STAFFY OWNERS HELP PLEASE urgent

sad_dog_lady

i am appealing to any staffy owners, or experianced people who know the dogs....
i am a long time poster but ive assumed another identity today as i need confidential advice
my staffie is a rescue..... he was just 12 weeks when i got him at the pound
i have spent two years and 2,000 on training ... you name them ive tried it.
so he is now 2
he was castrated at 7 months
in the woods today he attacked an alsation five times his size.... this dog was on lead.. but was very agressive
but my dog went right in and had a go
he was wearing a harnes and halti
but was off lead

the problem is these people are telling the police and want to have my dog put down
my dog has a gash on his chest
i'm sorry to say he does go for some dogs.. but not others, we keep the halti on as its like a muzel to his little snout.
i know i can keep him on lead, but he is sooooo miserable, head and tail down.
i know i can get up at 5 am and walk him then but that won't always happen in real life.
in the streets he's ok ish but my other rescue dog isnt... she is mad
no honestly mad... and we walk her in the woods off lead cause she is lovely but on lead she cant cope.. has had a bad life being chained up for days so dislikes anything on her ... should i put my staffie to sleep? rescues are full of them, they were bread to be dog agressive for fights, ive spent loads and ive tried so much and so hard, im exhausted.
he is lovely with kids, my son has profound learning problems but the dog is wonderfull and lets my son pull him about
he likes cats, chickens , rabbits.. but not some dogs
please staffie owners can you help me?

sad_dog_lady

just wanted to add, the alsation had no injury as my dog had his halti on

lab-lover

not being funny but cant dogs still bite with a halti on?

maybe take this as a warning and keep him on the leader all the time. And maybe buy a muzzle. I wouldnt worry about the other dogs owners if their dog wasnt injured. Unfortunely, things like this happen. ive lost count of the amount of times my too friendly dog has nearly been "got at" by dogs.

I think you have been lucky that the alsation wasnt injured. I hope your dog is ok. but really keeping him on a leader is all i can suggest. My friend and all her family have staffies and a few of them cant be off the leader as too agressive towards other dogs, prevention is better than cure. xxxx

moggylover

As their dog was uninjured and yours was - I suspect that it will be their word against yours with the police, and whilst I am not usually in favour of lying at all - I would suggest that as these people are being pretty unreasonable, you sort of infer that their dog showed aggresion first!!! God, I can't believe I just said that - only for an animal would I do so, lol.

However, I think you need to face the fact that even with a halti on your dog could inflict damage on another dog - and no matter how unhappy she looks on a lead I would keep her on one for her own protection. My aunt keeps one of hers on an extender lead cos she is not very good at coming back once off, and she has got used to it.

I suspect that before you rescued her she was treated badly, or scared or hurt by another dog or that someone tried to train her for fighting - cos Staffies are not normally anything like Pit Bulls in temperament and are intelligent and loyal little sods as well.

Good luck - but I seriuosly doubt the police are even going to be interested in the complaint by the other people unless they lie and say that your dog was attacking them and their dog intervened - but as your dog was effectively muzzled I doubt they will make this stick.

Let us know what happens and what you decide.

moggylover

P.S. I love dogs as well - and all bloody furry and feathered things - so probably should have been called animallover - lol!!!

Debt_Free_Chick

Have you had one-on-one training i.e. just you, dog and a trainer?

What issues have previous trainers raised?

Have you tried a canine behavourist?

Is there any pattern to the type/size of dogs he "goes for"?

In the short term, you ought to keep him on a lead. You may think he looks miserable, but it's far better than the consequences if he attacks again AND that owner also goes to the Police. You will then have two reports of attacks and the Police are surely going to take that more seriously, even if you "get away with" the first one.

At 2 years old, the dog still needs regular training. In fact, some say a dog is "never fully trained"

lisa2905

Would not worry about Police - they won't be interested as no 'humans' bitten. But think your dog has to stay on a lead and be correctly muzzled in future. Obviously this is what the other people have done, as it seems they also have a top dog (alpha male) but you have no defence when their dog is on a lead and yours is not. Have you looked at other options, like visit to vets for medication to calm him, do you ever watch the dog whisperer on TV he is fab and makes complete sense. I know someone who lets their staffie off for a little run in the tennis courts by us (as its all fenced in) poo bags in hand of course. You just cant take the risk of him biting anyone else's dog (or worse a human) if he has these tendancies, my dog has been attacked in the park (I was devastated he is my baby) and it turned out to be very expensive for the owner of the other dog.

Kimberley

He needs a proper Muzzle on, the type he cannot bite with, not the flimsy one attached to a harness, sadly you need to keep him on the lead at all times because next time it could be a child with a dog and the child may get hurt protecting their dog.

You cannot feel sorry for your dog on a lead, it's important you ensure the public and other dogs are safe. If he were to bite a child/adult then he will definately be destroyed.

You say you have paid out for training, have you seeked help from a dog behaviourist?

Incisor

Tough thing to say, but I think at some point you need to be prepared to put him to sleep. I think you know this already.

You say he is wonderful with children. Sure, he is with your son, because he has correctly identified your son as part of 'his pack'. What you really need to doubt is his behaviour with animals and humans from 'other packs'. The fact that he has attacked an alsatian 5 times his size means that he cannot be trusted. The things you really have to fear are the dog taking off at a child you don't know or even taking off at a child who comes to visit your son, particularly if they end up having a little fight or argument as kids might. In this case, I would guarantee that your dog will give the visiting child no leeway and you will probably not be able to prevent a very serious situation.

viktory

I think you are an irresponsible pet owner. You knew your dog attacks other dogs and still you let it run around off the lead and unmuzzled. How would you feel if your dog killed someone's beloved pet that was minding it's own business? Or worse still, attacked a child? My daughter once attended an incident where an unrestrained staffie had attacked a child - ann the damage to that child's leg was horrendous. The dog was quite rightly put to sleep.

It is owners like you that give staffies such a bad name. Muzzle your dog and keep it on the lead at all times - or have it PTS.

Moggylover - you should be ashamed giving such advice. How dare you suggest blatantly lying and getting the other dog owners in trouble - when their dog was restrained?

pboae

There is absolutely no reason to think that a dog aggressive dog is any threat to humans (which is why the police have little interest in dog on dog attacks). To be talking having him put down at this stage is a massive over reaction.

Sad dog lady, you need professional help and quickly, it is possible to turn a dog aggressive dog around, but it's hard work and requires a huge amount of time and commitment. It training hasn't helped yet, it's because you haven't found the right trainer. Believe me, I saw endless people with my dog, including one who is supposed to be a world expert, and they all wrote him off, until I find the right one who understood him and was willing to help.

He's still not perfect, and he will never really like other dogs, but he is safe around them now, and I know I can control him in any situation. If you want to PM me, feel free.