Advice needed please, really worried!

Hi, I have been browsing these boards for a few weeks now and wish this didn't have to be my first post, but I need some advice quickly please.
I went to pick my two older children up from school and when I returned my husband said that our dog went for our two year old toddler and then went for him! He said that our son was sitting watching tv and the dog just went for him, growled and went to really bite him, luckily he was pulled away, but then he turned on my husband! Now the dog is only 12 weeks old, he's had his 2nd vaccinations yesterday and my husband is built like a rugby player and definitely not scared by much, but even he said it shocked him that he had done this and Riley went for him twice too, really wanting to bite and hurt him. He said it was like someone had flicked a switch. I have no idea what to do, everything else was going ok, I am doing everything right (hopefully!) but I don't want him to hurt anyone. Our 2yr old is a bit jealous of Riley it seems and does like to wind him up, which we are stopping instantly when he does anything, but they are seperated now, my husband is at work and I just need some advice please, is this normal, what can I do? Thank you.

Hi, welcome to the forum.

The first thing I'll say is, don't panic. At 12 weeks old Riley is just a baby. Is this your first puppy?

Puppies, bark, bite, growl, bark constantly. It's part of their growing up and learning their boundaries etc. I sincerly doubt he would have went for your family at such a young age. He has most likely been far too excited and wanted to play but just has taken it too far. Logan is now 13-14 months and still does this from time to time.

If he does any behaviour you disagree with you must say "NO!" in a firm but not aggressive voice. If he persists you can put him into another room for a cool off period, a lot of people do this method and it does work for a lot of people.

Thank you, yes Riley is my first dog but my husband has owned dogs before, including staffies. He just said he was shocked by how angry and dteremined he looked.
He is looking very sorry for himself right now!

Riley's looking sorry for himself, not my hubby lol!

At 12 weeks, this behaviour is highly unlikely to be aggression, but far more likely to be over excitement & losing control.

Do you know exactly what was happening when it happened? I know your son was watching tv but what had gone on before that?

Also, what is he fed on? ie what type of food (dry, wet, raw) and which brand?

12 weeks old is definitely not aggression. Loki used to bite me loads, and I used to worry it was aggression too, because he really did look like he'd been possessed by a demon, it was pretty scary at the time. But he's just being playful or defiant. Click this link and have a good read, apply the training methods and stick with it every single time he bites or gets too excitable:

http://staffy-bull-terrier.co.uk/stop_your_staffy_puppy_biting

As I said, it can be worrying, and with kids I'm sure even though it's playing you'd still be worried, but just supervise the puppy when he's around the kids, and if he's getting too hyperactive, get him to calm down a bit with a StagBar or Kong or something to chew on. If you're consistent with your training, he'll stop.

Riley had been outside for a toilet break and then I had left to get the kids, he had seen me go, which he doesn't mind, as I often do school runs or leace for work myself, and I had seen him go over to his bed to play with a toy. My OH had said that my son was watching a tv program and was not looking at the dog, not even sitting close by when Riley just bolted out of his bed and went over to him, jumping up on him and went to bite his face. He'd then been put in the other room by my OH and told off, but Riley went to bite him twice on his arm.
He's currently on dry puppy food and we were just using up the last of his pedigree before looking to switch him to a much better brand, which was meant to be my first query to this forum, not this! He has 4 small measured portions per day at the moment.

I've already signed him up for puppy parties next week and have booked him in for some basic training, which I am going to be taking him to in a couple of weeks time.

I will read the information link, thank you.

purpleposting wrote:Riley had been outside for a toilet break and then I had left to get the kids, he had seen me go, which he doesn't mind, as I often do school runs or leace for work myself, and I had seen him go over to his bed to play with a toy. My OH had said that my son was watching a tv program and was not looking at the dog, not even sitting close by when Riley just bolted out of his bed and went over to him, jumping up on him and went to bite his face. He'd then been put in the other room by my OH and told off, but Riley went to bite him twice on his arm.
He's currently on dry puppy food and we were just using up the last of his pedigree before looking to switch him to a much better brand, which was meant to be my first query to this forum, not this! He has 4 small measured portions per day at the moment.

Yeah, that's definitely playfulness. Unfortunately, puppies aren't the most subtle of animals. If they want to play, their signal is often to bite you repeatedly just keep up with your training and, of course, keep a close eye on him around your kids since they're so excitable and playful and don't know how painful they can be. Loki used to be like this a lot, literally 24/7, never thought it'd get better, but it does. He's not perfect yet, but he's much better, he only jumps up or bites when he's so excited and forgets to control himself. But they learn pretty quickly, so try not to be worried, he doesn't understand he's not meant to.

From reading you have already worked out to go to a better brand, enroll in puppy classes & start with basic training I'd say you pretty much know exactly what you are doing

Bare in mind as well, since he only got his 2nd jab yesterday I'd assume he has never got to get out walking yet? When he does you will see a big improvement.

Do you think it could be partly down to his cuurent dog food brand, or the fact he's had vaccinations yesterday?
I have read the information and will try these training tips. He has been a fab, well-behaved pup up unitl this point!

Ooops, crossed posts! Thank you, and yes hehasn't started walkies yet, which I am so looking forward to, so hopefully this will all help!

I'm thinking back to the 4 weeks I had Logan before we could walk....

How did I ever survive lol!

With all the things you are doing/planning to do you will see a big change. But I don't think it could be aggression at that age. He's only a baby, all they think is "play with me, feed me"

Thanks, you've really put my mind at rest.

Can't wait to get out with him, he's all good to go now, he's vaccinated, insured, collared/tagged and microchipped!

I've let him out of the kitchen and he straight away went to sit beneath the feet of my youngest son, and then came to me for a cuddle. Gave me the sorry eyes though first!

I'm a first time staffy owner and I was very surprised at how rough Bacchus used to play until we taught him boundaries. And they do sound alarming when they get excited but I'm sure that's all it was with Riley.

purpleposting wrote:Do you think it could be partly down to his cuurent dog food brand, or the fact he's had vaccinations yesterday?
I have read the information and will try these training tips. He has been a fab, well-behaved pup up unitl this point!

I think it's very likely a combination of both. Pedigree isn't the best of food & is known to cause hyperactive behaviour. Plus, many pups feel under the weather after their vaccinations.

It's almost scary because I'm just not used to it, but have tried the yelp already when he play-nipped my hand and he did stop and looked down sheepishly.

I have a friend with a one-year old staffy and we are hopefully going to go out walking our dogs next week, so hopefully a combination of different food, training and walks will help a lot.

I will be changing his food as of tomorrow because he does seem very hyper. Will have to decide what to go for, but was thinking of James Wellbeloved, unless anyone has any better ideas?

sorry to hear about this, am sure it can seem very frightening, but tyke use to do this. one min he would be alseep the next he would be like a small bull and 'lunge' at us wanting to play but we gave him time out and with alittle bit of traning and patience he grew out of it. i think i would just make sure you moniter how the little one and the puppy play and not to leave them on there own

keep us updated on his progress

Coming in late on this I know, but I have to agree with all the advice you have been given. Kuchar is my first Staff puppy too, and I was surprised as to how "rough" his playfulness can be (and still is, I have to say, at nearly 14 months of age). And I too am confident that all Riley wants to do is play.

The yelping (from yourself) and turning away ploy works well, backed up by a stern "NO" as Riley gets older. Your toddler can't be expected to employ these tactics however, so a careful eye needs to be maintained so that your toddler doesn't get frightened of the puppy.

Tommy is coming up to 18 weeks and has only just learnt that he can't initiate play by biting. My youngest son is 7 years old and Tommy has bitten him a few times, once on his ear; this really hurt and upset my son. I explained to him that Tommy just wanted to play but it is difficult to grasp that concept.
Each time he tried to start play with a bite I put him outside for 30 seconds or so, he still has the occasional lapse but it probably only happens a couple of times a week now. I would be very surprised if your puppy was showing aggression but I can understand how scary it would to a very young child.

purpleposting wrote:Hi, I have been browsing these boards for a few weeks now and wish this didn't have to be my first post, but I need some advice quickly please.
I went to pick my two older children up from school and when I returned my husband said that our dog went for our two year old toddler and then went for him! He said that our son was sitting watching tv and the dog just went for him, growled and went to really bite him, luckily he was pulled away, but then he turned on my husband! Now the dog is only 12 weeks old, he's had his 2nd vaccinations yesterday and my husband is built like a rugby player and definitely not scared by much, but even he said it shocked him that he had done this and Riley went for him twice too, really wanting to bite and hurt him. He said it was like someone had flicked a switch. I have no idea what to do, everything else was going ok, I am doing everything right (hopefully!) but I don't want him to hurt anyone. Our 2yr old is a bit jealous of Riley it seems and does like to wind him up, which we are stopping instantly when he does anything, but they are seperated now, my husband is at work and I just need some advice please, is this normal, what can I do? Thank you.

Hi, dont worry, he's 12 weeks old. It's not aggression. They all go through this. I think you'll get alot of advice here.
kenny was the same, really hard work, hanging from my clothes and so on. A trainer told me to totally ignore him (difficult with a small child). I would give a sturn no, put him in a different room, only for a few minutes, then bring him back in. Reward him for good acceptable behaviour.

purpleposting wrote:Thank you, yes Riley is my first dog but my husband has owned dogs before, including staffies. He just said he was shocked by how angry and dteremined he looked.
He is looking very sorry for himself right now!

I would Defianatly pick him up, a stern "no", put him in another room, only for a few minutes, then bring him back. You must be consistant

rebeccaleanne wrote:sorry to hear about this, am sure it can seem very frightening, but tyke use to do this. one min he would be alseep the next he would be like a small bull and 'lunge' at us wanting to play but we gave him time out and with alittle bit of traning and patience he grew out of it. i think i would just make sure you moniter how the little one and the puppy play and not to leave them on there own

keep us updated on his progress

I love the "small Bull"

kenny d wrote:

rebeccaleanne wrote:sorry to hear about this, am sure it can seem very frightening, but tyke use to do this. one min he would be alseep the next he would be like a small bull and 'lunge' at us wanting to play but we gave him time out and with alittle bit of traning and patience he grew out of it. i think i would just make sure you moniter how the little one and the puppy play and not to leave them on there own

keep us updated on his progress

I love the "small Bull"

Haha! He was! He was so funny as a puppy!

purpleposting wrote:It's almost scary because I'm just not used to it, but have tried the yelp already when he play-nipped my hand and he did stop and looked down sheepishly.

I have a friend with a one-year old staffy and we are hopefully going to go out walking our dogs next week, so hopefully a combination of different food, training and walks will help a lot.

I will be changing his food as of tomorrow because he does seem very hyper. Will have to decide what to go for, but was thinking of James Wellbeloved, unless anyone has any better ideas?

James Wellbeloved is a great food, just make sure to switch the foods gradually so as not to upset his stomach he'll definitely be a lot more tired out when he's going on walks, and the training is good for mental stimulation too. He'll soon learn what he can and can't do.

Oh, and Riley is gorgeous, we have a gallery section if you want to show us more puppy pics

Can only agree with everything here , Tilly was a dream to own from day one , Tommy used to give us a little cause for concern as he was so full on , he'd growl if you picked him up sometimes or pounce on you and nip you , jump all over the kids if he got chance but he learnt manners as he got older and it really is just bad communication skills , they love to talk with their teeth at that age . Even now on occasions he will jump and grab clothes through over excitement but generally such a different dog as he has began to mature

Dave wrote:Can only agree with everything here , Tilly was a dream to own from day one , Tommy used to give us a little cause for concern as he was so full on , he'd growl if you picked him up sometimes or pounce on you and nip you , jump all over the kids if he got chance but he learnt manners as he got older and it really is just bad communication skills , they love to talk with their teeth at that age . Even now on occasions he will jump and grab clothes through over excitement but generally such a different dog as he has began to mature

Hi Dave, do you think the girls are generally calmer than the boys??

Difficult one to say really as I think for characters you really can take pot luck , in Tilly's instance then yes she is much calmer than Tommy. But if you look at my boy's 2 Bull Mastiffs then the girl is a nutter and really hyper or at least she was last time I saw her and the boy Zarr was just a big gentle giant

hey
You already got the best advice already and i must agree . It definatley not aggression towards your husband or your two year old .
I think he was just playing . They do play a bit rough sometimes and growl and snarl
The walks will do the trick all that puppy energy will be burnt out and he will be more calm .
Be consistent with his traing because trust me he is a staffy his going to try his luck and see how far he can push it

Thank you everyone for your advice and support!

Today I'm in the process of changing his food to JWB, being very firm and encouraging the older kids to be firm too, keeping an eye on Riley and my youngest son and I'm SO looking forward to getting him out for walks!

Will take some more photos and post them in the gallery when I get a chance, as this little photo was taken when he was 9 weeks old!

Looking a bit more positive!

Love to see some more pics!

I hope Riley likes his new food, JWB is one of the better ones and Rocky has had this in past. I would highly recommend the food, it's great for dogs who have sensitive tummies too.

I'm sure some long walks will be very beneficial, looking forward to the pics.

I feed Bacchus Orijen Puppy and don't know if it is the food or just his personality or a combination of both but for 7 months he is very calm and well behaved in the house. The initial outlay for Orijen is quite expensive but I calculate it costs only around £1.50 a day to feed him and as you can see he's not exactly wasting away LOL.
The walks will make a big difference. Good Luck.

Lexi is nearly 10 and even still she will grab feet or clothes or arms if she is put into a really hyperactive mood (like this video) but i MAKE her into that mood, its fun for her for a while. But i do let her know when i have had enough and she stops immediately. So it will all come in time

maybe it could be his jab? maybe feeling uncomfortable or irritable for him? my tia is 6 months and gives my son gentle bites for no reason, but i just tell her no and she walks away, she has never done it in a aggressive way towards my son, either like i just said, playing or a warning if riley is being too rough