I need desperate help with my Staffordshire Bull Terrier. I've owned him since he was 9 months old and he is coming up for 3 this may.

When I got him, I got a massive understanding from the way the person who owned him from a puppy was that he wasn't socialised with other dogs or massively trained. But, luckily brought up around babys so he truely sticks to their nicknames of 'nanny dog'.

But, and a pretty big but, since he got attacked by a dog when he was about 14 months old when a german shephard seemed to being nice to him, then one moment basically pushed my dog down a hill, his faith in other dogs has gone down hill. About 8 months ago when I was away and my mum was walking him, a staffie came running around a corner which was owned by the stereotypical teenager, grabbed my dog and attacked it. Luckily he got himself away before he got hurt. Its annoying as this dog doesn't have it in him to even attack, he would just lay down and try get away and cry to himself.

Since then, he seems to have some fear that dogs are going to do it again and seems to get defensive. If a dog wants to play with him, he will happily play running around and rolling around with other dogs. But, as soon as they growl at him he goes protective and sort of like pins them down but will never bite, got to run over to him, and get collar and he will get off and knows he has done wrong.

Some help to get around this issue would be very grateful as I don't want him to have the stereotyped character, he is a really good dog and have put a lot of work in with him since I owned him as he never knew what training was until I bought him.

Other than this, he is a great dog. Will happily go out and play ball. He also lives with a Shitzu and gets on with him brilliantly. They both play in the usual dog manner with each other. Goes to show how the staff is when the shitzu is top dog in the house.

Any help is much welcome to try and train him out of this, as want him to have a stress free time when hes out.

I am now getting good results from Shadow.

He has been given new rules in the house that he isn't always allowed up on the sofa, so has to lay either in his bed or on the floor so he gets a thinking that I'm the alpha male in the house and not him. But also when out, after him getting attacked I'm showing him its fun to socialise with other dogs. He's slowly getting there, socialising him on a normal length lead so I have a lot of control over him incase he does get scared. If he behaves he gets a reward and he is starting to learn this.

Also, I'm teaching him his boundries when off of a lead, he had them before but they have be narrowed down and he seems a lot more happy for it as he now knows where he truely stands in lets say his pack (Him and us).

I've also started to play ball on the way back from a walk so its more of a reward for him. He goes out for a long time and runs around with me for his exercise and sometimes just goes out for his ball games. But on the way back now, he knows if he's been behaved he gets to play with his ball.

He deffo knows though when he gets a treat, but if he hasn't been good enough for one he knows. Just getting him off of the treats after a while once fully trained.

Anyone got any more tips?

Apologies, I'm posting and running as just on my way out. But wanted to say I'm sorry your first post got missed, it happens sometimes when forum is busy.

Glad you are seeing an improvement.

Sh x

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Sh & Zach



Lifes too short for drama and petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly

Hello

If you look back on some of my old posts I've put up asking for help, loads of people have given great advice there on how to deal with nervous/unconfident dogs (like my Dottie, they sound quite similar with their problems, she wasnt socialised as a puppy, kept away from all dogs, ball crazy)

Read some of my old threads/replies, I think you'll find them very helpful.

Let me know if they help

xxx

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http://www.dogstardaily.com Fantastic site full of great information.

http://www.dogsinneedofspace.co.uk/ goodvic2's excellent site for dogs like mine!

sorry to hear that your dog was attacked. A similar thing happened to my 13 month old a few months ago. Since then I have been having similar problems to you.
We visited a behaviour trainer last week to see how to treat him when this happens. We were taught to try and keep our dog under the threshold of getting anxious and starting to show this behaviour. This is done by learning how close you can get to dogs/people before he displays this behaviour and learning to read his signals before getting to that point. For example as you are approaching another dog, as soon as your dog displays 'good responses' I.e looking the other way, sniffing the groins, looking at you etc. give lots of praise and increase the distance between you will teach him that his 'good choices' will take him away from the 'fearful thing'.
We have been trying this and it is working wel. Once he has become accustomed to other dogs and taking no notice of them, we will then be able to get closer!

That is if other dog owners work with us and cal their dogs away if requested as in my earlier thread today about how some other dog owners infuriate me!
That I'd not generalised though as there are lots of good sensible dog owners out there!