Hi
I have a staff puppie she is 9 months old, she has always been really good was she was toliet trained within 3 weeks of having her and learnt all the basic comands very quickly, But now we are becoming quite frustrated with her, where to start!
When we walk her she is terrible on the lead she pulls and pulls we have tried the walkies harness but she for some reason she is petrified of it when you get it out to put on her so we are not sure weather to keep doing it or not as we dont like scaring her.

I also posted a topic a while back about her barking, we took your advise and put her on a long lead so we could bring her in as soon as she starts barking which was working and also improving her recall, but then all of a sudden she becam scared of that and wouldnt go on it and she actully wet her bed twice rather than go out on it so we let her out with out the lead and she's fine but the barking is back, not as bad but its back?? why is she so scared of everything i sometimes think she is pulling my leg to get out without the lead.

thirdly we now have a problem with other dogs she dislikes them to say the least, (she has been to puppy classes and been socilised with dogs) even the sound of a dog on telly sends her mad, this has only really been since she had her first season i think she's not really interesed in other dogs in the park she doesnt chase them or approch them but if they approch her all her hair stands up on her back and she go's crazy, iv got her on her lead as soon as i see another dog approching but people dont always call there dogs away even when they can see im haviong trouble holing her back and the just give me that look, which im sure if your have a staff you know the look im talking about!
She loves people and when people come round she gets very excited and is very loving to everyone (bad guardog) But if she sees them walk past the house or the front gate she barks like crazy to.

I wondered if maybe im expecting to much from her as she learnt alot of things so early but the being scared and the dog aggression is quite worrying.
I hope someone could help!!!!

STAFFIE080604

It could be her age...dogs go through stages, the same as children.  It may also be Staff specific, I don't know anything about the breed. 

I know that I went through some stuff with Rock as he was reaching adulthood...all of a sudden the ceiling fan was the devil and slippery floors were evil.  Things that hadn't bothered him one day bothered him the next, like someone flipped a switch.  He came through it fine.  :)

I'm so sorry that you're having this problem, our Staff Giorgia is 12months old and judging from your moniker ( her date of birth I presume) you love yours as much as we do ours. That has to be good.
The pulling on the lead is a problem that we have with ours it is now only an intermittent one because we began this training a few months ago and when she starts to pull again, we stop it immediately.I dont know if she'll ever stop pulling completely but most of the time she is good. What we did at the beginning was to stop her and pull her back to us and say 'naughty girl' that is our phrase for when she does something we want to stop, you'll obviously have to find your own command. We would stay there in the same spot for a minute then we'd start walking again and this process would be repeated. The first time we started this training my arm and shoulder ached for days after and there was only a small difference. We persevered and after a few weeks there was a big difference but as I have said we have to on some occasions resume this training to remind her not to pull. In fact I had to last night when I walked her. Lots of treats and praise when she is walking properly as well.
As for the barking it is not a major problem with us but we live in a quiet cul de sac and have a large drive and so she wouldnt hear anyone walking past but when I have had someone come to the door she will bark and wont stop until she knows who they are. You say the barking is better, what does she bark at now? or what have you done differently?
As for this 'fear' period they say some Staffs experience we havent seen any of it yet I'm glad to say.
Is she still going to classes?
Its not your fault that other dogs come up to your pup when she is on the lead, that is no help I know, the Staffs nature is not to like other dogs as many of the posts on this forum will agree, but it is not a problem we have had, she loves all dogs  

I'm a bit concerned that she seems scared of a few things - you say she is nervous of the long lead (although that was working successfully to start with) and that she wets her bed if she thinks it is going to be put on her.

You need hands on, expert advice now - something isn't quite right, and it may be something tiny like body language or something bigger such as ongoing socialisation problems, inappropriate punishment or even a medical problem. I would get in contact with a good trainer, look at www.apdt.co.uk, there should be someone near you who will come out and help.

Hth
Lindsay
X

hi

we have taken her to the vet and she has no medical problems, he told us that some staffs go through a fear stage does anyone know much about this as i cant find it in any books. also the only form of punichment we use is ignoring her which works fine so she cant be scared of being told off or smacked as we have never smacked her we just say naughty girl and ignore her for a while. is this a correct way of punishing her or is it not strong enough for her to understand do you think?

I'm not an expert but that is what I believe is the perfect way of chastising a staff, they hate being ignored and a firm tone otherwise with the 'word' that works is all you need. You do not need anything stronger. Can you say more about this barking though, how often does it happen and for how long and what sets it off

Its birds, the trees moving, naighbours making noise in there gardens, loud motobikes driving past almost anything we have 2 big trees and as soon as we open the back door she go's flying under tham we have looked under them and there is nothing there, but some days she go's out there for ages and we dont hear a bark from her, her being on the lead and bringing her in every time she barked was working well, but now she doesnt like the lead as soon as you put that down she runs straight out there no fear at all, it really is like she sometimes pretends shes scared to get out there and have a good dig and bark without me bringing her in.

It sounds to me as if you have hit both the fear stage and the teenage stage in one go. Are you still going to classes? If not it may be an idea to start again, if nothing else but for some moral support! My youngest Lab had a secong fear stange and unfortunatley I didnt realise until it was too late, so she is now a bit of a scairdycat. Really you almost need to go right back to when she was a tiny pup and give her lots of support and praise, make a big fuss when she does something right and ignore wrong as you have been. Go back and cover all of the socilisation again. I know it is a real pain but that way she may come out of it a happy well adjusted dog.

Good luck. If you find out anything much about second fear stage, I would be very interested to know.

http://www.boulderhumane.org/location/info_dogstages.htm

There's a very small bit of information there but it might spark something when you read it.

I still do think that if you had a good reputable trainer there to see all this, your problems could be resolved, at least to manageable proportions :)
All dogs bark, all dogs go through fear stages - maybe it is that - but you need help in how to stop the barking and with the dog to dog problems and that can best be done hands on...

I hope things get better for you,
best wishes
Lindsay
X

I have never known a staff to bark a lot! Maybe it is excitment?

I have also given up trying to sort out her behaviour with other dogs - she went to puppy classes, she goes to ring craft & was introduced to loads of other dogs when little.
Now she is ok with some but will go mad at others!

Good luck with her

Hi, sorry to hear about the problems you're having.  My staffie is almost 3 now and she's still not terribly good with other dogs. I'm sure there is no real malice in her actions, but she tries to dominate by wrapping her front legs around the top of the other dogs' neck or head particularly if they go too close to her back end!!  But the whole time she seems happy and waggy - strange!!
As for the scaredy-cat behaviour, I have read in a couple of books about that.  One of the books is Pet Owners Guide to the Staffordshire Bull Terrier by Clare Lee, the other The New Owners Guide to the S.B.T. by Dayna Lemke.  One of these books mentions that very same problem, and offers a few words of advice.  One of the books is written by an american lady I think, so is quite geared towards an American market, but both books are very useful.  Might be worth getting?
Hope you can find some way of helping your pup, they're certainly worth it!

ps Staffie owners, can I just say if you haven't done already, please show your support for the abolishment of Breed Specific Legistlation!!!!

Do you have any friends/neighbours who also have dogs who you could accompany on a walk ? :)

my female staff is almost 2 and at first we had problems with pulling we used the same technique as collystaff it only took a few days and she was walking perfect no pulling and the punishment think we ignore her if she has been naughty no raised voices or smacks it probably is her age aswell just bear with her offer her encourgement and treats when she done well and you should get there eventually :)