staffy very agressive

hey guys, my girlfriend is having big problems with her staffy x cattle dog in the way that when we take him to the dog park, he trys to attack the other dogs onces they get in a close vasinity to my partner or myself.

he gets really defensive and seems scared but then turns around and trys to attack. he originaly came into the family at 10 months from the pound so his background is unknown.

he gets along awesome with my pup and my partners sisters american staffy but once he is in the dog park to socialise him is impossible.

does anyone have any ideas on a way to get him to be comfortable and have fun at the dog park

thanks

ps he is around 2 years old now

Cant really help you cause ive been trying to sociolize mine for about 8 years myself and again he is fine with my other and one from down the road so Ill try any advise you get

it sucks doesnt it. he is such a good dog but onces he is outside he is out of controll

It does but I dont think they miss out on anything myself my boy is always wagging his tail and you just have to make the best out of the situation

You could try a distraction when there are other dogs around - a toy or a treat. Or some obedience lessons to take his mind off it (sit, down, heel, 'watch me' etc).

BUT, you may have to accept that he just doesn't like 'strange' dogs. Some staffords (and especially the type of cross that yours is) are inherently dog aggressive, and there's little you can do about it.

As gem says, it doesn't seem to worry them if they can't socialise, and they'll more than make up for it with their playfulness at home & with their human companions.

Caryll wrote:You could try a distraction when there are other dogs around - a toy or a treat. Or some obedience lessons to take his mind off it (sit, down, heel, 'watch me' etc).

BUT, you may have to accept that he just doesn't like 'strange' dogs. Some staffords (and especially the type of cross that yours is) are inherently dog aggressive, and there's little you can do about it.

As gem says, it doesn't seem to worry them if they can't socialise, and they'll more than make up for it with their playfulness at home & with their human companions.

I agree Caryll, some dogs you just have to accept they will never be allowed to mingle, they still do ok. SBTs will happily be an only dog. Our last SBT couldn't be trusted to be let off near other dogs, he still had a fantastic happy life without mixing at the dog park.

Yes, my last boy was like that. We learned what his 'control distance' was & as long as a dog was outside that area we could let him off lead & still get him back if necessary.

Dempsey, unfortunately is the same, although he is more unpredictable than Bandit was. Sometimes he's ok, sometimes he isn't. I'm working on his 'control distance' and I can now let him off lead as long as there are no dogs within about 100 yards. Any closer & we put him on the lead.

Ive no chance if I let him off lead and there is another dog anywere he is clever enough to do one and have a scap he loves it. When hes on his lead which is most of the time he checks out the dog in the distance checks out the lead then looks at me to say ill not bother then

Were having problems too our bitch is 20mnths old was aways a sociable dog until 5 mnths ago when she started snapping, snarling and pinning smaller dogs/puppies. I am so scared now that i don't like letting her of the leash. We are going back to training with her though as I cant spend the next 9/10 years feeling nervous al the time.

Do you have any training classes near you? They may help, having other dogs around while you're training.