Narky/aggressive when ill?

My dog's had a virus recently which is upsetting his tummy. He's on meds now.

Over the past week he has behaved completely normally except in relation to (some) other (entire) male dogs.

Rupert has been neutered.

He really went for them, tail up and everything. It is unusual behaviour for him and stressed me out very badly.

Twice in the park and once in the vet's surgery when a King Charles Spaniel trotted around the corner off lead (R was on lead). ,

I was thinking perhaps it is because he's not feeling well - either way, what should I do?

Thanks in advance, as always...

Could be because he's poorly or the meds, I would just keep him on the lead for now and hopefully he'll be back to his normal self soon enough. Just remember not be anxious on walks as he'll pick up on it xx

It is actually quite hard not to be anxious, as I now know. What is the best way of not being anxious, or at least holding my breath when a dog with cojones crosses our path?

It could be because he's not feeling himself or I notice that Rupert is
2 years old which is a typical age for this behaviour towards other
dogs to start.
I know how you are feeling because I was the same when my boy started
doing this.  But now I accept its part of him and have chilled about
it considerably.  This has resulted in Harry just what I call 'swearing'
at some other dogs, and not being quite so over the top towards them.   

I was told to sing when I saw another dog approaching when we were on
walks as this reduces tension and it doesn't travel down the lead to your dog.

Don't know whether the threat of my singing (not good) stopped Harry
from reacting or whether it just improved.   

Hope when Rupert is over his virus he will be back to his normal ways.

If you are anxious while out on walks your dog will pick up on this. Keep him on a lead while out, have plenty of long walks/lots of exercise and some mental stimulation while at home too. Try doing some very basic training with him: Sit, Stay etc and give lots of praise when he does things correctly and always the training session on something he does well. Keep the session short of about 5-10 minutes to keep his concentration.

Ditto to all said. When we are I'll we don't want to be bothered with either, same goes for dogs. Try and remember this behaviour for future he's telling you something in doggy talk

This may be a coincidence. Rupert being grumpy with other dogs may have nothing to do with his recent illness. My Douglas (also sin cojones) generally likes to let other males know who's boss (HIM! in his opinion). Douglas is the same age as your Rupert. Ive tried many things to get him to love (or tolerate) the rest of dog-kind, especially other males, but have basically accepted that he is what he is - not to be trusted around other males, mostly ok with females, fine with pups. For people, he is the most affectionate dog you've ever met. With other dogs, we just manage things to make sure he doesnt get into trouble.

Yeahbut: Yes I agree that it's not necessarily anything to do with feeling ill. He has never been aggressive to other dogs before but lately he has a go. By 'lately' I mean in the past two months. First time was with a Vizsla - both on lead. Today he had a growl at another Staffy - neither on lead.

This is very unusual behaviour for him but I am worried it is turning into a pattern. He is actually 3, not 2 (I have updated the website) and I've had him for almost two years.

Sazzle: this started before the meds but seemed to coincide (sort of) with tummy bug.

It might have been wishful thinking on my part as I really don't want it to become permanent.

Lizzie: yes, I totally understand what you mean about singing. How did it improve with your dog?

In general: I don't feel I am highly stressed when this happens. Often it seems to me to be "out of the blue". I do notice his tail is straight up much more often.

What kind of aggression is this? Territorial/working out who's boss/fear? And why now?

Thank you for all your help.

So hard to comment on aggression without seeing it, if he's feeling unwell he's probably feeling a little defensive; in the same way that routine can change behaviour, so can illness. Although it seems to have been going on a little longer. The situation with the vizsla could easily be down to being on lead.

Tension can have a huge effect on aggression definitely, as Lizzie mentioned, although I don't sing when Biscuit is seeing another dog and reacting negatively I do correct with a NO because you cannot reward negative behaviour, it's counterproductive, but I immediately respond with a happy sing song voice "it's only a dog silly, come one this way, what have I got" etc etc.

How does he usually socialize? I.E in a dog park setting, or controlled meetings with known dogs?

He usually runs around in the park off lead. He used to always want to play with other dogs but as he's got older he likes exploring on his own more, is less distracted in general and loves his balls (and other people's balls).

This morning he was off lead, we were just leaving the park - the path is relatively narrow and another Staffy passed (off lead) - they said hello but mine had a lungey growl-y moment which I didn't like.

The time before that, we were sitting on a bench by a large pond with geese etc. Rupert likes to potter around there and there are several other dogs around but there was a labrador at one point that R had a go at.

The third incident was the other day. American Bulldog - unneuteured. Plus mastiff (female). plus young Staffy (male). My boy ran up to the Mastiff owner who we walk with frequently to say hello and her girl had a real go at Rupert (I don't blame her as he shouldnt have run up like that). But then the other dogs started joining in and R had a particular problem with the American bulldog and wouldn't let it lie. It was all a bit chaotic. No one was hurt or bitten but it was loud and embarrassing and out of control. I know the dogs and owners in question and this hasn't happened before.

Oh - and at the vet's this week. Very enclosed. R was on lead. An unneutered king charles spaniel came around the corner off lead, snuffling over to meet him and R went mad - luckily I had him on a tight lead. I felt his body tensing up and he lunged.

Why?

I personally believe that Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and all other bull breeds should not be let off the lead around dogs that they don't know and they should not be allowed to just roam free in dog parks with all those other dogs also roaming free. I think it's a receipe for disaster.

I know that's probably quite a controversial thing to say but I'm not being negative about the breed, just realistic. Remember I own one too and love the breed .

My own personal opinion is that no matter how much we love the breed they are always going to have a fighting instinct inbuilt, in some it is buried deep down but in others it's fairly near to the surface and that's just the way it is. Whilst socialising and training classes do help I don't think it's a cure.

We can guess at why they sometimes become dog aggressive for no apparent reason but I think it's probably more responsible to just accept that they are and then deal with how we can stop anything bad happening i.e. keeping the dog on a lead when other dogs are about or not taking the dog to a park area.

Debs I don't find that controversial at all, its exactly what I do with my dog
for his protection

Makes a lot of sense to me  

Yeah its something I have learnt along the way though, I didn't realise when I first had Axl how quickly things can go wrong but I quickly learnt and yes, its for his protection as well

I think Debs has been pretty spot on. I just find dog parks so unnatural for dogs.. especially a breed like ours. There are so many personal resources and different ages/personalities/temperaments and also so many people that simply do not know how to read when their dogs are uncomfortable (of course, not referring to you) but this makes me uncomfortable. I've met so many owners who's dogs have had problems with fear and aggression, who's only socialization was at the dog park. Biscuit isn't sociable, but I never allow her to mix with dogs that I don't know, I only socialise her with dogs of a complimentary temperament/energy level.

It sounds to me that he's had too many negative experiences in a row, and is now on the defensive due to this. Aggression in the vets waiting area doesn't concern me, it's a small enclosed area on lead. I haven't studied the theory of aggression yet, that module is next on my course, so this is just from personal experience, I may be wrong. But i'd focus on calm, controlled exercise with other dogs on lead for now, and ensuring that ALL experiences for the next few months are positive, with a small handful of dogs that you know he gets on well with.

Hello - sorry it's taken me so long to respond. I took in all your comments and making sure R is having only positive experiences.

I live in London where there are lots of Staffies and no seaside/hills/open countryside to walk dogs. Our parks are often very big, though, and it's a pleasure to walk in them and meet other dog owners.

Meanwhile... R seems much much better. This sounds weird but he smells much healthier suddenly. He seems more joyful and I hope this will have a knock on effect on his mood outdoors. I am just avoiding the big unneutered American bulldog and looking into some training classes just to get the measure of whether there is a long term issue.

I am still being vigilant although my sister says I shouldn't be paranoid and just "Let him play". One step at a time.