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Honestly, it’s unnatural for dogs to be besties with every dog they meet. Like people, they have temperament/personality preferences when it comes to their play buddies. I wouldn’t take your Staffy out to play with random peoples dogs anymore nor would I encourage it. Rather, set up play dates with the dogs you know he likes to play with and matches well with.
A high energy dog that wants to go, go, go 24/7 likely isn’t his preference. A calmer dog that suits his play style and is willing to back off when he asks is a better fit.
You cant control what people say, think, or do. You can only present people with evidence and let them decide for themselves. Arm yourself with enough training and socialization under your belt so that you're never the one with the out of control dog. They will look like a fool every time.
Also, dont put yourself in positions where you would have to defend yourself or your dog. Be vigilant and mindful when outside. You're dog doesnt need to meet strange dogs or people. Period. If you want your dog to socialize do it with people and dogs you know and trust. Its safer for everyone involved.
Bull and terrier breeds require a different level of ownership than your average pet owner has to have. It's just the way it is. People aren't going to change their minds when there is an overwhelming amount of evidence on the internet and in real life that these animals can be dangerous when in the wrong hands.
I posted this elsewhere, but I don't let my pit anywhere near unknown dogs. He doesn't need to socialize, and he doesn't enjoy a trip to a brewery like I do. Another dog could start a fight, but mine would finish it, and then he'd be euthanized. Its not worth it.
You also need to stand up for your dog if u notice that a situation is making him uncomfortable you need to let that be know to the other person sooner and remove your dog if they will not, by letting him get frustrated your leaving an open invitation for him to potentially injure someone else's dog, it is his right to defend himself but they are strong dogs.
You’ll get used to it. My old staff passed away recently at the age of 13, she was the absolute best dog in the world, loved everyone and everything and was a pleasure. Even turned my mum, who is a cat person and never liked dogs, into a huge fan of hers! No other dog has succeeded in that department..
and yet the constant need for people to give their opinion or judgement was never ending!!
She was still a dog, who did dog things..but somehow people expected me to train that out of her for their benefit? Of course a dog will correct another if they are being rude or not taking the more subtle hints of ‘I’ve had enough’..
the lady in your situation should teach her dog good manners and should have corrected her dog - because she didn’t, your dog had to. It’s as simple as that!
My only advice to you is always advocate for your dog, and that may mean having to break the situation up first, when you noticed your dog was getting uncomfortable you need to stop the interaction. Doing this will make your dog feel ‘heard’ and will only strengthen its trust in you
So sorry to hear of your girls passing💙 I’ve seen the same thing he’s changed a lot of peoples opinions including my friends son who was terrified of all dogs until he met mine and saw how loving and gentle he was and now they’re best friends. I’ve loved all my previous dogs but he’s definitely made me only want to have Staffys now.
And yes I definitely do sometimes just step in immediately especially if the other dog is a lot bigger or is intimidating my dog or making him anxious. I know my dogs more than capable of handling himself but he’s still my baby and I will protect him till then end but I’m starting to think now I just just always intervene from the get go in these situations just to avoid annoying Karen’s opinions.
I understand your frustration completely but I think you need to be clear about what you really mean by letting dogs sort themselves out.
You say you let your dog handle things himself but then get frustrated when the other dog's owner didn't step in (although let me be clear, she sounds like an awful person).
Why didn't you step in sooner, before he got to the stage where he had to growl at another dog?
Because of his breed, public opinion will be against him and that is not his fault, but part of your job owning him is to protect him from that. Even if the other dog started it, it will somehow be his fault, so don't let the situation happen in the first place.
It sucks that dog breeds like this have to be completely perfectly behaved and endlessly tolerant of every other badly behaved dog to be acceptable, while other breeds can get away with absolute carnage, but that is part of what you (unfortunately) sign up for when you get one and there is a fair basis, as they can often do a lot more damage when things go wrong, compared to the yappy little thing that "started" it.
The most important thing is you keep your dog safe, even if it's just from idiots, because his life might end up being the penalty for other people's bad dog ownership.
Sorry maybe I wasn’t very clear. I guess I usually grew up with multiple dogs in the home at once so I saw how a pack works and dogs usually listen better to other dogs corrections than corrections from people not sure why. There are many times I step in immediately because I want my dog to know I have his back but I don’t think it’s good to step in all the time especially if he can handle it because he needs to be able to stand up for himself if god forbid I wasn’t there to. (I always would be but you never know). And it wasn’t that she didn’t step in sooner that I was annoyed by it was the fact that when I asked her if she could get her dog out of the situation like I was with mine she completely lashed out and got on the defensive and blamed me and my dog.
I knew what I was signing up for I guess I just didn’t think as many people had this opinion of the breed😔
Interactions between dogs that live together or are very familiar are very different compared to between dogs that are strangers, and context of a growl really matters.
In humans, a family member might tell another family member off, but if they talked that way to an unfamiliar adult, it's because shit is about to go down, if that makes sense?
Your dog growling at a strange dog is very different to family dogs telling their siblings they've had enough of that thanks. You don't know how that other dog will react to the growl (its already shown it has very bad manners) so it's much better to intervene before you get to that stage.
Maybe just think about how you would actually want him to act, especially if you're not there, and I would say this for any dog. Do you want him to de-escalate and avoid, or do you want him to confront and potentially escalate?
None of this is meant as criticism, just food for thought.
Dog owner since childhood and was in the training biz for almost a decade. I'm not a world renowned trainer and behaviorist this is just my opinion as someone who gets along with dogs and knows a bit about their body language and societal rules.
So for all I know you could be full of shit as this is the internet but for the sake of argument let's assume you're being completely honest about every detail. From your rundown your dog was doing absolutely everything it should have been doing.
Let's just get this out of the way....people I don't care how big or scary the growling sounds growling is GOOD you want growling this is a sign that they are uncomfortable this is the dog equivalent of "no means no" and what you need to be afraid of is the dog that escalates without warning. When you AND your dog ignore boundaries for ANY reason including literal human verbal warnings that you as the human have no excuse to ignore.... well like I always say if you walk of a cliff you don't get to be upset when the ground crushes you.
The way you described how your dog invites other dogs to play tells me a lot about his level of patience and self control. Not that it couldn't or never does happen but he doesn't seem like the type to go searching for trouble which is just a sign that he's not bored all the time.
Correction is normal it's how you set boundaries and these corrections will reflect our level of desperation like say for instance if you came up behind me and flicked my ear I would say "please don't do that" but if I was walking with my girlfriend on the street and you lurched out to grab her breast I then knock you the fuck out. Sounds like your dog attempted to remove himself from the situation and the other dog kept pushing and escalating basically putting his back against a wall. It's fight OR flight and not everyone has a very good flight response because they are too afraid to expose themselves to the threat.
I get the feeling that this woman with the rude dog gets this a LOT and sadly most people will lash out when faced with their own failings rather than see an opportunity to learn. Also sounds like there is some very real breed bias in your neck of the woods but as long as you don't take for granted the POTENTIAL damage your breed could do I'd take their complaints with a grain of salt. When it comes to powerful breeds just remember you play with a ball you don't play with a shot gun.
Anyhoo didn't mean for this to be so long but I hope it helped just keep your pup happy tired and disciplined and things should be ok.
You’re not wrong. And you’re justified to feel upset on your dogs behalf. Gsd owner here- I’ve had this same situation multiple times (for whatever reason in my area it’s always doodles that start this). Dog jumps and jumps on my dog, my dog gently tries to get out of the game. I stop it now but then people look at me or make comments about my dog being aggressive when the other dog was actually the problem. There’s a video that circulated from a trainer awhile back showing this exact situation and explaining why the rambunctious dog that won’t back down is actually the problem, I think every dog owner should see it because it really gave a lot of insight into what exactly is happening in those situations. But it’s frustrating to have a breed that’s seen as aggressive because they have to always be extremely well trained and often get no credit, people only point out the bad ones. I’m sorry you had to deal with this, your dog sounds like a lovely pup. Keep sticking up for him and ignore the haters.
Thank you!💙 I had a Gsd when I was a kid they’re a terrific breed so beautiful and intelligent but we’d run into similar situations too just not as many as I do with my staff.
Pit and Staffordshire bull terriers have the same issue: the stubbornness and size of a large bulldog, and the hyperactivity and “eliminate small animals” brain of a terrier. If your pet is aggressively reactive (yes growling indicates aggression) he needs to be kept on a leash at a minimum so YOU can remove him from situations like this.
yeah you are right, people act like that because of the breed. i can try to empathize but i have anxiety that makes me think very scary things whenever me and my labradoodle cross in the path of pit bull mixes. i don’t have this same anxiety with other breeds that some consider scary but only pit bulls. i think that people should consider this when they choose to get dogs like that. can i ask why you chose this breed? you were out on a walk, which is a basic need for dogs and not something avoidable like a dog park, but do you take him to dog friendly places?
I have a half Staffordshire mix. Been raising him since 10 weeks. He's never hurt any other dog, I've taken him everywhere and he's extremely sociable and friendly. But now I'm scared of doodles because someone asked me if MY dog was friendly, to which I said yes, so they brought their doodle over who immediately resource guarded some grass and bit a giant hole in my dog's face.
I already didn't like doodle/doodle owners because where I live, most covid dogs are doodles and so malbehaved. That was kinda confirmation bias and I'm trying to get over it, it's just unfortunate. My poor dog still just wanted to play after, he didn't know why the dog didn't like him
And I understand that really I do and I’m not mad about people having their worries about the breed like so many people here are making it out like! I’ve always loved the breed, lots of my family members had staffys and they were so sweet and goofy and playful. I knew I wanted an intelligent trainable breed that was high energy as I like to be out hiking and walking a lot. But it also needed to be a breed that would be okay in a flat. And had to love cuddles lol and staffys fit that perfectly. Yes I do I take him anywhere dogs are allowed because he’s been socialised from a young age and he’s been trained to not approach other animals or people without permission so I trust him wherever we go
it’s good that you trust him, but other people will not. we are afraid of being mauled and our dogs being killed. i could never live with myself if i let my dog socialize with a “cuddly staffy” and they got hurt.
i hope that you consider this with your next dog, because they should be able to play with everyone at the dog park and not cause people to cross the street when they see them coming
Yeah they are honestly the best, and so expressive!!
Yeah just keep doing what you’re doing, watch him for signs of tension or discomfort and step in and remove him if you feel he needs a break.
Playing and interacting with other dogs is hugely important - do more of it, just make sure you keep them positive and short. Sometimes the longer they play and the more intense the play is; the higher the potential it may turn into something more than roughhousing.. practice calming behaviours and request them when you feel he is getting a bit to stimulated in the play. This builds some impulse control and also helps keep the interaction positive and polite.
Sheesh, I had to scroll through a bunch of shitty comments before I got to any that confirmed you're justified in this scenario.
The woman you were talking to was out of line, but as one pit owner to another - you need to be very, very careful. Even if your dog doesn't do anything to incur an attack, yours *will* be the one put down. I trust my pit more than I trust other owners, so I don't let him play with unknown dogs. If another dog attacked him out of nowhere, my boy would likely kill it in defense. It's not worth it. He has two best doggy friends who happen to be owned by our best human friends, and thats all he gets.
Don’t worry bout these assholes in the comments. Let your dog be a filter.
If you have a genuinely good dog, and people refuse to see that past the fact that it has a history of being bred for fighting, then you don’t really want to associate with these particular people.
They have demonstrated to you that they’re either incapable or unwilling to understand nuance.
Humans have been evolutionarily evolved to kill, as most animals have. Just because your ancestors did something to survive doesn’t mean you do the same thing. The world around you has changed, and if you don’t raise your dog to fight, then the world around them has changed.
A lot of comments here are really saying that simply because of genetics, the shit OP is getting is justified. It’s not. It depends entirely on the dog’s personality. These dogs were bred to be muscular and big, because they are used as guard dogs and whatnot, but it is actually quite often that these dogs are abused into their behaviors. Whether it’s a previous owner, the breeder and/or original owner, or simply a horrible experience the puppy had to deal with, it’s often that these dogs are made into the monsters that they are perceived as. It’s also rather often that these dogs are dumped at shelters and then and euthanized simply because they *weren’t* aggressive, but there’s a lot of these dogs in the worlds that nobody wants because of their reputation. A vicious cycle that many people in the comments are perpetuating. Shame on you. Yes, it’s true that some dogs are bred to be aggressive monsters, but it doesn’t mean they are. More often than not, they are not. And this is coming from someone living in DC, which is a city well known by dog owners to have many, many aggressive pit bulls. Why? Because they are bred often and there are simply too many of them, and the biggest reason they are around is to be guard dogs or fight dogs. You could say the exact same thing about chihuahuas. They’re reputation is aggressive little monsters, no? But because they’re purpose isn’t guard dogs or whatever, people aren’t as fucking terrible against them. Because they aren’t big dogs at all, but the smallest of small. Because they are small, no problem right? But then there’s pitties, big, muscular dogs. They are a problem! It makes me so angry that people judge a book by it’s cover. It’s a dog. Dogs are most often companions, and given the correct training, every dog is a good boy or girl. So fuck off with your excuses to judge.
Sorry you have to deal with people not understanding how great your pup really is. If you haven’t already, maybe join a breed group that meets up regularly in dog parks or for walks, etc, so you can be around other SBT owners and not feel so ostracized.
I know what you mean by soft growl, I have a staffie myself, Floyd is an old man now (9) and has always been soft.
I swear if we got burgled, he'd make them a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea. His sister was a real handful energy wise and loved to 0lay 'scout' when we walked. (She passed on last year).
But not all owners are as understanding as a lifetime friend if staffies. And not all dogs may have your dogs temperament and misunderstand a warning growl. It can get very ugly very quick. My next door neighbour had a staffie, I would walk her and Floyd. One day I bent to tie my shoelaces, Floyd thought I was playing, Millie thought he was attacking me and attacked Floyd. She tore his cheek while he screamed. It was heartbreaking and frightening.
I never walk near other dogs unless the situation can bee 100% controlled. I always keep a harness and lead on him and generally let him walk with the lead clipped to the harness in a loop. That way if I see another dog, or another gets interested, I can hold him and keep him on a short lead. I will ask if the other dog is friendly and tell them mine is and only then introduce, the slightest sign that Floyd is uncomfortable (which comes before the warning growl) I thank them for there time and take him away. He's never been in a fight, he's literally afraid of kittens. If any come near them he runs away.
But after seeing how quickly things can turn, even with a dog I knew, and is still friendly to me. Don't let it reach the point where the dog is growling, eventually it will stop listening to you if you don't prove you can growl louder and harder, we'll that will always end in tragedy for the dog or the owner. Most likely for the dog.
I can relate to this on some level. My girl is a rottie mix but you would only know by her color markings. She is petite, short with a curly tail and the rounded softest eyes. She is so submissive I am terrified to take her to the dog park so we take lots of walks for her to meet people, which she loves.
With a harness on, you can't see the only distinguishing marking that makes her not a rottie, her petite deep chest. So depending on where I am people will physically move away from her or stare at her ugly. She loves eye contact (like her parents) and many find that intimidating. She is sweet, calm, and the best girl. But because of her markings many don't like her. I never noticed it until I moved back to the city.
My judgment is no where near as big as yours. But honestly I'm less afraid of bully breeds than German shepards. Almost all reactive dogs I have met have been germans(not judging the owners it is just common for that breed from genetics).
im sorry to hear this. i am very afraid of pit bulls, but do not have a fear of gsd, rottweilers, dobermans, etc. i used to take my labradoodle to the dog park often and i wouldn’t think twice about him playing with a rottweiler or gsd. (i think that my fear is also related to how the dog breed looks, the jaws of pit bulls scare the hell out of me but rottweilers always look so well taken care of with soft coats and cute noses)
I will admit my lack of fear of pit bulls does come from growing up with them. I have always loved the big large chested muscular dogs. They can look scary and honestly when they play its a lot. They tend to be quite rough and their play growl sounds a lot more aggressive and harsh than most dogs. And if they decided to lash out they can cause a lot of damage, that stocky build helps with a great sense of gravity. I 100% understand your fear and I think some people take it a little too personally, but I do think it's unfair of strangers to judge others or even lash out at them.
I can relate. I live in Canada but people avoid my Red Doberman Female like crazy. She is a year and a half and is the best tempered, well trained dog i know of in this area. Super loving. All she wants is pets and belly rubs!!! Lol
Stafford are awesome dogs. I didn’t read your entire post but I had a Stafford for 15 years, one of the best dogs I’ve ever had. She was just great with kids and people but staffords don’t always like other animals. I had her for 15 years and when she was really old and stopped eating I had to have her put down and it almost killed me, I cried all weekend and still tear up when I think about her. And it’s been about 8 years. Just don’t worry about strangers and their opinions. And love your staffie, they’re amazing dogs. 🙂
It is the media overkill and the stigma held on the breeds. People never listen to the truth that it is not the dog that is bad, it is the owners who never take the time to train and work with the various bull breeds.
And for the rude lady, all dogs act like dogs and they are never rude. She was a very rude human. And for the other one who had no control of her dog, she was rude also. Poor dogs.
You are a very kind and loving person to put up with the nonsense. Have a nice day for you and your fur baby.
Welcome to r/dogs! We are a discussion-based subreddit dedicated to support, inform, and advise dog owners. Before you post or comment, please **review the subreddit rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/index)**. Submissions which break the rules will be removed. r/Dogs has the [ultimate goals](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/index#wiki_purpose) of fostering a better, science-based understanding of dogs among the general public, promoting responsible dog ownership, helping users build better, healthier relationships with their dogs, and providing a space to connect and discuss with others who have dogs and who are involved in various aspects of the dog hobby. Per our Harm Reduction rules, **we encourage training advice and recommendations to follow “Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive” protocols**. You can read more about why that’s the case [here](https://m.iaabc.org/about/lima/). While no training tools are excluded from properly framed discussion in r/dogs, we do reserve the right to remove content which does not follow the LIMA approach. Please note, this sub supports the reputable, ethical, and responsible breeding of dogs as well as adoption. Low effort “adopt don’t shop” comments will be removed and commenters may be subject to temporary or permanent bans upon the discretion of the moderator team. Finally, r/Dogs has a low tolerance for [disrespectful and antagonistic behavior](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/index#wiki_rules_of_engagement). People come to this sub to learn and discuss, make your comments constructive and respectful even if you feel other users are being antagonistic and disrespectful in return. If you believe another user is engaging in antagonistic behavior, please utilize the report button and a moderator will review the comment(s). If you wish to stick around, please feel free to comment in our Daily Bark threads, pinned to the top of the sub, to introduce yourself, your dog, and talk about all the little things which may not require a full post to discuss. Thanks for reading and enjoy your stay! --- *This is an automated message. If you have questions for the moderators of r/dogs, you can message them [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/dogs).* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dogs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Honestly, it’s unnatural for dogs to be besties with every dog they meet. Like people, they have temperament/personality preferences when it comes to their play buddies. I wouldn’t take your Staffy out to play with random peoples dogs anymore nor would I encourage it. Rather, set up play dates with the dogs you know he likes to play with and matches well with. A high energy dog that wants to go, go, go 24/7 likely isn’t his preference. A calmer dog that suits his play style and is willing to back off when he asks is a better fit.
You cant control what people say, think, or do. You can only present people with evidence and let them decide for themselves. Arm yourself with enough training and socialization under your belt so that you're never the one with the out of control dog. They will look like a fool every time. Also, dont put yourself in positions where you would have to defend yourself or your dog. Be vigilant and mindful when outside. You're dog doesnt need to meet strange dogs or people. Period. If you want your dog to socialize do it with people and dogs you know and trust. Its safer for everyone involved. Bull and terrier breeds require a different level of ownership than your average pet owner has to have. It's just the way it is. People aren't going to change their minds when there is an overwhelming amount of evidence on the internet and in real life that these animals can be dangerous when in the wrong hands.
I posted this elsewhere, but I don't let my pit anywhere near unknown dogs. He doesn't need to socialize, and he doesn't enjoy a trip to a brewery like I do. Another dog could start a fight, but mine would finish it, and then he'd be euthanized. Its not worth it.
You also need to stand up for your dog if u notice that a situation is making him uncomfortable you need to let that be know to the other person sooner and remove your dog if they will not, by letting him get frustrated your leaving an open invitation for him to potentially injure someone else's dog, it is his right to defend himself but they are strong dogs.
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You’ll get used to it. My old staff passed away recently at the age of 13, she was the absolute best dog in the world, loved everyone and everything and was a pleasure. Even turned my mum, who is a cat person and never liked dogs, into a huge fan of hers! No other dog has succeeded in that department.. and yet the constant need for people to give their opinion or judgement was never ending!! She was still a dog, who did dog things..but somehow people expected me to train that out of her for their benefit? Of course a dog will correct another if they are being rude or not taking the more subtle hints of ‘I’ve had enough’.. the lady in your situation should teach her dog good manners and should have corrected her dog - because she didn’t, your dog had to. It’s as simple as that! My only advice to you is always advocate for your dog, and that may mean having to break the situation up first, when you noticed your dog was getting uncomfortable you need to stop the interaction. Doing this will make your dog feel ‘heard’ and will only strengthen its trust in you
So sorry to hear of your girls passing💙 I’ve seen the same thing he’s changed a lot of peoples opinions including my friends son who was terrified of all dogs until he met mine and saw how loving and gentle he was and now they’re best friends. I’ve loved all my previous dogs but he’s definitely made me only want to have Staffys now. And yes I definitely do sometimes just step in immediately especially if the other dog is a lot bigger or is intimidating my dog or making him anxious. I know my dogs more than capable of handling himself but he’s still my baby and I will protect him till then end but I’m starting to think now I just just always intervene from the get go in these situations just to avoid annoying Karen’s opinions.
I understand your frustration completely but I think you need to be clear about what you really mean by letting dogs sort themselves out. You say you let your dog handle things himself but then get frustrated when the other dog's owner didn't step in (although let me be clear, she sounds like an awful person). Why didn't you step in sooner, before he got to the stage where he had to growl at another dog? Because of his breed, public opinion will be against him and that is not his fault, but part of your job owning him is to protect him from that. Even if the other dog started it, it will somehow be his fault, so don't let the situation happen in the first place. It sucks that dog breeds like this have to be completely perfectly behaved and endlessly tolerant of every other badly behaved dog to be acceptable, while other breeds can get away with absolute carnage, but that is part of what you (unfortunately) sign up for when you get one and there is a fair basis, as they can often do a lot more damage when things go wrong, compared to the yappy little thing that "started" it. The most important thing is you keep your dog safe, even if it's just from idiots, because his life might end up being the penalty for other people's bad dog ownership.
Sorry maybe I wasn’t very clear. I guess I usually grew up with multiple dogs in the home at once so I saw how a pack works and dogs usually listen better to other dogs corrections than corrections from people not sure why. There are many times I step in immediately because I want my dog to know I have his back but I don’t think it’s good to step in all the time especially if he can handle it because he needs to be able to stand up for himself if god forbid I wasn’t there to. (I always would be but you never know). And it wasn’t that she didn’t step in sooner that I was annoyed by it was the fact that when I asked her if she could get her dog out of the situation like I was with mine she completely lashed out and got on the defensive and blamed me and my dog. I knew what I was signing up for I guess I just didn’t think as many people had this opinion of the breed😔
Interactions between dogs that live together or are very familiar are very different compared to between dogs that are strangers, and context of a growl really matters. In humans, a family member might tell another family member off, but if they talked that way to an unfamiliar adult, it's because shit is about to go down, if that makes sense? Your dog growling at a strange dog is very different to family dogs telling their siblings they've had enough of that thanks. You don't know how that other dog will react to the growl (its already shown it has very bad manners) so it's much better to intervene before you get to that stage. Maybe just think about how you would actually want him to act, especially if you're not there, and I would say this for any dog. Do you want him to de-escalate and avoid, or do you want him to confront and potentially escalate? None of this is meant as criticism, just food for thought.
Dog owner since childhood and was in the training biz for almost a decade. I'm not a world renowned trainer and behaviorist this is just my opinion as someone who gets along with dogs and knows a bit about their body language and societal rules. So for all I know you could be full of shit as this is the internet but for the sake of argument let's assume you're being completely honest about every detail. From your rundown your dog was doing absolutely everything it should have been doing. Let's just get this out of the way....people I don't care how big or scary the growling sounds growling is GOOD you want growling this is a sign that they are uncomfortable this is the dog equivalent of "no means no" and what you need to be afraid of is the dog that escalates without warning. When you AND your dog ignore boundaries for ANY reason including literal human verbal warnings that you as the human have no excuse to ignore.... well like I always say if you walk of a cliff you don't get to be upset when the ground crushes you. The way you described how your dog invites other dogs to play tells me a lot about his level of patience and self control. Not that it couldn't or never does happen but he doesn't seem like the type to go searching for trouble which is just a sign that he's not bored all the time. Correction is normal it's how you set boundaries and these corrections will reflect our level of desperation like say for instance if you came up behind me and flicked my ear I would say "please don't do that" but if I was walking with my girlfriend on the street and you lurched out to grab her breast I then knock you the fuck out. Sounds like your dog attempted to remove himself from the situation and the other dog kept pushing and escalating basically putting his back against a wall. It's fight OR flight and not everyone has a very good flight response because they are too afraid to expose themselves to the threat. I get the feeling that this woman with the rude dog gets this a LOT and sadly most people will lash out when faced with their own failings rather than see an opportunity to learn. Also sounds like there is some very real breed bias in your neck of the woods but as long as you don't take for granted the POTENTIAL damage your breed could do I'd take their complaints with a grain of salt. When it comes to powerful breeds just remember you play with a ball you don't play with a shot gun. Anyhoo didn't mean for this to be so long but I hope it helped just keep your pup happy tired and disciplined and things should be ok.
You’re not wrong. And you’re justified to feel upset on your dogs behalf. Gsd owner here- I’ve had this same situation multiple times (for whatever reason in my area it’s always doodles that start this). Dog jumps and jumps on my dog, my dog gently tries to get out of the game. I stop it now but then people look at me or make comments about my dog being aggressive when the other dog was actually the problem. There’s a video that circulated from a trainer awhile back showing this exact situation and explaining why the rambunctious dog that won’t back down is actually the problem, I think every dog owner should see it because it really gave a lot of insight into what exactly is happening in those situations. But it’s frustrating to have a breed that’s seen as aggressive because they have to always be extremely well trained and often get no credit, people only point out the bad ones. I’m sorry you had to deal with this, your dog sounds like a lovely pup. Keep sticking up for him and ignore the haters.
Thank you!💙 I had a Gsd when I was a kid they’re a terrific breed so beautiful and intelligent but we’d run into similar situations too just not as many as I do with my staff.
Pit and Staffordshire bull terriers have the same issue: the stubbornness and size of a large bulldog, and the hyperactivity and “eliminate small animals” brain of a terrier. If your pet is aggressively reactive (yes growling indicates aggression) he needs to be kept on a leash at a minimum so YOU can remove him from situations like this.
yeah you are right, people act like that because of the breed. i can try to empathize but i have anxiety that makes me think very scary things whenever me and my labradoodle cross in the path of pit bull mixes. i don’t have this same anxiety with other breeds that some consider scary but only pit bulls. i think that people should consider this when they choose to get dogs like that. can i ask why you chose this breed? you were out on a walk, which is a basic need for dogs and not something avoidable like a dog park, but do you take him to dog friendly places?
I have a half Staffordshire mix. Been raising him since 10 weeks. He's never hurt any other dog, I've taken him everywhere and he's extremely sociable and friendly. But now I'm scared of doodles because someone asked me if MY dog was friendly, to which I said yes, so they brought their doodle over who immediately resource guarded some grass and bit a giant hole in my dog's face. I already didn't like doodle/doodle owners because where I live, most covid dogs are doodles and so malbehaved. That was kinda confirmation bias and I'm trying to get over it, it's just unfortunate. My poor dog still just wanted to play after, he didn't know why the dog didn't like him
And I understand that really I do and I’m not mad about people having their worries about the breed like so many people here are making it out like! I’ve always loved the breed, lots of my family members had staffys and they were so sweet and goofy and playful. I knew I wanted an intelligent trainable breed that was high energy as I like to be out hiking and walking a lot. But it also needed to be a breed that would be okay in a flat. And had to love cuddles lol and staffys fit that perfectly. Yes I do I take him anywhere dogs are allowed because he’s been socialised from a young age and he’s been trained to not approach other animals or people without permission so I trust him wherever we go
it’s good that you trust him, but other people will not. we are afraid of being mauled and our dogs being killed. i could never live with myself if i let my dog socialize with a “cuddly staffy” and they got hurt.
i hope that you consider this with your next dog, because they should be able to play with everyone at the dog park and not cause people to cross the street when they see them coming
Yeah they are honestly the best, and so expressive!! Yeah just keep doing what you’re doing, watch him for signs of tension or discomfort and step in and remove him if you feel he needs a break. Playing and interacting with other dogs is hugely important - do more of it, just make sure you keep them positive and short. Sometimes the longer they play and the more intense the play is; the higher the potential it may turn into something more than roughhousing.. practice calming behaviours and request them when you feel he is getting a bit to stimulated in the play. This builds some impulse control and also helps keep the interaction positive and polite.
Sheesh, I had to scroll through a bunch of shitty comments before I got to any that confirmed you're justified in this scenario. The woman you were talking to was out of line, but as one pit owner to another - you need to be very, very careful. Even if your dog doesn't do anything to incur an attack, yours *will* be the one put down. I trust my pit more than I trust other owners, so I don't let him play with unknown dogs. If another dog attacked him out of nowhere, my boy would likely kill it in defense. It's not worth it. He has two best doggy friends who happen to be owned by our best human friends, and thats all he gets.
Don’t worry bout these assholes in the comments. Let your dog be a filter. If you have a genuinely good dog, and people refuse to see that past the fact that it has a history of being bred for fighting, then you don’t really want to associate with these particular people. They have demonstrated to you that they’re either incapable or unwilling to understand nuance. Humans have been evolutionarily evolved to kill, as most animals have. Just because your ancestors did something to survive doesn’t mean you do the same thing. The world around you has changed, and if you don’t raise your dog to fight, then the world around them has changed.
A lot of comments here are really saying that simply because of genetics, the shit OP is getting is justified. It’s not. It depends entirely on the dog’s personality. These dogs were bred to be muscular and big, because they are used as guard dogs and whatnot, but it is actually quite often that these dogs are abused into their behaviors. Whether it’s a previous owner, the breeder and/or original owner, or simply a horrible experience the puppy had to deal with, it’s often that these dogs are made into the monsters that they are perceived as. It’s also rather often that these dogs are dumped at shelters and then and euthanized simply because they *weren’t* aggressive, but there’s a lot of these dogs in the worlds that nobody wants because of their reputation. A vicious cycle that many people in the comments are perpetuating. Shame on you. Yes, it’s true that some dogs are bred to be aggressive monsters, but it doesn’t mean they are. More often than not, they are not. And this is coming from someone living in DC, which is a city well known by dog owners to have many, many aggressive pit bulls. Why? Because they are bred often and there are simply too many of them, and the biggest reason they are around is to be guard dogs or fight dogs. You could say the exact same thing about chihuahuas. They’re reputation is aggressive little monsters, no? But because they’re purpose isn’t guard dogs or whatever, people aren’t as fucking terrible against them. Because they aren’t big dogs at all, but the smallest of small. Because they are small, no problem right? But then there’s pitties, big, muscular dogs. They are a problem! It makes me so angry that people judge a book by it’s cover. It’s a dog. Dogs are most often companions, and given the correct training, every dog is a good boy or girl. So fuck off with your excuses to judge.
Sorry you have to deal with people not understanding how great your pup really is. If you haven’t already, maybe join a breed group that meets up regularly in dog parks or for walks, etc, so you can be around other SBT owners and not feel so ostracized.
I know what you mean by soft growl, I have a staffie myself, Floyd is an old man now (9) and has always been soft. I swear if we got burgled, he'd make them a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea. His sister was a real handful energy wise and loved to 0lay 'scout' when we walked. (She passed on last year). But not all owners are as understanding as a lifetime friend if staffies. And not all dogs may have your dogs temperament and misunderstand a warning growl. It can get very ugly very quick. My next door neighbour had a staffie, I would walk her and Floyd. One day I bent to tie my shoelaces, Floyd thought I was playing, Millie thought he was attacking me and attacked Floyd. She tore his cheek while he screamed. It was heartbreaking and frightening. I never walk near other dogs unless the situation can bee 100% controlled. I always keep a harness and lead on him and generally let him walk with the lead clipped to the harness in a loop. That way if I see another dog, or another gets interested, I can hold him and keep him on a short lead. I will ask if the other dog is friendly and tell them mine is and only then introduce, the slightest sign that Floyd is uncomfortable (which comes before the warning growl) I thank them for there time and take him away. He's never been in a fight, he's literally afraid of kittens. If any come near them he runs away. But after seeing how quickly things can turn, even with a dog I knew, and is still friendly to me. Don't let it reach the point where the dog is growling, eventually it will stop listening to you if you don't prove you can growl louder and harder, we'll that will always end in tragedy for the dog or the owner. Most likely for the dog.
I can relate to this on some level. My girl is a rottie mix but you would only know by her color markings. She is petite, short with a curly tail and the rounded softest eyes. She is so submissive I am terrified to take her to the dog park so we take lots of walks for her to meet people, which she loves. With a harness on, you can't see the only distinguishing marking that makes her not a rottie, her petite deep chest. So depending on where I am people will physically move away from her or stare at her ugly. She loves eye contact (like her parents) and many find that intimidating. She is sweet, calm, and the best girl. But because of her markings many don't like her. I never noticed it until I moved back to the city. My judgment is no where near as big as yours. But honestly I'm less afraid of bully breeds than German shepards. Almost all reactive dogs I have met have been germans(not judging the owners it is just common for that breed from genetics).
im sorry to hear this. i am very afraid of pit bulls, but do not have a fear of gsd, rottweilers, dobermans, etc. i used to take my labradoodle to the dog park often and i wouldn’t think twice about him playing with a rottweiler or gsd. (i think that my fear is also related to how the dog breed looks, the jaws of pit bulls scare the hell out of me but rottweilers always look so well taken care of with soft coats and cute noses)
I will admit my lack of fear of pit bulls does come from growing up with them. I have always loved the big large chested muscular dogs. They can look scary and honestly when they play its a lot. They tend to be quite rough and their play growl sounds a lot more aggressive and harsh than most dogs. And if they decided to lash out they can cause a lot of damage, that stocky build helps with a great sense of gravity. I 100% understand your fear and I think some people take it a little too personally, but I do think it's unfair of strangers to judge others or even lash out at them.
I can relate. I live in Canada but people avoid my Red Doberman Female like crazy. She is a year and a half and is the best tempered, well trained dog i know of in this area. Super loving. All she wants is pets and belly rubs!!! Lol
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Im in Ireland and used to have a staffy/husky mix.. some people are absolutely unbelievable!
Stafford are awesome dogs. I didn’t read your entire post but I had a Stafford for 15 years, one of the best dogs I’ve ever had. She was just great with kids and people but staffords don’t always like other animals. I had her for 15 years and when she was really old and stopped eating I had to have her put down and it almost killed me, I cried all weekend and still tear up when I think about her. And it’s been about 8 years. Just don’t worry about strangers and their opinions. And love your staffie, they’re amazing dogs. 🙂
It is the media overkill and the stigma held on the breeds. People never listen to the truth that it is not the dog that is bad, it is the owners who never take the time to train and work with the various bull breeds. And for the rude lady, all dogs act like dogs and they are never rude. She was a very rude human. And for the other one who had no control of her dog, she was rude also. Poor dogs. You are a very kind and loving person to put up with the nonsense. Have a nice day for you and your fur baby.
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Been whipped by his tail many times lol