Bad press

There have been two incidences of staffies attacking and killing smaller dogs up here recently which the local paper has picked up on. I am now putting Bacchus on lead when I see any unfamiliar dogs approaching as recently ( he is now 1 year old ) he has been showing signs of dominance/aggression towards certain, though not all, dogs he is not familiar with. Never I might add towards small dogs, just ones his own size or bigger who display certain body language, and he hasn't yet bitten, just the familiar ( to us staffy owners ) alarming sounding snarls while standing over them. I've decided however to take these pre-emptive measures rather than risk adding fuel to the fire.
Do any of you experienced staffy people know of any way to stop these aggressive tendencies or is it just the nature of some members of the breed? As you know from previous posts he has been heavily socialised both during exercise and at training classes.

Tommy has become like this over the last few months so is technically unpredictable , as you I have taken to putting him on the lead and avoid any problems , try some treat distraction and if he looks , the moment he looks away reward him

Darcy has become a little unpredictable on lead, she has been attacked a couple of times on lead, but she's great of lead (so far) were learning find my face at home & in the garden whenever she looks at me she gets praise & a treat hopefully this will work as a distraction when out

At one local park where I used to walk Rocky we have been getting the blame for things that he has not done, therefore I now just avoid that park and the people that go there.

Rocky is always on a lead at the park where I now go now which is a large country park, but I do have one place I can take him and let him have a free run off the lead. I use a flexi leadwhich is, I think, 5 metres long so he can a wander about but I am still in control.

Thanks Dave and Darcy-may will practise that technique.
Kathy, I have an extendable lead as well as his regular lead both of which I use according to circumstances. I still have him off-lead most of the time but now am always alert to any strange dogs approaching which, thankfully, isn't too often as we know the vast majority of the people in our area due to his earlier socialisation. All the people we know are amazed that I am taking these precautions as they all know him as the friendly puppy who always runs to them for treats and belly rubs.

Dave wrote:Tommy has become like this over the last few months so is technically unpredictable , as you I have taken to putting him on the lead and avoid any problems , try some treat distraction and if he looks , the moment he looks away reward him

Do you allow Tommy off-lead time at all now?