Hi, we have a staff (possibly a cross, he was a rescue dog). My boyfriend got him when he was approx 10 months, and now he is coming up for 6.
He has never lived in a place with a garden. He has lived alopne with my boyfriend until recently, now we have a baby and they have moved in with me. Will soon be moving to a house with a garden.
I'm ashamed to say that my boyfriend has not been the best dog owner. He hasn't trained the dog properly, and  it is very difficult to get the dog to do what you say, unless you have food. He knows all the commands, but is reluctant to do what he is told. If you have food though, he will do whatever you ask him.
He pulls on the lead if he sees another dog. He barks and growls. I think this is because he was attacked very badly by another dog. He is only aggressive with other dogs.
I have tried techniques I've seen on TV, and he walks really well on the lead now, but it all goes out the window as soon as we see another dog. Because of this I can't take him out during the day, because I have the pram with me. I also can't let him off the lead because it is hard to get him back.
My boyfriend takes him out before he goes to work, again when he gets home and again before bed. I have a large terrace, and I play with the knog or a ball out there for a bit with him, but he wont pee out there. If I stay in with him all day, he wont pee at all, but if I go out, even for a short time, he pees and sometimes poos. Always in the kitchen.
We have also decided that he should sleep downstairs now, as he gets up a lot in the night and barks at the smallest noise and it is disturbing the baby. I have bought him a lovely big bed and he adores it. For the first time he is choosing to lie on his bed instead of on the sofa! He used to go the entire night without needing the toilet, but now he is peeing and sometimes pooing. If we go downstairs 30 minutes after we go to bed, he has already peed.
I've been looking into dog training but we just can't afford it at the moment. I'm hoping someone can give me some advice until we get the money together? The main problem is the peeing, but I worry that he is doing that because he isn't stimulated enough during the day? Also, it is a lot of change for him.

You're right, it is a lot of changes for him all at once, and it sounds like he is mainly unsettled. First off, DO use food for training, all the time. There is nothing at all wrong with this, it's what all good trainers do. Look at it this way: what would you prefer, to have to work because somebody told you you must, or to work because you would get paid for it? :) Just carrying out a command for no other reason than having been told to gives the dog no incentive at all unless it is a dog that loves to work so much the work itself is reward enough. (But even working dogs like police dogs and similar still get rewards -in the form of play with a favourite toy- after carrying out tasks). You can over time cut down on the treats, or replace them with something he likes as much -even really good praise, but to start with I'd make sure to use food all the time as it will give you an easier life and a happier dog.

It is fairly common for Staffies to be dog aggressive and as this one has had a bad experience as well it's understandable. I'd recommend using a headcollar for walks, that way you can turn his head away from other dogs you meet, as if they don't get a chance to eyeball each other, chances are there will be much less barking, if any at all. The pulling will also get much better. I realise it will be difficult for you to do complete with a pram, but ask your boyfriend to get your dog's attention with a treat when he sees another dog, BEFORE he starts barking, distract him with treats and feed him when another dog walks past, so that he gets rewarded when dogs appear and he doesn't react. Don't reward him for looking at the other dog (and NEVER punish in any way for barking a other dogs), but for looking at the person who is on the other end of his lead. The idea being in time when he spots another dog, he will switch his attention to his owner as he knows a nice treat will appear.

Not peeing at the terrace is probably because it is new and different and he doesn't realise he is meant to. Peeing and pooing when left alone and at night sounds like separation anxiety -was he used to being lelft alone before your boyfriend moved in with you? It all comes down to insecurity. Could you put a baby gate on your bedroom door and put his bed outside so he is closer to you but not in the bedroom with you? (I am assuming the baby is in your bedroom.)

Thanks - I will get a head collar for him and try distracting him when we are out.

He has never been alone at night before, but he has always peed when left alone in the house.
I don't really want him upstairs at all during the night, because he cries really loudly. Is that mean of me?

> I don't really want him upstairs at all during the night, because he cries really loudly

but if he is upstairs you may find he doesn't cry at all,
other thing is if you are up in the night changing or feeding the baby and he is downstairs and cannot see you he is getting a bit stressed /worried about the noises -'it might be burgulars or something coming to get him :-D '
If you get a headcollar spend a bit of time getting him used to it befor taking him out with a lead attached
Chrisand expecting him to happily walk wearing it, put it on him when you feed him, he will be so busy eating he won't bother so much or let him wear it to have a game etc.