aggressiveness

[i]hi I'm Jill. So wishes that i'd found this site sooner as i'm at my wits end trying to understand my dog. Although my staff is only 9 months old I feel i'm out of my depth with her.

I've had many a dog before but never owned a staff. i wanted a smaller dog and some of my friends own them. I was told that they are wonderful with children, loyal, a good all round family dog. My friends dogs were lovely so i purchased a pretty red who to this day is so loving towards me and my family.

My Gucci is aggressive! She has been brought up lovingly, socialized early yet, is going for dogs and children and has been for the last 3 months. It's like she's mental. I just don't understand her and would be so grateful for advice.

She has come back from the park with a bitten eye which a lab did but my dog started it. I've purchased a mussel . i have grandchildren.

Is she just a bad dog which needs to be re-homed or worse put down because she may really damage someone? I Love her and I don't want to give up on her....

Hi and welcome to the forum

She doesn't need rehomed or def doesn't need put down.

Has anything ever happened to trigger this behaviour. Has she ever been attacked?

Have you ever spoke to a dog trainer about this behaviour?

Also, come and say hello. We'd love to know more about your dog

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f7-new-member-introductions

Welcome to the forum is she definitely being aggressive? It's extremely unlikely for a Staff to be aggressive towards people, though they can be extremely boisterous. Loki is 10 months old and I wouldn't trust him around kids because he still jumps up and bites (I'm always covered in his war wounds!) but it's 100% play from him and no aggression at all. Staffs can, unfortunately, develop an aggression to dogs, but it doesn't mean she's bad at all, it can be easily managed, many people on here have dogs who are dog-aggressive, it just means you have to be more cautious when she's off the lead (if you let her off), and learn how to handle it and prevent it. Our old Boxer was dog aggressive and he had a very happy life and we managed it well, he never once got into a fight, so it can definitely be dealt with.

As for the aggression with kids, I don't want to speak on that yet because only you can see what she's like and if it's aggression or play, but if you don't want to give up on her, there's plenty of advice people more experienced than myself can give.

I'll wait for someone else with words of wisdom to chip in with some proper advice, but I can point out that she's going through her teenage phase, and will have recently had her first season. Part of the problem could be to do with hormonal changes.

But, yeah...I'm no expert, so I'm sure someone else will offer you some great advice. xD

Firstly, try to relax. If you're tensed up you'll pass your fears on to your dog.

Can you tell me exactly what happens with children? Is she actually 'going' for them, or is she playing, but inappropriately? Try to write down exactly what she does, her body language & what the lead up to these attacks is.

Also, could you tell us what sort of exercise she gets (where, how long, how many times a day, on or off lead etc) and what food you give her?

thanks for taking the time!

She was off the lead very obedient but lately runs off and attacks. She is very playful but if she wasn't on the lead when a girl asked to stroke her she would of been hurt. She made terrible noise, teeth barred, lunging at her. Normally she claws to death licking madly which is scary but I understand.

She has enough exercise and is fed good quality dry food.

But the person who said about hormones is what i thought as she still hasn't come into season?

hi and welcome, this is what we are hear for to advice when you need

i would ask the same as caryll,

how is she actually 'going' for the children?
how do they interact with her
and last, how do you deal with it?

It's possible that her season is due & she's out of sorts, but it wouldn't normally make a previously friendly bitch turn nasty.

Have you checked her all over for any sign of injury or discomfort?

As a first port of call I would take her to the vets for a quick once-over to make sure there's nothing bothering her.

Which brand of food do you give her? I'm not questioning whether the food is good enough, but whether there could be something in it that's disagreeing with her?

Just to repeat Caryll and a bit. At 9 months of age she should be getting 2 or 3 walks of 40-45 minutes each. This will help with the energy levels. Also is she being taught basic commands like sit, stay and drop? Are the children left unsupervised with her and are they involved in her training? Also please be aware that if someone is on the floor with the pup she will see them as playmates and want to play just like she does with other dogs.

Here is a link on understanding body language that you should find usefull

http://staffy-bull-terrier.com/dog_body_language

Also please have a read through the "For New Owners" and "Important Links" section at the top of the forum. There is alot of very helpfull information there that can be of great help

i used to think my 9 mth old staff was being aggresive as he growls in play and mouths a lot, that was untill i came on here and realised thats a staff for you!

I've always found with every dog ive been lucky enough to have, that they just need little and often exposure, Staffies are such loyal people dogs and as such will do anything to impress and protect their owners, I found with butkus that he was nervous around my baby nephew today, but when I sat next to him and reassured him softly, he calmed down a great deal, a stern NO when he got a bit too excited and before we knew it he was on his back with a 6month old baby exploring him! Obviously I stayed close by at all times, but by the end of his play session he was like a different dog! Hope this helps

try and find a good dog trainer in your area if there any good they will do a home visit and can see how you and your dog are behaving ive had a few problems with chester i got a trainer and shes been a big help in sorting not only chesters behaviour but how i deal with it. i had him neutered at a year old to and this has helped calm him down

We have a trainer to help! A man with years of experience with staffs!
We've only had 2 hrs with him but we are doing things wrong in some areas like we need to use a retractable lead when out so we are in control also she has severe anxieties which we are going back to the vets to discuss.

She is saying to other dogs ,get lost, keep away, this family is mine. she is sensing other aggressive dogs which is why she's lush with some and vile with others.

Children are a worry though. He said that because Gucci has been brought up within an adult household she is not used to children and likes to dominate because they are weak. Apart from wearing a muzzle and keeping her on a retractable lead this is all we can do in public to safe guard. With our small grandchildren.... on-going work, time? This is a worry for us! And NO not ever would we leave a dangerous dog alone with kids. Not even a dopey one...

Anyway thanks for all the advice, we will stick with our trainer. Wait till she gets out of "PUPPY" hood and hope she calms down with age, see the vet and pray lol!