hi all please read this before posting a comment i am asking for help not abuse.

basically i have a staff who is nearly 4 and has got some agression issues and iv just got a new training book which says i need some practice dogs ( not the words used). to state from the start my dog will obviously be on leash and muzzled at all times during any meetings, i need a few ppl with dogs that are extreamly well socialised so that no matter what my dog does they will not attack back preferably ones that have been attacked previously and havnt run away or fought back. i need at least 2 dogs preferably between 4 and 6 tho as he will get used to dogs eventually so i need to keep a bit of a mix.

i need any help that can be offered as im fed up of not being able to take my dogs out apart from at night and in the rain. im also pregnant and dont want the problem to carry on incase my kids ever get in the middle

Can I just point out that as you're not an experienced dog handler, you'd be much better off taking your dog to see an experienced trainer than trying to muddle your way through a book with nobody to hold your hand and correct any of the things the author can't see you're not getting quite right?

did this book take you through the primary causes of aggression or did it just lump all aggression issues in together? Does it offer different solutions for the different root causes of aggression or is this a 'one size fits all' training book?

i can do it myself because i have already got him used to 3 other dogs with out the use of a trainer the book basically explains different reasons for agression the triggers and the appropriate response. i would class myself as experienced as i have owned dogs for the last 15 years which is longer than some so called trainers have. this is not the first training book i have read eather its the first one that has had a description that fits my dog fully though

so what is his problem?

The more details you give, the more likely it is that somebody will come forward with a suitable dog to assist you

basically hes dog agressive but only with dogs hes never met once hes been introduced a few times hes fine. hes overly hyper and that is what causes most of the problems hes also slightly fear agressive which is why i need calm ish dogs that wont attack bk as if any dog bites him even in self defence he becomes 100 times worse. he has bit before which is why he will be muzzled to stop this risk. because of tthe way he reacts he also doesnt play very well and hes worse with dogs bigger than him as hes rather small for a staff. if i could just get a few ppl to walk their dogs along side him let him meet a variety of different dogs shapes and sizes so that hope full when i take him out he doesnt attack every thing he sees

do you have any idea of the protein content of what you're feeding him too?

We've had a number of staffies in at RainRescue who have calmed down considerably with a lower protein diet - which makes their training much easier too!

its called hyper agression its not the food hes also been done for 3 n half yrs. i thought it was just fear agression and with him biting b4 i started restricting his meetings with other dogs which turnd out to be the worst thing i could have done. thats why im looking for a specific type of dog. basically a friends dog pinned him down when he started which to him is a bite iv tried a few times with her since and its a big no go, but he lives with a gsd gets on great with my mums dog and a bullmastive bitch, we also used to have a staff x that he got on with fine as i said its once he gets used to them i dont want to put anyones dog in danger and obviously i dont wana do it to my own either. cant put him with shar peis tho

Hi

I think you will find it very hard to find people willing. I take my dog to a trainer who does group walks (all aggro dogs have muzzles) It is working with my fear aggressive dog who now can do the group walks without a muzzle and plays nicely with the other dogs. He still is funny with random dogs so is not allowed off lead on our normal walks but I have a feeling that we will get there eventually and is much better overall.

We also go to the training classes (again all aggro dogs are muzzled, mine is no longer) . If you think it would be suitable pm me and I'll send you some info.

It's good that you are looking both in the interest of your dog and others.
Where abouts do you walk your dog. A dog owner I know has a dog that has fear aggression and she has to have a buzzer thing on her and the dogs neck. This only works if you keep your eyes peeled 100% of the time. She dropped her guard once and the dog attacked mine severely after she had spent hundreds of pounds on a personal trainer. I think the problem with staffies is that when someone sees one they automatically emit fear which the dogs pick up. I think the most important thing a dog needs is to have a good recall. My dog sometimes plays with a staffy but the staffy is just getting a bit over assertive so we are correcting this. Let me know where you walk.

at the moment i only take him at the bottom of my road at night when no one else is around. i am willing to travel tho to do this as i no most ppl in my local area wont have the type of dogs im lookin 4

It's good that you are looking both in the interest of your dog and others.
Where abouts do you walk your dog. A dog owner I know has a dog that has fear aggression and she has to have a buzzer thing on her and the dogs neck. This only works if you keep your eyes peeled 100% of the time. She dropped her guard once and the dog attacked mine severely after she had spent hundreds of pounds on a personal trainer. I think the problem with staffies is that when someone sees one they automatically emit fear which the dogs pick up. I think the most important thing a dog needs is to have a good recall. My dog sometimes plays with a staffy but the staffy is just getting a bit over assertive so we are correcting this. Let me know where you walk.

The dog had probably associated getting a shock to it's neck every time it saw a dog and so become even more aggressive because 'dogs mean shock collar' so when the dog saw yours, it freaked and attacked to stop it coming near so the shock didn't happen. Because there was no shock there to stop the attack, it continued.

Disgusting what we do to dogs isn't it.

Chezzfaye, I'd seriously look at getting help from a behaviourist - there are a few people on here who would be able to recommend people but I know a few have had success with Phil Jackson who is a trainer that specialises in aggression.
A trainer/behaviourist should also be able to pair up dogs that are suitable for him and take you through the stages of socialising him so he doesn't get pushed further than he can cope with.

basically i have a staff who is nearly 4 and has got some agression issues and iv just got a new training book which says i need some practice dogs ( not the words used).

i can do it myself because i have already got him used to 3 other dogs with out the use of a trainer the book basically explains different reasons for agression the triggers and the appropriate response. i would class myself as experienced as i have owned dogs for the last 15 years which is longer than some so called trainers have. this is not the first training book i have read eather its the first one that has had a description that fits my dog fully though


I would personally think an experienced trainer/behaviour'ist would be your best bet. What you're saying above seems rather contradictory. Granted, you may now have a book which gives you basic ideas, but your wealth of experience hasn't prevented you from being in the situation of having a four year old dog with problems. Plus, you mention the 'technical terms' for his behaviour, yet you still haven't mentioned, (unless I've overlooked it), the underlying reason(s) for his behaviour.

I would personally think an experienced trainer/behaviour'ist would be your best bet. What you're saying above seems rather contradictory. Granted, you may now have a book which gives you basic ideas, but your wealth of experience hasn't prevented you from being in the situation of having a four year old dog with problems. Plus, you mention the 'technical terms' for his behaviour, yet you still haven't mentioned, (unless I've overlooked it), the underlying reason(s) for his behaviour.

Whilst I agree a trainer/behaviourist is the best bet the part I've bolded out is rather unfair I think. The OP hasn't said if she's had the dog from a pup so to judge her isn't very fair. When I got my 11 year old rescue he was not good with other dogs, he got better but is actually worse now that he has to be kept onlead due to eyesight/hearing/senility etc. and in his previous home he was never lead walked so when he meets other dogs he gets anxious due to being onlead and unable to see them properly.

I often get looked at and judged because of the way he behaves but in actual fact, it's not my fault! Even if she has had him from a pup there are other situations that are beyond our control which could cause it.

Chezzfaye, I'd seriously look at getting help from a behaviourist - there are a few people on here who would be able to recommend people but I know a few have had success with Phil Jackson who is a trainer that specialises in aggression.


I don't think Phil specialises in aggression, though he does have some very good tips :) to try which might work for less aggressive cases. D's was very bad and Phil was great with him and gave us lots of really good advice but it was not what worked eventually for us. I have recommend someone but it is too far for Chezzfaye to travel.

I would personally think an experienced trainer/behaviour'ist would be your best bet. What you're saying above seems rather contradictory. Granted, you may now have a book which gives you basic ideas, but your wealth of experience hasn't prevented you from being in the situation of having a four year old dog with problems. Plus, you mention the 'technical terms' for his behaviour, yet you still haven't mentioned, (unless I've overlooked it), the underlying reason(s) for his behaviour.

I think Lotti is always very honest about her dogs problems and how she works through them and Chezzfaye is being too. In the end no one agrees what works... if only it was that simple. I do agree that 'shock' techniques don't. I tried one trainer that wanted me to throw chains/ water balloons at my dog to stop his aggression :loopy: Which failed :lol:

I also inherited a dog aggressive dog it's a hard one to crack

Oh sorry, I thought I remembered someone on the forum recommending him for aggression.

I would personally think an experienced trainer/behaviour'ist would be your best bet. What you're saying above seems rather contradictory. Granted, you may now have a book which gives you basic ideas, but your wealth of experience hasn't prevented you from being in the situation of having a four year old dog with problems. Plus, you mention the 'technical terms' for his behaviour, yet you still haven't mentioned, (unless I've overlooked it), the underlying reason(s) for his behaviour.
why does it pleases explain to me how you came to this conclusion. i dont trust behaviourists because you cant fix agression problems in an hr which is what all the ones i have rang have said they will work with me for. the underlying reasons are bad breeding i have had him since a pup but as i previously said i thought it was fear agression so i made it worse by keeping him away from other dogs

why does it pleases explain to me how you came to this conclusion. i dont trust behaviourists because you cant fix agression problems in an hr which is what all the ones i have rang have said they will work with me for. the underlying reasons are bad breeding i have had him since a pup but as i previously said i thought it was fear agression so i made it worse by keeping him away from other dogs

Are you sure they are not planning to come and see you for an hour, and then do follow ups?

Usually they will do an hour's consultation, leave you to get on with what they've told you and then do follow ups - depending on how many you need.

no they actually said £200 for 1 hr then as long as i kept up what they said there was a lifetime guarentee, most of them come for the hour complain about the food youv got them on and dont really teach you anything. the book isnt a normal training book its been given to me by a friend thats doing a dog training course its actually a book ment to teach him how to be a behaviourist

no they actually said £200 for 1 hr then as long as i kept up what they said there was a lifetime guarentee, most of them come for the hour complain about the food youv got them on and dont really teach you anything. the book isnt a normal training book its been given to me by a friend thats doing a dog training course its actually a book ment to teach him how to be a behaviourist

I'm guessing the £200 ones are a franchise chain. They are fond of some of the shock techniques. I paid it, was useless and it made him worse. They do come out as many times as you want for the £200 but I just felt his problems were well above the training they had. It is fine if you have never had a dog before and don't understand basics and to be honest you could pay someone a lot less to help you with normal training. If you have had well behaved dogs in the past you know that it is not all you :lol:

Food can be a major thing though so if you have not already tried it a BARF diet give it a go I'm sure it is one of the things that has helped mine as well as all my hard work!

no they actually said £200 for 1 hr then as long as i kept up what they said there was a lifetime guarentee, most of them come for the hour complain about the food youv got them on and dont really teach you anything. the book isnt a normal training book its been given to me by a friend thats doing a dog training course its actually a book ment to teach him how to be a behaviourist

Good grief! £200 is extremely excessive isn't it! As Evei says, it does sound like a franchise (and I wouldn't recommend these anyway - you never know what they're going to do because they're not closely monitored).

Food is often a problem to be fair, and changing the food can make a huge difference but if you've already addressed his diet, I can see why this advice would be tedious!

Good luck, whichever path you choose to go down. Just consider that you will hopefully have another 10 years with him and you want to make sure you get it right!

£200 was the highest price £150 the lowest and they all came out with the same drivel as soon as u mention agression they see the pound signs. i have to be carefull with the food as my gsd has allergies and staffs as most ppl no have cronic wind i tried the barf diet but it made him smell so bad i was tempted to turn him into a yard dog yes it really was that bad. im eventually going to take him to the classes that evei recommended but untill i can drive its not possible

there are dried foods we've had rescue dogs on with good effect (just check the protein content on the side of the packet) - honest, it does work :)

Don't forget that anything that goes on outside of the home is a reflection of your relationship with the dog INSIDE the home

If he's allowed 'freedoms' inside the house which he interprets in dog language as him being top dog (we have to ban Brude from the sofa to take him down a peg or two sometimes), then when you're out, he'll decide he needs to call the shots too

im pretty strict with both of em only allowed on furnature if i invite them, they have to stay on stairs when im out they wont even pick up food if me or my son drop it unless they get told to hes actually quite well trained 4 an insane staff its just the agression i could cope with it b4 but with my second child being on the way n the gsd starting to copy him a little bit so its now gettin rediculous. im takin the gsd to agility n id love to take the staff but untill iv got him sorted its another no go

ther not allowed on the furnature unless i invite them i am quite strict with them, only allowed to eat when i say so, not allowed food of plates if i drop it on the floor only when i say so. need to sort this because my second child is on the way and the gsd has started to become quite agressive with dogs he doesnt no hes coppying the behaviour and he was allways the one never on the lead that used to play with eveything. i think i should add the behaviour got worse with both of because they had to stay with some1 else from sep 06 i only got em bk 8 months ago and iv got an 8 month old son so its been a bit hard getting any training done.

Have you tried The Staffy Bull Terrier forums. Just google there are several but I expect you have. I took my dog to a rescue centre that was only for my breed and they were brilliant as pet trainers didn't undersand the temperament of my breed. I had to be very strong with her and learned what an anxious person I was. Still am but that's a different story.

Whilst I agree a trainer/behaviourist is the best bet the part I've bolded out is rather unfair I think. The OP hasn't said if she's had the dog from a pup so to judge her isn't very fair. When I got my 11 year old rescue he was not good with other dogs, he got better but is actually worse now that he has to be kept onlead due to eyesight/hearing/senility etc. and in his previous home he was never lead walked so when he meets other dogs he gets anxious due to being onlead and unable to see them properly.

I often get looked at and judged because of the way he behaves but in actual fact, it's not my fault! Even if she has had him from a pup there are other situations that are beyond our control which could cause it.

I wasn't meaning to sound judgemental, and it was a very good point you made regarding the possible length of ownership. :) I was merely trying to suggest that an external influence may probably be better than attempting by oneself. If the behaviour has been there from a young age and the O.P has owned the dog for that period, then getting an external opinion as to where the problem may lie would be a better bet, in my personal opinion. :)

Books are very good as a source of reference, but interpreting what they say/mean into real world scenarios can be something nigh on impossible to do without experience also. Having another opinion never hurts. :)

Hi, I have just posted a query asking if anyone knows of any good trainers on another thread and I have just come across this one. I have recently adopted a 2+ yr old Jack Russell male, who has some issues with dogs. Can anyone advise someone as I would like him to be able to socialise with other dogs and also for me to pick some additional training tips up as we have had to start from scratch with him. Any posts would be appreciated.

For anyone needing behaviour advice including fear agression I would highly recommend Vicky Cooper from People and Dogs. She has helped me many times over the last decade with several rescue dogs.

http://peopleanddogs.apwb.com/

Copied from her site;
Behaviour issues are complex and variable. Incorrect advice and punishing techniques can cause them to escalate. If your dog has any of the above, please contact Victoria for advice.

Cost: £75 Includes tailor made training plan, and after service online or phone coaching and support. A copy of the behaviour report goes to your vet and we liase closely with the referring practise as some dogs may require medication to help aid in behaviour modification.

Please note that some behaviour problems will require 1-1 follow up training, particularly those that include aggression

Thanks for that, I will have a look.

Vicky at People and Dogs is an anxious person and used to labradors and smaller dogs. I have attended several of her classes and she ignored my breed of dog that was only a bit vocal and nothing else.

Vicky at People and Dogs is an anxious person and used to labradors and smaller dogs. I have attended several of her classes and she ignored my breed of dog that was only a bit vocal and nothing else.

My dog goes to her obedience classes and I wouldnt descripe her as "anxious".

Some of the dogs in our class had been through her agression program and there were a couple of german shepards and a staffy. I wouldnt descrip any of those as small or labrador type dogs. All of them seemed to b doing very well and had no problems attending an obedience class.

SHe has 2 labs herself and a clear affection for the breed but thats to be expected if you own one.

i have herd a few bad reps on vicky to be honest this is one of my problems i used to work in a pet shop and im a groomer so u can prob imagine how many ppl have topld me who to avoid iv just never been told of any1 good

i have herd a few bad reps on vicky to be honest this is one of my problems i used to work in a pet shop and im a groomer so u can prob imagine how many ppl have topld me who to avoid iv just never been told of any1 good

People always too quick to complain and never to spread the good word!

I've heard mixed reviews but whatever I've heard it's all come to the same conclusion, that she is a very competent dog trainer. :)

Now there are dog trainers I would avoid having heard people's experiences (so much so I daren't even try them for myself!) but Vicki isn't one of them.

Likewise, I've heard great things about Phil Jackson (pj dog training) and Dave Proctor (boneyfido dog training) and having worked and trained with Dave, can also say that not only is he competent he's a very nice chap!

I wasn't meaning to sound judgemental, and it was a very good point you made regarding the possible length of ownership. :) I was merely trying to suggest that an external influence may probably be better than attempting by oneself. If the behaviour has been there from a young age and the O.P has owned the dog for that period, then getting an external opinion as to where the problem may lie would be a better bet, in my personal opinion. :)

Books are very good as a source of reference, but interpreting what they say/mean into real world scenarios can be something nigh on impossible to do without experience also. Having another opinion never hurts. :)

I agree MattGGT - I didn't think you intended to be judgemental, it just came across like it, but I do agree with the rest of your post :)

i have herd a few bad reps on vicky to be honest this is one of my problems i used to work in a pet shop and im a groomer so u can prob imagine how many ppl have topld me who to avoid iv just never been told of any1 good

:lol: I agree, it's a total minefield and dog aggression seems to be a hard one to crack. I got my rescue dog at 1 1/2 years old and he was a nightmare. I tried 3 trainers over a period of a year. Many dog group training places refused to answer emails I sent when I explained he was dog aggressive though there was a one on here that would take him. I can't remember what they were called but I think they were based in Hillsborough, but I chickened out :lol: my confidence with him was at zero by this point.

I've been going to the place I go now for about 9 months so it's not a quick fix but its working. It is lovely to see him play with no muzzle with his ridgeback mate surrounded by 15 other dogs.

I have a lot of respect for any trainer/ behavourist that takes on dog aggressive dogs it's hard and what works for one does not work for another. I personally think it must be one of the hardest behaviours to correct.

do you know how i can find bonyfidos no as they are about the only 1 i havnt had any bad reviews on and ill have a word with him

I'm sure we all have diffrent views on trainers and I feel it is important to point these out as it is not cheap. I learned a lot from books and watching Its Me or the Dog.
If the OP is in Graves Park at any time let me know and I will do a walk by with you.

weekends would be best if thats ok for u masbrolass

do you know how i can find bonyfidos no as they are about the only 1 i havnt had any bad reviews on and ill have a word with him

All contact details on the website :)
http://www.boneyfidodogs.co.uk/doggy.php

thanks lotti im gona look into this

just sent a email

hes rather small for a staff.

purebred staffies are very small

how do u no hes only small actually hes tiny but has really well defined muscles thats the breeders fault found out after the mum had been bred on every season he was from her 3rd

aaw thats a shame the poor mother, im not a staffy expert but they are very small, i have seen plenty with stupidly big muscles but i realy dont liek that look, but again i dont know abotu this if its normal for the breed but they are tiny propper staffie

thats what they looked like 100 yrs ago b4 interbreeding. the ones with big muscles are normally on steroids 4 fighting (sorry to any that arnt ) if i knew how to put pics on i would just to show you how small he really is

do you have a photobucket account?

If you upload your pics to photobucket (and it's really easy), you can just copy the link to here so we can see them

hes rather small for a staff.

purebred staffies are very small

how do u no hes only small actually hes tiny but has really well defined muscles thats the breeders fault found out after the mum had been bred on every season he was from her 3rd

mummysaz was quoting you chezzfaye :) It took me a moment to work it out, but she had just forgotten the quote tags :lol:

Should've looked like this:
hes rather small for a staff.

purebred staffies are very small

:D

no i dont strix how do you set one up

thanks lotti i was slightly confused about that

Just go to http://register.photobucket.com/ and follow the instructions - they're pretty easy to follow :)

http://s654.photobucket.com/albums/uu261/chezzfaye/

hope this works

Yep! If you click on each picture, and look down the left hand side it says 'share this image' then just click on the link which automatically copies and paste:

http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu261/chezzfaye/dogs/009.jpg
http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu261/chezzfaye/dogs/005.jpg

He's a lovely size :D I love little staffies, it's how they should be to me! (Wouldn't have said he was that tiny though :) I see a lot of small staffs at shows and ringcraft though)

thanks lotti i got him the jumper when i had my shop he is the only staff over 9 month that ever got in one which was quite funny. he prob looks smaller to me because my gsd is rather large next to him

hi all. bringing this up again because it turns out my physco staff is not actually agressive just unsocialised.

i sent him to my dads last week and he met a few dogs in the park and was fine, so does any one know of any socialisation classes that will accept a 4 year old staff im in s2 so any near would be grat but i can travel if needed