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Original poster

please can someone give me advice on my new half staff half american bulldog?

45 replies

SusieCarmichael · 20/04/2010 19:45

hi all,

on saturday we took on a 9 mnth old half staffie half american bulldog, he's very good, seems to love my 4 yo dd, loves the staff we already have (even though she's not too keen on him)

he is very responsive, listens when you say no, comes straight away when called etc

however, he is not very good with strangers... i.e i was outside with him today when postman came, walked up the path to the house to give me a letter.. all fine until the postman turned to leave at which point the dog turned and barked and stood in front of him and wouldn't let him leave. he calmed down as soon as i said no and went and held his collar

basically i know its not a banned breed but i am slightly worried about my dd. obviously i haven't left him with her unsupervised but would like to be able (in the future) to basically trust him enough to leave him in the room with her as i do with the staff i have already

if you've got this far then thanks for reading and any advice you might have is greatly appreciated

OP posts:

Gigantaur · 20/04/2010 19:50

I only have two experiences of American bulldogs.
one was owned by my brother. i looked after him for a week whilst he was away.

now i am an experienced dog owner who has had many large breeds (rotties, mastiffs boxers etc) and this was the only dog that has ever worried me.

i refused to take care him for more than 2 days and in teh end my brother re homed him as he too was worried about him being near children.

the other is a dog owned by someone who lives literally across teh road from me.
he attacked and killed an 18 month old baby at the weekend (no doubt you will have seen the news)

No AB's aren't on the illegal dogs list but they are essentially pitbull terriers that have been re branded. they are very very loyal and very pack orientated. youneed to make sure you are very string with him and get him into some obedience classes asap.

have him neutered and make sure he is very well socialised. never EVER leave him alone with your DD.

Can i ask why you have ghim aged 9 months? Why did his previous owners re home him? it rings alarm bells for me im afraid

BosomsByTheSea · 20/04/2010 19:55

I wouldn't allow a breed like that within 100 yards of my DCs.

I think you have made a mistake in taking him on and should rehome asap. To somewhere where he won't be around children.

sowhatis · 20/04/2010 19:55

i like american bulldogs. i have been brought up with and then owned sbts, now have a bullmastiff and dogue de bordeaux.

i would agree with gigantuar in the need for classes and socialisation asap.

i got my ddb rescue at 15mths, she is very territorial and seems to 'hate' other dogs (pulls to get to them) and barks at people walknig past the house. i have tried many things, to no avail with her, i done a yrs COAPE dog psychology course and i cant work her out, as when we are with friends with dogs she is fine.

moral of the story is GET HELP NOW!

i am taking my ddb to a dog class next week to try and get her out of the bad dog behaviour.

good luck.

BosomsByTheSea · 20/04/2010 19:56

ps I also think you are very foolish for ever leaving your dd alone with your dog. Don't you watch the news?

Gigantaur · 20/04/2010 20:00

i think the fact he has already been rehomed within a year tells a huge amount. at 6-9 months they are nearing full size and their hormones are soaring. it is roughly now that the bad temperement starts to show, especially in males.

My rottie was also very territorial. he was fine if i let you through the front door but if someone came through the back gate without me greeting them he would become the guard dog. he was well trained and a quick "no" settled him but it was something that i had to be very aware of.

Im really not trying to scare you. I hope that you will get some help with training him and end up with a lovely loyal family dog.

rainbowinthesky · 20/04/2010 20:03

Why did you get him? I love dogs but wouldnt touch this one with children. I would rehome him again. Sad but far better than risk your own kids or other people.

rainbowinthesky · 20/04/2010 20:05

I also wouldnt leave a four year old in teh room alone with a dog. It's only recently since dd has become 6 will I leave her alone with our dogs in the same room.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 20/04/2010 20:09

Dont get rid of him. He hasnt actually done anything. Give him the benefit of doubt. But like someone said above get lots of help in training and socialising.

Maybe watch your Staffy though if she doesnt take to him you wouldnt want your kids getting in the middle of a dog fight.

rainbowinthesky · 20/04/2010 20:10

I always though staffies were dogs who did not suit having more than one dog in teh family. That's what we were told so didnt get one.

Original poster

SusieCarmichael · 20/04/2010 20:12

sorry, i should have said, he has to leave his one and only other home (also with a 4 yo girl) because their other dog, a german shepard bullied him. so he has been bought up with children and has never even growled at her apparently, i took him on before the sad story about the little girl came out, so sorry for your neighbour gigantaur

he is half staff also

yes i leave my dd with my staff in the living room when i go upstairs or into the kitchen, i do trust my staff, they were bought up together and always snuggle on the sofa together, my staff is a total people dog (i think she thinks she's human! )

thankyou for all the advice, sowhatis being that you know about american bulldogs do you think he sounds like a risk?

OP posts:

SeaShellsOnTheSeaShore · 20/04/2010 20:16

Foolish decision. Did you research the breeds? Think why a 9mth dog is being rehomed?

The behaviour you describe is the behavior these dogs are bred for- loyalty, pack orientated, aggressively defensive of the pack. Even the sweetest staff has the potential bitterly fight another dog or defend the home from an intruder- even if that intruder is the post man or someone elses child.

Choose, either intensive training for you and your dog, teaching your children, castrate the dog, or rehome.

mumatron · 20/04/2010 20:16

i have always had american bulls, never had an issue. ever.

dont know of any of my bulldog owning friends who have had issues.

although i do know of a friends dd who was mauled by a labrador. yes, a labrador. had been a family pet for 3 years before turning.

i would not rehome this dog just beacuse of this one incident. its a bit extreme to rehome a dog because it barked at the postman. it did not attack him or anyone else.

i would not leave any dog alone with young children, expecially dogs that have been rehomed. you just dont know how its been raised. my youngest is 6 and i would not let her be alone with any dog for very long.

invest in some dog training. probably in a group setting rather than one on one.

the dog is probably just settling in.

of course if the behaviour continues to worry you then it may be best to rehome.

rainbowinthesky · 20/04/2010 20:18

The thing is it's fine to rehome a dog when you dont have a 4 year old but I dont get why'd take this unecessary risk.

Original poster

SusieCarmichael · 20/04/2010 20:18

my staff doesn't like any other dogs but after these 3/4 days is definitely tolerating him and only snapped at him once today when he went for her food so i think she'll be ok with him in the long run. he doesn't fight back he submits to her as she is older (4)

OP posts:

rainbowinthesky · 20/04/2010 20:22

Sorry but what were you thinking of getting another dog when your first dog doesnt like other dogs? I would be concerned about your dd getting caught in a fight between the two.

Original poster

SusieCarmichael · 20/04/2010 20:25

i must reiterate .. the dog is not being re homed for behavioural problems, he was bullied by another dog

i did research the breed and from what i read they seemed to be said to be happy friendly and good with children as long as they are raised properly

this is before the story about the poor little girl (in which case i believe the dogs were kept in the yard and not kept socially in the house?) i may be wrong but i do believe that in most of these cases it is down to the way these dogs have been raised and kept

OP posts:

mumatron · 20/04/2010 20:26

your staffie is probably just getting used to him.

dont let people frighten you nto getting him rehomed without good cause.

just be on your guard, as you should be with any other breed.

american bulldogs are a truly lovely breed. i would be lost wihout mine. they get some really undeserved bad press.

she is like a big baby.

Original poster

SusieCarmichael · 20/04/2010 20:27

rainbow i have not left my dd alone with the dogs since he entered the house. my staff is so well trained that she has already basically stopped snapping (except once today) and i do believe she will be ok with him soon.. we have already helped her a lot with her issues towards other dogs and she is a lot more sociable now than she was

OP posts:

wannaBe · 20/04/2010 20:29

it's not a breed I would personally choose to own (neither staf or ABD) but I wouldn't rehome the dog based on one incident. What you need to bear in mind is that:

The dog is still a puppy and is still learning. And is at an age where he can still learn.

and

He responded to you when you said "no." if he were intent on agression there's nothing you could have done. Take that as a positive sign and build on it. Get yourself and the dog to some training classes and work on his social skills and obedience.

It's actually not true that staffs/rotties and breeds of this type are more agressive, statistically more people are bitten by golden retrievers than any other dog. But the issue is that these other dogs are more powerful than say, a lab/retriever and so while more people might be bitten by retrievers, when a staff bites the consequences are so much more horrific because of the dog's powerful jaw that people automatically assume that they're more agressive. Staffs are notoriously agressive towards other dogs though which is why I personally wouldn't have one, and rottweillers (I realize we're not talking about those atm but I'll say it anyway) are large powerful dogs and I personally wouldn't want a dog that weighed as much as me that I couldn't hold back if the need arose.

And four is too young to leave a child alone with a dog, not because of the fear that the family pet will turn into a child-killing monster without prior warning, but because children can be just as unpredictable as dogs, and a four year old could easily poke/prod/hurt a dog with potentially horrible consequences, and while it then wouldn't necessarily be the dog's fault as he might just be responding to being hurt, the dog would be to blame and would then have to be destroyed, not to mention potential harm to the child.

mumatron · 20/04/2010 20:30

of course your dog is going to snap at it.

its a new dog being brought into her territory. it would be more unusual for your dog not to snap.

perhaps we are all being foolish by having dogs atall?

Original poster

SusieCarmichael · 20/04/2010 20:31

thank you mumatron he does seem like a big baby to me, i love him already he is very friendly and loving

the thing is i really don't want to take a risk with my dd so thats why i posted here in pets because i know a lot of you know a lot about certain breeds and i really wanted advice from people who knew about this particular breed. so thank you

OP posts:

rainbowinthesky · 20/04/2010 20:32

THe question I would consider is would a rescue have given you this dog? I doubt it and that thought would be enough for me. People often lie about why they are giving up their dog.

Vallhala · 20/04/2010 20:35

AmazingBouncingFerret, well done you for not going immediately into automatic-hysteria mode.

He's a dog. Who just happens to be an AmBull cross. Who's crossed with one of the most family-friendly breeds going. Lets not get ahead of ourselves and bay for his blood please ladies.

SC, I echo the advice to be very careful to avoid a fight between your two dogs. Learn to bellow! REALLY bellow, as soon as one dog tries to get arsey with the other. Leave both in no doubt that your no means NO and that you are the boss. The alternative is to make a very loud noise with a metal dog bowl or somesuch. If there is snapping going on over food, feed seperately and ensure that DD knows NEVER to touch a dog whilst he's eating or his food.

Neuter soonest as the earlier it's done the greater the chance of success in calming a dog. And train... yourself, him and your DD and family/friends in how to treat and respect him.

And thank god that there are people like you out there who see beyond the breed and bad press.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 20/04/2010 20:38

I would be very very wary.

American Bulldogs are not particularly a breed I immediately associate with aggression, but they ARE powerful, and determined, therefore need good control. Even if you get the dog so it always obeys you, you are talking about leaving it alone with your child, in which case by the time you arrive to assert control it may be too late

Secondly, being rehomed at this age is not great for any dog. Even if it was because he was being "bullied" this in itself could cause him to have issues with being dominated. He may tolerate being put in his place by your dog, but a small child is someone he could feel in turn that he can outrank.

Thirdly the behaviour you describe with the postman is actually worrying. Yes, I know he didn't attack, and he responded to your command (this time) but his reaction is a bit odd- I can understand a dog barking at a stranger approaching, but to stand his ground and not let the stranger leave is a bit more ominous, IMO. I am used to dogs trying to bite me (am a vet!) out of fear/ pain, but I once had a GSD in my surgery who went for me when I turned my back- unprovoked. I mentioned to the owner, who had a small child with her, that this was alarming behaviour, and she got very shirty with me and gave out all the usual excuses about him being nervous/ me being a stranger etc. I left it, as I could see she wasn't going to listen. A few weeks later I discovered my boss had put the same dog to sleep after he seriously attacked the child, savaging her face Wish I'd been a bit more insistent, and it still bothers me, but she was SOOO sure the dog was a "big softie"

If you must keep this dog, definitely take advice, socialise it well, train it well and NEVER leave it alone with your 4yo, please

Original poster

SusieCarmichael · 20/04/2010 20:38

thank you wannabe and i see your point about leaving dd with the staff.

in all honesty what would you guys do if for example you were going upstairs to put washing away and dd was downstairs watching tv on the sofa with the dog? (this is a genuine question btw i'm not trying to be difficult just want to know what you do in these circumstances, and i'm talking about my staff not the new dog.)

would you put the dog outside/in another room while you went to do that?

OP posts:

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