Buying a dog-aggressive Staffy?

[SaucyJack]

Will it go horribly wrong?

A friend of ours is trying to sell his dog as it doesn't get on with other dogs or animals and we're considering buying him.

He's a lovely, lovely, lovely boy otherwise. Very soft, and happy with adults and children- inc. our three children.

He isn't neutered (was intended as a breeding dog) which we'd obviously do, and is two years old.

Any advice? Is this the worst idea ever?

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

Um.....yes.

Genuinely - why Te you thinking of buying this dog? What differentiates it from other dogs?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Would you be able to afford a behaviourist?

do you have time to put the work in.

are you sure there aren't other issues you aren't being told about?

I'd be tempted, if only to ensure the dog doesn't get treated like crap or made to fight and then find somewhere he can go.

how's he selling this dog? face book? gum tree?

[BertrandRussell]

Yes.

I honestly can't at the moment think of a worse idea.

[SaucyJack]

It's because we already know and like this particular dog, Gobbolino. We weren't otherwise looking for a dog tbh.

He's lovely with people- just doesn't get on with other dogs :-/

[Gileswithachainsaw]

My fear here would be that he goes to an unsuitable home or is made to fight.

or gets bounced around on face book.

He needs a specialist trainer or someone who has enough land that he won't need to go for walks and risk bumping into other dogs.

Other wise it's probably best if.....

[BertrandRussell]

And before anyone says it, no, the weren't known as the "nanny" or "nursemaid" dog- well, not until well into the 20th century anyway.

[SaucyJack]

He's not been put on FB. His owner is asking around people he knows who don't already have a dog. He's living in a house with three others at the moment.

[SaucyJack]

It's him being bought by "undesirables" that's partially motivating me tbh Giles.

He'd be a lovely dog in the right hands.

[wannaBe]

if he's dog agressive then he's not "a lovely boy," though is he? But let's say for a minute that you take on this dog. Are you prepared for:

going for walks with a dog you can never let off lead? Having to muzzle him even when you walk him on the lead? Having to pay vet costs in the event he gets out and attacks or worse, kills another dog? Never being able to let the kids walk it because of its agression towards other dogs?

It is one thing buying a puppy which grows up to be dog agressive (staffies are well known for this trait), but quite another to knowingly take a dog on who is already known to be agressive towards other dogs.

And fwiw this has nothing to do with any kind of fear that dog agression could transfer to children or other people as the two are not the same. But dog agression is a serious concern and one which you would be mad to knowingly take on.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

be honest though are you those hands?

I'd be questioning how much effort had been put into him given they havent neutered to try and kerb the aggression. or brought in a trainer.

This dog will almost certainly have other issues and if there are other dogs he will want rid quick and id be worried about gum tree and the like being next.

[lilacblossomtime]

Only if you are an experienced owner and willing to work with a behaviourist to improve him, and realise he will still have at least a risk of being aggressive. You would have to walk him on lead in quiet non doggie areas and you couldn't take him to places like dog friendly cafes or dog shows.
I think it is a nice thing to do but a big commitment, and wouldn't be easy.

[BeautifulBatman]

I think I'd be like you Saucy. If you have the time and iclination to go through behavioural therapy, I'd consider the dog too. Soft muzzles, harnesses rather than leads etc can take care of the immediate physical dangers until proper behaviour training etc kicks in. BUT - you really must think about whether your children truly appreciate the dog and following any instructions, rules etc you may give them regarding their interaction wit the dog. Good luck. It's a kind thought and a sad situation.

[TopCivilServant]

what kind of person has an aggressive dog, decided it's too aggressive for them to keep and then tries to SELL it? No effort made to ensure it is going to the right place, no effort to get its behaviour fixed. Horrible.
I think the dog would be best at a rescue where it can be properly assessed and its behaviour managed and then rehomed if that is an option.
Money should not be changing hands here.
Taking it on yourself may be OK but I wouldn't do it unless you are experienced in dogs with problems or willing to spend money on someone who is and not put other people/dogs at risk in the meantime.

[TopCivilServant]

I wouldn't touch it if you have children

[Gileswithachainsaw]

I agree top

honestly and I know ill get flamed for this but it's probably better to have him PTS than end up where he's likely to end up then the same outcome only under worse circumstances.

I could not be friends with someone who could do this

[Gileswithachainsaw]

That's not to say that the right home wouldn't be the better option.

but the right home isn't going to be found when he's just after a quick sale and hasn't bothered to try and sort it himself first.

[wannaBe]

Agree that someone who, instead of putting in any effort to fix the issues the dog has decides to sell it to whoever will take it on is irresponsible, and has probably down-played the severity of the aggression.

My first guide dog was attacked by a dog aggressive staffie who was being looked after by a neighbour but which got out of their back gate which had blown open in a storm.The force with which it launched itself at her and refused to let go even though my dh battered it over the head with a laptop was terrifying. It was only by sheer miracle that my dog wasn't seriously injured or worse. And like the op, the neighbour said "she's lovely really, apart from with other dogs." Interestingly she changed that notion when she had a baby.

[SunshineAndShadows]

Hi OP.

It depends on how confident you are to manage him. Neutering is indicated for male dog-dog aggression and it can help to reduce this behaviour. www.apbc.org.uk/system/files/private/apbc_summary_sheet_of_castration_risks_and_benefits.pdf

However if this also is a learned behaviour, he'll need supervision and counter conditioning to manage these issues. If you're willing to put the work in then I think the dog would be lucky to have you.

I'd question why your friend was to 'sell' him though. Its not like there's a massive market for this type of dog (outside of illegal fighting). If they have any sense of responsibility, they'll give him to you.

[verystressedmum]

How does the dog behave around other dogs?

[BeautifulBatman]

verystressedmum the title is a dead giveaway....

[BertrandRussell]

I agree Giles.

But his owner will lose money that way.........

[ClaimedByMe]

Ok I have a dog aggressive staffy, she is the sweetest, loveliest dog to humans but can not tolerate any other dogs, we have had to different types of behaviourists and one said she could not be trained out of her aggression but gave us ways of managing it. We use a gen-con or muzzle when walking her always, we walk her with other dogs as much as possible to help her desensitize, it has worked to a degree.

She is a rescue dog and the rescue had her in a few foster homes before we got her, she was in homes with children, cats, small furries so we knew what she was like before we met her. Her insurance policy has on it she is dog aggressive and I have cover for if she does attack another dog.

Never use a harness on a dog aggressive dog they pull against the harness when trying to get to other dogs and thats makes them feel more powerful.

I also have 2 children she has never shown any signs of aggression towards them, infact she just likes to sit on them and she is 30kgs.

[SaucyJack]

I've never actually seen him around other dogs verystressed

His owner keeps him separate.

DP and I were planning on taking him out for a walk at some point to see how much of a problem it really is.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[verystressedmum]

Yes I understand that but does the OP know in what circumstances the dog becomes aggressive, is it every time he sees another dog or will he run after another dog, how does the dog behave when another dog approaches him does he snarl, lunge, attack ?
If the OP hasn't seen any of this how can she try to assess if the dog can be worked on.
I wouldn't just go by what the current owner is saying in case he's playing it down in order to get the dog rehomed.

[verystressedmum]

Sorry x post, good idea to spend time with the dog in order to find out how he behaves though are you able to handle a situation if one arises especially given that you don't know how the dog reacts.