re-homed staff

Hello everyone

I am after some advice, I re-homed a 5 year male from a kennel and was told he was good when meeting other dogs and should be ok with a confident cat. I re-homed him 4 weeks ago and he has settled in so well its like he has been here forever. He and the cat bonded well and its very funny to watch them together.

However my concern is that when we are out walking he can be aggressive to other dogs, not all dogs but mainly bigger ones, the hackles are not always raised but he always growls and barks and shows his teeth. I do not let him off the lead even when on the south downs he is on a training lead. It as almost as if when we are out walking on the downs he does not know how to play, I have taken his ball with us as he loves playing in the back garden with it but has no interest outside. He loves to go out but at the same time can't wait to get back home.

Am I right in putting this down to bad socialization and anxiety ? And is it possible that he can be re-socialized.

Any advise is very much appreciated. Thankyou


Moved post to Training & Behaviour

It may just take time, or he may just not get along with other dogs. Stick with training him a watch command or some tasty treats along as a distraction, as he is a rescue you won't know his history but we love em all the same!

Hi by the way

Hi Janey

thankyou for the reply I have tried a treat as a distraction but at the moment it isn't working on bigger dogs, when he interacts well with the smaller dogs or dogs his size I do praise him, but ignore negative behaviour.

As you say I don't know his history and from what I have seen I think he was neglected but not badly treated, he is so affectionate and loves the affection back, and having a teenager on the autistic spectrum I have no worries with the two of them, he calms my son down, and yes I love him to bits no matter his behaviour

It's possible he's been attacked by a big dog when he was younger, so he's become scared of them. Who knows? For the time being, while he's still settling into his new home with you, I'd just go about distracting him and teaching him to watch you when other dogs he doesn't like are around. Hold up a treat to your face and say 'watch' and give him the treat as soon as he looks at you. Keep doing that until you no longer have to hold the treat up, then when he's good at it, try it outside. Hopefully with the right training, you'll get him to look at you rather than other dogs.

He's beautiful by the way, you should post some pics of him in the gallery section, he's lovely

Also, I wouldn't worry about him not playing when outside. Loki loves toys and loves fetch and tug-of-war, but when he's in the field or the park, he prefers casually walking around and sniffing every blade of grass

Hi Tara

Thankyou for your advice, I know it is early days it just feels like he has been here forever he really is a very good boy and loves meeting people. Yes he is handsome and everyone that meets him says so but then again maybe I am just biased I shall post some pics of him. Thankyou once again

Hi and welcome to the forum from Rocky and me.

Rocky is also from a rescue centre and has shown similar behaviour in the past to your dog. Rocky wasn't socialised when he was young and so has shown bad social skills with other dogs.

Just give him some time to settle in well with you all and try to let him meet other dogs while under control ie: still on the lead. Try to get him to sit while he is introduced to them, you may need to use some treats for this.

It just comes down to time, patience and consistency, I'm sure you will get there.

Hi Kathy and Rocky

Thankyou for the advice, I will give it 100% and I know in time he will be more confident As others have said its time and patience which he will get. Its nice to hear a similar story. In the short time he has been with me, his skin has improved and his fur grown back on his hind legs and tail, he sits, gives both paws even a high five and has also got his bark back When he was in kennels and I first saw him he was horse from barking so much and extremely stressed, now he has his forever home and improving each day, so as others have said give it time.

What a lovely story - it's so nice to see a dog fall on his feet with a good home!

If he was never socialised properly, he may not know how to approach, or play with, other dogs. Also, as sugested, he nay have been frightened by a bigger dog & is barking through anxiety.

I'd try teaching him "Watch" so that each time you say the word he looks at you - that will take his mind off of whatever you think will make him anxious. Either that, or get him to sit whenever a bigger dog comes near. ie give him something else to concentrate on.

Some staffords just don't like other (especially bigger) dogs, so you'll have to be prepared for that as well.