I have a stafford (Entire Male), he was the perfect puppy until he was attacked twice on walks by dogs, these were dogs that I had made sure with the owner were 'puppy safe' before letting him off naturally, but when I let him off, bang they bundled and scared the life out of my boy.
It wasnt nice at all and to see him trying to bite the dogs when he was so young breaks my heart still today :-(

Since that fateful day he will not allow any dogs near him, I cannot tell which dogs he likes and doesnt like as there is no pattern and there is no one in my area with a stable enough dog( Or Owner!) to use as a dog for him to get used too and go on walks together etc to build his confidence back up.

Training classes are an option but I dont want to make his fear worse by bundling him into a room with other strange dogs.
I believe it is fear based as he will be absolutly silent until another dog gets too close (He will even try to pull to get away when on lead, he is NEVER let off lead anywhere now :-( :-( ) and then he will snarl and have a quick snap with a deep growl, but he never makes contact...its more like a warning shot you know?

Any ideas what could help my boy?
He is such a soppy dog, typical staff and just wants cuddles and food lol

Im so angry with people who cant admit they have an unruly dog and when your trying to socialise your new puppy, they dont have the balls to say my dogs a danger and now, thanks to them, my innocent puppy is scarred :-).

Any ideas or suggestions are so welcome :-)

Hi Dizzystaffords, just wanted to let you know you're not alone and that I have an idea of how you're feeling through similar circumstances.

It took the best part of a year for my youngest to be comfortable again around other dogs (other than his own pack) after he was ragged without any warning by a nasty akita. I took him out with the others, mainly on the lead but gradually letting him off while the other two stayed on leads--he would just dance about a bit uncertainly but gradually got the idea that he could venture a bit further (this was also a good way of practising his recall). We went to training classes (at one point he refused to come out from under his chair because of the world's mouthiest lurcher and a lunatic GSD whose hard man owner couldn't begin to control him, but they soon went, and he improved a little. We went to ringcraft and went to several shows with no expectation of doing anything other than getting him to tolerate crowds of dogs and people. He always gets special treats when we go so he knows what's coming, his pack come too and they all share a crate and he has finally got his confidence back.

You can't allow your puppy to pick up on your feelings--he needs to see you as confident and relaxed as you want him to be. Easily said, I know, but take him for walks where it's quiet and don't feel you need to stage the company of other dogs for him, first he needs to relax with you. The shows are not a bad bet either because dogs are almost always well behaved and they are focused on other things anyway. Good luck and keep persevering, he will start to be ok when you can also let go of what's happened.

Thanks Rooty Tooty and Jay15, good to know Im not alone!! :-)

Jay15, they are some brilliant ideas as Im not getting very far anywhere trying anything else.

So you think I shouldnt stage company? Just let it happen naturally.... I would love to take him to Ringcraft as he is a pedigree and we always wanted him to be shown (He is a cracker of a stafford) even if only for fun I would love to do it.

Maybe I should try the trainng classes too, but I would need to learn for me to relax round dogs as I have to admit, I am so nervous when another dog approaches and my hands tighten on the lead as I just dont trust other dog owners/dogs anymore.... :-(

Its hard as well because my other bitch is absolutly fine with other dogs...do you think I should let her off lead round dogs but not my boy and let him watch her interact with dogs so he knows not all dogs are bad, Id often wondered as my poor girl loves being off lead but when were altogether on a walk I dont let her off round other dogs incase she brings them back to us and my boy lol!!
(We do let them both off lead in places we know are quiet and we go v.early or late :-) )

Thank you so much for your help, its really appreciated :-)
xxxxx

I have sent you a pm

If you can find a trainer who will let you do your own thing, training classes can be absolutely fantastic for frightened dogs.

Thank about it - you have an area full of dogs under control, or on-lead even if they're not totally under control, with predictable behaviour in terms of moving around because the trainer is giving instructions.

That sort of setup was a godsend for Soli - in her case it was when I was attending my behaviour course at college, so not quite a training class, but all the dogs were on-lead and under control, with like-minded owners who were learning body language the same as I was so she found it much easier to cope with than dogs out and about.  The same was true when we went to regular training classes during and after the course.

In those, the trainer knew about Soli (met her on the course, actually) and was quite happy for us to join in or not as I thought best - so I was able to spend each week doing lots of counter conditioning and desensitisation, knowing the dogs weren't going to come suddenly charging over or too close.  And because it was a structured class, I could hear when the trainer said that recall was next, and if it was on/off lead, so could react accordingly.

The trick is finding a trainer that is happy with that setup, rather than one who wants to interfere or punish the dog for showing any signs of aggression - she had been through the same with one of her dogs so was perfectly happy for me to do whatever I wanted.