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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Buying a dog-aggressive Staffy?

143 replies

SaucyJack · 20/07/2015 13:56

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?

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 20/07/2015 16:42

I agree merrymouse, I don't think this friend should be charging you for this dog OP.

merrymouse · 20/07/2015 16:52

If you can't take the dog with you and you can't find somebody to look after the dog, you can't leave the house for longer than you can leave the dog alone.

A dog with known behavioural issues may not like being left alone at all.

Gileswithachainsaw · 20/07/2015 16:53

"I wish people would stop thinking being put to sleep is the worst thing that could happen to a dog........."

Yes cos being made to fight or being a bait dog or being given to fuck wits who will abuse the dog or rotting in a shelter going slowly nuts is by far the better option.Hmm

ffs Some people are delusional. What odds do you really think this dog has being sold by a fuck wit to probably another fuck wit.

Gileswithachainsaw · 20/07/2015 16:56

Sorry I forgot the ^exactly^

PTS is not the worst thing

Original poster
SaucyJack · 20/07/2015 16:59

I think you're getting a bit carried away Giles.

He's much loved dog. His owner just wants to find a more suitable home where he can be the only dog is all.

OP posts:
Original poster
SaucyJack · 20/07/2015 17:00

He's not Cujo.

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 20/07/2015 17:01

The OP takes on this dog which will hugely impact her life and that of her family. There is the constant worry that he will attack and kill another dog. And if, quite understandably the OP feels that she can't carry on with him, there is a good chance he will end up in a rehoming centre for ages. Meanwhile, there is the perfect, non agressive family dog waiting in kennels somewhere........

tabulahrasa · 20/07/2015 17:03

"His owner just wants to find a more suitable home where he can be the only dog is all."

You don't do that by offering to sell your dog to people you know though.

Gileswithachainsaw · 20/07/2015 17:07

It's hard to think highly of someone though when they take on a dog, haven't really tried to tackle the problem and instead of doing so is selling him.

He's passing the problem on to others. will he home check? has he called in a trainer to see if he can tackle the issues?

or did he take him on , want to breed and sell the puppies, realise that's not going to happen if it can't be around any other dogs so isn't interested in keeping him?

is he a professional breeder? was there any need to take on a fourth dog and breed more.

Gileswithachainsaw · 20/07/2015 17:09

If he really cared he'd be calling around shelters. He cares about the money more.

tabulahrasa · 20/07/2015 17:11

Bertrand - I don't disagree with you, I think being PTS leaving rescue space for a dog without behavioural issues is often a better choice.

But, the OP is talking about a dog she already knows and is fond of...it's not quite the same.

"He's not Cujo."

I doubt he is, but dog aggressive can mean anything from can't be left unsupervised with other dogs right through to tries to kill all dogs on sight...

HarlettOScara · 20/07/2015 17:22

I wouldn't take him on and I've got a bit of a reputation for being capable with the more 'challenging' dogs.

Severe dog aggression is very hard to correct. Often impossible. There is very little joy in owning an extremely dog aggressive dog. Are you prepared to only walk in remote locations and/or at anti-social hours. It's one thing to keep him on a lead and muzzle him al the time but walking him in busy locations will be no fun for you or him. And you need to be prepared for the eventuality that he slips his lead (or breaks it - I had a dog that broke numerous collars when the 'prey' was attractive enough! Never underestimate their strength) and attacks and possibly kills another dog?

If you particulary want a Staffy, there are literally thousands to choose from in rescues up and down the country, the majority of whom won't have extreme behavioural problems. I'm another who is of the unpopular school of thought that there are worse fates a dog can meet than to be PTS and, honestly, that's not the worst option for this dog.

BertrandRussell · 20/07/2015 17:28

Ds had just come in all wind blow and laughing with our dog after a two mile run.

She was off the lead for most of that time.

OP- your children will never be able to walk this dog- even with you there. They won't be able to hold the lead by themselves.

HarlettOScara · 20/07/2015 17:30

It's also very frightening for children to watch a dog in full-on kill mode, even when under control.

tabulahrasa · 20/07/2015 17:35

Yep walking at night, walking in bad weather on purpose...driving to remote places so we can have a normal walk like normal dog owners.

Not being able to leave him is not great either, holidays have to be picked to suit the dog, lol, days out are a bit complicated...though I do have someone who will come and spend time with him in my garden rather than walking him.

Taking him to the vet gets complicated because funnily enough there's other dogs too.

Not to mention how other dog walkers treat you, if you have a 'dangerous' breed dog (mine isn't a staffy, but it's a similar reputation) it's your fault if someone else's dog gets whacked by a muzzle, even though your dog is on lead, muzzled and you've gone out of your way to avoid them while calling over that he is not friendly and they've let their dog come rushing over anyway...

It's not completely joyless, in my house and garden and on walks where I manage to get enough distance from everyone else, he's a lovely dog.

But I'd never knowingly take on a dog with the issue he has, it's hard hard work.

WeAllHaveWings · 20/07/2015 17:53

He's much loved dog. His owner just wants to find a more suitable home where he can be the only dog is all

Then don't sell the dog, he should give it to a rescue centre who can assess the dog and its needs and then appropriately rehome to an experienced owner.

Butterflowers · 20/07/2015 19:24

I had a dog aggressive Staffy for 12 years until he was sadly PTS In March this year. We think he had a brain tumour and was having fits/crashing into things. He had a good, long life and he was a beloved member of our family. Loving, affectionate, loyal and gentle with adults and children. He was walked every day but as he had developed arthritis we didn't go far and made sure he was kept on lead and stayed mainly away from places other dogs would be off-lead. It did get easier as he got older, he had less energy and was less reactive to other dogs. I would do it all again in a heartbeat, I miss him dearly.

Frumpplump · 20/07/2015 19:47

I wouldn't take it on. I've got 2 dog aggressive dogs( not to eachother but aggressive towards other dogs) it's a nightmare. Even though they're muzzled and on a lead you'll have to deal with people's dogs rushing up to yours, avoiding walking the dog when it's popular with other dogs out. Vets visits are a nightmare and we have to get the earliest/last vets appointment because there's other dogs in the vets waiting room. I have to walk them in secluded areas away from other animals. They can't ever be let off the lead/not muzzled. I can't ever take them to places like pets at home where they'd enjoy it again because of other dogs. I wouldn't ever take on an adult dog that had aggression issues and I'm an experienced dog owner that's used to dogs with issues. Honestly I'd go for a puppy/ dog from a rescue that isn't aggressive. It's hard work owning dog aggressive dogs.

Hoppinggreen · 20/07/2015 20:04

Our GR was attacked by a dog aggressive collie, luckily the Collie mostly just got a mouthful of hair, however the Collies owner AND CHILD were badly bitten trying to intervene.
Even if you are completely sure the dog will never attack your children or you ( impossible) you could get caught on the crossfire.

Evenstar · 21/07/2015 08:08

I think you may be underestimating how it will feel to have a dog like this, instead of enjoying walks and the opportunity to socialise and meet other people and dogs they will put their dogs on leads and head away from you. There is a dog aggressive German Shepherd in the park where I walk, it has bitten 12 other dogs and shaken 2 small dogs in its mouth. Nobody speaks to the owner and the dog warden is now involved, I don't think it is worth doing this to you or your children.

SevenAteNine · 21/07/2015 10:07

I don't want to sound pompous here, but I am an experienced dog owner, my last dog was dog aggressive; it took seven years to get him right, more than half his life. He was a very rewarding dog to own, but those first seven years were very hard work, and I couldn't live a normal life. People used to actively avoid us.

Personally, I wouldn't take on such a dog as this staffie. I know it's not his fault, but if you or your children make a mistake one day your dog could be responsible for ending the life of another family's pet. Do you really want to be responsible for that?

SevenAteNine · 21/07/2015 10:09

Or more to the point, do you want your children to be responsible for that?

eaiand2 · 21/07/2015 10:11

If you've had dogs before and understand them and their needs I would say go for it, especially if this dog knows you and your children.

It honestly just sounds like he wasn't properly socialised with our dogs as a puppy, but you should be able to lessen the effects through behavioural training. If you can afford a behaviourist it would be a good idea.

SnakeyMcBadass · 21/07/2015 10:19

Can I just say, a behaviourist will help in this situation, but it's not a magic cure. Not every dog can be trained out of aggression. The hard work is always down to the owner. The Bastard Spaniel is now 4, and we are three years into behavioural management. He can now walk past dogs on the other side of the road as long as they don't eyeball him. He can ignore off lead dogs at a fair distance. He will return to me and trust that I'll remove him from a threatening situation. But he will never be happy at a park, or on a family day out. His walks aren't a happy family affair. They are deliberately undertaken after weighing up all potential triggers. In comparison, the Poodley Thing hops in the car with us most weekends. We go to country shows, pubs, fun dog shows. And we have to leave the Bastard Spaniel behind, because he just couldn't cope.

CMOTDibbler · 21/07/2015 10:21

One of our neighbours has a dog reactive staffy (who is getting very slowly better with a lot of input), and they were saying that they love the dog very much, but are so sad the kids can't play with the dog in the park, take it to the woods, go to the country park, children can never hold the lead on a walk and so on. Its lovely in the house, but they miss out on a huge amount.

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