Slowly giving up

I know most of my posts are about chases behaviour (im sorry) but this is another one!

I'm slowly giving up hope that Chase will ever come round to being a 'normal' dog.

His lead ragging and growling is continuously getting worse by the day.
He pulled my mother in law over yesterday, completely flattened and jumped all over my oldest son today while zooming around off the lead and he's grabbed onto my cardigan sleeve and ripped it to shreds!
Fortunately they're both okay but my cardigan didn't survive!

We have an appointment booked on the ninth for his trainer/behaviourist and I'm worried what she's going to say.

I also had a phone call today from a shelter in Somerset offering to take him but I told them he's okay where he is and we'll do our best for him if we can.

I have so much love for him but my trust in him is changing.

Not long till the trainer's visit, so just manage things as best you can till then.

From my experience as a horse trainer, what can seem a hopeless situation often isn't and with expert help I'm hopeful you'll soon have the tools you need to turn this around.

I echo what Liz has said. Also stick with things, it can take such a long time and nothing will happen overnight. We have had misty for nearly three years yet she still pulls and we use a long line in the park. Use every opportunity for training and focus on the things Chase can do.

Honestly this time two years ago I would have bet everything I had that Misty would never be able to complete a Muddy Dog Challenge or a Poppy Run but she has just blown me away with how good she is.
You will get there with him, concentrate on all your successes as you do have many of them with him.

Thank you for the encouragement ladies.

We're doing everything we can but we still don't feel like we're getting anywhere.

I know he's changed and is still changing for the better, it just seems like hes gonna be this way forever!

He won't, he will get there it will just take some time. You WILL get there. Plus you will be so proud of how far he had come with your guidance.

He will get there with your help & love. It's not an overnight cure, training things out of a dog take longer than training it in! Never be afraid to ask for help, I have & Katy is 5!! Stick with it x

MattsBabe7 wrote: it just seems like hes gonna be this way forever!

i know it seems that way, but it really will get better, especially with the help of a professional behaviourist!

Have you not thought that this could be to do with the move?

The lead ragging and growling has only been since he was neutered.
He did start barking at every dog he saw but that's all stopped now.

I think I might have finally worked it out.
I took his rope toy with us on his walk this morning and he was happily carrying it around and playing his version of fetch while off he lead.
I think it's all connected to play!

This afternoon I let him in the garden off the lead this time. It's a small field with another on the back that has chickens, Turkey's and sheep on either side and one side of the house is open to a busy road so we usually just walk him around it on the lead in fear he'd get injured or help himself to a chicken.
I thought he would have hopped the fence and chased the sheep but he didn't! He went and checked them out but then came straight back to me, picked up his rope and started playing with it.
After fifteen minutes he asked to go back inside and crashed out in his crate.
That was something I couldn't have trusted him with two weeks ago!

Staffies do love a good tug and it's not uncommon that they'll try and tug their leads. Chaos loves a rag with his line (when allowed!).

If you are going to play tuggy games, just make sure you have a good 'leave it', and also be wary of holding a tug toy high to try and get it out of reach. You'll probably only teach him to jump for it.

Sounds like you're feeling better!

Good stuff. Keep going you are doing so well.

I’ve just thought If these episodes are random could they be times where you think he might be tired. Hank gets in a right stinker when he’s tired and goes for us but we know he needs a nap so we start to wind him down or just send him to his bed.

I think it's when he gets excited and wants to play but doesn't know how to play properly.

When he came to us he had no toys or bed so we're thinking he might have never been 'taught' to play right from the beginning and this behaviour is his way of expressing himself.
Maybe not being given any toys meant the only thing he 'owned' was his lead and that's all he had/was allowed to play with.

I am still doing my best for him, it just upsets me that he's this way because of another human!

That’s so sad I can’t believe there’s people like that I knows there’s even worse but that is something I don’t want to think about. But I’m constantly looking at things to buy hank that I think he will like, makes me angry that there’s people who get dogs who don’t think this way? Why do they get a dog in the first place if they don’t want to show them love and let them be a dog

You are doing amazing with him just keep it up, training never stops really so just keep at it and just think he’s just have a little wobble when he goes like that  like us humans have from time to time.