my staff had a fight

hi all new here so not sure if i'm posting in right place. A couple of nights ago i took my staff for a walk with my 2 children. we were in a small green/park area kids were playing with ghost (my dog) and another staff came running over to my dog. i told my kids to move away from the dogs. i turned to see where the owner was. he was across the road about 30 odd foot away i shouted is your dog ok and he delayed then said yes. i turned to check the children next thing i know the dogs are fighting i don't know who went for who first. i was shouting for them to stop and they would not. my ghost then had the other dog pinned down. i changed my tone and sternly shouted ghost leave it. and the fighting stopped.... also the odd thing is the guy never called his dog at all.

I put it on my FB and a friend popped up and told me that there is a dog and owner in the area. he has the dog on the lead at first from a little distance he then lets it of and it fights/attacks other dogs. it ribbed the skin of my friends, mate pug... The dog warden is aware of it and she said its baiting something to do with getting points for every dog its fights.... On my selfish side i really hope it is some nut nut with his dog. because that way i know that it was not my dog that caused the issue.

I have walked my dog since but i don't feel confident. i'm now scared in case my dog now wants to fight or go for other dogs

how did your dog get on with other dogs before this happened?sasha was involved in a fight with another staff a year or so ago now,the other dog started it and after that a lost my confidence for a while when i walked her,i know she does'nt like other dogs now and always put her straight back on the lead when i see another dog,try not to show your scared because they do pick up on it.

Get Ghost to the vets asap for anti biotics in case of a puncture. I can't comment apart from that too close to home Xx

This is a situation many of us have been in. I would take him to the park as normal and make sure he socialises with his friends. Don't hide away from his normal routine, a fight can leave them shaken (you too). You need to keep an eye out for that dog and steer clear. Hopefully he will forget about it. Glad you are both ok.  

What a complete tool.  Some people just shouldn't have a dog! I hope Ghost hasn't been injured - you ought to get him checked over just in case.

As far as your confidence goes, do you know anybody with a bomb-proof dog that Ghost is ok with? If so, ask them to walk with you a few times so that you can see that he hasn't been affected too much by the other dog.

Most staffords are happy enough to have a little spat, and then just go on as though nothing's happened.  Try to stay calm yourself because he'll pick up on your nervousness.

P.S. Welcome to the forum! 

Chiara wrote:This is a situation many of us have been in. I would take him to the park as normal and make sure he socialises with his friends. Don't hide away from his normal routine, a fight can leave them shaken (you too). You need to keep an eye out for that dog and steer clear.  Hopefully he will forget about it. Glad you are both ok.  

Thank you. yes that's what i'm thinking i need to carry on as normally really. the thing im scared of is giving ghost nerves vibes and that might cause him to go for another dog. i think im going to take him for an early morning walk and pass the dogs we often do. i dont know them but they normally pass each other ok. so im going to see how that gos

If you find yourself getting a bit nervous, sing! Top of your voice, nice cheerful song. You'll feel an idiot, but it'll break the train of nervousness. 

Caryll wrote:If you find yourself getting a bit nervous, sing! Top of your voice, nice cheerful song. You'll feel an idiot, but it'll break the train of nervousness. 

 i would get done for animal cruelty   

kelly-anne wrote:

Caryll wrote:If you find yourself getting a bit nervous, sing! Top of your voice, nice cheerful song. You'll feel an idiot, but it'll break the train of nervousness. 

 i would get done for animal cruelty   

   

Good advise above, I can't really add to that, but welcome to the forum  Feel free to come and post an introduction here  

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

Sorry to hear you have had this happen - I can well appreciate how scary it is and the unsuredness that comes from it. As said above, get back out there and act as though nothing at all has happened .... you'll be back here telling us about how well your walks gone in no time I'm sure

Welcome to the forum from Chiquito and I Looking forward to hearing more (and seeing some pics!) of Ghost.

I'm amazed that there is such a * out there doing such a thing  . Well if it was this same doush in the park that had the fight with your dog at least your dog had the upper hand. Even more disturbing that it could be this guy if he allowed a potential fight to occur around children .

What a well suited name...Ghost. Welcome to the forum from Bella and I.

Sorry to hear about your awful incident. We also had a situation a few weeks ago where a neighbour three houses down left her house completely open and her Boxer ran out and went for my Roxy. We lost our nerve more than Roxy and have had to keep perservering with walking. What I did was take Rox out the very next day past that house and made silly voices, gave treats etc and all she did was carry on walking - they really are amazing! It's us that get a bit scared. What we're doing now to get our human nerves back is having playdates with dogs we know they get on with - that way we're all having fun and there's a lot let stress!
I hope you both feel better soon x

kelly-anne wrote:

Caryll wrote:If you find yourself getting a bit nervous, sing! Top of your voice, nice cheerful song. You'll feel an idiot, but it'll break the train of nervousness. 

 i would get done for animal cruelty   

Haha!  

i have just been park with ghost and kids. went in a wooded area and a lady was walking her do one came bounding over so i put mine on lead. she had another dog with her as well. i was being firm with ghost telling him leave it over and over again and the woman said is he bad. so told her what had happend. and she said that i should let him go and that he seems ok... and i think she's right as her other dog was trying to mount ghost and i would have thought he would have gone for the other dog with that going on but he never so im feeling much better now

Ah good