A bit of background.... I have two young children (4 and 2) and a female American Bulldog (3 yrs sterilised) - oh and a wife!. The bulldog has a beautiful temperament - really good with the kids.
I bought a male pedigree Staffy three weeks ago. I was very pleased with the way he adapted to his new home (robust). He is now 11 weeks old. I allow him to play fight with my bulldog, something both breeds naturally do anyway. The bulldog is very tolerant but will let him know who's boss when and if required.
I've noticed the staffy growling at the humans, mainly if picked up when he's asleep or comfortable, or just picked up to put outside in the cold. I would expect maybe a little growl when he's picked up, and for him to stop when he realises who I am, but he continues a bit too long. He also growls when my children disturb him.
I am attempting to educate my children to leave him when he's eating/sleeping/play fighting with the other dog etc, but you can never guarantee anything with children.
I've owned a few dogs over the years and never seen this behaviour before. The reason I chose a staffy is because of their pain tolerance and suitability with children. I have owned one before but didn't have children then.
Will he grow out of it naturally or should I intervene? I want to be very careful not to create an aggressive animal.

hi hughie,

i own bulldogs and i NEVER let them playfight,even though the youngest one is still only a puppy they ARE the wrong kind of dogs to have playfighting, especialy around children.
me myself would stop the playfighting when it starts,and get him to concentrate or start playing with something else.
Jane

Thanks Jane.
I will try and prevent them from play fighting. But I don't think I can stop it when I'm not home - unless I separate them.

We have a Staffie who is six months old now, and he growled when he was a puppy. We also have three young children. We actively encouraged the children to stroke the dog etc when he is eating, it is potentially dangerous to leave them alone when eating as it will only get worse. When he growled, at that age we just said a short sharp "No", and then totally ignored him, removing all attention from him for the next five minutes. If he did it again, we removed him from the room for five minutes. This way he is learning that growling does not get get him what he wants. When he was around 14 weeks old, he growled at my young daughter when she tried to get him off of a cushion. On this occasion, we got hold of him by the scruff of the neck and shouted at him very loudly, and very quickly basically to frighten him, as at that age he was trying it on ... the worst thing you can do is take a step back from it, as it will get worse. From that time on, he has never growled again and has accepted his place at the bottom of the pack. He is brilliant with the kids, it's just a matter of teaching them acceptable behavoiur. Good luck!

You sound a very sensible owner :)

Some pups do growl when suddenly disturbed, and it may just be that your pup is tired and getting too much attention - a bit like an overtired child, he gets grumpy! Also as you will know, some breeds do growl in "talk", I am not totally sure the Staffie is one of these, but I know the Rottie can do this. HOwever, having said that, I suspect you know that he is growling and not talking. What i would suggest is that you do educate the children, you have realised how important this is, and indeed this can have ahuge bearing on the way dogs are with the family when older.

Family contact esp. with kids is hopefully a looked forward to event, not a sort of "OMG its the kids again" concern ;)

If he growls, don't on any account put him down as he will then have got what he wanted and will quickly learn to manipulate you and the children by growling. What may be best is to plan controlled training sessions to A) show him that growling will not get him what he wants, and B) to show him that handling is pleasurable.

I would regulalry handle him gently, feel his legs, ears, tummy, stroke him all over, taking care to support him if lifted, and pop him lots of really tasty titbits during this time - liver, chicken, fresh meat or cheese - and with calm and firm handling he should get used to it, accept it and in time, start to like it. The idea is that he eventually looks forward to it!!! When he starts to relax during the sessions, you can start to offer less titbits and gradually stop them altogether. But do keep an eye on the kids because although he will have a high pain tolerance <g>, he can still be hurt if picked up quickly in excitemetn for a cuddle, and can still be frightend if shocked into being awake when he is napping, esp. as pups do sleep so deeply.

Anyway just my thoughts, good luck.

LIndsay :)

Hughie
can I ask what you meant by " we chose a Staffy because of their pain tolerance " ?
I presently have a Staffy pup aged 7 months who has never growled at any of the family . Staffys do tend to "growl" when they play though - not an aggressive sound more a rumble in the throat .
As Jane rightly mentions NO dogs should be encouraged to play fight :( . A pup isnt mature enough to know when he game has ended and when you have a full grown Staff who doesnt know when to stop you will have a BIG PROBLEM .
Yes , it looks cute when they are pups but they wont be pups forever .
You would be wise to seperate both dogs or crate them (if you use crates) when ever you go out and they are left alone .
Staffys can be brought up amicably with other dogs in the household but you should be teaching him how to play in a less aggressive manner .Plus it cant be very nice for your other dog with those needle sharp teeth nipping him
Lel

Agree with Lel always cage/crate or at least seperate them in different rooms when you are not there.