PLEASE HELP, DOG BIT ANOTHER DOG

PLEASE HELP, DOG BIT ANOTHER DOG, I have a 28 week old female staffy pup, reasonably well trained, been very good till now, well socialised, good diet, great with people & Kids but today whilst playing with familier dogs randomly attacked and bit a submissive spaniel puppy, needed the vets, thankfully no lasting damage, small mark on ear, what steps do I need to take next???? Please Please help

What has the owner of the spaniel said, are they planning to take any action?

Thankfully no action, but I will have todo something

Ok that's good. Was there a toy involved or was it completely random?

Regardless though obviously she needs to be on the lead for the time being, at least until you can establish if it was a one off. I would invest in a long training line so she can still have a run around but you have control.

No toys or anything, completely at random, they were running around at first the puppy laid down then my puppy grabbed her by the ear & wouldn't let go, it took myself and two others to remove my dog from the puppy, we normally have leads but these dogs are familiar & have played together many times before in a private area, so im in shock & at a loss of what todo

I wouldn't stop socializing her, although obviously under very close supervision, on leads etc. And I know it will be hard but try not to be anxious around other dogs as she will pick up on it.

She is still young and this one event doesn't make her dog aggressive, I think you'll just have see how things go. Have a look at these links which may be helpful

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

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

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

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

she seems VERY young to attack in such a way, could she have been playing very roughly given her age?

Sorry, I never said, hello and welcome to the forum  

Please feel free come and say hi

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

ella wrote:she seems VERY young to attack in such a way, could she have been playing very roughly given her age?

A good point, staffys do play very rough!

Oh and a hi from me and the boys too!

Thank you very much, still feeling very uneasy but will try to be calm around other dogs obviously will keep her harness on, do you think a muzzle is needed?

I should expand by playing there can be a fine line.

For example my two pin the other using teeth by the throat and 'bite' the other causing marks, scraps and such like (typical boys) and yet this is all still playing.

Thank you and hello to you both as well, ive never seen her like that before so would be doubtful as to just being playful but will observe her very closely from now on

FraddonHigher wrote:Thank you very much, still feeling very uneasy but will try to be calm around other dogs obviously will keep her harness on, do you think a muzzle is needed?

No not at this stage

FraddonHigher wrote:Thank you very much, still feeling very uneasy but will try to be calm around other dogs obviously will keep her harness on, do you think a muzzle is needed?

It never hurts to muzzle train a dog and have one in your house car in case you ever need it. IMO.

BUT she is a baby at 28 weeks and do i think she needs muzzling? Nope. Go back to basics keep her on lead, and allow calm playing with other dogs, socialise, socialise, socialise! I can't emphasize it enough!

Have you got anyone you know with a nice calm unreactive dog you can go for walks with and so you can teach her proper manners and correct playing?

I have a group of say 4/5 friends with dogs but they are all young between (spaniel - 3months to a sprussel age 5) all smaller breeds tho

doesn't matter about the size or age so much of the other dogs, but a well behaved unreactive dog is brilliant for helping your pup to learn proper maners and to get used to being around dogs more

I have found out about a training class for puppys that includes socializing so could try that??

I'm sure it wouldn't hurt  Do stay in touch and keep us updated x

Ella's given some great advice, and believe me, she knows about reactive dogs.

Your girl is still very much a pup, and I'm inclined to think she got carried away! Watch her body language and be prepared to step in with a quick"enough" if you think she's getting carried away.

Stafford do play rough, and they do grab & hang on, but that doesn't mean she's turning into a monster!

Welcome to the forum by the way!

Thank you for your time & kind messages Sazzle & Ella & Caryll I feel a little better about this not being an unfixable problem, have emailed to book training sessions & will stick to lead & harness at all times for now, will pop back with progress soon, kind regards L x

your welcome and let us know how you get on

Great advice from all the above, and echo the long lead perhaps for a while and keep up the socialising. Hiya aswell from me and Vinnie:D 

Hope you get along alright with all the advice given Please keep us updated

Aw this must have been terrible for you to go through. Great advice above, I would def keep her on a long lead for the time being and def continuing socializing her. Just make sure are watching her and her body language. Since she is so young I would think it is much more likely that she just got carried away and got a little too rough. I don't think it was meant to be aggressive. Good luck please keep us updated on how everything is going.

Can't add much more than the advice already given, only it is certainly worth learning a bit about dog body language even if just to give you that split second warning as to how any dog might react during a situation it also gives you more confidence and in turn your dog will pick up on feeling positive

Im not an expert at all, first staffy for me, but as puppies they do play rough, maybe she was just playing

Just as a possible note of reassurance, Maisey, when young, used to be walked with a group of other dogs and her form of play was grabbing them by their fur and hanging on, jumping on them, trying to knock them over. Not acceptable behaviour but in no way aggressive. Now have 2 staffs and although they are devoted to each other, their play is extremely rough and vocal and by some would be seen as aggression. Very good advice above but she is still very young and being a typical staff. Keep up the socialising, puppy classes are great for this, and just try to maintain some form of control.