrier". As I said, a lot of people think that the Irish Stafford is an alternative name for a pit bull, and that could give you more problems.

Even if he came from Liverpool, it's unlikely that he's an Irish staff because, as I said, they don't like their dogs going anywhere outside of Ireland!

I'd keep him on 4 meals at the moment, at least until he's fully settled. Try to space them out as evenly as possible. Do keep him away from the other dogs' food, though, as they could get jealous or possessive & give him a bit of a seeing to!

By the way, we're still waiting for some pics!

Oh - I didn't realise - thanks Caryll - I'll just keep telling them he is definitely a Staffy.
I will keep him on 4 meals. Geoff wanted them all to eat together, to help them bond, but I try to keep him separate if I can because I wanted them to have their own meals properly. What you have said makes SO MUCH sense - I can tell my other half now.
I will find the digital camera and see if he will sit for a proper photo. My other half took this but every time he got close Flynn turned away! xx

I know people who feed their dogs together & it works fine. In the past I've tended to keep them apart - in the same room & at the same time, but apart & strictly supervised - they were never allowed to help themselves to the others' food. A hungry pup will want to finish every bit of food in sight, even if he explodes doing it! But then you risk overfeeding, and he'll be eating older dogs' food which might not suit him.

Great - thanks Caryll. These are all invaluable things to know. x