Hi, I'm having some problems with my 8 month old staffy who has taken to head-butting people in the park leaving a trail of black eyes and split lips behind her.  she is generally well behaved and responds well to commands to come back but when people speak to her she bounces up (in a very friendly way and totally without aggression) with no warning and 'kisses' them to say hello.  i've heard many theories about why she does this ranging from submissiveness to typical staffy over-excitedness and ways to stop it ranging from blocking her path, ignoring her and using dominance exercises through to some which involve hitting the dog.  it is particularly difficult as she does it to strangers so I have to shout at people not to bend down when they want to speak to her as she is so powerful and has already knocked some people over.  I've looked at other posts regarding similar behaviour but would appreciate any advice that experienced owners could give me.  thanks.

Does she 'sit' on command?  Then simply ask her to 'sit' and put your foot firmly on her lead so she can't jump up - tell people not to fuss her unless she's sitting.

Ali
It is completely normal and is due to over excitedness as you say :)
Some can bounce really high and I know exactly what you mean . To anyone whos ever owned a Staff it is completely normal but can be quite worrying to others who havent.
You might also notice this with visitors to the house too.
Ignoring her is one way ( you and others)- so that after a time she will come to realise that she wont recieve any attention until she is calm but I know lots that stay like this.
Good luck :)

Hi
I would suggest keeping her on a lead in the park and getting her used to people only greeting her when she's got her bum on the floor.

It is just "Staffie madness" but not to be encouraged, it's someting after you've experienced it with a Staff you make sure you nip it in the bud with the rest.

Make her sit before she gets anything....make her earn-work for everything...affection...treats...having her collar put on...lead put on...her dinner...greeting people. Don't shout just be consistent...don't forget she's a Stafford and one treat given without sitting if you've told her too will be seen as "ah I don't actually have to put my bum on the floor and they give it me anyway" which will soon mean you are back to normal.

But because she's a Staffie she will soon click on...that it is not acceptable, I doubt you'll ever stop her getting excited but you can stop 8/10 encounters.

Karen

  

<<<But because she's a Staffie she will soon click on...>>>

Now theres an idea - have you thought of clicking training and rewarding her when bottom is firmly on the ground only ??

thanks for all of the advice, I can control it in the house by warning people and asking them to ignore her until she is calm but it's when she is running about in the park and in the woods and is at her most excitable that I have the biggest problem. I have a fear of being known as 'the one who can't control her dog' by all of the people with chilled pups (although I know that is my problem not Missy's) but wouldn't swop her for the world.  She has a dog walker during the day so we will try to have a consistent approach but like has been said it only takes one incident for the rules to go out the window and in Missy's case its one well meaning person encouraging her to jump up at them that makes her lose the plot and think everybody wants a dog snog (or a split lip if she misses!).  I thought about clicker training but because she goes out everyday with other dogs I thought it would be too complicated.  any more tips and tricks would be appreciated but I've resigned myself to persistence. thanks.

You want to try it with two staffy's.  I carry treats like liver cakes with me when we go the park.  My biggest problem is not my bitch but my dog who is 18kilos of pure muscle.  He has been taught to sit and wait and then either given a treat or if we are in the house he does get a fuss for being good.  It took about 3 weeks to get him sorted but it's vistor's I am having the most trouble training to ignore him until he sits. 

I know EXACTLY what you mean :rolleyes:

Hi. Can I ask did you manage to conquer this behaviour? My staffie is one and the most loving bitch anyone could meet. But we have one remaining issue and that's jumping up people. She can jump 6 foot high...not only that she goes for peoples faces and it ends in a headbut..and has drawn blood....shes trying to show love but not everyone wants a staffie full of muscle jumping at their face. She even jumps at children. She doesn't do it to us as she knows it won't get her love, but if in the park she will bolt to another person or dog to play and it's like I'm not even there. I've tried shouting "ignore her", some people do and some don't and the ones that don't she will jump into their arms...it's most embarrassing. I've had people shout at me in the park and it's not good. Can anyone help? Please? It's a shame cause she's such a lovely loving dog and this is a real issue.

Until you get that right I would use a long line with harness at least you can guide the behaviour you want. I used to then ask the other people she was after if ok to meet and then put them in sit/down and the they treat.

Thank you...I'll try that and fingers crossed

I was consistent with her and she grew up. She is 12 now and her legs can barely get her on the sofa never mind 6'.  From memory it was as much about training people not to give her treats and not to bend down as it was about training her.  Good luck

Aww...bless her!! Yep..I am also constantly shouting "don't bend down". Perhaps that's it!

Haha, yeah the stress of it has faded with the rose tinted specs of age.

Haha...not that I wish my Darcy an old age staffie....but it is highly embarassing and I pray she grows out of it...interestingly I have been on the phone to a trainer who says it's my fault...and I should her a stretch lead..it's a shame cause she such a happy dog who wants to play!!....so that's my plan. Wish me luck!!