Am i wrong to do this??

Wonderd if im the only one who does this when out walking,while im out with both my staffs,boss is the male and very large for 6 months,he loves ppl but altho i can fight like a pit bull,when im with my dogs on a deserted path and see a strange man,i always lead him and pull him away as if to make the person aware my dogs aggresive..i know in my mind i should not do this incase i make boss obsessive to hate all unknown ppl,but theres so many freaks out there men and women i like to think if they was gonna do owt they got to get past my boss 1st,and most ppl dont want to tackle a dog..does anyone else doit or am i just a looney ha!!

Nope, I don't do that, if he loves people then you are teaching him that all people are a threat. He is only 6 months old so still has a lot to learn. Why do you feel so threatened by people when out on a walk?

Going to be straight.. Very irresponsible and kinda immature. You're going to create a problem that you won't be able to handle when he's fully grown, as well as making him anxious and worried in what is already a complicated world for him. All he's going to do is pick up on your clear insecurities and become fearful, which will in turn create unstable behaviour. I live with a human aggressive dog created by silly behaviour like this from her previous owner. This is why staffs get a bad name!

I sometimes put my dogs on the lead if I ever feel anxious and see somebody (walking in the dark and such things) but don't hold them close, just on there normal leads. They make me feel less alone although I know they wouldn't be any use as guard dogs!! Mine are both adults dogs and love people though.

You have to be very careful, your fares and behavior will pass to him, he will have insecurities regarding strangers and maybe become human aggressive, this is not what you want.

I dont mean i pull him as in have him at my heels,because boss jumps up at people in a friendly way when he sees ppl..i mean thats when i pull him back when he jumps and i dont doit with everyone just if its dark and a man will be coming towards me,and as for immature i disagree,theres been 3 murders where i live and one 2 weeks ago,im not anxious when im out walking but on the deserted path i have to go down to get to our field you would not feel safe unless you was walking a tiger!!

Aswell as 2 lads mugging my 12 yr old daughter at knife point on that same path..so if leading my dog when a stranger comes near me and its dark makes me immature..so be it immature i will be! I dont want a guard dog but ur dog will guard u with its life anyway even if its a yorkshire terrier.

Are you able to find anywhere else to take your dog for a walk ?

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

I take him other places yes,but at the moment when the weathers miserable this is the best place,and as i said i dont doit to every person i meet,its the ones who put me on edge in the dark,i dont hold him bck saying no killer come here,i just put him on the lead n pull him bck when he jumps..most of the ppl i meet are lovely but round our area is secluded n if leading him to make me feel safe then thats what i do x

Im not a teenager with a status dog im a grown woman,n having one of these dogs has been the best dog experience of my life,and i lv ppl seeing how good they are and not to be frightend of,but in the dark alone as ive said i would rather a strange man comming towards me have something to think about x

It may be an idea for you to carry some form of attack alarm:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/personal-alarm-with-strobe-qn58n

i live in sheffield to, and no way in hell would i do that.

I have an already human aggressive dog, and believe you me if your dogs love people KEEP them that way, your job is to protect your dogs NOT the other way around.

Dudette wrote:Aswell as 2 lads mugging my 12 yr old daughter at knife point on that same path..so if leading my dog when a stranger comes near me and its dark makes me immature..so be it immature i will be! I dont want a guard dog but ur dog will guard u with its life anyway even if its a yorkshire terrier.

no it won't VERY few dogs will actually, actively protect their owner, it's something that needs training into them correctly

i will take your expert advice and not do this again!..thanks!

always best to ask though hun

Dudette wrote:i  will take your expert advice and not do this again!..thanks!

I understand your fears but am glad you are taking the advice. You get people who would steal your dog for a status symbol or for fighting if he gave that impression.   

What I did with zig as he is always after people for fuss , I tell him close and then give him a treat if he focuses on me instead of the person walking past . This way he isn't seeing the other people as something to be scared of , just finds me and the treat more interesting