Help Needed With 5 Month Old Staffy

[Druce]

I have a 5 month old pure bred English Staffordshire Bull Terrier that is full of beans and out of control. Everytime another dog, my girlfriend or I go near him he wants to bite us. Even though these bites are only play, they could potentially turn into something serious down the track if not delt with now. I have tried smacking him on the nose, bottom and saying No firmly, but I get no response and he continues with the biting as if we are playing. Will desexing slow him up a little, changed of diet (currently fed science diet) maybe any other options would be much appreciated becasue this puppy is driving us crazy ?

[Kirty]

He is a puppy, and a staffy puppy - he is going to be a bit insane! LOL! Get him into some decent obedience training ASAP and if possible, get someone reputable to come to your house and show you some tips for around the home.

[Christina]

Smacking is not working so give that one up.

Diet & desexing will not solve the problem either.

Dog training will

5 month old pups are lively,excitable & pups do go through the biting stage. All normal.

Your breed is strong, boisterous, can be willful but are also very responsive to training.

Post your area, or area convenient for you to get to & ask for recommendations for a good obedience class you can go to.

Once you start & your pup responds, enjoys & you get better control you will enjoy your dog much more.

A little time spent going to classes will benefit you both so much in the long term.

[Druce]

Smacking is not working so give that one up.

Diet & desexing will not solve the problem either.

Dog training will

5 month old pups are lively,excitable & pups do go through the biting stage. All normal.

Your breed is strong, boisterous, can be willful but are also very responsive to training.

Post your area, or area convenient for you to get to & ask for recommendations for a good obedience class you can go to.

Once you start & your pup responds, enjoys & you get better control you will enjoy your dog much more.

A little time spent going to classes will benefit you both so much in the long term.

I am booked in to dog obedience training in February, that time can't come any sooner, lol.

[Cosmolo]

Don't wait until February!!

[Druce]

Don't wait until February!!

I live in a small regional town with one trainer and that is the next available time slot unfortunately.

[Sandra777]

Have you had this pup since it was 8 weeks old or only just acquired him?

When the puppy gets excited and wants to play, what do you do?

How much time does the pup spend with you every day and what do you do with the pup during this time?

What would you like the puppy to do instead of biting - and what have you done to show the pup what is acceptable behaviour?

Smacking can help as a last resort for some behaviours, but since the pup patently has no idea WHY you are smacking it, stop doing it. No desexing and diet won't help.

[Clyde]

Well, I believe that desexing does help. It's not the be all and end all of training problems but it does help take the edge off and lessen the drive. Have you tried a water spray bottle? Turning your back?

I know where you're coming from so I would definitely re direct his energy asap. Could you get a phone consult with someone reputable to tide you over til Feb? Try K9 Pro.

[aussielover]

I have a 5 month old pure bred English Staffordshire Bull Terrier that is full of beans and out of control. Everytime another dog, my girlfriend or I go near him he wants to bite us. Even though these bites are only play, they could potentially turn into something serious down the track if not delt with now. I have tried smacking him on the nose, bottom and saying No firmly, but I get no response and he continues with the biting as if we are playing. Will desexing slow him up a little, changed of diet (currently fed science diet) maybe any other options would be much appreciated becasue this puppy is driving us crazy ?

How often do you exercise him?

What training do you do with him?

I would start the TOT program with him straight away.

TOT program

Have you tried putting him in a time out area, when he does this? That was what worked best for our pup, but of course all pups are different.

A water spray bottle may also be a good idea.

[Clyde]

Invest in a crate! It's the only thing that has stopped me for strangling my own dog.

[Druce]

I have a 5 month old pure bred English Staffordshire Bull Terrier that is full of beans and out of control. Everytime another dog, my girlfriend or I go near him he wants to bite us. Even though these bites are only play, they could potentially turn into something serious down the track if not delt with now. I have tried smacking him on the nose, bottom and saying No firmly, but I get no response and he continues with the biting as if we are playing. Will desexing slow him up a little, changed of diet (currently fed science diet) maybe any other options would be much appreciated becasue this puppy is driving us crazy ?

How often do you exercise him?

What training do you do with him?

I would start the TOT program with him straight away.

TOT program

Have you tried putting him in a time out area, when he does this? That was what worked best for our pup, but of course all pups are different.

A water spray bottle may also be a good idea.

I take him for a walk at least every second day and take him over two a mates place with a 5 month of staffy once a week for a play. I haven't tried putting him in a time out area, I am going to buy a chain and try this out.

I have tried a water bottle and have some success,because this pup absolutely hates getting wet. I have just a had a quick readof the TOT article and will give it a go. I will try both methods above over the next week and see how I go..........

[Druce]

Well, I believe that desexing does help. It's not the be all and end all of training problems but it does help take the edge off and lessen the drive. Have you tried a water spray bottle? Turning your back?

I know where you're coming from so I would definitely re direct his energy asap. Could you get a phone consult with someone reputable to tide you over til Feb? Try K9 Pro.

At what age would you suggest getting him desexed as a last resort if nothing else works ?

[persephone]

Well, I believe that desexing does help.

Invest in a crate!

IMO, neither of these things will be of immediate assistance to a very inexperienced owner of a boisterous stafford puppy!

Druce-

have a read of these articles- they may give you some answers as to WHY yopur puppy is doing this, and HOW you can learn to manage things ...

CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE

Your pup needs execise, both physical and mental.Your pup needs walks, and obedience sessions in your yard,and good interactive toys.

It needs rules, and routine,and rewards

Smacking will only make things worse- as you have found .

A water spray may work- but get your timing absolutely right! Do not spray when pup is retreating, or just looking at you...

[persephone]

Druce- you do not need a chain.

A time out area is a pen/room where the dog is away from his pack.

this pup does not need further confinemnet via a chain.. he needs education/learning/exercise .. he is just discovering life ...he needs to explore and be taught by YOU how to interact with the world ...

A walk every second day is NOT enough....

he needs one or two walks every single day ...short walks- not miles... he is still growing and developing.

Yes, I recommend desexing .. but it will not 'cure' lack of training . It will help with him not seeking bitches in season..and being so keen to fight other males.

[persephone]

a last resort if nothing else works ?

training WILL WORK. No question.

Trouble is ,it is YOU who need the training- so then you can teach your dog ;)

YOU need to be reading/talking, as you are here, about dog behaviour ...WHAT is the dog doing? WHY is he doing it?HOW do I know what he's thinking? WHEN is the right time to praise/correct....

training is mostly about rewards.

dogs are pretty simple- like humans.

if we get a reward- if it feels good, or we get food ..we will do it again. and again....

SO

your dog needs to get REWARDS for good and calm behaviour ....

YOU need to learn how this works - obedience lessons will be useful- but by February ...things may have worsened . NOW, at home ,is when he can learn some better habits , with your help.

[Rileys mum]

In pack behaviours young pups play and mouth one another. During that phase of development they learn not to bite hard because their siblings tell them with a big yelp when it's too hard. I found that everytime I felt my pups teeth on my skin I'd give a high pitch 'ouch' ( like I had been burnt ) , pull my hand away and turn my back on my pup. After a few seconds I would return to playing with him and repeat if it happened again.

Worked with my guy like a dream. You control the type of play you want to see from your pup.

[Druce]

a last resort if nothing else works ?

training WILL WORK. No question.

Trouble is ,it is YOU who need the training- so then you can teach your dog ;)

YOU need to be reading/talking, as you are here, about dog behaviour ...WHAT is the dog doing? WHY is he doing it?HOW do I know what he's thinking? WHEN is the right time to praise/correct....

training is mostly about rewards.

dogs are pretty simple- like humans.

if we get a reward- if it feels good, or we get food ..we will do it again. and again....

SO

your dog needs to get REWARDS for good and calm behaviour ....

YOU need to learn how this works - obedience lessons will be useful- but by February ...things may have worsened . NOW, at home ,is when he can learn some better habits , with your help.

Thanks for the advice, I will try and walk him a bit more often then what I do. In regards to the training I need, I do agree. I have been training basic commands like sit and down and rewarding with treats, however I still have a long way to go. With the articles you and everybody else have attached I should be heading in the right direction into training an obedient dog.

[Clyde]

Well, I believe that desexing does help.

Invest in a crate!

IMO, neither of these things will be of immediate assistance to a very inexperienced owner of a boisterous stafford puppy!

Where did I say they would be?

[persephone]

Where did I say they would be?

Oh, sorry, I thought that was why you made the suggestions

[Sandra777]

I have been training basic commands like sit and down and rewarding with treats, however I still have a long way to go.

If you've already got sit mastered then the solution is right there.

Learn what cues your pup gives just before he starts his mouthing (biting). Embed these cues in your brain. EVERY SINGLE TIME he starts showing that the next thing he's going to do is mouth (bite), stop whatever you're doing (even if it's just walking out the door) stand up straight and neutral and tell him to sit. When he sits he gets a treat or just praise, but if you get a sit he leaps up again, instantly back to the neutral position (no waving of hands, stamping feet, random eye contact) and request another sit. He will very quickly learn that thinking about mouthing gets nothing, sitting when he gets excited gets your attention.

I think he will partly be doing this because he doesn't know not to, but also because it's exciting and very self rewarding. You have to make it not exciting (by preventing him getting to the stage where the mouthing can even start) and provide something which is more rewarding - your attention.

Staffords thrive on the attention of their owner - many don't seem to care all that much if it's positive or negative so long as it's attention. By flapping around and smacking and squealing and getting excited you're fueling his excitement and making it an even better game.

It's up to you to teach him a better (less painful, for you! ) way of getting your attention.

Ignoring the behaviour won't make it go away now it's quite ingrained. He obviously doesn't know what you want him to do so does what works.

What do you do when he approaches you calmly and sensibly and doesn't mouth you - bet you ignore it but that's exactly the behaviour you want to praise like he's given you the winning lotto ticket.

Please don't put him on a chain!!!!!!!!!!!