Off the lead

Hi everyone I've been taking advantage of the lovely weather taking Dillon to the field to let him off the lead at quiet times He is coming on really well, it's great watching him gallop about, he's lovin it. I keep a look out for dogs in the distance, I put the lead back on before he spots them, I know he'll be gone. He wants to play, of course, you dont know what the other dog is going to be like. When we meet dogs he is so pleased to see them, his tail is going ten to the dozen. The dogs that snap at him are the little terrier dogs, he doesnt react just carries on wagging tail. This evening I had him trotting along beside me nicely in the park. As in a post I've read previously some people expect Dillon to be the aggressive one and take a wide berth as they walk past, kids being pulled out the way. He does get a bit giddy and jumps up. I've noticed it's the older people who stop, put their shopping down to fuss him. Someone wanted to buy him off me the other day. He still gets boisterous when playing with Max(my son), catching him with his teeth, I am training Max as well, he does whip him up into a frenzy and then gets angry when Dillon gets too rough. It's the first Staffy I've owned, in fact, first dog I've owned myself, they are stubborn etc. He was near enough trained when we adopted him, but he needed better manners! You do get out what you put in! I'm really looking forward to the summer with him going on some lovely walks in the Peak District.

He sounds really well socialised!

Wish mine was the same, I stopped to talk to a guy today with a lovely fawn staff. Dempsey was doing his nut & the staff was standing there wagging his tail!

He grew up with another Staffy, which, is how we ended up with him. The previous owners had a baby and they couldnt cope with the boisterous play. A couple of broken ornaments, as well, as being worried about the child. Yes, he's great. He does pull when we approach another dog, but he is alot better. I've picked many tips and lots of info off this site, it's great.

He's at that age where everything's a new adventure, isn't he? I love that age - a challenge, but lovely as well!

Yes your right Caryll, walking to school he stops and investigates nearly everything, sometimes its tough pulling him away, on way back I have more time to let him investigate. He's like a hoover! Anything, i've pulled banana skins, used tea bags, orange peel and chewing gum out his mouth. My partner says council should pay us for clearing up the square On way to school today he managed to get a wine gum that was firmly stuck and he'd been after for days. Then this afternoon it was a poms poms off a woolly hat and piece of tissue. Sweet wrappers, bread left out for birds, discarded take aways, anyone would think he was never fed. He hit the jackpot today a half eaten cookie. My knickers, socks, shoes left out, luckily he doesnt chew them. Makes me glad we didnt have him going thru the teething stage. He just loves people, unfortunately he can have a tendancy to jump up at times. I keep him on shorter lead walking thru school. I have to tie him to fence when locking max's bike up, he loves the kids fussing him. i heard one parent telling their child to stay away from dog. Which i dont blame them Max always wanted to stroke dogs when he was little and I always asked their owners if it was okay. I feel bad for him when kids are being pulled well away from him, he is so friendly. But u cant blame them looking out for the kids. He is a bid dog to be jumping up a little un. Because of the size and reputation i think some people think they are nasty dogs, when they are just big softies albeit a big muscley one!!

I get the same reaction with Dempsey. Mind you, he isn't quite so outwardlt friendly as a staff & he has a habit of staring straight at people which is unusual to say the least! One lady I've been seeing regularly on the way to work (she's taking her young children to school) always used to cross the road & her little boy used to look longingly at Dempsey. Last week there were roadworks on the other side & she had to walk past us. The little boy asked if he could stroke Dempsey before his mum could say a word & I said yes, of course he could. I could see the look of horror on this poor woman's face, but she thawed a bit when Demps just stood there with his tail wagging & lapped up the attention. This morning she stroked him herself!

Cool! Really you wouldn't be say ok if Dempsey wasn't. When first got Dilllon, i noticed there were no dogs at school anymore, thought maybe they had been asked not to take them. I felt quite self-conscious of taking Dillon. Max walks into school by himself usually, he's been biking, so i've been tying Dillon up, but well out the way. The last couple of days there have been 4 other dogs there. Doesn't help that he crys til I go back. A new friend has a 12yr English Bull, he goes for people, especially, if they sit on his settee. His teeth are blunt from chewing bricks, I stay away. But he started rubbing on me for a fuss, so I obliged, next minute my arm was in his mouth!! Lucky his teeth are blunt. Must admit when he does it now i don't oblige. I think they're gorgeous dogs, was my dream dog. Can't imagine not having Dillon now. Max is coming round a bit, said he wanted to swap him for a cute little dog. A JR jumped up at him ouside the shop, of course, it's a little diff from a Staffy doing the same. We nearly didn't have him as my OH was scared of big dogs, as he got bit by a Rotty twice when younger. I said I couldn't cope with how Kev was and Max cried, which, saved Dillon. I know they will become best buds and he'll appreciate him as he gets older and learns how to manage Dillon when playin. Before he goes to bed he'll lie with Dillon, but when Dillon is being boisterous he wants him gone. Oh dear, I've written another essay, soz!

Thats just like my nieces they love Cassie and Blondy playing and everything else but as soon as Taz comes over they sulk and shoo him away they say he is too big and they don't like him even though Taz is the best behaved he won't jump up or even play but will be really calm around the kids unlike the two girls, Taz love playing fetch with the neices though he will hand them the ball or stick into their hands as well he won't try to snatch and the kids are starting to learn, Taz is a scary boy though for some people and i understand that but i just wish they'd ask and perhaps learn something, but the people who mean something know him and thats he's a softy and thats the important thing and a few strangers who go out of their way to come upto the allotments, their kids pet the chickens and dogs.