Why are other dogs so aggressive?

Fiver is as soft as chuff and really a very sociable dog. He never growls or barks at other dogs either on or off his lead. He ignores most dogs to be honest or will just stand and look at them even if they are going ape. So why is it that so many dogs become aggressive towards him? usually small ratty little things will more often than not growl and snarl at him even though he just stands there looking at them with a quizzical look on hos face as if asking them "what's your problem"

Am I missing something about his stance that is pushing these little dogs to get all puffed up? He doesn't seem to be defensive or at all aggressive, he's almost nieve just stands there and takes it from them without reaction. I'm really happy that he never retaliates as the last thing I want is Fiver or another dog hurt fighting, but we know very little about him and there is always the chance that one will push him too far and set his huge mouth into defence mode.

Other owners are obviously very wary of Fiver as he is a big Staffie and everybody knows how Staffies are the mad axe serial killers of the dog world right? so is this just transferred to their little ratty things? Thanks in advance for your advice and help.

Many ankle biters have issues with other dogs of all breeds but it's likely the owners' opinion of Fiver will have an effect, if they're nervous when they see him their dog will think there's something to be afraid of.

The other dogs showing aggression is just a sign of a poor handler and untrained dog IMO. As long as yours isn't reacting that is a very positive sign. Do you know anyone with a well trained dog you could walk him with and allow him some interaction?

Here is a link on understanding body language so you will know what to watch for.

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

jstaff wrote:Here is a link on understanding body language so you will know what to watch for.

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

Thanks I had read that previously and it does point to Fiver being a very confident relaxed dog. He doesn't show any of the signals of fear or aggression just stands there confidently with his tail up.

One guy last week with a tiny Shih Tzu was clearly over the moon to see his half a pound wet through dog "go for" our 20 kilo plus monster He said "sorry about that mate it was the battle of the boys" I said yeah that's one scary fighting dog you have there mate LOL.

Big dogs are fine with him, he met a huge English Bull do and a German Shepherd both off their leads and they just ran around together for a bit no problem, it's just the little ratty things.

The smaller ones do seem to be an issue. Most people just don't bother to train or socialize them since they are small.

Charlie is always being growled and snapped at, and it is always by rat dogs. Westies, JRT's, Chi's, Yorkie's, Pom's - their idiot owners intensify their dog's emotions by immediately picking their dog up when they see Charlie. I always want to ask them if they have any idea of the damage they are doing to their dog's nerves and temperament when they do it. It drives me nuts.

Same here, it's always the little dogs that snarl at Dora.
A few weeks ago she actually got scratches from a jack russell that was being possessive over a stone!
Dora ran back to me then tried to make friends with him again but he ignored her. I didn't notice the scratches until then end of the walk.

Karlos16uk wrote:

jstaff wrote:Here is a link on understanding body language so you will know what to watch for.

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

Thanks I had read that previously and it does point to Fiver being a very confident relaxed dog. He doesn't show any of the signals of fear or aggression just stands there confidently with his tail up.

One guy last week with a tiny Shih Tzu was clearly over the moon to see his half a pound wet through dog "go for" our 20 kilo plus monster He said "sorry about that mate it was the battle of the boys" I said yeah that's one scary fighting dog you have there mate LOL.

Big dogs are fine with him, he met a huge English Bull do and a German Shepherd both off their leads and they just ran around together for a bit no problem, it's just the little ratty things.

That's usually the problem, people seem to find it hilarious when their tiny dog is displaying agressive behaviour so do nothing about it and/or actively encourage it

Just noticed you said 'with his tail up' - that's a sign of arousal, not relaxation if it's stuck up in the air...

As already stated most owners of the little ankle snappers dont bother to train their dogs correctly and so therefore have a complete nightmare on their hands when it comes to approaching other dogs.

I had four of the little things come towards me and Rocky a few days ago all barking their heads off and running straight towards us. Rocky was a complete star, he just sat down in front of them as if to say "Ye and whats all this noise about then" it was priceless and I was so proud of him.

A couple of elderly ladies then came trotting up behind them screaming at the top of their voices " Come back here, get here". I just walked away and kept my cool didnt say anything to them, but made sure they heard me tell Rocky he was a very good boy as I walked away.

This kind of thing is my nightmare. If a little yappy dog comes running up to lexi looking a fight i damn well know they are going to get killed. Luckily none of them have yet been able to do so, people seem decent about keeping them on a lead here, and the ones that are off lead are always very calm and lexi doesn't get bothered by them.

Little ratty dogs go for Pixee always, and she in turn wont stand for it. She is getting better at not rushing for them the mintue they start snapping at her. Ever though if she sees them first, she just looks at them, till they start off then she will bark back at them. The owners do nothing and its no wonder so many small yappy dogs are this way.

Same about little dogs. I think owners don't see the need to train them.

Callie loves other dogs, she is very nosy--has to greet everyone, human and canine--and social. She usually backs off if snapped at, it doesn't faze her. But maybe three times I've seen her growl (high-pitched, not her play growl) and get this stance with her feet placed very wide, like a pyramid. It's when she was physically threatened (rolled on her back once, snapped at and got her nose bitten the others). I know she's going to charge if she does that so I grab her and pull her back.

It is amazing how many owners will say, oh, my dog's fine with other dogs, he's just playing, when their dog is snapping and growling at yours! I always watch the other dogs' body language, and ask if it's OK if the dogs approach each other, but very rarely have I had an owner say, sorry, but mine is not great with other dogs. I wish more were honest like that. (Or perhaps I should say, had a clue like that).

Ralph has been growled at and snapped at by Jack Russells, Yorkies and some other little terrorist on a lead.

My father in law has the moodiest grumpiest Jack Russell I have ever met, and he thinks it's fine when Freddy (Freddy Asbo as I call it) is snapping at Ralph, he says 'it's just what dogs do' and he doesn't do anything about it.

The other day my sister in law's Staffie bit back at Freddy Asbo, after putting up with sh*t from him for a good hour, and caused a wound on his face. My father in law was instantly having a go saying that the dog is out of control!! Double standards or what!

Really makes me cross that owners with lap dogs don't think they have to train them.

I think the thing about Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Bull Terriers is that they have nothing to prove, this is something I like about them. They dont need to go around snapping and yapping, they just chill out and relax and often just play about. Now this is a good way to be however if pushed far enough we all know the end game and it is not something any of us want for our pets. I always say a good, well raised Stafford/Bull Terrier will never start a fight but he will sure finish it. I always have that in the back of my mind when I'm out and about and quickly remove Molly from any possible confrontations, I am always watching other dogs body language to see how they are if they are greeting Molly.
The unfortunate thing is, if an ankle biter starts on Molly and bits her she will strike back and who will get they blame? The wicked 'pit bull'!!!
There is a great post on here about reading a dogs body language and I would advise anyone who hasnt read it to have a look, its really helpful!!

Some small dogs we meet are lovely some are undersocialised and owned by people who want too treat them like a baby and dont realise the importance of socilisation and trainning.
Unforantly its like staffs in the wrong hands they can be unpleasent dogs, in the right hands they can be great dogs.
If small dogs or any dog were too start on mine stan would be the one too run away, but hooch and tara would defend themselves because they both have more of a dominant nature about them.

They call it small dog syndrome alot of them feel they have too bark and make alot of nosie too warn off bigger dogs as a form of defense, like animals in the wild that puff up too double their size too put off larger predators, it is a complete nightmare though especially these days with our fad of handbags dogs and dippy owners who see their pampered pouch as an accseory and not an animal with teeth that can cause problems, as many have mention they seem too find it funny when their little darling takes on the big bad staffy, my dog was attacked twice my a small dog and i use the word attack seriously she needed stiches..!!! the 3rd time i was so frustrated when they let the same small dog run up too me and my dogs again!!! i threatened too let the 3 staffies i was walking off their lead,obviously i wouldn,t have done but as we all know one bite and they would have killed that dog and who would get the blame!!! ALL dogs no matter what their size need too be trained.

there is a jrt that plays in our park pac which has alot of big dogs in it and it doesnt even growl.
The little white dot in the front is Nelly the JRT


when you approach a dog like that watch the owner carefully, you'll see a fear and that gets transferd to the dog. they have effectivley been trained to be scared of bigger dogs by there owners tugging them away or picking them up. Since there on a lead and cant get away there response is to act loud and noisey.
If people would socialise there dogs properly there wouldnt be so many yappy and aggresive small dogs about.

oh my gosh I can relate to everything said in this thread...
- small agressive dogs
- owners passing their fear onto their dogs and blaming the staffie

staffie being 'the mad axe man of dogs' made me laugh and I need a laugh because at the moment I am so angry with the 'dog clique' in my village that I feel like lobbing a grenade over at them:) (only after I got their dogs out of the way of course:))

Karlos16uk wrote:Fiver is as soft as chuff and really a very sociable dog. He never growls or barks at other dogs either on or off his lead. He ignores most dogs to be honest or will just stand and look at them even if they are going ape. So why is it that so many dogs become aggressive towards him? usually small ratty little things will more often than not growl and snarl at him even though he just stands there looking at them with a quizzical look on hos face as if asking them "what's your problem"

This is common with small dogs, they are treated as babies and not socialised properly, it is easier to control them by picking them up than to train them. Most small breeds are working dogs, they are often Terriers or have Terrier in them, these are active dogs than need a job to do but are treated as babies. Yorkies especially are treated like this but they were bred to work, they are very good ratters just as JRTs are and several other breeds.

A dog that isn't socialised properly is frightened of other dogs, they don't know how to be dogs, to communicate etc. They look aggressive because they are really frightened and trying to send your dog away.

I don't have any patience with these owners, my dogs have been attacked to many times in the past and one used to have panic attacks when he saw a strange dog after being attacked so many times. Many of these owners refuse to see that their dog has a problem and it is their fault.

Ignore the other dog and the owner unless the other dog races up to yours, I stopped Cyril being attacked one day by shoving my hand with a lot of treats in under the other dog's nose, it stopped her before she got to him.

Fiver seems to be a balanced and relaxed dog with good doggie social skills.

Cyril baby wrote:
This is common with small dogs, they are treated as babies and not socialised properly, it is easier to control them by picking them up than to train them. Most small breeds are working dogs, they are often Terriers or have Terrier in them, these are active dogs than need a job to do but are treated as babies. Yorkies especially are treated like this but they were bred to work, they are very good ratters just as JRTs are and several other breeds.

totally agree. i know a few people from working in kennels who totally baby their dogs, one was a chihuahua which would all day long bark and snarl at two very large rottweilers, they got bored of it after a while and ignored it. It was cute in a "oh look he thinks he is a big lad" but he would have been killed in seconds. there were then some that had working dogs (i say working by meaning that they lived on farms and if the dog caught a rat or two it was rewarded!) and they were the loveliest things, mental, but lovely.

There is a good rescue not far from me who had 2 chihuahuas up for rehoming, they were a nightmare. The owner of the rescue lives up on the moors, ideal for the dogs but these to would escape, being so small they could get out were other dogs couldn't. She would get a phone call from one of the local farmers, "Come and get your dogs, they are chasing my sheep"

This breed of dog needs a lot of exercise which most owners don't give them.