Hi i have a staffy bitch now nearly 2 years old whom i done all the training classes possible and she was fine.But just lately she is tending to go for other dogs on th lead she will stand have a smell then lunge i cant understand why as at training she was taught to go down if this happened.There is 1 dog who she plays with all the time and is the only dog i can now trust her with and that is another shtaffy bitch who is just a year old.I was determined i didnt want a stereo typical staffy who hates other dogs so now i am frightened to let her near other dogs in case she did decide to hurt them or is it just noise?

Hi,

on th lead she will stand have a smell then lunge i cant understand why as at training she was taught to go down if this happened.

Can you go into this a bit more? Do you mean she was encouraged to lie down if another dog lunged for her?

If so that could be part of the problem, as a down position is not one a dog would want to be in if another dog was showing aggression.

Lindsay
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Yes I wondered that.  I would not expect my dog to adopt a submissive posture when around other dogs, but to break eye contact if there was a problem, but would have encouraged ignoring or relaxed behaviour.

Could it be that she has now reached the stage of thinking well blow it why should I cow tow to these other dogs.  She hasn't learnt to be sociable on equal terms.  Submission is not neutral.

does she do this to every dog or does it depend on size/breed/age/approach style/ behaviour etc, can you see any sort of pattern or is it just general?. I ask this because my dog willl always be fine with a well behaved dog but if one lurches towards him or eyeballs him whilst walking straight towards him it makes him uneasy.(as hes a big insecure wimp)
i have learnt to see situaitions i know he wont be able to handle. i then keep a good distance from the other dog until he looses interest in them and wants a treat and only meet if i think it worthwhile.
it has taken me 4 years to realise they dont have to meet every other dog thats out there.

It doesnt really matter what size the other dogs are she just tends to snarlat them but only on the lead off the lead she was fine ut now i am a bit scared to lt her free in case she does decide to get into a scrap as the other day a male staffy who she usually plays with kept trying to mount her she hs been done and so has the male but he wouldnt take no for an answer then she napped and a fight broke out and its been since then she has adopted this behaviuor

Do you think this is wrong then? that she as taught if a dog snarled at her to cower down andapproach with caution as they had a cav king charles who at classes would play happily with mine then if my pup (was then) got to exited the cav would snarl and my dog cowered away and approached the next time very carefully

Do you think this is wrong then? that she as taught if a dog snarled at her to cower down andapproach with caution as they had a cav king charles who at classes would play happily with mine then if my pup (was then) got to exited the cav would snarl and my dog cowered away and approached the next time very carefully

Ah, you mean in natural dog play kind of thing? naturally socialising and learning canine etiquette?

I thought you meant she was told to lie down by trainer or by yourself, wasn't quite sure :)
A lot depends on how good the other dog was - it's fine for a dog to tell off or be told off, as long as the general nature and character is friendly/relaxed/not worried type of thing.

If she's not  doing that now it could be because she's maturing and is for example telling a pushy dog off. Your best bet may be to learn about canine body language and signals and reward her for interacting calmly (do staffies do that :P ) or at least in a friendly manner...

Lindsay
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No sorry what imean was she was taught that if another dog went for he she would show no aggression and submit

Submission is not what i would expect to teach she should be taught to ignore or say a polite hello if the other dog is like minded, to stay calm and sensible.

When you meet people you are either friendly or indifferent, you don't have a go at them if they look your way, but you certainly wouldn't be showing submission, even among humans that is almost an invitation to bullies to take advantage.

If her advances were over bearing as a puppy (which staffies often are as are many other confident bouncy breeds), then you would encourage them to be gentle and stop them overpowering another dog. 

In this way other dogs would respond in a positive fashion.  Staffies do not accept challenges from other dogs well being by nature in the main dog dominant.  This effect can be lessened if they learn as pups to tone down their natural OTT methods of play so that most dogs respond to them in a friendly way.

Her response to the male staff was perfectly understandable, and if the scrap they had was all noise and no damage it would not be what I would call a fight, just her telling him off and him not taking it very well.

She is just reaching social adulthood and may in fact be lacking a little in social confidence accaserbated by being on the lead, and our tension.

Sadly of course some dogs, and certainly some of those from dog dominat breeds will never really like other dogs once mature and the best you can hope for is that she ignores them through being trained to do so and that close encounters are best avoided.

What distance does she ignore other dogs at?  work on having ehr relaxed at that distance and respondinmg to training excersises and treats until the dog is past.  You should gradully be able to work up to ehr ignoring all dogs within a normal lead walking distance.  You might have to accept she will not be a socialble dog.

Are you still attenting classes with ehr.  If not I woudl get back to classes and work with ehr to ignore octher dogs.

many thanks for your advice it all helps she is ok with 1 og off lead they play happily together but i will give all what you said a go and i will reurn to training classes see what happens i know they ae a breed that usually do not like other dogs but i as hoping for a different one nevermind she is still my baby

I have met quite a number of Staffs that are at least good with the opposite sex, and others that are very well trained and go the ignore root, and some that are happy to interact with most dogs.  So with luck and more classes and opportunities for pleasant associations with other dogs in a controlled environment may improve the on lead situation, or at least make you more confident reading yours and others dogs and situations to avoid problems.

Thankyou for that she seems ok with other females at the moment the one dog she plays with is female but we shall ee time will tell and agin thanks

I don't know if it is a staffy thing but mine went a bit haywire aged 2.  Prior to that she was great although she often got bullied by other dogs but would just take it and lie on the ground.  At 2 years old she appeared to take a stand and now launches at any dog that gives her attitude.  Not much help I'm afraid but you are not alone.

I'd agree with Cheekychow here.. she's just grown up that's all.... reached maturity and decided she is not too keen on other dogs..
It's just a case of being more careful around other dogs now.
I have a five year old stafford bitch who hates other dogs,she doesn't go out of her way to attack them at all, but if they come to close (particularly near the rear end!) she whips round and has a lunge or a snap too.
However, she also lives now with a 10 month old stafford boy and so far they get on great, again that may change when the boy reaches maturity.
All about being careful, and watching for the signals.

It's just possible that she is OK with other dogs (you said she's ok off lead except now youre unsure because of the male incident); so I'd suggest letting her say hallo but being very aware of her body language - dont get to the point where she "freezes" as that is usually just before the lunging/snapping. Before this, a few seconds before, distract her away. Praise and is it's possible reward with food or toys during and after. In time, she may start to realise she doesn't have to snap and  may be willing to turn away before showing aggression, and this may become habit for most of the time.

If this is impossible, and you are really committed to seeing if she can be oK with other dogs, try a reputable behaviourist http://www.apbc.org.uk/ or a trainer may be able to help http://www.apdt.co.uk/

Lindsay
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Hi thanks its nice to b reassured that its not just my dog that has attitud i thought it maybe that but i thought thoose days were long gone didnt realise they go through it at around 2yrs thanks again all of you

happygirlie... attitude yes, definitely, more to the point - stafford spirit!!:-)
good luck with her, don't sweat it too much

Thanks for that

Lol @ staffy spirit - that's exactly what it is.  I always wondered if mine showed her spirit quicker because she isn't a vocal dog and it is rare for her to bark or growl. 

lol, neither is mine!  (vocal I mean)

The only time she has ever ever barked is A) when a hot air balloon goes overhead in the summertime, B) if there is a window cleaner on a ladder in the neighbours garden, and C) when my :rolleyes:cigarette butt plant pot caught alight!!! (Yuk!!)