STAFFY OWNERS HELP PLEASE urgent

suki1964

tbain wrote: »

Totally agree. I think putting the dog to sleep will have to be something you need to consider. It's only a matter of time before it attacks another dog and is it worth risking any childs safety? By the way I know I will probably get criticism for this response but it is the way I feel and personally that dog is at high risk of hurting a person or other animal.

When did this dog ever get to be deemed to be vicious around humans? Or is it the fact its a staffie clouding peoples judgements? Hey I have one of those cute floppy eared fluffy English cocker spaniels and no one tells me I need to keep him on lead in case he attacks another dog or god forbid a human. Hell I even have people come up to him and lunge at him (you so dont ever do that to dogs) But you know - he too has attacked other dogs - and indeed a mastiff needed vet treatment. Im not proud of that and I have done everything in my power to not let it happen again but there is no way on this earth will I have him put down for attacking another dog. And around humans (his PACK or not - biggest load of tosh ever) hes as soft as they come. Can people not get it into their heads that dog on dog aggression doesn't naturally spill over into dog/human aggression

suki1964

sad_dog_lady wrote: »

are you staffy owners? its just many people are prejudice . i was asking in this post for any staffy owner or people experianced with the breed.
my friends two and three yr olds play with him, and in the parks children stroke him, stffies have that smile when they pant like rotties, i think kids like that. he is only occasionaly dog aggressive, and then i think it is when he senses a threat. actually im a bit like that with people..

I know theres some posters to this and some of the other dog threads Id like to bite

mcspanna

I'm another rescue staffie owner. I wouldn't necessarily bother with a muzzle because we've tried with ours and they have all been destroyed in a matter of minutes! I agree with the posts saying that the OP's dog should NEVER be off the lead. Ours has one of those extendable leads (the one designed for HUGE dogs otherwise it probably won't last long) and the ONLY time our dog it off the lead is either in the house/car or back yard (and we ALWAYS check the gate before even letting him out of the door because especially with Dogs (rather than b1tches) they will leg it if given even half a chance.

However, I must protest at some of the posts above relating to staffie's being aggressive towards children; those in the know will be aware that Staffies are otherwise known as 'nanny dogs'. I grew up with labs/retrievers and would be far less inclined to have them around children despite their reputations. Any dog will hurt other animals/humans in particular circumstances (ie in pain/teased/to protect etc) but when you look into the stories about staffies attacking people, it often turns out that they are actually staffie crosses (which I would NEVER recommend as you don't know what to expect) or something else that has been mistaken for a staffie.

tbain

suki1964 wrote: »

I know theres some posters to this and some of the other dog threads Id like to bite

And I'm sure you are including me in that statement, but I'll cope!:D
Why do you have to have years and years of dog experience on here to be allowed an opinion? It is up to the owner how they handle the situation but they,ve asked for advice and already stated how much they have spent on dog training. The words 'loose' and 'Cannon' spring to mind. If you don't put the dog down the bare miniumum you should do is muzzle it and keep it on a leash.

sammy_kaye18

Just to add my two sense

My dog is not aggressive towards any dogs we've met yet (bar one) but think that was our own misdoing as they were introduced in HER territory and shes a stroppy collie (mother in laws dog who hates most other dogs).

Back to the subject - I had a bit of an ear bending a few months back when my jack ran off ahead of me to another on leash dog, his recall sucked and although he is not aggressive to dogs he knows this was a strangers dog and anything could have happened as the otehr dog was a muzzled akito. We were in a quiet area that not many people used so i let him off lead not thinking anyone would be around but he bimbled about 10 feet from me and then saw the other dog so i had to chase after him.

Now my dog has had his recall worked on, granted if we are at the local fields he is kept on an extender lead and although i can see he isnt keen hes happy to be out walkign still, I have worked on his recall and hes practically there - will recall if he hasnt seen another dog personalyl am not sure im brave enough to let him off lead in otehr dogs presences. He mainly wants to play though but i would be weary of another dog.

I do think you need to consider muzzling him. My dog is ment to be muzzled (supposably) as hes a jack russell terrier (????) but having never had any aggresive incidents from him inside or outside with other dogs I havent. If he had been aggressive in any way I would muzlle him in a second because I dont want to lose my dog to something I could prevent. Hes a rescue dog who was left outside in cold weather (we believe) and had little contact with other dogs with is previous owners.

Also I think if your dog initiated the attack (ie attacked first) then it is worth looking at muzzling him. I get the alsatian may have growled and he was protecting you but what if it had been a smaller breed dog that had jumped up at you and he had gotten the wrong impression, got his teeth into and killed?? or like said even worse a child. I knwo you'll answer with 'he plays with XYZ child nicely' but so do many other staffs that you read abotu in the press and they have still turned.

Dont get me wrong im not against staffs, i think they are fab dogs and my son adores them but i think you do need to really consider his/her best interests.

user55

My dog is muzzled, and it's the easiest thing in the world to do. He has never shown a jot of aggression to anyone or anything, but I want to make sure that when he is jumped all over by some over exuberant dog he doesn't give it a nip and get himself a bad name. He's a big dog so would almost certainly get the blame if it happened. With a muzzle on, it can't happen so it's a total no brainer.

viktory

sad_dog_lady wrote: »

are you staffy owners? its just many people are prejudice . i was asking in this post for any staffy owner or people experianced with the breed.
my friends two and three yr olds play with him, and in the parks children stroke him, stffies have that smile when they pant like rotties, i think kids like that. he is only occasionaly dog aggressive, and then i think it is when he senses a threat. actually im a bit like that with people..

Yes, I have owned a staffie and my in laws have two.

I know the damage they can do and I also know how quickly they can turn.

pboae

viktory wrote: »

Yes, I have owned a staffie and my in laws have two.

I know the damage they can do and I also know how quickly they can turn.

If a staffy (or any dog) 'turns' suddenly, it says a lot more about their owners/upbringing than it does about the breed. Unless there is a medical cause for it.

lil_me

I am absolutely stunned at some responses on this thread, put a dog to sleep because it doesn't like other dogs !!!!!! are these people on? Police wouldn't do anything, there are police dogs I am aware of that would be agressive with other dogs.

From what's been said by some they think I should have my old GSD put to sleep because she dislikes other dogs. Well you've got no chance. She's only been agressive since she was bounced on by a 'friendly' border collie who hurt her. It's not her fault some moron had no control over his dog. She stays on lead apart from when we're somewhere there is no other dogs for example a gated field, her recall however is absolutely perfect so I don't think I would have any issues if a dog came in the area quickly.

Last week there was something happened near me where a american bull dog was running loose and got into a fight with a spaniel (also off lead but owner present) there was more injuries on that bull dog than the spaniel but peoples reactions towards the bull breed dog were 'should be put down', I ended up getting very angry with a few people over it. Dogs are that, dogs, we can't expect them to behave perfectly everywhere, but we have a duty as owners to make sure we are responsible with them.

emma12345

I have had a staffie for 10 years, since he was a pup. They can be the perfect family pet - I got mine after knowing a foster mum who had fostered over 100 children, mostly babies, and kept 2 rescue staffies who have always been perfect with the children.

However, there is a reason why a large percentage of staffies are in the dogs home for rehoming, they can be aggressives towards other animals. And yes, I appreciate that's a gross generalisation but it sometimes is the case.

My staffie also has a dislike for alsations. For some reason this breed is more likely to go for him so he feels he has to retaliate. Maybe your dog remembers one from his earlier years and feels a bit nervous around this breed?

Staffies will go for other animals, mine has got quite a few that have come into our garden. He cornered a fox once but thankfully let him go.

I do feel for you sad dog lady, it's difficult. However the police prob won't be interested so don't worry too much about that. Whether you feel the need to muzzle or to put him on an extended lead is something you need to decide.