Am I doing enough?

I worry I'm not doing enough with Axl sometimes. Like I've said before he's dog aggressive to dogs he doesn't know and on top of that he has a tendency to tear his ligament in his back leg. He's done it twice and both times it's been a small tear which was self healing. We don't want him to damage it so much he has to have an operation.

Anyway for those reasons we don't take him to parks and he can only have lead walks through the week. We take him to my mum's huge garden at the weekend and throw a ball for him for about an hour each time.
He goes Saturday and Sunday. Although too much of this and he limps for a few days afterwards. (hes been checked over by the vet so we know it's his ligaments)

During the week I take him at 6am for a 45 min walk on lead and then our friend walks him while we are at work for an hour to an hour and a half at lunchtime. Our friend also stays with him all day (he's a full time dad so can't work). He plays with him during the day as well.

We also play with him in the evening either with a rope toy or we hide a toy and get him to find it. He seems happy enough and always has someone with him every day but I just feel a bit guilty that he can't go off lead on walks. I think he's getting enough exercise as he just sleeps when indoors but I still worry

He's my world I'd hate to think I'm not doing enough for him!

I think he maybe does need a little freedom when out, have you thought about a long line for him? You can get any length and colour you like on ebay quite cheap. I would also get a flexi lead for him. If you get a flexi, buy the big heavy duty one.
Pete

Yeah I have got a fairly long lead so he can trot about and get amongst the leaves and trees. I will have a look at long training leads though

Maybe a little more space to explore while on walks hun, but you adore Axl and you'd know by his behaviour if it wasn't enough. He gets very long walks, and as much as he may love zoomies it would probably do him more harm than good, so you're doing the right thing. I'm ALWAYS worrying that Bug doesn't get enough, but they adapt really well in general and don't need as much as we think they do IMO.

Sounds to me that you do an awful lot more than some owners that's for sure Debs.

Is it his recall that gives you trouble or simply that he might get himself into a scrape with another dog ?

mias never off lead either i live next to lots of roads and the fact incase she comes into contact with bigger dogs she likes small dogs and cats tho, i soon know when she hasnt had enoug exercise and just take her out again. i tried also to introduce toys but she wil only play with a ball when shes in the mood. i do her tricks some days and that keeps her occupied.

It's his dog aggression he gets very angry if an unknown dog approaches. We manage it but going off lead just isn't an option while he's like it. also he's got a bad leg so when he runs he will limp quite badly for a few days afterwards. If he just trotted when we let him off I would do it when no dogs were around but he doesn't trot he will charge about like a lunatic the whole time the nutter!

mias the same i think she doesnt realise shes 12 not 12 months

Hmmm not sure what to suggest. Was thinking that woods walking would slow him down a bit but then he'll still be jumping about I guess and the last thing you want to do is make his leg worse.

I think you're doing the best for him by giving him the run he needs in the garden where you can control the running. You might well find that he calms as he gets older too Debs s don't give up hope of letting him off lead etc. I kept at it with Flo & whilst she's not perfect, she certainly gets lots of off lead time now.

Thanks guys I won't give up Ian he's slowly making progress and like you say with age he will hopefully slow down a bit. Anyway he's currently happily snoring in my spot on the sofa.... I moved to make tea lol

psst mia hasn't slowed and shes 12 mind you may be a different case scenario for a male staffy.

try giving him a job to do, agility, flyball or weightpull. you may well be suprised at how the dog agression disapears when he is working and feels part of a team

Hi Nathan I was looking into fly ball and agility but I'm a bit worried about his leg that's the reason I've not taken him yet. I would love to do fly ball with him or agility as I know he'd love it! Maybe I will speak to a few trainers perhaps he could do a little bit and see how he goes!

Also I'd need to find a trainer that would let axl train with his dog aggression issues even though I think he would be more interested in the ball than anything else.

I just had a look on eBay at fly ball equipment and I think I'm going to get a machine and do it in my mums back garden it's definitely big enough! I will train him and when he gets better we could attempt classes. Will have to see how his leg holds out but should be okay if we take it easy. Might also get him some agility equipment too