Double trouble: protectiveness/aggression with other dogs

We have two staffies (Eco 3 and Chomsky 1) and I am really struggling to know what to do with the two of them when out and about.

Eco had never displayed any aggression at all, having been socialised loads from a young age, but now it seems that she is overprotective and aggressive when Chomsky interacts with other dogs. He hasn't had as much exposure to other dogs as she did as a pup, is very confident, does not back down and plays very rough.

When they are on their own, they both seem much better with other dogs and I have started training again with Chomsky. But it seems like this is some sort of pack behaviour and the training all seems to go out the window with the two of them together.

I am now very reluctant to let them off lead in case they encounter a dog and end up in a real fight.

Any suggestions on how to work with both dogs at the same time to get them to socialise better? Where I live has meant that I haven't been able to socialise both dogs together in dog parks etc and now I'm too nervous.

I am going to try walking with both of them on-lead near other dogs to see if I can get them to be less reactive to other dogs - is this a good strategy?

Is this common with 2 dogs, and particularly staffies?

Can this be overcome with training or should I just accept that they will need to be on lead when around other dogs?

Advice and experience appreciated as I'm feeling quite sad that they appear to be an aggressive little duo. (No issue with humans, just dogs).

It's fairly common & not just with Staffords.

You can certainly train to help the situation, but I'm not the best person to say how. The person best placed to help will be Liz - I'm sure she'll be along soon to give you advice.

In the meantime, keep them on lead unless you're in an area without other dogs - you don't want to chance a fight.

ideally you should keep them on lead around other dogs regardless of whether or not they are good with other dogs, you never know what the other dog is like and if yours were to run and interact with a bad dog I cant bear thinking about the outcome even when you have a good dog, I never ever and will never let hank run up to another dog, it is my responsibility to keep him safe so if he got attacked by another dog the only blame would be on myself.

Dogs are pack animals, so yes they will feed off eachother in situations if you are not in 100% control. If i was you i would look to get some training with someone who is apt at dealing with multiple dogs esp harder breed dogs (im thinking the likes of shepherds and gun dog owners or sort of show/trick trainer type people who also know about behaviour)

The most important thing in all of it is probably you...and training you to know how to be that person the dogs listen to. Ive trained lots of horses, but the owners are sometimes the one needing trained in how to make the horse do what it already knows. They (dogs or horses) wont do it just cause you tell them to, they have to know you mean it by your body language and tone...and sometimes thats the hardest thing to teach someone.