Have you thought about just muzzling and taking him off the lead. A lot of dogs react like yours (mine still does at times, but only on the lead) as the lead means they cannot run away if they feel nervous, so feel the only thing they can do is fight or submit. Now I no longer need the muzzle. I tried a harness and although you physically have more control it allows the dog to pull more. My dogs use a half check collar, when I need to do a correction (which is usually when I walk past a dog!), I firmly but quickly pull the lead upwards or to the side (never backwards as this can cause them to pull forwards) and this "snaps" them out of it. When you see another dog you need to try to distract him and not allow him to focus on the dog, this is where using a half check collar has helped me. Also if you are physically having to pull him back, which you will have to with a harness on, then you are fueling his fight. He's pulling and your pulling. I'm not an expert, but with 2 problem rescue dogs, I've worked with a great behaviourist and we've solved many of these problems. I do find that taking my dogs to another park helps as when they know the area they feel more sure of them selves. Why not try a different place with a different method of controlling him? I understand how you prob feel, it's been a really tough year with my two and it's really good to be coming through to the other side! Good luck x

Just thought I would say thanks for all the advice and guidance on this forum. I have now got a muzzle for Kasha and it has made me more relaxed. I can focus completely on her training.

I might try a couple of different types of collar and lead too. She is calm enough on the harness generally, (except when she sees another dog) but I will try a check type collar for street walks to help me control her more when she sees a dog. I will use the harness and a longer lead for park visits. I might even be able to let her off lead with other dogs in the park now that she is muzzled.

Thanks again for the advice x

hey i hav heard that staffs are known for becoming dog ggressive as they get older, no matter how well they are socialised..
one of the main reasons sspca will not rehome a staff to anyone sharing a hallway or garden.

its great you are being responsible muzzling her. other dog walkers will see you are being responsible too.

have you got some friends with dogs you could walk them together and keep correcting bad behaviour?

x

__________________

Hey i also agree that your dog should always be kept on the lead untill he knows his boundries.
I dont know if you have eve herd of the dog whisper??? My new dog (poss with a bit of staff in him) was very protective of me, and everyone in our house inclding our other dog jake.
I maily used the cesars techniques and he is now a lot better (have had him 4months)any time on a walk you see his body language change i.e eras up, tail up body tense you need to destract him either by a side ways pull or a noise and carry on walking. Try to keep him at your side or slightly behind you and stay calm when he become tense with repatition he should calm down

Gr8 advise from Jo, I have used Cesar's methods for some time now and I am making huge progress. You might find like I did, that because you are more confident with a muzzle on, this will pass on to him and eventually allow you to remove it. Most of the battle is us and the negative energy we send to our dogs. Best of luck though x

I have a Patterdale Terrier, he's about two years old, and he's very aggressive with other dogs. He's a rescue from the RSPCA, and he used to live with a staffie who was also in the kennels at the same time as him (but they weren't kept together) and i'm guessing they were alright together. Also, the first time I walked him after we got him, he was fine with other dogs in the park. However, while we've had him, he's just decided he doesn't want any of it any more, and he barks, squeals and pulls on the lead when he sees any other dogs, wether they're walking past or on the other side of the street.

I've heard about lead aggression, but I don't know how to really test wether it is or not, because I wouldn't trust letting him off the lead.

I really want to work with him and socialize him if it's possible, but my mum doesn't seem interested, the stupid woman seems to think it's acceptable to let him carry on like this, so she won't help me in trying to improve his behaviour, although i've explained to her god knows how many times that when training any dog, it has to be consistant with all members of the pack

I don't know what to do with him. It's becoming a nightmare to walk him because i'm terrified of dogs off the lead coming up to mine and getting a gobfull off him. I also know my mum wouldn't use a muzzle if I bought one. I'm so scared of him biting another dog one day. It's got to the point that I ask other dog owners to put their dogs back on the lead when they come near. It makes me sound so ignorant and irresponsible, but without my mum's help, it's all I can do really.

__________________

R.I.P Buster - Causing mischief over the bridge, sleep tight soldier

Fitting a muzzle to your dog is a temporary fix and not a solution to the problem. Anyone who's dog has behavioural issues needs to look closely at themselves and their behaviour around the animal. Also, are we giving the dog what he needs?
The majority of canine issues,if not all are man made. Nothing though, is irreversible.

__________________
canine-rehabliltation@live.co.uk

Your dog is on a lead so in the eyes of the law under control.

I also shout to other owners if there loose dogs are making a beeline for mine,I also want to enjoy my walk without having numpties dogs jumping all over mine.
The answer I usually get is it's ok mine are friendly So I shout back that mine isn't,if they fail to heed my warning then that's there problem.I know I have done my best to diffuse a situation.

I won't muzzle my dogs,simply because too many others have had a go with them,they wouldn't be able to defend themselves and by muzzling a dog aggressive dog,it could make the problem worse.

I totally agree with everything you said. People don't seem to realise that some dogs are kept on a lead for a reason!

I also won't use a muzzle for the same reasons. I think using one could just make my dog feel threatened by others if he couldn't use his mouth. I've mentioned using a halti to my mum, and we even bought one but we put it on him once and she wouldn't use it again because he tried to swipe it off with his paws. I tried telling her that most dogs will have that reaction to a strange object being put around their heads for the first time, and that it's just a matter of getting him used to it, but she just won't entertain the thought of getting another one. I know they won't exactly stop him from barking or snapping, but it gives me such better control over his head, which is the dangerous end!

__________________

R.I.P Buster - Causing mischief over the bridge, sleep tight soldier

One of my sheps is dog aggressive so i never allow him of lead, hes fine with people just dogs and cats, i have tried to keep on walking and asking over people to put there dogs on a lead as they keep running over but most just say mines ok and dont bother to, i cant hold him as hes 8 stone when an off lead dog starts running towards him and not many people in this village keep there dogs on leads at all so now we drive over the moors every day so they get exercise as im usually holding two of them i cant walk round the streets where people just ignore me, and this is on a main st at that where cars are coming up and down all the time, but im trying my best to get him out of it but he has been bitten twice by JRS and once by another shep when he was a pup, i have him on a half check but he feels nothing when another dog goes for him, its quite upsetting really as some do just want to play but others are also aggressive .