chuckandsteve Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 So we have a foster at the moment and we have had a lot of fosters, that is not getting on with one of my dogs and we just can't work it out. My dog has always got on with the fosters, had an issue with a pregnant one we had but she wasn't very good with other dogs and pregnant so put it down to that. Anyway they are both male Staffy xs, they get on like the best of friends running around together playing fetch together, sleep in back of car together on the way to the beach, play fight on the couch while I try to push them off. Then they have a fight, serious enough my boy has a bite mark on his face. 5 minutes later best of friends again. I just don't know whats wrong, sometimes it is near me sometimes it is playing fetch. My dog growls first but the fosters attacks first. The foster is fine with my malt X. He harasses him, my boy gives a little growl and the foster leaves. We have worked out we have only had 1 boy foster and it was almost a year ago so could it be a male/male thing? We are doing a dog behaviour course on the weekend but are thinking we should get a trainer out before then cause we just can't work it out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 My guess is the bull breed mixes. They love a good barney and easily get riled up. I can remember a wise breeder telling me when I got my first Stafford pup, that the best thing I could do for my girl was to stay away from other bull breeds. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckandsteve Posted March 27, 2012 Author Share Posted March 27, 2012 You could be right, we have had 2 other Staffy fosters, one he didn't get on with but she was pregnant so put it down to that. The other was probably more Kelpie than Staffy, so maybe we shall try for a different breed next time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Sounds like the malt is the higher ranking dog and the other 2 staffy mixes are vying for position within the pack.. I learned this yesterday as I have a similar issue here with a foster... The play escalates and gets louder and rougher but I step in and stop it before it goes to far... All their play is supervised... I told the trainer they love to run around bumping into each other and doing the body slamming thing but again this is stopped as soon as it starts... She said good as it is competing against each other for strength.. They are always testing each other in play and that can escalate... I have to limit the play time of these two and get them doing more mind game stuff to keep them amused.. Like hiding their food so they have to hunt for it, or food reward toys, where they have to work for it and more training exercises. I was doing 4 x 15 minutes a day, she suggested it would be better to do 10 x 5 minute sessions.. Only working with one dog at a time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckandsteve Posted April 2, 2012 Author Share Posted April 2, 2012 Thanks for the advice it has helped in working out what i think the real problem is. I believe the foster is fear aggressive, however only slightly. So the problem is when my dog gives the warning growl he jumps in for a real bite. It has improved as he has settled in. When I first started walking him he use to get all tangled in my legs which I just put down to never being walked. It improved and I walked him with my dogs. However I took him for a walk on his own last night and every time we walked past a person or dog he ran between my legs. So he is going for private training. It is easily managed and is causing us no problems but he needs the training and assessment if we want to rehome him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 I told the trainer they love to run around bumping into each other and doing the body slamming thing but again this is stopped as soon as it starts... She said good as it is competing against each other for strength.. They are always testing each other in play and that can escalate... I'd say "good" as well, SL because even if it wasn't something that escalated, it doesn't help when they might be mixed with other more light-boned and sensitive dogs, if they think that's how 'play' is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 I told the trainer they love to run around bumping into each other and doing the body slamming thing but again this is stopped as soon as it starts... She said good as it is competing against each other for strength.. They are always testing each other in play and that can escalate... I'd say "good" as well, SL because even if it wasn't something that escalated, it doesn't help when they might be mixed with other more light-boned and sensitive dogs, if they think that's how 'play' is. Exactly Erny - I learned so much in one session with her.. Ziggy's recall at home is almost perfect again.. Out is a different story but he was much better than he was - so still no play with other dogs yet but that is our goal, to get him so he can play again and not be a boofhead and recall all the time.. I honestly think she spent more time training me than Ziggy:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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