last nights frustration and concern

Hi all,

Last night, we went for our 10pm poop as usual out in the yard. She was her normal self, find a dry leaf and chew it, lets pee a little etc. Then she got to her poop spot, did a half squat and then its like someone hit a switch inside her. she just took off, almost hanging herself on the lead, running around me at full speed. i was more freaked out because i didnt want her to hurt herself. she just kept at it as i was trying to get her under control and BANG, right into the concrete wall of our house, she didnt miss a beat, just continued snarling and running full speed. i actually had to put her on her side on the grass and just gently hold her down by her shoulder until she calmed down. like i said, it freaked me out, i didnt want her to hurt herself the way she was going to the end of the lead. what should i do when she gets like that? she was inconsolable until i pinned her down.

help please.

It seems like staffys have the madness button that all bull terrier breeds have. My Bartholomew has his 10 minutes of madness every day where he just tears through the house (or out in the yard) at full tilt! There is no way to stop it other than to let them get the energy out.

Is it safe to have her off lead in the garden?

Unfortunately it's quite normal. Bandit used to do this every so aften, and Dempsey does as well. Hunched up, eyes wide, tail down & charge! Round in circles, stop a second, then back the other way, over & over for a few minutes sometimes. I've known Bull Terriers charge around the house, bouncing off walls & furniture until they've let off enough steam & then abruptly go back to normal other than being a bit out of breath.

janey wrote:

Is it safe to have her off lead in the garden?

i would, but if she slips pass me, we live close to the road and gating the driveway will be "an inconvenience" to the rest of my family so that wont happen. we havnt started working on recall yet. im unsure of alot of training steps so im trying to hold out until our first puppy training and socialization class on Saturday.

You should start with recall now just on lead, and all basic training! Get a head start, its very simple and will help to tire her out

Caryll wrote:Unfortunately it's quite normal. Bandit used to do this every so aften, and Dempsey does as well. Hunched up, eyes wide, tail down & charge! Round in circles, stop a second, then back the other way, over & over for a few minutes sometimes. I've known Bull Terriers charge around the house, bouncing off walls & furniture until they've let off enough steam & then abruptly go back to normal other than being a bit out of breath.

i kind of feel better reading this, but im just concerned if i let her off lead, all of her energy will drive her right off our property and into the street or me and my portly butt will be chasing a hopped up puppy having a "meth moment"

are there any videos on site for some basic training? we know sit (its the small victories that get me through the day) lol

Have you thought about using an extendable lead? That way it will lengthen & shorten as necessary & won't suddenly tighten around her neck.

To train a recall you have to make yourself more interesting than anything else around her! So, if she's into treats make sure you have plenty or if she's into squeeky toys make sure you have one on you. Wait until she's a few paces away, then get down on your knees (sorry, even in the mud!) and call her with a silly, excited voice (just used one word like "come" or "here" etc) and either hold a treat towards her or squeek the toy. The second she comes to you give her loads of praise plus the treat or the toy.

If you do that 5 or 6 times a day, every day, she'll soon learn.

By the way, never tell her off for coming back to you, even if she has totally ignored you & it's taken 10 minutes of running around after her! The second she starts to come towards you, give her the trigger word & go back to the silly excited voice etc. If you tell her off, that's what she'll remember & she won't want to come back next time.

Caryll wrote:Have you thought about using an extendable lead? That way it will lengthen & shorten as necessary & won't suddenly tighten around her neck.

To train a recall you have to make yourself more interesting than anything else around her! So, if she's into treats make sure you have plenty or if she's into squeeky toys make sure you have one on you. Wait until she's a few paces away, then get down on your knees (sorry, even in the mud!) and call her with a silly, excited voice (just used one word like "come" or "here" etc) and either hold a treat towards her or squeek the toy. The second she comes to you give her loads of praise plus the treat or the toy.

If you do that 5 or 6 times a day, every day, she'll soon learn.

By the way, never tell her off for coming back to you, even if she has totally ignored you & it's taken 10 minutes of running around after her! The second she starts to come towards you, give her the trigger word & go back to the silly excited voice etc. If you tell her off, that's what she'll remember & she won't want to come back next time.

thank you caryll i will give this a whirl. was i right in holding her down? i though she was going to hurt herself.

Personally I wouldn't have, I'd have just let her get it out of her system. I'm not a fan of holding a dog down unless it's unavoidable. She wouldn't hurt herself (ok, running into the wall wasn't the most sensible thing in the world), maybe next time just make sure she's eased right into the middle of the yard!

Caryll wrote:Personally I wouldn't have, I'd have just let her get it out of her system. I'm not a fan of holding a dog down unless it's unavoidable. She wouldn't hurt herself (ok, running into the wall wasn't the most sensible thing in the world), maybe next time just make sure she's eased right into the middle of the yard!

thx, i guess when frustration kicks in, common sense isnt so common huh. going to try some of the recall, ill have to use the squeekys and treats.

Dylan has a mad dash after he has had a number 2 he runs round for a few seconds then just comes back in the house weird

It just seems to be a stafford trait. Logan does it sometimes and I'm waiting for him to run through the patio doors!

Extending lead is a great idea. Esp since there are cars around. I'm having alot of fun using a long training lead atm.

It's very normal behaviour and nothing to be concerned about. Have you tried an long line or extendable lead since you can't close off the garden?

jstaff wrote:It's very normal behaviour and nothing to be concerned about. Have you tried an long line or extendable lead since you can't close off the garden?

had an experience a few years ago with an extendable lead, the lock wouldnt engage and i had to grab the line as a rott/lab x bolted, my poor hands got shredded. havnt used one since.

Good news though, we had a much better experience last night. i actually did let her off lead in the yard with her kong tugger as i would throw it away from the road, but she would try and run pass me with it, managed to get her all times. she was mellowed out after 30 mins of that.

Moll played the mad dash moment recently when the local children had built a snowman she stole the carrot and was so very proud of herself when she finally placed it by my feet

cesca1 wrote:Moll played the mad dash moment recently when the local children had built a snowman she stole the carrot and was so very proud of herself when she finally placed it by my feet

Gotta love em

cesca1 wrote:Moll played the mad dash moment recently when the local children had built a snowman she stole the carrot and was so very proud of herself when she finally placed it by my feet

Haha, must have been cute to see

Hehe I just found it funny watching her having so much fun so didn't even attempt to ask her to leave of lol