Hello

Hi,
I live in Australia and love English Staffies. My first called Tyler, was a present from my children as a mothers' day present 18 years ago. She was a purebred, but a runt. She was a beautiful girl. 8 weeks later we bought an American Staffy to keep her company. He was a tan, long legged and very docile. About 2 years later we offered to take a purebred Staffy who was about to be euthanized. The couple were divorcing and neither wanted him. He was absolutely gorgeous. Quiet, obedient - a big boof of a dog. He was called Zedd - thus my user name.

Unfortunately, in 2008 my Tyler died with pneumonia on the way to the vet for treatment and then ironically 8 weeks later Cody started to bleed internally and we had to have him euthanized. Friends to the end.

Zedd was so lonely we decided to get a companion for him and so we decided to adopt a dog to be his friend. We bought a little staffy X bitch, called Taz who was 5 years old. She had been mistreated and had many issues which we had to overcome - one being she was an escape artist. But she has now learnt to stay home. She is a loyal and very affectionate girl. Zedd and Taz were inseparable. In 2012 our lovely Zedd was diagnosed with cancer and although he wasn't in pain we decided he also needed to be euthanized. He stopped eating and was very weak. By then he was 12.

So here I am today. We still have Taz. She is now almost 11. About 2 months ago we decided to buy another Staffy so that Taz could pass on some of her beautiful behaviours to the pup. We were going to buy a young pup but instead decided that we would give a dog in need a home. We therefore bought a purebred bitch from a young couple, with 2 young children, who worked and didn't have the patience or a great deal of time to train their 8 month old female staffy. She is a black brindle - lots of stripes. They called her Lily (after tiger lily). We have changed it to Ruby (because she is a gem) I also thought Ruby was a more calming name. She has accepted her new name easily.

She is adorable, very affectionate, loves tummy rubs and sleeping on her bed in our room with Taz, but is very strong minded. She has a voracious appetite. Unfortunately, her lack of training - especially socializing with other dogs makes walks really hard. She gets along with Taz and my adult children's dogs - both staffies.

However, I need to get help in getting rid of the bad habits she has developed from her previous owners.

Hi &

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Hi and welcome from us and Suki

Both dogs are walked for an hour each day. We live in a small country town so our walks are usually along dirt roads. I don't think the previous owners actually took her for many walks. Before we got her she was left in a back yard and only had a kennel and no toys.

She is now part of our family, has toys, is inside most of the time. Gets regular play time and walks. She gets affection and the same time spent with her as our other dog Taz. However, Ruby needs more obedience training - not jumping up when greeting people, not jumping up on tables, not stealing my teddies etc. (She is getting better with all of these things). Praise, treats, pats etc. She is a very lovely dog, but naughty. Her previous parents weren't very good parents.

My main Issue specific to Ruby - was pulling constantly on the lead. Have improved this. I kept stopping when she pulled. She now knows she can't pull because I don't move forward until she has relaxed the lead. Changed her harness for a half check choker collar, as she just pulled me along before. The harness only had a back ring so no control.

Have given her treats when she is doing the right thing and verbal praise. Taz our other dog walks beautifully on a lead - just a regular leather collar and no pulling at all. Leash makes a smile - relaxed and enjoyable.

Ruby lunges and pulls if she sees other dogs. Does the same to horses and cows. Will growl, begin to make typical staffy noises and also will pull so hard she is standing on only her hind legs. She is about 13 kilos, strong and very determined. I used to make her sit when another dog approached, but this only made her go more berserk. I even tried to let her approach some dogs, but she wasn't very sociable. I now try to avoid places where she can see other dogs. She will walk past houses where dogs are behind fences. She will pull a bit, but not become 'stupid'. Each day our walks are unpredictable. If she doesn't see a dog or people riding horses we have a wonderful time and that includes Taz. If we go past a farm where dogs are barking I have the puppy from hell. Will she out grow this reactive behaviour? What else can I try?

The watch me command is usefull. High value treats will help with this. Really is just about repitition and patience. Small improvements are victories and should be built upon

Yea tried that to. Made her look at me before she spotted the dog. Used a toy to get her attention. But once she spots the dog it is OMG. I know she wants to 'greet?'/'devour?' the dog. By then she is in a mind set and ignores me totally.

I get really annoyed with people walking their dogs off leads. I try to keep control of her and then this dog just wanders over to see her. Well guess what? Ruby loses the plot.

you just have found what work for you and stick with it consistent is the key

hia from me and sasha   may be see if you can get one of these coats for your dog,this is one of our mods dogs modelling it beautifully

people may see it and take note!

Hello and a warm welcome from me and Stella  

Yea. Will keep trying. She is just adorable, has a really personality. I am glad I was not the original owner, because I couldn't have given her up. We are so lucky that we found her. I am sure that if I keep persevering I will end up with a well trained dog. Might I add, she is fantastic with all of our 5 grandchildren. They range from 7yrs - 6 weeks. (Obviously she not been left alone with any of them). I will post some pictures of both Ruby and Taz when I get time. I hope others can give me some advice - things that have worked for them. Finding it hard to re-train a dog who has been allowed to develop into a naughty teenager!

If you know someone with an older well socialized dog it may help to walk them together.

Hiya from me and Vinnie   

Hi Stella,
Just noticed the writing on the doggy coat. Yea it is a good idea. Thanks for your suggestion.

Your Sasha looks just like my Taz, but a younger dog. She is gorgeous.

Hi & welcome to the Forum from Flo and me   

My Flo is a rescue and had some naughty habits like pulling on the lead and being a little unsociable. We found that the pulling calmed right down once she was comfortable with us i.e. no stress down the leash but this was only achieved once we were comfortable with her off leash strangely.

With the anti social stuff, we watch her body language and are pretty good at spotting the signs now. We use her favourite toy stick to distract her which (Touch wood) works 100% of the time. I guess it's just another trick to distract. Other times she is quiet happy to socialise.

Great intro by the way.

Hi and welcome from me and Daisy   

Hi and welcome to the forum from me and the zoo xx

Hello from me and mia

Welcome from Iza and me   

Hi and welcome to the forum from Rocky and me.

Rocky is also a rescue dog and had some issues when we adopted him. He was only 9 months old when we first met him and we are his 3rd home. Rocky had not been socialised at all and was kept in a crate for 12 hours a day in an outhouse. Needless to say his life is much different now.

As soon as we bought him home we took him to our local park to meet some 4 legged friends and some 2 legged ones. We got him on a long training lead and training started straight away, practically. Nearly 4 years later and we now have a well socialised, well behaved Rocky dog who is still going through some issues and still has training every day in our local park.

Getting a well socialised and well behaved dog doesn't happen overnight and takes lots of patience and consistancy. Well done for sticking with the breed there really is no other.

Hi welcome from me and Alfie.
My Alfie is the one in the "I need Space" vest. We rehomed him just before he turned 2yrs. He wasn't walked or socialised so he is very nervy of everything when out, especially dogs. This causes him to have nervous aggression. We have had so many arguments with people who insist their dog is friendly so its fine to let it stay off lead to run up to my on lead scared/aggressive dog! I always warn people and ask them to hold their dog while we pass etc, but they don't seem to mind or believe their dog will get bitten! So we got the vest as back up really, only had a few days.
Any more issues or questions please feel free to pop onto https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f1-staffordshire-bull-terrier-chat
or https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f3-staffordshire-bull-terrier-training-and-behaviour   

Hi and welcome from Oz the stick monster and me

Oz is very dog aggressive especially anything jaeger than him, he kind of tolerates smaller ones but I wouldn't trust him to ever be off lead. We have found that by him carrying a stick (a large one!) it really distracts him and doesn't go bonkers if another dog comes anywhere near, we found thus out by accident but it works fir him, the only going is he won't give it up until he us ready so the garden gets a but gull now and again!

Hi and welcome from me and my two

welcome from darcy and me

Hi and welcome to the forum from Meg and me. Lots of history there with your brood of staffies. I bet you have lots of great memories

Welcome from Fulmine and me