Hello. My name is Sandra and I thought I would join the forum to see if I can get any tips or advice.
I will try and give you a brief summary. My eldest son has moved back home for a while with his big Amercian Staffy who is not neutered and is only 18 months old, at present he weighs approx 28 kg. his Name is Brash and I adore him. I also own a small Maltese cross doggy called Libby whom I also adore. Now Libby is a rescue dog and has issues with other dogs and will bite them and start a fight even with a much larger dog like Brash. But that is t my problem as we manage to keep,them apart and separate around the house and they are never left alone together.
I think you could call me a very responsible pet owner as have always been this way.i ADORE dogs.
I am the one that walks and excercises both dogs. I take them separately as Brash is a handful.
At the moment I have a collar and lead for Brash but am wondering would I have more control with him by using a harness. I have also seen those control straps that go over there noses.
I am a mature aged (57) very small lady so Brash's strength can be an issue for me.
I have some good places to take him where I attach a long rope to his lead and I throw his stick for him to fetch so he can run around and he also loves to go swimming. I always have him attached to the lead and rope. except I carnt go anywhere where there is another dog as he wants to go over and get to it, I need to stop this from happening if I can as he can become aggressive and he is so large and he would frighten other dog owners with small dogs.if I visit my normal places and there is a dog there I go somewhere else to avoid any issues, also I am always looking around me when walking and if I see another person coming with a dog I cross the road and turn Brash around and get his attention away until they have passed.
I feel I have fairly good control of him if I have the lead up close but if he is on the long run and he sees a dog I have no hope .
I also carry a kind of smacking stick with me and if he starts pulling on me I only have to tap his thigh and he knows to hold back. I would never belt him it is more of s control think for me.
Many people would say I shouldn't be waking this big boy but i love taking him and he really needs the excersice.
So how can I gain better control, would a harness be better for me. I a working on teaching him to not get over excited when he sees another dog but for the time being it is safer for me to avoid any meet ups.
If he where neutered would he settle down?
Thanks for any advice
He really is a big sook and an adorable dog but just so so strong for someone as small as me.
