Advice Needed - Blocking Out Negative Views on Staffy's Behaviour

Discussion in 'Staffordshire Bull Terrier' started by Nel_JC, Jan 26, 2010.

  1. Nel_JC

    Nel_JC New Member

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    Neloufar

    Advice Needed - Blocking Out Negative Views on Staffy's

    Hi,

    Last Monday evening my staffy and my neigbour's labrador bit each other through the gap in the fence. It was a horrible sight. Both dogs were treated for bite wounds and are doing fine now. The vet suggested my staffy get castrated and so he was.

    A week later, I am struggling to get over the incident. As a owner of a staffy, I have taken precautions because of the breed's much known aggressive nature. I have read up on ways to deal with the aggression and so on. My boy has been to puppy school and will now be entering adult classes.

    Ever since the incident I am constantly reminded about his aggressive nature. These constant reminders by other people at the vet and the vet's assistant are really working on my nerves.

    I also have a male Jack Russell. I am afraid that this incident last Monday and my staffy's castration will alter their relationship, in terms of hierachy etc.

    It was suggested to me that I get my Jack Russell castrated as well, so as to level out things between them, just incase my Jack Russell thinks he can rise up the pack order.

    Any help on how to block out the negative vibes about my staffy and castration of my Jack Russell to aid the relationship between my two boys will be much appreciated.


    Best
    Nel
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  3. ClaireandDaisy

    ClaireandDaisy New Member

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    Claire
    Your vet is a medical expert, not a behaviourist. I would no more take advice from a vet in training my dog than I would from a radiologist or a plumber....unless they also had qualifications in dog training or behaviour.
    If I were you I would either change my vet to one who is less judgemental (let`s face it - dogs of any breed can get into a fight) or ignore him / her and look for a decent behaviourist.
    Castration is not going to stop your dogs having a pop at the dog next door. A better fence will.
    I was frankly horrified by the suggestion that you castrate your JR `in case he rise up the pack order`. This is the most ridiculous bit of advice I`ve heard for ages.
    Yes, you might want to castrate your JR at some point - but not `in case`.
    Since the other dog was presumably snapping back at your dog through the fence, blame lies equally with both dogs - or rather with the owners who seem not to realise that any breed will protect their own garden from interlopers (ie the dog next door). Which is why we get proper fences, then these incidents don`t happen.
  4. Moli

    Moli New Member

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    pat
    I had a similar problem, next doors dogs trying to snap at my girls through the fence...I have double boarded the fence, no problems now...
  5. leadstaffs

    leadstaffs New Member

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    Chris
    I am also horrified at the advise you have recieved.
    Good fences and training are what is required by you and your neibour.

    Your dog recieved bites as well can I ask if the Lab was castrated also.
  6. alexandra

    alexandra New Member

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    Alex
    as a staffy owner, when people try to advise me on what to do with my dog i ask myself a couple of questions.....

    1) are they a trained behaviourist/dog trainer with methods i approve of
    2) Have they met my dog previously?
    3) Would i trust them to make a brew let alone tell me how to train my dog........

    When we got china from the rescue she was dog aggressive, she very very rarely goes off lead (there are only three dogs we trust her offlead with) and we put a LOT of training and socialising in with her.

    I took advice from people who had owned staffies/other breeds/and also from common sense.

    Their dog bit yours too yes?

    in that case blame is equal! their dog bit too! and shock horror!!! its a LAB!!!!!

    People seem to think that so called "family dogs" would never be aggressive......

    Your dog will pick up on any mistrust you show around him so show your dog you love him, trust him and train him kindly....
    then do as i do when ill-equipped people try to tell you what to do....

    Give them the finger .....(mentally whilst smiling sweetly!)

    All the best

    Alexandra
    xxxx

    PS - Get a better fence too!
  7. Nel_JC

    Nel_JC New Member

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    Neloufar
    Hello,

    Thanks for all the replies and advice.

    The type of fencing is known as palisades. I am not sure if its manufactured abroad. Basically its closely spaced vertical columns. With regard to the fence, the next morning after the incident I had some contractors come over to the house to block the fence completely. I now have a concrete wall blocking off the fence from my side. So that problem is taken care of. My neighbour did not take any initiative to find a solution so I decided to do it myself and immediately. At the end of the day, its about the safety of both dogs.

    Yes the Lab bit my staffy. Often my staffy will not go up to the fence. The lab will often bark at him and thats when my boy goes up to the fence. The lab also pokes his face through the spaces in the columns of the fence and barks. I have seen this when I am playing with them in the front garden or sitting with them.

    My neighbour and I take our dogs to the same vet. So when I took my staffy in, the vet said the lab will be castrated as well. I am not sure if this has happend though.

    I do understand that castration is merely a biological and physiological change to the dog. It will not eradicate the aggressiveness and him barking at other dogs. That is why I believe that socialization, training and obedience is so important and that is why I got both my Jack Russell and my staffy into puppy school and now into adult classes. I reinforce the lessons at home as well.

    The dog school and the trainers I have chosen for my boys are certified animal behavioural consultants and registered with the appropriate authorities. For example, the trainer that does defense work with my staffy, has extensive experience with training police dogs and other breeds known to be aggressive. The trainers have often complimented my staffy on his temprement, so much so that he was top of his puppy class.

    My neighbour's dogs have not been to any social or obedience classes. He told me this first hand when I first got the boys as puppies and told him the boys will be going for training.

    As the owner of terriers, I read up and try and educate myself as much as possible so that I am a responsible owner, especially with regard to my staffy.

    I am very careful about my staffy and I understand that he is a dog and will defend (as with any other dog) what he sees as his.

    Thanks once again for the advice.

    Regards,
    Nel
  8. jesterjenn

    jesterjenn New Member

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    Jeni
    You say that Staffs are agressive by nature... In ALL the staffs I have EVER met (which believe me is a lot...) I've only ever met 3 agressive staffs, most seem to be really friendly, obedient, family, excellent dogs.

    What makes you think they are agressive? If they are brought up the correct way (which by the sounds of it, you are doing) you should have no problems!
  9. leadstaffs

    leadstaffs New Member

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    Chris
    I have highlighted a bit of your post that I would like you to clarify. You are doing defence work with your Stafford?
    Staffords do not really make good guard dogs naturally.
    I just hope that once you start putting your defence work to use he does not bite someone or it will be an other nail in the coffin and just get more people with negative vibes with the breed
  10. Nel_JC

    Nel_JC New Member

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    Neloufar
    Hi,

    Thanks for the replies...

    The common view is that they are aggressive by nature, due to their years of genetic make up and what they were initially bred for. Perhaps I should add that I am talking about display of aggression around dogs and not people.

    Though this has not been my experience with my boy and other staffies. He is loving and loves to be around people.

    I am from South Africa and crime is a major problem. Most dog owners take their dogs for classes with defence training component built in along with obedience and socialization. Its quite a common thing for dog owners to do. So its not a rigorous defence training class, as would be the case for dogs being trained for that purpose but rather trains the dog at basic defence work.

    My staffy is quite alert of his surroundings at home and is definitley a deterrent to anyone trying to perhaps enter my property unlawfully. My Jack Russell and my staffy are a good combination at alerting us of passers by at odd times of the night or suspicious characters getting too close to our property. Usually when they bark, its for a reason.

    Thanks for the posts and I hope that I was able to clarify any misgivings. At the end of the day, its how they are raised, and that goes for any breed.

    I really do hope people see staffys as the wonderful breed that they are and not the crazed and out of control dogs as they are often portrayed.

    Nel :)
  11. lovebillwithers

    lovebillwithers New Member

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    Richard
    Hola. I'm new and don't feel I have the right to go on so I'll be quick. We have a six month old Staf and there isn't (to date - I'm aware he's young!) an aggressive bone in his body. From what I've read (and I'm one of those irritating anal people who reads up a lot on any new subject that gets my interest) their genetics don't make them aggressive. Their genetics make them instinctively somewhat unsocial with other dogs. Hence, if they are not well socialised they can be uncomfortable with other dogs which can, in turn, lead to aggression depending upon how they've been brought up. But there is a whopping great big difference between unsocial and aggressive. And it's easily addressed anyway. Make the ****** meet lots of dogs!

    Apologies - just seen I can't use the word ******. My bad.
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 31, 2010

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