A few issues and a dog trainer...

Ralph has been being a bit of a s**t!

He’s just turned 2, and has been developing a few behaviours that are escalating. Firstly, he’s been grabbing my feet and ankles around the house. I have tried ignoring him, shutting him out the room for a minute as soon as he does it, but he continues. If I tell him off, he barks and ‘lunges’ towards me trying to bite. This has now moved to outside. The OH had him off lead the other week, and he ran up to a jogger and tried to grab at his feet – refusing to come back. Luckily the jogger was ok about it, but you can imagine if he wasn’t!

His recall has gone to pot. When you call him, he looks around first and then decides if he wants to come back or not. Sometimes he will, sometimes not. I am quite nervous about letting him off now which is a shame. We are going back to basics with his recall and rewarding when he does come back first time.

We get a lot of cyclists up our way, and he was always fine, but now has taken to barking and growling when a cyclist goes past, and tries to get at the person on the bike. Almost ‘going for’ the bike.

And lastly, his dog aggression is getting worse. He would take a dislike to a dog every now and again, but now it’s most of the time. It also was just when he was on lead, but now when he’s off too.

Nothing’s changed in his routine, he’s still getting his 3 walks, his food is the same, the only thing we have done is remove the baby gate so he has the run of the hall and the landing when we’re out – but I’m sure that’s nothing to do with it?

Anyway, wanting to nip all the above in the bud, we have a dog trainer coming round Tuesday, but I’m a bit worried. We did all the positive reward stuff when he was a pup, and we still do it, but a friend had concerns because this guy is an ex police dog trainer and said that I might not like his methods? Said they bully the dog which can have more implications than the problems we are trying to solve. Anyone had any experience?

Obviously if I’m uncomfortable with any method that he uses I will stop it immediately.

Thanks for reading.

Hiya Jo! Oh dear.. what a nightmare!! Biscuit had real problems with chasing joggers and cyclists when I first got her.. I found that the "focus" or "watch me" command worked absolute wonders. I'd highly suggest a long line, so that he can still have off lead time but you can keep control; if he does that with another joggers and accidentally breaks the skin you could have a lawsuit on your hands for an out of control dog. I also found that giving her more "interesting" walks, varied training and more vigorous breed specific exercise helped. I was taking her to the same park every day in Bristol as there are limited green spaces and when she got bored, she made her own fun by being reactive.

The dog aggression problem; can you think of any negative experiences that he has had? And is it particular dogs (size/colour/temperament) or all dogs?

Police training methods generally aren't "kind" BUT many people can adopt a new positive way of training when they're away from certain restrictions. As you've said, if you're unhappy with any method I would stop the session immediately, thank him for him time and go to somebody else. But you could always ask him about his methods before he arrives which would save you both time and hassle!

A long line is a brilliant idea. Thank you Rachel. He learnt the 'watch me' when he was a pup at classes, so I will start doing this again.

I certainly don't want a lawsuit! That is why I'm reluctant to let him off which is a massive shame. Ralph loves snuffling about and I want him to enjoy being out. That's why I got him.

I can't think of any specific instance that has caused this. We socialised him as a pup, at classes and with other friends dogs. We live in a bit of a rural location, so we don't meet many people or dogs, so when we do meet other people I guess it might be a bit of a novelty.

He seems not to like dogs who show that they are submissive. I think Ralph is a bit of a bully! If a dog is submissive he seems more aggressive. There is this one dog, a lab that we see, my god. The owners hate us. Ralph is growling, snarling, he just wants to get to this dog it's horrible.

I am interested to meet with this guy. I'll keep you posted on what he suggests... Thank you so much for your note.

Build the watch me up from scratch again if you can, as he will more than likely be too aroused to do it initially when dogs or cyclists etc are around. I can now walk Biscuit on the cycle path by my house that takes us too the moors, so it really does work! I don't think Biscuit had ever been walked prior to me adopting her so if we can do it I believe you can too! Just takes time hun! The long line sounds perfect in your situation will help to reinforce recall too. I got a 50ft one from ebay for about £7, we use it every day and it's lasted us 6 months so far

Sounds like you're right, some staffies sadly just don't like other dogs! Is Ralph entire? And was is a male or female lab? Also what colour? It's quite common for dogs to take a dislike to dark coloured labradors because they find them hard to read. Biscuit just doesn't like labs in general, though she will now tolerate Jed the black lab if he comes to stay! She bullies him though!! Without seeing the behaviour with other dogs it's hard to comment, hopefully the trainer will be able to help! Keep us updated, really hope it goes well

How did you get to hear about this trainer ? was it from word of mouth from someone you know ? was he recommended ? If he uses any methods you are uncomfortable with tell him where to go.

No he's not entire Rachel, he was done at 14 months. I don't really know if it's male or female dogs, I never end up getting that close to them! The owners are usually running a mile by that point.  

Kathy, I found him on line, he's very local to us so I thought I'd give him a go. You have my word if I don't like it I will tell him! I did google him and found some positive feedback... so hopefully it will be fine. Just speaking to my friend she worried me a bit!