fed up!

Our dog hugo is getting no better and I'm at my wits end with worry now!
We have another dog bella who he is totally fine with but his behaviour towards us and other dogs has severely changed.
He urinates all over the house still at every opportunity, urinates on top of every wee she has in the garden and is growling and becoming more aggressive towards us and other people in our household.
I have tried ignoring him when he growls and giving him time outs in his cage.
I have told him No when he urinates and put him into the back garden but he just growls and shows his teeth.
I work offshore for long periods of time and he was particularly bad when I was away last month.
He snacked at my girlfriend and her mam when they told him off for urinating. Her mam is refusing to stay or come to our house again as he was that bad with her. On sunday my grandad came round and he was really bad with him to the point where I had to put the dog out the room and he was snarling and lunging towards him.
My biggest worry is my girlfriends 2 year old son in case he gets on the wrong side of him.
Does anyone have any more advice or methods I could try with him?
I love the dog to bits but I'm on the verge of throwing the towel in and start looking to re-home him as I'm constantly worrying.
His aggression is becoming too much.

I'd be tempted to get a dog behaviourist in to see what the problem is (make sure you check their background, anybody can set up as a behaviourist and most are rubbish). One thing's for certain, there's a reason behind his behaviour, there's no such thing as a dog that's aggressive for no reason. Unfortunately it's not something that's easy to diagnose on a forum and it's something that isn't best approached by trial and error.

I also agree that you need to see a behaviourist. In the mean time; a few questions. Where did Hugo come from? Breeder or rescue? Do you know his/his parents background? Is he neutered?

Thats what I have been thinking as my last resort.
The charge is 60 pound an hour on one we contacted.
Ive never heard any positive comments on behaviourists in our area so I was a bit reluctant to pay is incase she's rubbish.
He can go from such a loving dog one minute to a complete different aggressive dog the next.
Ive also noticed he seems really nervous and sort of cowers and shakes as he growls or snarls.
I have no idea why he seems like this but its only when he's getting told off for urinating or towards certain people or dogs.

Hugo is now 16 month old and I bought him when he was 5 weeks old from a top breeder where I live who has a brilliant record of pedigree dogs.
He always seemed nervous and on edge as a puppy as well and it took him a while to get used to going for walks etc.
I used to let him off his lead once he got confident of walks and he was brilliant and would walk beside you.
In the last 6 month he has totally changed though attacked two dogs and turning towards certain people.
Im just worried its my girlfriends son next.
His half sister bella who is over 5 month old is completely different to him and seems much more loving.

Okay, have you got a link to the behaviourists website? I'll take a look.

Don't mean to be rude, but he sounds like a horrendous breeder if he sold the pup at 5 weeks. Is imagine that this is where your problems are stemming from. He may be a top breeder from looks/pumping out lots of litters but it doesn't sound like he's putting any thought into temperament. Did you meet mum/dad have a good look at the set up? If he's always been a nervous pup I'm wondering if he was socialized properly in the early parts of his life with this breeder.

Which training methods do you use? Have you ever used verbal/physical punishment?

the link is www.muttamorphosis.co.uk

The reason I got hugo when he was 5 weeks was because I bought him as a surprise for my girlfriends birthday.
The breeder only allowed me to take him early as I had staffordshire bull terrier dogs before and I had the time to care for hugo with me been home from work.
He didn't let us take bella till she was 8 weeks like he usually does with all litters.
Yes I seen the mam and dad of hugo and its something a good breeder always offers and something I would request when paying such a high price for a dog. The dogs the breeder had were all brilliant and lived in a family environment with 3 children.
Hugos different to any other staffy I've had and I can't put my finger on why he is like this.

As for training methods I have never used physical punishment to a dog!
I wouldn't want to be physically punished so I don't think my dog would enjoy it either.
Verbally I have told him No in a loud voice and bad lad then either crated him or give him a time out where I've ignored him then generally let him back into the family environment.
Ive tried going back to old methods and praising him for the good things he does by giving him treats etc.

That's even worse. A pup should NEVER under any circumstances (especially not as a birthday present) leave their mum before 7 weeks latest. I would almost guarantee that his early experiences are to blame for his current behaviour.

Read here:

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/09/29/puppies-taken-from-litter-too-soon-develop-behavior-problems-as-adults.aspx

The behaviourist looks good, doesn't appear to use any of the dominance techniques anyway. You could always call her and see it she is confident in working with an aggressive bull breed, not all are.

7 weeks earliest* typing too quickly lol!

I have left a message on her mobile so hopefully she will get back to me tomorrow regarding working with him.
I need it sorting sooner rather than later as Im back to work in a few weeks and fed up of going worried sick.
Maybe it is because he was taken away too early or maybe its something else.
Hopefully the behaviourist can bring back the loving family dog he used to be 6 month ago before its too late.

how old is this dog you talking about ?

from what i can get from your post you not being consistent with the dog you you stick to one thing you cant keep changing or you going have confused dog on your hand (which i think you have now)

what is the daily walking routine?

he is 16 month old and was fine until he got to about 11 month old.
Confused the dog in what way?
He is walked twice a day on his lead now between 40 mins and a hour at a time.
Before we used to let him off and he used to love running about the fields near our home.
Now I can't trust him with other dogs so its a no go.

dogs dont change over night, if you not consistent with a childrens or pets you going have a problems later on!!

do you let him jump up on people then tell him off the next time?
do you let him pull without telling him off and let him get away with next time happens?

1) consistent 2) well walks 3) loved <<-- 3 rule for a happy lovely pet

I no they don't change over night.

He is always told off if he jumps at people to greet them and rarely jumps up in the house.
He never pulls on walks as we corrected him when he was younger.

Im wanting to no which way to approach the aggression side when he is growling at people in the household?

if my dogs was growling at people in my home i would send him or her on a naughty spot till i am happy they have been there lone enough!

but saying that if you doing my 3 rules all the time then you shouldn't be having problems just my IMO

I do that when he growls at people.
I send him to his crate till I think he's had suffucient time to calm down.
What do you suggest as a naughty spot?

you dont want to send to a place where he sleeps or you going make more problems

Could you give him time out in another room ?

so where would you suggest to send him when he growls at someone?
he sleeps in his crate in the kitchen and we only have one other room down stairs which is the sitting room.
would a room upstairs be ok to use?

in a next room not but his bed or he will grow to hate his bed

ok I will start using a different room from now on.
Im home for the next four weeks so I hope I start to see some improvement with these methods.

right you got to make sure everyone does what you do, make sure he getting proper walks (not around the block), make she he getting plenty of love if he does something good give him a treat, if does something wrong the naughty step/place for 5/10 mins! your the boss he should know this but this doesn't mean you have to slap or hit him

Cheers for the advice Steve.
yes thats my worry as when I'm away I need my girlfriend to follow the same rules etc.
He urinated up the fridge again this morning so straight to the naughty step for ten mins.
He's off for his first hour walk of the day soon.
I will keep you updated of my progress while I'm at home the next 3 weeks.

Couldn't see your answer before, is he neutered?

No he isn't neutered.
spoke to various vets and behaviourists over the last couple of days and they seem to advise against it.
although it could cure his marking they fear it could make the aggression side worse with him been an anxious dog.
He's off for his second walk of the day soon.
Seen two dogs on our first walk of the day and he done absolutely nothing and one was barking at him.
We have a behaviourist coming to the house for 2 hours tomorrow afternoon so see how he gets on from that.

We're from Sunderland Dave, and we go to My Pet Stop near Washington. You could give them a try, we only do kc course with a trainer called Ruby and I know she does one on one. I can only say that she seems to know what she's talking about. Could be worth a go.
Pete

Can you tell us a little more about your routines, your praise, your disciplines. Have you heard of NILIF? Nothing in life is free. Make the dog work before he gets anything. Don't give him what he wants unless he earns it by being a good dog. When hes a good dog, give him tons of praise and what ever it is he is needing.

Try a strong clothespin for the marking inside the house LOL j/k

Is there a reason why you are not neutering him? IMHO he is not breeding quality.

Your breeder is a joke. How is the bloodline tied between your two dogs? By Sire or Dam? 5 weeks WTF? sorry, its not directed at you but I had to get it out.

I think from what you've said he almost certainly sounds like he's aggressive through fear. I really think seeing a professional could help you, I know its expensive but sometimes it doesn't even take long and could solve a lot of your problems.

Sounds like you're trying your best to do right by him so I really wish you the best of luck.

Hello again everyone.
Cheers for the advice again in the last few posts.

We had a behaviourist come to the house on friday for around two hours to assess hugo etc.
Basically he is aggressive through fear and anxiety and she described him as a ticking time bomb so of course we don't no what to think now.
She can't understand why he is so pumped up all the time and on edge.
He was in the garden when she was here and he couldn't relax and all.
Pacing backwards and forwards and panting all the time which of course isn't normal.
We don't no why he has this fear as he's never been hit and only told off when caught marking etc.

He behaved well with her when we brought him into the house and she done some clicker training with him.
She's give us loads of training to do with him to stop the marking.
Straight on his lead on a morning and outside till he emptys his bladder and lots of praise to him when he's doing this.
We also do the same on a night before bed.
He is living back in his cage now and hasn't marked at all over the weekend which is a positive.
Lots of praise on walks when he gets past a dog without been aggressive. He managed this twice over the weekend.
He seems worse on a walk with bella. Not sure if he's just been over protective so we are walking them separate now till there trained.
She didn't recommend neuturing as she thinks it will make him worse as the testosterone acts as a calming influence on a fearful/anxious dog.
She did say we could try chemical castration though for a trail period which lasts 6 month at a time.
She also mentioned with us living on a corner house with a main road along side us he uses the garden to patrol and sees other dogs as threats to that so we need to cut down his garden time.
Now its to put the training etc in place and see how he goes over the next 3 weeks while I am home.

I cannot remember if this has already been asked but did you rule out anything to do with his health that may be causing the urinating in the home ? He may have a bladder issue. Did the vet rule this out already ?

Yes we had him checked out when he got his booster and everything was fine with him.

Sounds like your going the right way, just keep his routine and consistencey

Hi Everyone!

Just a little update on Hugo.
Its been a long 6 weeks since I started training him and myself. I have researched every day on different methods and techniques of training. Im so happy at how far he has come in that time. I was on the verge of giving up before and even considered rehoming him. I am so glad I didn't now as I know I would of regretted it for the rest of my life.

I started firstly by bringing his cage back and isolating him to rooms where I could supervise him in the house. This immediately reduced the marking and I think in total he's marked twice in the house in 6 weeks. I then decided he had to work for his rewards instead of getting them for the sake of it. I also cut all the affection out I would give him when he used to come and put his head on my knee. I just ignore him now if he does that and he gets it as a reward. I have also got rid of his harness as he used to pull ridiculously when on walks. He would walk me, not me walking him haha. I replaced the harness with a half choke collar and its worked wonders to control him. He is now completely calm on the walk and happily walks alongside me and sits before we cross every road naturally now. He still isn't too keen on other dogs which I am busy working on. He's been introduced to a labrador and we managed to take them on a walk together which is something that he could of never done before.

Its all little steps at the moment and there is still a lot more work and learning to do for me and Hugo. All in all I am over the moon at how he has come on and learned so quick with guidance over the last 6 weeks. I am back to work for a few weeks tomorrow so its back over to my girlfriend to look after him!Fingers crossed he is good for her and I come back to a happy girlfriend and dog for once haha

i'm so happy for you dave,when you look back and see how you were considering re-homing like you said you would have regretted it,a bit of time training a dog will turn a dog around as you have seen,it's lovely to hear,well done to you

good luck and all the best takes time and patience ull all get there slowly and surely

Ah great news Dave. Like you say it's all small steps but they do learn quickly. Well done the both of you

Great to hear that he is making progress. He's lucky to have an owner that cares enough to preserve.
Just a tip on the urinating (not sure if that problems been fixed) but rather than punishing or telling him off for peeing in the wrong spot, if you catch him, just pick him up and move him to the spot you DO want him to pee and say the command word, then praise when he does it there. It's worked wonders with our girl who we struggled to housebreak for a while (no doggy door and winter didn't help)