My 7 month old female staffy attacked another dog

Hi all! I hope that you are keeping well. I would really love some help and advice.

For ref. We are based in Northern Ireland.


We have a 7 month old female, non spayed Staff puppy. Her both parents are staffies, comes from a good responsible family. We have recently realised that her back legs are a lot longer than regular SBT, and after some research we realised she may be an Irish staff- were assuming that some other generations had been cross mixed. Everyone that meets her says that she looks like more of a pit bull than a staff.

We got her since she was 8 weeks. We have socialised her daily from day 1. She’s gone to puppy school, she’s gone to puppy play hours and she’s recently started going to trusted doggy day care for a few hours weekly to learn more social skills and have a good time. She is gentle at heart, she isn’t dominating, loves dogs and of course all people.

When she was very young and going to puppy play hour we quickly learned that She loves rough play and small dogs would keep away from her.

At 13 weeks we had an incident where an insecure small dog was barking at her and she misread that as a challenge and jumped to rough play, even an attack. We were asked to leave.  We put it down to her not knowing the social skills yet and not reading the situation. Also not to have her with small dogs that would feel intimidated by her and her strength.

Ever since she’s grown she’s been fabulous, the doggy day care loved her. She made friends, she learned to play etc and it was good.

Last Thursday she even came across a SBT with whom she just had a bad chemistry and didn’t see eye to eye. They had a few roughs but never anything too serious.

And even at any doggy rumbles over the past few weeks they could give out to her/splash her with water and shush her away to quiet corner without a problem.

5 days later today she is healthy as ever, she hasn’t been ‘off’ all as good as ever.

In the first 40mins of being at the daycare, unprovoked she attacked a smaller, older dog, latched onto its neck and locked the jaw. The staff there could barely get her off, she bit through the other dogs neck, it was bleeding and the dogs tongue was going purple.

Needless to say I rushed to collect her and we’ve been advised not to return which I wouldn’t anyway as to not put any other dogs at risk. The owner said that he’s seen aggressive dogs that don’t do what she did. He said that what she did was something dogs are usually taught to do.

We’ve been given a number for a brilliant dog trainer and dog behaviourist, but needless to say it feels a bit hopeless. We always knew that getting a SBT it can go either way no matter what you do, and even with training i don’t think I could ever trust her with other dogs. Do they get the taste for it? I don’t know.

It is devastating because we wanted to give her the best life she could get, including time with other dogs , being off leash etc. We don’t have kids, but this raises the questions whether she’d go for anyone else . The day care said to look at it as being lucky, because god forbid that happened outside in a less controlled environment with heavy consequences.

At 7 months old she is already so strong and of course she’ll only grow stronger.

We will get in touch with the breeder, but I’m starting to think that maybe some generations of her not so long ago were involved in dog fights and that maybe they had possibly been crossed with Irish pit bulls (who are illegal in Ireland) to bypass the law.

I guess my question is whether there’s still hope? Could she be trusted around other dogs? Has anyone else experienced it? Or is this just one of those things that we would need to live with? This naturally makes me vary of everything that we do now and anyone that comes in touch with her.

Thank you for reading this and thank you to anyone that shares their experience.

Hi & welcome to the forum. What's your beautiful girl's name?

Firstly, she does look more 'Irish Staff' (I hate that term as it's so often used as another name for a pitbull). That being said, if her parents were both staffords then it's probably just a throwback to something in her past. Also, she's at that awkward teenage stage where her legs have grown faster than her body. She'll fill out a bit more over the next 18 months/two years & she may well look less leggy when that happens.

I really sympathise - our old boy Bandit was perfectly dog friendly until he was about 6 or 7 months old & then he decided he didn't like other dogs! We tried careful socialising, but nothing worked. He could tolerate about three smaller bitches but that was it. However, that didn't mean he didn't live the best life ever! He was perfectly happy meeting & greeting people, just not other dogs.

I don't know about Ireland, but around my way there are many secure fields that you can rent for an hour (here they're about £5 or £6 an hour) and our present boy, who has ADHD loves them. He gets to run wherever he likes in the field & still gets plenty of attention from us.

By all means consult a behaviourist (as long as they use a non-aversive method), but don't stress too much if it doesn't work. A good behaviourist will also give you 'coping mechanisms' to reduce the stress around other dogs.

Good luck!

Hi Sabine,

I wonder if you could share any advice. As we have had a very similar situation as you had back in May last year.

We got our Staffy Sadie in October 2022 from Dogstrust, she was bred from a puppy farm and found in Antrim. Although was then transported to Dogstrust Glasgow, where we adopted her!

I have attached a photo as Sadie is a Staffordshire cross bread, although not sure what with. But she is also longer legged!!




We got her at around 18 weeks and she is now around 7 months old. To date she has been very friendly, well natured dog and is great with people.

Similar to yourself, Sadie has shown signs with smaller, timid dogs and older dogs that bark at her. She will often bark back and get frustrated that they don’t want to play with her. However, for most of the dogs she has met she has been great both on and off the lead.

However, today we tried taking her to a trusted doggy day care and the exact same thing happened. She was playing and interacting well from when we dropped her off (at 8am) until around 1pm (during this time she spent time both alone and also with other dogs).

However, when taken out one on their pack playtime’s. After about 20 mins Sadie, attacked an older Westie and Cocker Spaniel, both unprovoked. We were told that she just saw red and locked onto their necks. The handler at the daycare was great, as she had seen this before. She explained how she thought Sadie was a lovely, well natured dog both before and after the attach but unfortunately she wouldn’t be allowed back (which is totally understandable and acceptable).

We are going to now seek help from Dogstrust and a Behaviouralist, however wondered if you had follow on information to share or any success?

Thanks in advance,

Jack

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Hello and welcome to you both, Sabine snd Jack.
Lovely puppies but indeed, how utterly worrying the behaviour.

I am lucky enough to say that I’ve not had that problem with my 3 girls so cannot share any experience.
However, my Tigress is 8 months old and at that age, the hormones are racing towards first season. This may be part of an explanation as to why it is happening around this age.

You both mention attacks on smaller dogs so perhaps this is something to try to avoid in the future ?

Hope you find solutions to work around this problem

Hi,
I know your post was from sometime ago but I just wondered how you have got on with your staffy? I read your post and it’s practically the same situation we’re in with our 8 month old staffy, bit another dog and am now so worried that it will happen again. We had a consultation with a behaviourist but to be honest it has made me feel more worried and hasn’t given me any confidence in how to deal with the situation. How is your dog now? I really hope you managed to resolve the issue. Like you said you just want them to be able to play with other dogs, be free etc. x

Hi all,

Just a follow up update on the pup.

We found out months after that the dog that got bitten was actually provoking and bullying our dog and she had to defend herself. We never went back to the doggy day care.

As times gone on we had realised that she was the runt of the litter- so already had been in fight or flight more since a pup. We had tried to socialise her far too much and allowing these dog interactions that she didn’t always enjoy due to her more shy/nervous nature.

Not only Doggy day cares but in particular allowing all passing dogs to say hello to her. Now a year later she has slowly become a little more heightened around dogs but not overly aggressive- however she will growl if needed to let the other dog know to back off.

I’ve learnt that staffies are very heightened. And we have also since realised that she is definitely a pit bull/staff mix, exactly how other pics shared here. She also seemed to clash with all other staffies in day care and it’s down to their dominating nature.

They are heightened, really strong and full of energy as if someone loaded £50 quid in them.. smaller dogs find it intimidating, they bark etc but our dog takes it as an opportunity to get rough. We don’t let her be around smaller dogs off leash etc.

She is fine with dogs that she knows and we go for leash on walks together; however given the past I’ll
Always be vary if possibility.

I have learnt that though it’s ok if your dog isn’t keen on other dogs per say, they all have their quirks and likes, as long as they know how to behave and communicate and not feel threatened- in need to defend themselves.

I also would not recommend doggy day cares simply because accidents happen. And ours happened when the staff weren’t looking for a moment. It’s too much of a risk and an impact to deal with after.

Great to hear that you're coping & things seem to be going in the right direction!

carolinebriggs wrote:Hi,
I know your post was from sometime ago but I just wondered how you have got on with your staffy? I read your post and it’s practically the same situation we’re in with our 8 month old staffy, bit another dog and am now so worried that it will happen again. We had a consultation with a behaviourist but to be honest it has made me feel more worried and hasn’t given me any confidence in how to deal with the situation. How is your dog now? I really hope you managed to resolve the issue. Like you said you just want them to be able to play with other dogs, be free etc. x

Why are you more worried after consulting the behaviourist? What have they said to make you concerned?

I don’t know why really. LOTS of problems identified. Basically a massive list. However I don’t feel I’ve been given the skills to work on them. We did very little practical..I was hoping we would go for a short walk and she could actually show us how to manage her behaviour. Eg pulling on the lead like she’s possessed!

Pulling on the lead will need a trainer rather than a behaviourist. But deal with one problem at a time. Walking nicely on the lead is a great place to start & will set you up for everything else!

The way I've used (with my Stafford and my bull terrier) is to find what motivates her. So, treats, toy, whatever can be easily carried on your walks.

Pick a really quit time of day to start with, even if it means getting up at 5am! As soon as she pulls, say her name and "heel" or "close" (whatever word you find easier - you can say anything at all as long as you say the same word every time), do an about turn & walk the other way. She's going to have to follow you. As soon as she gets to your side, repeat so that you're going in the original direction. As soon as she reaches you side, praise & treat. Repeat, repeat repeat!

Once you feel she's got it, you can start to walk at more human times of day! Expect her to relapse,but just do your routine. She WILL get it, but it may take time & she will get tired because she's using her brain as well as her body. If you feel she's getting tired, lots of praise & go home.

I would recommend using a harness if you don't already, because this method will put strain on her neck with a collar.

How does she react when she sees other dogs or people?

Hi, thank you for taking the time to message and for the useful advice. I’m going to do exactly what you’ve said and stick to it religiously. I walk her with a double ended lead attached to her harness and collar. She’s very strong and without the double ended lead I find it really hard to keep hold of her. I’ve just got back from taking her for a field walk and from quite a distance she could see another dog. She barked (very deep), heckles went up, ears flat and tail between her legs. Not very good the behaviourist has said for her to meet other dogs but ones that are a good match for her. I feel like I’m in a catch 22 situation. If I avoid other dogs then she isn’t being socialised but if I do let her go and say hello with owners permission then I’m risking her ‘going for’ the other dog. She’s 8 months old. Had her from about 10 weeks. I’ve carried her out and about before she was fully vaccinated, met with a friend of mine who’s dogs were fully vaccinated and went to puppy classes. I’m at a loss to what I have done wrong. She’s a lovely dog but the trainer said she’s suffering from chronic stress, she becomes trigger stacked and isn’t getting enough sleep. Thanks again for taking the time to message me x

Hi, thank you for taking the time to message and for the useful advice. I’m going to do exactly what you’ve said and stick to it religiously. I walk her with a double ended lead attached to her harness and collar. She’s very strong and without the double ended lead I find it really hard to keep hold of her. I’ve just got back from taking her for a field walk and from quite a distance she could see another dog. She barked (very deep), heckles went up, ears flat and tail between her legs. Not very good the behaviourist has said for her to meet other dogs but ones that are a good match for her. I feel like I’m in a catch 22 situation. If I avoid other dogs then she isn’t being socialised but if I do let her go and say hello with owners permission then I’m risking her ‘going for’ the other dog. She’s 8 months old. Had her from about 10 weeks. I’ve carried her out and about before she was fully vaccinated, met with a friend of mine who’s dogs were fully vaccinated and went to puppy classes. I’m at a loss to what I have done wrong. She’s a lovely dog but the trainer said she’s suffering from chronic stress, she becomes trigger stacked and isn’t getting enough sleep. Thanks again for taking the time to message me x

The tail tucked between her legs is a stress/fear reaction. You need to find her 'trigger' distance. Try teaching her 'watch'. Start indoors, hold a treat in front of your face & say 'watch'. Immediately she looks at you give her the treat. Do that about a dozen times, and two or three times a day. Soon you'll be able to say 'watch' without a treat & she'll look at you.

Then try the same outside, as far from people & dogs as you can. Once she'll do it outside you can start trying to use it near people and dogs - that's when you will need to know her trigger distance. The second she looks at a dog, you say 'watch'. Gradually you should be able to get closer before she reacts. She needs to trust that you're in control. By giving her something else to think about you're removing some of the stress.

It won't be a quick fix, I'm afraid.

Thank you. She does know ‘watch’ and I do it as much as I can. Lots of hard work and perseverance ahead of me. Thank you again for the advice x

You may find she'll always be a little nervous, but the trick is to gather to rely on you to fix her problems so she doesn't have to.

Do keep in touch and let us know how you get on.

Yes definitely.. that seems to be the key.. if I’m in control then she’ll be more relaxed and look to me for guidance thank you again and will update you in a month or so x

Just a thought. You're in the UK? You might want to look at NutriCalm

https://nutri-paw.com/products/calming-treats?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw8symBhAqEiwAaTA__MH-vjtUMt54q-i7VvwKBohBjyd8ka5r5B5BrNhtLe5fe3RcHrrTDBoCZm0QAvD_BwE

It can take 2 to 3 weeks to show a full effect, but it really helped us when our BT was diagnosed firstly with ADHD and then with Sudden Onset Aggression Syndrome. It really did 'take the edge off'. They're not cheap, but if it works....