Dogs Getting Along

[ClareL]

Hi.

I have a pure breed staffordshire bull terrier (we think could be a X) and a little bout 6kg mixed breed dog we have just got and just pit together. They are getting on pretty well but the staffy like to play more than my other dog and will bite him if he ignores the staffy. Wasn't a big deal the mixed breed would growl and the staffy would let go or we would tell him off and he would let go. But yesterday the staffy got the mixed dog by the ear and started dragging him backwards and he started crying really badly and they were in another room so took me a second to get to them and i actually had to pick the Staffy up.

We are just worried now about leaving them alone during the day while we are at work and wondered if we should separate them or if there is any right way to train the staffy not to do this. It was just a once off incident so far I just worry because the staffy could fit the other dogs whole head in his mouth and I dont want him getting hurt. (Neither are aggressive dogs just excitable and playful.

Thanks in advance

[~*Shell*~]

I would suggest seeing a behavourist - sorting out aggression (even if it is play) over the internet isn't ideal. If i was you i would supervise each interaction so i could put an immediate stop to any aggression issues and call in a professional to assess them both. They'll be able to put into place some training techniques to reinforce that aggression isn't okay.

Where are you located? Someone here should be able to point you in the right direction. (If you're in sydney, steve at k9 force is incredible - my dog Zero was transformed in about 2 months)

Edited August 27, 2008 by ~*Shell*~

[Bjelkier]

I agree with everything Shell has said, also I would keep them seperated while you are not at home just incase.

[ClareL]

Thanks

I am in melbourne. Apart from the one incident he has been really good, he has had ringworm and hasn't been able to go to training yet but I will look into it maybe he can have some one on one training.

Thanks

[Miranda]

When getting a second dog it's a good idea to get one of the opposite sex and of similar size. I agree with the others, definitely separate when you're not there to supervise and engage the services of a qualified behaviourist. Your staffordx may be only playing, but it would be easy for him to play too hard and kill the other dog, even though it was unintentional. Staffords are solid, powerful dogs and a lot like to play rough so be very careful.

[Cosmolo]

Agree with the sentiments of the others- does the dog still have ringworm clareL?

Its definitely something that you need to get on top of straight away and one on one training would be more beneficial than a group class given the situation and problem at hand.

[ClareL]

The staffy has finished all the tablets the vet gave us. The ringworm is no longer red and is completely flat so we believe its gone but we are still using antifungal cream and wash his blankets and stuff incase as the hair hasn't grown back in those spots yet. I've kept them apart the past day except when either myself or my partner is around and we have found giving him a toy more effective than telling him off. Steve (2nd dog) is getting better at telling him off too.

We did take the staffy to meet the 2nd dog before we got him and were advised they would be ok together and 2 males is ok because they are both desexed. The staffy is still a puppy and trains pretty easily (he is toliet trained will sit let go of toys not steal food) so we are hoping he will be fairly easily trained to stop biting the other dog as it isn't aggressive just play biting. The other dog however isn't so easily trained as he is 18 months and doesn't know any commands which i think encourages the staffy to play up.

Thanks for all the advice.

[Nekhbet]

sounds like a staffy

The other dog however isn't so easily trained as he is 18 months and doesn't know any commands which i think encourages the staffy to play up.

Whether or not the dog has been properly socialised should be a bigger worry. Sounds like this new dog is fairly OK since you have not had a fight but the staffy needs some time to learn what is acceptable and what isnt. Also the new dog needs time to settle in properly and learn rules. I would be separating them during the day (maybe keep one in the laundry and one outside) then introduce them supervised and really be set on the ground rules.

A good thing to do first is to sit down with the other people in the house and decide WHAT you want from your dogs then make a plan of action with a trainer who will come round and explain

1) what your dogs are doing, body language, behavior

2) what you need to do to change it

3) be realistic with your time frames and set little goals

sounds complicated but it can be fairly simple. The biggest point is never let a dog decide for itself the major decisions in a household (how do I treat other dogs, where do I sleep, what position am I in the pack) that is for you to do for them and maintain the same idea.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Separate your dogs now or the small one will probably be killed. In the long term, this is not probably going to be a successful match, I'd rehome the small dog.

[ClareL]

Why would I rehome the small dog when he hasn't done anything? We are looking into getting a trainer for Chuck the staffy, I think our real problem is he thinks the second dog is a toy to play with. He has gotten slightly better with the constant telling off for biting.