Brand New.... Am I mad?? :D

Hello Everyone!!

So I am new here and also new to the Staffy life... not sure if I am mad yet? haha!

So I have got a 1 year 6 month old Blue Staff called Ty ... (Tyson) ... I have rescued him from someone who wasn't treating him in the best way! Anyway.. enough about the bad stuff so we got him yesterday and he is crackers... bounces all over you .. knocks the kids over (we have 5) and licks you to death!

I love him already, but hes super heavy / strong... my partner thinks I am mad and is worried about the children around him? and wants to know if there is any way of learning him to calm down slightly so he knows he is not to jump all over everyone.. and everything ALL of the time!

Thank you!!

hia from me and Sasha   well done you on rescuing him,Ty looks a gorgeous boy  ,we have a saying on here that a good dog is a tired dog

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t32392-a-tired-dog-is-a-good-dog

read the link and see if it helps 

Hi and welcome!

You're not mad... or no madder than we all are at any rate! Well done for taking him on, it sounds like he needs a bit of tlc.

You'll find some training really helpful, together with a few rules. Life is much easier for a dog knowing 'enough' (stop playing) and 'leave it' (let go of whatever is in your mouth). In other words, the off switches. Shout if you need help and I can pull up some old threads that will get you started.

With the kids, it's really, really important (essential) for them to learn not to wind Ty up. He'll find it hard to learn not to jump up and bite (in play) if the kids are encouraging him. I know it's fun for them but he won't be able to understand when he can do what unless they help him. Sit down as a whole family and all agree rules that you all follow, all the time. No holding stuff up high for Ty to jump and grab. No shrieking if he starts mouthing as that will make it more fun. If an adult says it quiet time then it is quiet time. Stuff like that.

It's also great to get kids involved in training but it needs to be consistent so as not to confuse Ty. Again, I've got some tips on that if you'd like.

I'm fairly new & this is a great forum. You will get great advice in here. Ty is beautiful, he is very new so I'm sure he will settle with routine, good walks & some training

Hi from me & Katy, well done on rescuing Tyson he looks gorgeous Liz has given some great advice & I agree on teaching your children at the same time as training him! Children can easily overexcite a dog with loud shrieks & flapping hands

Hi ya, welcome to the forum from Flo & me

I agree with all of the above but would also add that the type of food they get can make them somewhat hyper (think blue smarties n kids) so perhaps have a look at whats in the food.

Thank you all very much for replying and any help would be FANTASTIC ... our main worry at the moment with him is we have a baby .. 10 months old... if hes in his crib in the living room or anything TY loves to just run straight in and jump up at the cot licking the baby and knocking him over...! not good! .. how do we get him to calm instantly? or before he gets to knocking him over.. hes quite calm in the kitchen with you but as soon as you open the door and let him into the living room he goes mental ... jumping on the sofa.. off the sofa and does not stop

So from the Avatar you have it looks like TY is quiet food orientated like most are so use high value treats to get the reaction you want. Start with sit and reward, then move on to come and reward. When you have those licked, combine the two and you should have instant sitting next to you.

Now to put this into practice, when he bounds into the room get him to come and he should do as long as you have the above training sorted, it won't then take long for him to figure what you want him to do. The key here is letting him understand what you want him to do, if he fails telling him off won't have much effect as he really won't understand what he did wrong, they always remember that treat though, right

It may take a while but you will get there if you are consistent and set him up to succeed

thank you very much ian we will try this with him!! when we are not around the children and we are working one on one with one another... he is much better.. he will sit.. paw... lay down etc for me... and he will come to call how ever more than one person in the room and all that goes out the window he is so cheeky

Ah yes distraction, really high value treats will help with that, something like frankfurter or sausage, my girl loves ham or cheese. Whatever he loves best use as the high value treat and only for that purpose that way he will know that he only gets it if he comes to you when called

Hello and welcome

Sounds likes it's been a very exciting time for Ty finding his new forever home. Patience and consistency is key

Can't wait to hear more about how he is getting on

Hiya from me and Vinnie, well done on the rescue,,,,,, and in answer to your question,,,,, yes you are mad