Strange Behaivour

[TYLER23]

Our 15 month old stafford is on occasions exhibiting strange behavior with certain dogs which i'd like to put a stop to, but don't know how.

Let me say from the outset that he is in no way dog aggressive.

The problem is if he comes across a dog at the dog park who is ignoring him, he starts barking and circling the said dog in what seems like a frustrated way of saying "why aren't you playing with me?". This behavior will continue until the other dog shows interest or the dogs are removed from each other. He gets so aroused that i cannot call him away and i have to physically remove him.

Like i said he is very dog friendly and just wants to play but doesn't realise that some dogs would rather chase a ball than play with him.

Any ideas?

[persephone]

Yep.. put your dog on a lead and remove him ..one day the other dog may take action

[Sandra777]

You may find that being a Stafford he is seriously conflicted between his inbred instinct and his socialisation/training. He has the genetic history to treat dogs which are not openly friendly as potential "threats" but no doubt you have tried to train him not to think this way. Unfortunately you are working against his breeding and it takes a better trainer than you or I to overcome that completely!

He is coming to an age where the majority of Staffords become a bit more aware of other dogs and tend to try their luck.

Work on your recall, keep him on a leash and consider not taking him to dog parks where there are random dogs, one of which one day WILL take him up on his disguised/partial/uncertain challenge and then you will see the true nature of the beastie.

Edited October 15, 2010 by Sandra777

[Aussienot]

At a dog park you are very likely to encounter a situation that will make him worse.

An alternative is to find one or two dogs who are friendly and willing to play with him, and organise play dates just with those dogs. He is past the puppy stage, and it's not critical to his social development to continue ad hoc play with random strange dogs.

[poodlefan]

Let me say from the outset that he is in no way dog aggressive.

I havent' seen the behaviour but I'd have to say I'm not so sure. Circling behaviour doesn't sound like an invitation to play to me. Is he like this with all strange dogs or just certain types of dogs.

He gets so aroused that i cannot call him away and i have to physically remove him.

I'd say he's not really a candidate for the dog park if there are other users. This is an invitation to aggression from the other dog AND hadly a very pleasant experience for the other dog's owner.

I'd be leashing up and leaving. While he might not be the one to start a fight, given his breeding, I'd say he'll be likely to finish and ice one if it breaks out. Not want you want at all.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

...

The problem is if he comes across a dog at the dog park who is ignoring him, he starts barking and circling the said dog in what seems like a frustrated way of saying "why aren't you playing with me?". This behavior will continue until the other dog shows interest or the dogs are removed from each other. He gets so aroused that i cannot call him away and i have to physically remove him.

...

I agree with the "remove him" comments - and give him something else to do that's fun. Because you want him to be ok with dogs that don't want to play and leave them alone. My dog does leave other dogs alone that are not interested - sometimes after an initial invitation to play - it depends a bit on how she reads the other dog, sometimes she doesn't even bother with the play invites, and she's 2 years old now, and sometimes ignores (turns down) play invites from other dogs herself. Usually from little dogs she doesn't know.

So what do you want your dog to do - get him to do that. Even if it means putting him on lead the second you see a ball obsessed dog. You don't want it to get to the point where he's so excited he ignores you. Consider building a "conditioned recall" as well as your regular one that he feels free to ignore when he's busy.

I also agree with find him dogs that like to play and organise play dates. But you do need to teach him what is and isn't acceptable behaviour with other dogs if he can't figure it out for himself.

Edited October 15, 2010 by Mrs Rusty Bucket

[TYLER23]

Thanks for the quick replies.

You are all correct, the one thing that worries me is that sooner or later one of the other dogs may lash out, hence the reason for wanting to stop the behavior. At the moment i simply put him on leash and move him to another area of the park where he can play with other dogs.

The circling is party due to me trying to get him on leash and him trying to avoid me.

At the dog park (we can get 40+ dogs on weekends) he gets along and plays nicely with 99% of dogs. It's only when there are fewer dogs in the park and we may come across a dog (no particular breed) that is 100% focused on his owner and retrieving a ball for example, that the behavior comes out.

On the rare occasion if the said dog decides to leave the ball and have a run/play with my dog then the behavior virtually stops.

While he may have a hidden aggressive genetic makeup that may or may not get triggered , at the moment he is quite the opposite and shows submissive behavior when confronted by a more boisterous dog.

Also, is it fairly normal for a stafford of his age to only want to chase, play fight and rumble during play times?

[TYLER23]

I am working on the recall at the moment using the Really Reliable Recall DVD, and making slow progress in the right direction. I can get him to recall at a not so busy park (3 or 4 dogs) about 70% of the time. I don't fancy my chances on a sunday morning with 40 dogs!

[persephone]

Perhaps avoid the park on Sundays- and take him for a lovely LONG walk somewhere instead ? He doesn't HAVE to be exposed to 40 plus dogs to make him a better dog ....

Walking with you, on a leash, and being helped to concentrate and get into 'the zone' is a good thing :p How often does he get a good long leash walk ..where you can both relax into the rythym?

[TYLER23]

How often does he get a good long leash walk ..where you can both relax into the rythym?

Daily walks of about 4kms. We do have a smaller park nearby with only a few dogs where we go a few times a week, but the bigger park (sundays) is fully fenced which i prefer for safety reasons and like i said, generally he is pretty good there. Funnily enough, we seem to have more problems at the smaller park as there are fewer dogs to chose from.

[poodlefan]

I am working on the recall at the moment using the Really Reliable Recall DVD, and making slow progress in the right direction. I can get him to recall at a not so busy park (3 or 4 dogs) about 70% of the time. I don't fancy my chances on a sunday morning with 40 dogs!

There is no way in God's green earth you'd get me into a dog park with 40 offlead dogs on any day. That's one hell of a pack looking for something to happen.

[megan_]

What do you do that is interesting that makes him focus on you and not on other dogs?

Most of the staffy-types at our park chase a ball thrown by their owner (FAR away from anyone else). They are too intersted in the game to want to play with other dogs.

[Sandra777]

While he may have a hidden aggressive genetic makeup that may or may not get triggered , at the moment he is quite the opposite and shows submissive behavior when confronted by a more boisterous dog.

IMO it isn't genuine dog aggression which makes Staffords and the like more willing to take up a challenge. As a whole I would consider them extremely UNaggressive but supremely confident and ultimately willing to take up a challenge because they have very little regard for the social niceties such as submission and dominance displayed by more pack orientated breeds (thinking Beagles and genuine pack hounds here) when confronted by a dog which is (or thinks it is) dominant. Boisterous doesn't mean dominant and it's possible he is submissive to boiterous dogs because he doesn't quite know how else to react to rudeness. when he grows up a little more, he will find other solutions to "boisterous" rude dogs.

You've hit the nail on the head when you say "at the moment" - your dog has only just started to mentally mature, at 18 months he's little more than an overgrown puppy. Expect many surprising changes in his nature in the 12 months to come :p

Edited October 15, 2010 by Sandra777

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

chase, play fight and rumble during play times

Is there anything else? That's what my dog loves (ACDx).

There is an adolescent phase where they won't want to do what you tell them. Not sure how long that lasts in Staffies.

I think my brother's Staffy has grown out of it now, she's about 10 years old.

Chasing your dog in circles around another dog - is really bad. Because you're rewarding him for being naughty. Ie can't get game with dog, get game with Boss. Sigh. My dog does this too. And I am not happy. But I try to turn it into a game of chase the boss. If another dog is doing it to me and my dog I ask the owner to take it away and I help the owner catch it by stepping to block its path or catching it (If I don't think it will bite).

I'd be avoiding situations where it is likely to happen or leashing him up before it can happen (eg when you see one of the ball obsessed dogs) until you've got better recall happening. I often have uber treats (eg rawhide beef chips) to distract my dog and get her behaving when she's being really naughty.

[TYLER23]

While he may have a hidden aggressive genetic makeup that may or may not get triggered , at the moment he is quite the opposite and shows submissive behavior when confronted by a more boisterous dog.

IMO it isn't genuine dog aggression which makes Staffords and the like more willing to take up a challenge. As a whole I would consider them extremely UNaggressive but supremely confident and ultimately willing to take up a challenge because they have very little regard for the social niceties such as submission and dominance displayed by more pack orientated breeds (thinking Beagles and genuine pack hounds here) when confronted by a dog which is (or thinks it is) dominant. Boisterous doesn't mean dominant and it's possible he is submissive to boiterous dogs because he doesn't quite know how else to react to rudeness. when he grows up a little more, he will find other solutions to "boisterous" rude dogs.

You've hit the nail on the head when you say "at the moment" - your dog has only just started to mentally mature, at 18 months he's little more than an overgrown puppy. Expect many surprising changes in his nature in the 12 months to come

Thanks Sandra, i always enjoy reading your posts, always very informative Fingers and toes crossed that the changes in his nature are positive

[TYLER23]

What do you do that is interesting that makes him focus on you and not on other dogs?

Food, except when he is in this high level of excitment

Most of the staffy-types at our park chase a ball thrown by their owner (FAR away from anyone else). They are too intersted in the game to want to play with other dogs.

Exactly the same at our parks, most of them are focused on their owners or balls... except ours (albeit he is probably the youngest sbt there). He loves retrieving at home.

I've started taking training treats with me and finding a quiet(ish) spot in the dog park to practice basic obedience. I guess i'm trying to condition him to ignore the other dogs and sounds and focus on me. The problem is the minute we pull up in the car park and open the boot of the car it's like someone has lit a firework up his bum. He will drag me into the park as he is busting out of his skin to play!

[raineth]

I've started taking training treats with me and finding a quiet(ish) spot in the dog park to practice basic obedience. I guess i'm trying to condition him to ignore the other dogs and sounds and focus on me. The problem is the minute we pull up in the car park and open the boot of the car it's like someone has lit a firework up his bum. He will drag me into the park as he is busting out of his skin to play!

Hi there,

for this particular behaviour I'd recommend that he 'earns' getting out of the car by exhibiting calmer behaviour and by focusing on you.

So he is not allowed out until he is displaying some level of calm.

even as you are walking toward the park. Stop and go back if he gets to excited. When he's calmer go toward the park again.

this way he learns that he gets what he wants by being calm.

also teach him a reliable command for giving you eye contact.

Also I would recommend that he has a big walk before the dog park. This way he enters the dog park with a better energy.

You can still drive to the park if necessary but maybe take him for a good walk around that area before you enter the park.

hope that is helpful

I just want to add that you can't expect him to be really calm. Just start by expecting calmer behaviour and once he's got the idea require that his behaviour be even more calm; and then more calm again. Just keep going with it until he is displaying the level of calm that you want