Hi, I have a problem. My 7 month old male staffy, Pepper has got into a habit of 'going for' children. I don't know how to stop this behaviour.  He seems to be fine when he's off the lead, but when he is on the lead he growls and jumps up at the kids and has even bitten one on the arm, thankfully it didn't break the skin. I was mortified and rushed to the shop to buy the boy some sweets and apologised to his mum. When he does jump up I pull him back and shout 'no' in his face so he has to look at me and I tell him to sit which he does. Really don't want this to develop any further. I thought staffs were meant to be the 'nanny dog'??

BTW, I don't live with any young children but my neighbours have them and they always play out the front. What do you think I should do?  Your views and opinions are very much appreciated! As you can imagine this could get very serious.

bye for now

It sounds as if nobody has taught him that children are to be treated gently.  You really need some one to one advice and training on how to teach him that children (and infact any human) should be treated with respect.  By pulling him back you are sending him the message that children could be a danger to him, which isn't helping the matter :(

I agree with Digger, and also, do you feel the children out front could have been an annoyance rather than helping to habituate your boy to them? are you sure they have never teased him? Staffs are usually excellent with children.

The shouting won't help as you have already seen; it's best if possible to work out what the problem is and work from there. (ie if he is worried by children, you will need to help him associate them with enjoyoment which can be done with a training/behaviour programme :) )

Lindsay
X

thanks Digger and Lindsey, very encouraging. I see what you mean about the pulling him back part and him thinking that it's danger. How do you think I should deal with it? My brother has two children and we were over there today and they had they're cousins round. They were all playing with him and running about. I had to watch they're every move but it seemed to be fine. Strange how it is just the neighbours children. No, I don't think they could have teased/hurt him in any way as I'm always there and I would have seen something.

Thanks again for your replies. I have noticed Digger that you always have good advice, thanks!

This is so strange I have the same problem. 

I have a 4yro male staffy who is the most friendly loveable dog anyone could wish to meet.  He goes out in the garden which is fenced off and the neighbours kids play on the other side.  He goes absolutely mad at them barking and trying to get to them so I bring him inside.  On one occasion one of the kids tried to stroke him and he grabbed hold of his hand with his teeth, he didnt bite him but he just got hold of him and then let go.  He is not just like this with the kids its all of the people that live on either side of me he will jump up at them and bite their clothing and then let go - it really puzzles me and makes me slightly nervous.  The only thing i can think of is that its his way of getting their attention or is it that he is being protective of me? 

One of my friends staffys did the same thing she would grab hold of your arm n just hold it in her mouth n it was her way of saying hello really there was no malice in it at all. I dunno if its the same thing i find all this really surprising tbh as staffy's usually love children and are quiet gentle with them all i can think of is that something somewhere has upset your dogs where children are concerned as i notice that neither of you say that you have children of your own and so as has already been said they haven't been taught how to behave around children. Good luck tho to you both i hope you can work something out :)

Hi Chillipepper

I rather think we have spoken before!!

Sorry to hear you are having problems. Dont forget he is still very young. I understand that he is old enough to understand what is acceptable and what isnt but all dogs differ. Some are puppies for longer and I am sure you will have worked out that Staffies are ultra friendly and rarely grow out of jumping up (without training) and sometimes taking limbs in their mouths as a friendly gesture!!

I understand your concerns as he will be powerful by now and the thought of a dog biting anyone let alone a child is horrfying but I doubt that this cant be trained out of him. I would have thought that if he 'went for the child' then he would have most certainly broken the skin.

Could he be excited by the sound of the children playing and a bit keen to join in? Im by no means saying that its acceptable behaviour but it sounds like he may have been being a bit over friendly.

Sox is 8 months now and does it to me all the time (he is only playing-but it hurts!!) but is getting better by the day with lots of firm telling offs and praise of his good behavior.

Im sure you will work it through but let us know how you get on.

Caroline xxx

Staffys can become very excitable - especially with little people - and its up to the owner to realise what is acceptable as excitement and what isnt excitement :) and then to correct it

He is a boisterous dog, and sometimes doesnt realise his own strength. 

As I mentioned my garden is secure and all fenced in, but he can see into next doors garden and when the kids are out or one of the neighbours comes out he goes completely bananas behind the gate barking and growling.  He has got to a stage now where he realises this is wrong - (he also does it in the house - i live on a main road and people walk past) and through telling him off any repeatedly saying ' no barking' he has slightly improved.  He is also very clever in that if I am sat in the front room and someone walks past then he will go upstairs and bark at them from the front bedroom!  

I have two questions:

What would you do when he is in the garden and goes mad when someone comes out - would you bring him back in the house and ignore him?

What about when he barks at someone walking past the house when he is inside - should I lock him in the kitchen (the kitchen is at the back and no-one walks past) each time he does it?

Any advice would be appreciated. 

Hi

In my opinion I feel that bringing him in and shutting him in somewhere else in the house may work and whilst it is the easy option it will only be a short term solution.

Training is the answer, I am sure,  but Im not very up on training tactics but I am sure that someone else will be able to offer some excellent advice on this.

Puppies are always excitable but he will grow out of it with the right help and support.

Good Luck xx