Oh another dog fight with Bailey today :( getting fed up now

Just been walking Bailey on his own like I said I would in my other thread....but still finding him hard work...Another dog today came down the path we were walking in the woods and owner somewhere up top...I think it was a staffie cross but getting on....came up to Bailey and he just went for this dog...not sure who started it but I was shaking by the time the guy came down the field and told his dog to get off...but by this time Bailey was in fight mode....

Bailey isn't even a year old and I just don't what to do anymore with him....We passed 2 other dogs after, one started barking like mad at Bailey....By this time I came home...

When another dog was coming on lead past me, I did the watch with a treat which worked but I can't do that when the other dogs come running at me off leads and barking like mad at him.

I have to walk my other staffie Tia now but feel so deflated with Bailey .

What else can I do, or do I need to accept he will not like dogs.

Sorry I keep going on about Bailey but am finding such hard work

Just another point, he has not been neutered, do you think that will help a little.

Thanks for reading

Is there someplace you can walk him where all dogs are required to be on lead?

Please don't be deflated some dogs just do not like other dogs full stop, it doesn't mean they can't lead a normal dog life. He is young to persist in your training and as J said is there anywhere you can walk that is quieter?

It's still early days. Aggression against other dogs isn't unheard of in staffords - it's part of their nature. Keep on with the 'watch' training, it really will help. Also, you will develop a second sense of when there are dogs around (I know I did with Bandit, also a da dog). If you see one, shout to the other owner "Please take your dog away, mine doesn't like other dogs". I used to repeat that once or twice & if they didn't take any notice I'd yell "Take it away or I let him off the lead!" Not friendly, I know, but it usually did the trick.

Castration may or may not calm him down, but if you can get through this without castration he will be better for it. Dogs of his age receive high levels of testosterone which, yes, will make him a bit highly charged BUT they will also go towards making him far more mature, self confident and, in the long run, calm! I know it sounds strange, but the hormones will help him provided you are able to cope in the meantime.

What you will have to remember, though, is it won't happen overnight - even castration won't show results for up to 6 months, if at all!

Hi everyone again, first answer is no not really, everyone walks their dogs off lead and have no consideration for other dog owners around....if their dog is friendly then you go the other way so to speak...

I am always normally one step ahead when I go dog walking, but this one this morning came out of nowhere, so did the owner...no where to be seen at first...so I stopped and tried to get Bailey amused while the dog went by, thinking it would...but then it just ran towards Bailey and seemed to want to start a fight....

I started walking around other dogs with Bailey on his own to see how he would behave without Tia around. But I think like you said I will just try and walk him away from other dogs on his own.

And Caryll, I could do with borrowing you for a week to come with me and sort all these people out what cause me all the bother

The guy this morning was concerned and asked if Bailey was ok and me...That was a bonus they normally just shout their dog away and blame mine.

lindypeno wrote:And Caryll, I could do with borrowing you for a week to come with me and sort all these people out what cause me all the bother

The guy this morning was concerned and asked if Bailey was ok and me...That was a bonus they normally just shout their dog away and blame mine.

Seriously, you do get used to it after a while. I started off being so apologetic when I asked them to take their dog away - I used to make excuses. But after a while (and several skirmishes later!) I got fed up with the niceties! I was always polite to start with (please take your dog away), then a little less polite (take your dog away), then not at all polite (I'll let him off the lead!). Funny enough, very few people took it badly. Just one or two that didn't listen to the first call!

But Bandit was a horror with other dogs, there were only two dogs that he'd out up with; one was my sister-in-law's dog that he'd grown up with & the other was a small-ish black bitch called Jet. Anything else was lunch as far as he was concerned! I really did develop a sort of extra sense & could spot another dog a couple of hundred yards away! . You can't always avoid contact, though, and I used to have a collar & harness on him. The collar was for normal use & the harness was so I could pull his feet off the ground & lessen the likelihood of a full fight.

Don't know what to say really other than please keep on with the training and don't get too disheartened. What about changing the times of your walks to quieter periods whilst you work on settling him

Maybe you can still work with him on it and he can get better, but even if he doesn't, it doesn't negatively impact on their lives, really. My old dog was dog-aggressive, we'd just take him to places where it was quiet, and he was perfectly happy as long as he had us . The "watch me" command is brilliant though, a few people recommended it to me and it's already helping I know it doesn't help when another dog comes up to yours, but every little bit of help makes it easier for you.

Dave wrote:Don't know what to say really other than please keep on with the training and don't get too disheartened. What about changing the times of your walks to quieter periods whilst you work on settling him

Yes I do that normally - I go about 11am on a morning after all the collie/lab walkers have been on - After owning a rottie and staff together I am quite good with timings/awareness but I was just trying to see how he would socialise without Tia with me....

Thank you everyone, it is nice to know I can chat with others without feeling I am a total woss with Bailey....I had a rottie previous to this and he was pretty huge so I was used to avoiding places that was busy with dogs just because he would bound over but never agressive....but with Bailey have never experienced such behaviour...

I will plod on with him and take him to a field I used to go before...no one goes but full of rabbits and near a railway line but I will just put him on the extension lead in there and he can still have run..

Wish me luck....

I know exactly how you feel my buster is da but his is more through being pounced on and chased a few times on his first ever walk with me
He had never been socialised and was already 5 months old
When we are out I carry a muzzle which I put on him if I come across a loose dog with missing or not bothered owner (which I see a lot of) just to make it easier to handle both my dogs
He does go off lead when I can see clearly and has a good recal ( until he finds a ball lol) but a lot of people suggest using a long line as a retractable lead can suddenly stop
Just keep going it took 3 years for my gsd to be ok around other dogs (he would just bark ) consistency is the key
I have come to the conclusion if my boy is never good with othe dogs then so be it I don't like every person I meet lol

Gazagem wrote:I know exactly how you feel my buster is da but his is more through being pounced on and chased a few times on his first ever walk with me
He had never been socialised and was already 5 months old
When we are out I carry a muzzle which I put on him if I come across a loose dog with missing or not bothered owner (which I see a lot of) just to make it easier to handle both my dogs
He does go off lead when I can see clearly and has a good recal ( until he finds a ball lol) but a lot of people suggest using a long line as a retractable lead can suddenly stop
Just keep going it took 3 years for my gsd to be ok around other dogs (he would just bark ) consistency is the key
I have come to the conclusion if my boy is never good with othe dogs then so be it I don't like every person I meet lol

I agree on your last sentence totally...lol

I have just ordered a muzzle for that same reason...I was talking to another doggy walker on the place I walk on Friday and she said she got one for her dog because hers can be funny when lots of dogs come running at him...it is like an halti more than a muzzle...

While he is being like this I can not handle both my staffies, because he just sets Tia off barking and she is really good with other dogs so I don't want him rubbing her up the wrong way and changing how she is with dogs....

I will try anything, she is better when they are passing her and like I said earlier, doing the watch with nice treats seem to work today so hopefully that will help...and the long line looks like its a good option so I can get him back quickly.

As for being neutered I never got my gsd boy done and with age and training he improved
Had a good walk today Skye said hello to a few dogs and all owners put their dogs on leads
Every now and again I join in a organised dog walk with my local bull terrier rescue its good because all dogs are kept on lead and if your dog is unsure you can follow at the back. The last one we went on there was about 20 dogs plus owners best of all its all for a good cause. Skye walked with my kids and I followed behind with buster with his muzzle on and in the end we were walking side by side with 4 bull terriers
If you can find one in your area it's a good afternoon out plus you end up relaxed with a few more like minded friends

Gazagem wrote:As for being neutered I never got my gsd boy done and with age and training he improved
Had a good walk today Skye said hello to a few dogs and all owners put their dogs on leads
Every now and again I join in a organised dog walk with my local bull terrier rescue its good because all dogs are kept on lead and if your dog is unsure you can follow at the back. The last one we went on there was about 20 dogs plus owners best of all its all for a good cause. Skye walked with my kids and I followed behind with buster with his muzzle on and in the end we were walking side by side with 4 bull terriers
If you can find one in your area it's a good afternoon out plus you end up relaxed with a few more like minded friends

Hi no I am afraid I have not heard anything about dog walking groups around me, they do a westie one and have lots of meet ups with collies breads but not staffies...!!!

I will just walk him away from doggie places but still try and pass dogs in the street so he is still them and see how I go.

I found the walks on Facebook as a friend was a member of the rescue site
It's absolute bull terrier rescue and they do walks all over the country to raise money to rescue mainly bull terriers but also staffs and crosses
It's well worth getting in contact as they may have a walk near you

I cant add anything, everyone has been brillant with their advice. Just to let you know, when we first had Pixee, she use to go after other dogs, her recall was awful too. We learned from that. Now she wont go after other dogs, hard work and patient paid off, but other dogs off lead do run up to her, I always make sure she is put back on lead, so I have full control, she is on a harness, so I can control her by lifting her front legs off the ground should anything happen, she will snap at some dogs, others she is fine with. But I do get very cross with owners who let their dogs off lead do that. You are doing well with the face watch thing, just give it time. (oh a little advice, one owner who kept letting her dog run up to Pixee, Pixee didnt like that dog, I shouted at her once to keep her dog on lead, did she, oh no. So the next time it happened, I let Pixee have a snap at that dog by letting the lock off the lead, either dog or lady liked it, but I still had control, to this day I havent seen them)

Staffy lover wrote:I cant add anything, everyone has been brillant with their advice. Just to let you know, when we first had Pixee, she use to go after other dogs, her recall was awful too. We learned from that. Now she wont go after other dogs, hard work and patient paid off, but other dogs off lead do run up to her, I always make sure she is put back on lead, so I have full control, she is on a harness, so I can control her by lifting her front legs off the ground should anything happen, she will snap at some dogs, others she is fine with. But I do get very cross with owners who let their dogs off lead do that. You are doing well with the face watch thing, just give it time. (oh a little advice, one owner who kept letting her dog run up to Pixee, Pixee didnt like that dog, I shouted at her once to keep her dog on lead, did she, oh no. So the next time it happened, I let Pixee have a snap at that dog by letting the lock off the lead, either dog or lady liked it, but I still had control, to this day I havent seen them)

Thank you for all your help....I have for the last couple of days been walking Bailey separate and away from the doggy places......Will he be unhappy if he doesn't get off lead walks and being able to run free....I have kept him on a lead for two days...we have a big garden he runs around in but still feel a little mean...

I think I am going to get one of those big training leads and take him to a massive field I used to go to all the time...no one else goes really baring a few people.....I stopped going because it was a near a railway line and full of rabbits...I was scared he would get through the fencing but if I take a massive long long training lead I should be ok.....

This is the long line I bought for Dempsey when he was a pup (and to occasionally remind him even now!).....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/80ft-LONG-DOG-HORSE-TRAINING-TRACKING-LEAD-IN-VARIOUS-COLOURS-SIZE-LARGE-/230783507719?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Dogs&var=&hash=item35bbc4dd07

Not everybody uses quite such a long lead as this, and a 50' one might be all you need, I just felt he needed a bit longer!

long training lead would be a great idea, we have one for Rocky an absolute God send, just one thing though watch your hands as some can be a bit rough.

Have you ever tried using the pet corrector spray to keep other dogs away, see link below, it does work, it makes an awful noise when you use it. It may be worth considering:

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/pet-corrector-spray-50ml-by-the-company-of-animals-14415?freeText=pet+corrector&msg=MSG_SEARCH_ONE_MATCHING_PRODUCT

kathytake2 wrote:long training lead would be a great idea, we have one for Rocky an absolute God send, just one thing though watch your hands as some can be a bit rough.

Have you ever tried using the pet corrector spray to keep other dogs away, see link below, it does work, it makes an awful noise when you use it. It may be worth considering:

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/pet-corrector-spray-50ml-by-the-company-of-animals-14415?freeText=pet+corrector&msg=MSG_SEARCH_ONE_MATCHING_PRODUCT

I do have the pet corrector....lol I have most things in my little cupboard of tricks....but never seem to get there with any....I used the corrector in the house to stop bailey launching at me....but did think about taking it out with me the other day actually... I think I need to take a big rucksack with me and have all my things with me...

lindypeno wrote:

kathytake2 wrote:long training lead would be a great idea, we have one for Rocky an absolute God send, just one thing though watch your hands as some can be a bit rough.

Have you ever tried using the pet corrector spray to keep other dogs away, see link below, it does work, it makes an awful noise when you use it. It may be worth considering:

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/pet-corrector-spray-50ml-by-the-company-of-animals-14415?freeText=pet+corrector&msg=MSG_SEARCH_ONE_MATCHING_PRODUCT

I do have the pet corrector....lol I have most things in my little cupboard of tricks....but never seem to get there with any....I used the corrector in the house to stop bailey launching at me....but did think about taking it out with me the other day actually... I think I need to take a big rucksack with me and have all my things with me...

Defo going to try the long training lead as well, will be great for the fields I go in where they can have a good run but I have still got control and I can take both of them instead of one at a time. Thanks everyone again.

I have the Vasp bag as below, maybe an idea to get something like one of these for putting all the bits and pieces in whilst out on walkies:

http://www.trespass.co.uk/bags/activity-bags/waist-bags

Hi I feel like crying at the minute....just been out with him...dragged me even with a harness on around the streets....come back and weed all up some boxes of clothes I have got on the side in the kitchen....

I am getting to stage where I am really resenting this dog....I have never never had so much hassle with a dog in my entirety.

I am at my wits end with him at the moment

lindypeno i know how you feel i once had a lakeland terrier who was just the same , he would pull on his lead till he near collapsed , he was aggressive towards other dogs in fact if he saw one twenty yards away he would try to stalk it while on the lead, i to began to resent the dog i think it's a natural human reaction to do so .

May i ask have you tried the stand still method when he pulls ? try to find a quiet place or field every time he pulls stand still give it a min or so walk again if he pulls stand still and gently pull him in , you will need patience a lot of it but this method has worked for me on more that one dog, it lets him know you are in charge , if this works you can take the next step over his aggression because you now have control , i muzzled the lakeland terrier and purposely walked towards other dogs with him , it seemed to make him submissive and after a while he accepted other dogs , give it a try what do you have to lose ? i feel for you i really do , good luck .

mickgill wrote:lindypeno i know how you feel i once had a lakeland terrier who was just the same , he would pull on his lead till he near collapsed , he was aggressive towards other dogs in fact if he saw one twenty yards away he would try to stalk it while on the lead, i to began to resent the dog i think it's a natural human reaction to do so .

May i ask have you tried the stand still method when he pulls ? try to find a quiet place or field every time he pulls stand still give it a min or so walk again if he pulls stand still and gently pull him in , you will need patience a lot of it but this method has worked for me on more that one dog, it lets him know you are in charge , if this works you can take the next step over his aggression because you now have control , i muzzled the lakeland terrier and purposely walked towards other dogs with him , it seemed to make him submissive and after a while he accepted other dogs , give it a try what do you have to lose ? i feel for you i really do , good luck .

Hi thanks for reading this...I have tried everything...I really have...Standing still....to turning round and keep stop starting...I have just got muzzle today in the post and they have sent Xlarge instead of medium...tried it on him and he pulled it straight off...what muzzled did you use...??

He just seems to want to do everything bad.....my other staff bless her, just looks on in amazement I think at him and knows he will get shouted at for something or other. He is in his crate at the minute so I can get some jobs done....but I really am thinking I am not the right owner for him

lindypeno wrote:Hi I feel like crying at the minute....just been out with him...dragged me even with a harness on around the streets....come back and weed all up some boxes of clothes I have got on the side in the kitchen....

I am getting to stage where I am really resenting this dog....I have never never had so much hassle with a dog in my entirety.

I am at my wits end with him at the moment

Hey hey dont give up, you are doing just fine, just feeling human thats all. Bailey wont be missing out if he stays on leads, perhaps that is just what he needs for the time being. Do that walk and stand still thing as Lindypenso says. I did this and it paid off. Does take time. With the long training lead, if you can, get someone else with you, and one of you play what ever game with Bailey, the other person uses a call comment or a whistle, to call Bailey, see if he responds, as his attention is on the game you see, and he is to go to that person, thats how you get good recall. It does take time. They are very clever dogs and do learn. Dont shout, just call in a nice soft voice or just a firm voice. Shout and you have lost control of your dog.

The muzzle i bought was a hard plastic one for a dog the size of a jack russell and fitted the lakeland easily , there was no way he could bite anything with it on and i think he knew that as well , he went very submissive with it on and went from going nuts at other dogs to rolling over on his back for them , i think it's a mental thing with dogs you sometimes have to force them to be submissive by sticking a muzzle on them .

mickgill wrote:The muzzle i bought was a hard plastic one for a dog the size of a jack russell and fitted the lakeland easily , there was no way he could bite anything with it on and i think he knew that as well , he went very submissive with it on and went from going nuts at other dogs to rolling over on his back for them , i think it's a mental thing with dogs you sometimes have to force them to be submissive by sticking a muzzle on them .

Do people steer clear when you had he had it on.....I ordered the halti style one but it is too big ....

This is my third staffie and thought I was pretty good with this breed but I can honestly say, it is hard work, and in hindsight I would not of got another staff at the same time......it may seem really bad to say but true.....

Did yours go mental trying to get it off when out walking???

Some people steered clear yes , and yes he went mental trying to get it off with both paws but once we got going he was fine, i still recall the first dogs we saw with him muzzled, a guy was walking two black labs , he stopped to chat and i explained why Tich was muzzled , he stayed for 15 mins and at the end the dogs were like best friends, i then made it my duty to introduce him to as many dogs as i could, i went into public parks were i knew people walked their dogs most were willing to let him approach and he soon stopped seeing other dogs as a threat .

Hi, I have not read all the replies, so this might already been mentioned, but my dog is exactly like yours and she is 7 and I adopted her 3 months ago. I have seen a huge improvement over the last 2 months though.
I thought she was aggressive towards every single dog up until last week when she for the first time was fine around a couple of dogs.
The problem is for her that when dogs run up to her without she gets worried and does not know what is gonna happen and she wants the dog to go away. You need to avoid those situations as much as possible, I know its hard cause damn people take their dogs off leash in on leash areas. I now yell at them as soon as i see them to put their dog on leash. Still, it is very hard as by that stage quite often their dog is already on the way over to us and, not so surprisingly does not come when the owner calls it. I have had to work around it as much as possible in terms of where i go and when i go, to get my dog out of the "habit" of being aggressive because I dont want her relating walks with aggression and worry.

So what I have done to get her better with dogs is to take her to obedience training. This is a controlled environment (dogs on leash), my dog even wears a jacket while there that says "I need space" so the other owners know not to let their dog come up to us without asking.
Obedience training will help you with two things, the dog will have to get more focuses on you to succeed in training, ex. while heeling he needs to look at you to see where you are (therefore no time looking for other dogs), it will also get him used to being around dogs without them being in his face, he will over time stop relating dogs with aggression and bad things.
After 6 sessions at my obedience club I was yesterday able to leave my dog off leash, 1.5 meters away from a jumpy lab for a drop stay 1 minute and she did perfectly, a couple of times I could see she looked over at the lab and looked a bit worried, but both times she looked back at me and a "stay" hand gesture was enough for her to leave it.
She is definitely not loving dogs yet, and she might never, but she is more and more looking at me for what to do when she gets unsure in a situation.

A long answer, but my main points are (that I should not take credit for since it is my amazing dog trainer that has helped me with this)
1.that you need to set her up to success and you can only do that in controlled environments (if she still is showing aggression towards dogs that are around her, you need to let her know you don't approve) and
2. you need to get her focuses on you so that when she feels unsure she looks at you for guidance on what to do

And my local obedience club has helped me with both of these things
+ it is lots of fun for both you and your dog!

Hi Lindypeno I'm sorry to hear your at your wits end.

I too came back from my walk this morning and just had a good old cry. It is tough when it constantly feels that like hard work but then you get that staffy kiss or sweet moment that reassures you to stay with it.

As I'm the only one that walks Betsy I do sometimes feel that I need a little break or to go a bit easier on myself. I know consistency is important in training but so are you! So think about whether you do have someone who could step in every now and then or come with you as a bit of support. I'm sure others can see the benefits of the work you are doing even though it's tough to see yourself.

And use this forum as a good de-stresser and for great advice. I too brought a Pet Corrector but have yet to use it -it is quite distressing for them so going to try not too. A friend uses a squirt of water to approaching dogs as hers can react. It's harmless and seems to do the trick. Plus it is sending a message to the other dog about how they should approach others i.e. not charging
Take care xx

i have zero help for you, but i wanna say, just sit on him and cry sometimes it helps, and if you are sitting on him at least he isn't going anywhere .

Good luck, and try to remember, at least he isn't a teenage son stealing cars and getting girls knocked up..