Kasha my 21 month old staffie is a great dog but she has become noisy and lunges at other dogs when we are out walking. As a puppy she was good with other dogs but she was attacked a couple of times last summer, once by an older male staff who pinned her to the ground and cut her face. Now she doesn't like any other dogs.

Over this winter I have been walking her on a lead, with a harness so that I feel more in control of her. I always cross the road when I first spot another dog (before she sees it), then I basically ignore her screams and lunges when she sees another dog and just tell her to leave it and continue moving. Sometimes this isn't easy because she's strong but I always manage to get between her and the other dog and lead her away.

With some dogs she will go berserk at first and then will calm down so when she does that I stand across the road from the other dog and talk to the owners if they are willing to. I also take her to the park (on a lead all the time) and walk her quite close to other dogs or sit on a bench with her and let her watch them for a while.

She is getting a bit better but I don't really know if I'm on the right track. Can anyone let me know whether what I'm doing is heading in the right direction. I am happy to take as long as it takes and put as much work in as needed but I need to know if I am doing the right thing.

Lynn