Male staffie lock on

Hi I would love to have some advice please.

I have two ,2and half year old staffies, one male and one female. Both are very well trained, Rocco my male sometimes barks at other dogs but is fine normally and even goes on his back for a belly rub for dogs. Unfortunately today we were at a fun dog show event, and both dogs were fine with all the other dogs untill, a small puppy staffie came over. Before we knew it he had locked onto the puppy's lip, he didn't show any aggression before at the puppy, he just grabbed on and didn't let go for a good 5 mins. We and the puppy's owner were panicking and other people were very ruff with our dog trying to get him off and of course this was very stressing and I burst into tears. In all his life he has never done this, and our female Skye has no bad behaviour in her.

Was hoping someone could help me maybe identify why he did this? Or am I doing something wrong? We have never played ruff with him as before we had staffies we were aware of the breed. I have been terribly upset about what happened, and am needing help as I always believed it is how the owner brings up the dog to the way it is but in this case I believe I have socialised him help to my best ability and he is great with kids !! He hasn't even showed aggression towards Skye they do everything today. Any help /advice would be greatly appreciated?? And I am now looking into muzzle for him as the poor puppy was traumatised from this and I never want this to happen to another dog again !

Thank you
Cerys

Ok, first off take a breath and relax.

I've had this with my Flo, we had passed a Staffy puppy and she didn't bat an eyelid, however, once we had passed by and got some way down the path Flo turned around and went for it. Now when I say went for it she simply pinned it down and did no harm whatsoever.

So the question is why???.. I don't know and would love to have been able to ask her. It is upsetting for all involved but no harm was done by my Flo and wonder if anyone was done in your case?

Now my Flo has told other puppies off when they have pestered her and the owners have always been fine as its a learning experience in those cases but to just turn on a Staffy puppy is something I would love to know as to why.

In your case I would hold off on the muzzle and just be wary that this could happen in the future, which is what I do when I see a puppy of any breed.

I hope this shared experience offers you some comfort and let's you know you aren't alone

Oh, BTW, welcome to the forum from Flo and me

Thank you for sharing your experience, it's nice to hear and made me feel better. The puppy had a big cut on the lip, I don't think things helped as we had loads of people coming over hitting and pulling on rocco which the poor puppy was getting dragged with him there were also someone poking our dogs eyes and trying to rip his back legs open, as you can imagine I was in shock and I still feeling it now.

It has really got me worried and rocco is my baby boy and if there's anything I can do as a owner I will do my best to prefend this happening again.

And thank you for the big welcome to the site.

Wow I have to say it seems that the other people made things so much worse by hurting your dog. I can't imagine having his eyes poked would have made him any more likely to drop the pup. I agree with Ian, try not to let this upset you. He is still your boy and is maybe just pop him in the lead in future near a puppy for your own peace of mind.

Hi & welcome.

what a horrible experience for you! was there any growling etc from your boy, or any shaking the pup?

if not, it could be that he was playing, and when everyone around him panicked he just held on! as already said, i wouldn't use a muzzle yet (although it's always useful to muzzle train a dog in case it's needed, say at tge vets). just watch him.

what might be useful is one of these 'yellow dog' jackets that say "I need space" on it. that way, people will keep their dogs away unless you specifically say it's okay.

Thank you both for your advice, was very frightening and I've even burst into tears still today thinking about it. Only sign was his ears were up, even my partner thought he was licking him at first. There was no shaking he just locked on and the poor puppy was crying, I hope the puppy won't be affected  yes I think I may buy the vest it's a good idea and I will definitely look into it thank you.

The way I am thinking,is if your adult dog has not been in the company of many pups and there antics,it can spook them and put them on the defensive.I have seen it many times when the adult dog seems at a loss to handle the situation and reacts in a protective manner.Has he ever been in the company of a lively pup before? if not that could be the reason.
And as for those silly people hitting him to leave go,it will only make a staff hold on all the more.The only way to make a staff release is to twist his collar to restrict his air way,then when he opens his mouth to gasp for air pull him away quickly,before he has chance to take hold again.

same name as my 5 n half month old pup a cracker

I have two ,2and half year old staffies, one male and one female. Both are very well trained, Rocco my male sometimes barks at other dogs but is fine normally and even goes on his back for a belly rub for dogs. Unfortunately today we were at a fun dog show event, and both dogs were fine with all the other dogs untill, a small puppy staffie came over. Before we knew it he had locked onto the puppy's lip, he didn't show any aggression before at the puppy, he just grabbed on and didn't let go for a good 5 mins. We and the puppy's owner were panicking and other people were very ruff with our dog trying to get him off and of course this was very stressing and I burst into tears. In all his life he has never done this, and our female Skye has no bad behaviour in her.

Was hoping someone could help me maybe identify why he did this? Or am I doing something wrong? We have never played ruff with him as before we had staffies we were aware of the breed. I have been terribly upset about what happened, and am needing help as I always believed it is how the owner brings up the dog to the way it is but in this case I believe I have socialised him help to my best ability and he is great with kids !! He hasn't even showed aggression towards Skye they do everything today.  Any help /advice would be greatly appreciated?? And I am now looking into  muzzle for him as the poor puppy was traumatised from this and I never want this to happen to another dog again !

Thank you
Cerys [/quote]

GRAHAM.C wrote:The way I am thinking,is if your adult dog has not been in the company of many pups and there antics,it can spook them and put them on the defensive.I have seen it many times when the adult dog seems at a loss to handle the situation and reacts in a protective manner.Has he ever been in the company of a lively pup before? if not that could be the reason.
And as for those silly people hitting him to leave go,it will only make a staff hold on all the more.The only way to make a staff release is to twist his collar to restrict his air way,then when he opens his mouth to gasp for air pull him away quickly,before he has chance to take hold again.

your staffy is a beauty looks a belter mate was compareing to my pup just looks a miniture version of yours

tommy-1968 wrote:

GRAHAM.C wrote:The way I am thinking,is if your adult dog has not been in the company of many pups and there antics,it can spook them and put them on the defensive.I have seen it many times when the adult dog seems at a loss to handle the situation and reacts in a protective manner.Has he ever been in the company of a lively pup before? if not that could be the reason.
And as for those silly people hitting him to leave go,it will only make a staff hold on all the more.The only way to make a staff release is to twist his collar to restrict his air way,then when he opens his mouth to gasp for air pull him away quickly,before he has chance to take hold again.

your staffy is a beauty  looks a belter mate was compareing to my pup  just looks a miniture version of yours

Thank you tommy,yes I am very pleased with the way she is developing and with a bit of luck she should make a good show quality adult.Mind you she comes from a very good blood line.
Glad you are pleased with your new pup,keep up the good management and it should turn out a cracker.

this is what happened to my staffie only not to a puppy but to my other staff, she was having puppies at the time so thought it was that but even after the puppies its the same if they get chance they get caught between the fencing by their lips so i have doubled up the fencing area giving 5ft between where she goes out, they live in different rooms now when they arent out. i am going to buy 2 muzzles and see what happens when walking close to each other on either side of the fence but i dont think they will be friends again and cant take the chance them being together while i am at work. The behaviour is not with lively young dogs as i have 2 pugs who are very lively and never stop but i dont put them with the staff who had the pups as she had enough dealing with 7 puppies without hyperactive pugs. my pugs when i got them use to try and milk off the staffies and funny enough even tho at the time none had any pups they stood while they tried to get milk

I think you will keep your 2 adults apart forever,once staffs fall out they are not in the habit of making friends ever again.I have seen it happen many times,they are not a very forgiving breed.Best of luck,but I think the muzzle may be the answer if you want to walk them together.