puppy play or starting of a dislike for other dogs

Hi - bit of advice, Buddy is 9 months old and gets really excited when he sees another dog and his behaviour has gone from waggy tail and excitable to ears back and a stiff stance the closer they get, - I have started making him sit and wait and watch me if we are walking past and slowly he is getting it.But it is the actual meeting that is causing me a little concern

He has had a couple of bad incidences ( neither his doing ) a GSD that got out of his house and went for both him and my hubby before the owner grabbed it - and a jack Russell that he had been ok with for a few meetings who decided he suddenly didn't like him and nipped his nose.., this morning a lovely friendly chocolate lab on a lead came over to say hello - she was a bit skitty but you could see it was all playful - Buddy was also on a lead and started wagging his tail but the closer she got the more his body language started to tell me he wasn't going to play

I told him to be nice and but when the lab came for a sniff he lunged forward making a growling noise and spun round when she tried to sniff his tail area .. now I don't know if I then tensed and made it worse but he started to growl and pull forward to get to the dog - the owner said he thought they were both too excited but I could tell he was nervous of buddy as was I as to what to expect

we both walked in the same direction him in the road me on the pavement and Buddy was fine, I went one way he another but when our paths crossed a little later , Buddy lunged again - is this staffy play or is this the start of a doggie dislike phase .. could his two incidences given him a subconscious fear of other dogs ?

What's the best way to deal with him - I don't want to make him nervous by being nervous my self but I am a little concerned at his behaviour , he has only recently changed his behaviour , he does not seem as if he wants to engage in contact with the dogs - he is happy to see them at a distance but the closer he gets the more he stiffens and growls , no teeth displayed yet but definitely not the cuddly bouncy puppy that wanted to play that I had a few weeks ago..

Any ideas advice want him to be able to mix with other dogs and play safely but am a bit nervous now .

Oh carol i think perhaps after the german shepherd incident then the jackrussell hes become a bit wary of how to act id continue to socialise him with older dogs as they are more calm make good association with any dog that approaches its been a case u became nervous and buddys felt the tension through the lead. Try not easy i know to stay calm as possible relaxing yourself when another dog approaches and make the experience as enjoyable as possible for you both is there a puppy class near you? This would be a great opportunity for buddy to socialise with many breeds and ages of dogs. Im sure if someone has better advice they will come along soon.

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t40763-is-my-dog-aggressive
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t36274-meeting-an-unfamiliar-dog
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t14672-dogs-body-language
Have a read of these hen hope they help

Sounds like a mixture of things Carol. Perhaps the previous instances have had an effect and perhaps Buddy is growing up a little and being a bit bolder. Throw in to the mix that you're a little nervous too and it adds up to a right old mixture.

You're doing great with reading Buddy's body language, we don't all have perfect Staffies and this is a key piece of learning as an owner. My Flo isn't perfect but I trust her implicitly only because she may react but will never bite.

I agree with Mia05 in that socialisation will help a lot. If classes aren't an option try walking, on lead at first, with people that you know and have dogs. The more you do the more you'll learn and the more relaxed you'll be.

Thanks for all your advice I think maybe the dogs incidences have definitely had an effect on him - I haven't any local puppy/obedience classes close to me, but I started taking him to one a few months ago but with an hours drive and then the class and an hour back he was getting over exited and tired and it was doing him no good the class was very large with a lot of dogs with behavioural issues - bit overwhelming for him. I do have a trainer coming to my house on the 2 January to do a one to one session with me as I had already realised that my body language was not helping Buddy meeting other dogs - she is bring her dog with her to show me what to do so Buddy will get the chance to meet and greet a calmer older dog who is used to misbehaving doggies:) I hope this will help him and me overcome this fear - I think 12 years of having a greyhound who was terrified of all dogs so was muzzled as he would lunge has installed a fear in me of Buddy approaching other dogs - I think I am as much at fault as him ... I guess I am just a little nervous because of his breed I would hate him to hurt another dog or get hurt because of me .. will have a read of the links above as well thanks again