St Bull Terrier - what to expect, what to read!

[Frith2013]

Hello!

We've not long got back from meeting a SBT in our local rescue kennels.

What we know about him is that he was well trained in a house with children until 7 months when the dad in the house became seriously ill. He's been in kennels for several months so just over a year old.

He seemed daft as a brush - friendly, rolling on his back and is friends with the other dogs. He knew quite a few commands. He's been neutered, chipped etc and is quite small for his breed.

What should we expect? We've got the house visit on Wednesday and (until then) have bought nothing, dog-wise. I had dogs growing up but none since leaving home - 20+ years ago!

I've 2 high school aged sons and 2 cats that live outside (one old farm cat who has never been in, and one who gets shut in the living room if the temperature really drops overnight).

Can anyone tell me what I need to buy, what book I should read (I really want a well behaved dog - ours growing up had no training and were silly with visitors/ran off etc) and what to expect from a SBT?

Thank you.

Is the advent calendar got chocolate in ? If do may need place call to vets (know lot depends on size etc)

Unlikely chairrider 11 advent chocolates would have very little effect, especially on a SBT. If it was a more substantial amount of proper chocolate it's be wise to seek help, but if he seems fine, I really wouldn't be concerned at that amount and type of chocolate for him (although I wouldn't make a habit of it)!

I would take him back. The description of him in your OP (that the rescue told you) doesn't sound at all like the dog you've brought home. I wouldn't have a dog that growled at me :(

Take him back.

The rescue have either lied to you or haven't assessed him properly.

Alternatively the previous owners lied to the rescue.

Giving a rescue dog a home is a lovely thing to do but if you don't have the knowledge or even just don't have the inclination to fix someone else's mess you don't have to.

This is really sad :(

Poor dog and poor you op
I know absolutely nothing about dogs but I would agree with a pp poster that perhaps the rescue centre did not assess him properly? He sounds very stressed upset and not well trained

Whatever decision you make will not be wrong you just have to do what you think is best
He sounds like a dog who needs a lot of love and training from an expert. If you and your family are not able to cope with him it's not your fault there may be someone else who can so don't feel guilty if you do return him
On the flip side maybe he will suddenly relax and things could improve ? (Like I said I know nothing about dogs though)

Best of luck and I hope things work out

I would definitely be ringing the rescue and having a frank conversation about food aggression and how much time they've actually spent with this dog before matching him up with you. I wonder if crating would help at night? Some nervous dogs respond really well to having a smallish safe place that is theirs, maybe with a radio left on quietly at night for company?

Before making a big purchase like a crate though I'd want that straight conversation about how thoroughly they assessed him.

Came down this morning and there was not much more damage except he'd swung on our coats (hung on the back of the door), ripped the loop things off and made them into a bed!

We spent this morning working with my brother, cutting a tree to put in the village church. Dog coped well walking on the lead, looking round the church and didn't notice the chainsaw noise. Seemed to recognise my brother from yesterday and had a fuss.

Got home and he would not get out of the car. :-/ I got sons to walk into the house and dog looked really sad as they walked away and whined. Had to pull him out in the end.

We've noticed he has a bad back right hip. Sometimes he limps and his back end isn't symmetrical...

He's asleep on the sofa now.

No after effects from chocolate.

NB he was in kennels for a year and no one had attempted to home him before us.

If you're going to keep him get him insured now before going to the vet. Hip problems can end up being eye-wateringly expensive and will be excluded from insurance policies if they're a pre-existing condition (ie if there's any mention of it in his vet notes)

this article is really useful in the first few days and weeks with a new rescue dog

It sounds like all the upheaval has been too much for him all at once so if you can keep everything calm and quiet for a while you may find him much easier to live with

And the rescue didn't tell you about his hip?

They sound dreadful and really irresponsible:(

I suspect this dog is going to cost you an arm and a leg and I would take him back first thing tomorrow before any other issues come to light

We checked his foot for scratches and thorns. He doesn't limp with his foot off the ground but doesn't walk right. Not something you'd notice immediately. Brother (born with dislocated hip!) feels sure it is a hip problem.

Definitely have that conversation with them then - add in vets records/assessments while he was in your care. I'd be so cross with that rescue in your place

Have just spoken to rescue. They said he was ok when he left and has never growled before. Also shocked that he howled at night (surely that's normal?!)

I have two rescue dogs and neither have ever growled at me. Dog 1 was unsettled but more shy. Sounds like resource guarding which can be sorted if you are experienced enough but I would consider taking this dog back, there are plenty without issues!

I'm watching the dog and crying. I shouted at him earlier and have only shouted twice before in my whole life!

He's on the sofa, ripping his halti harness to pieces. Growling like he'd bite our arms off if we try to get it off him.

He's been mad on 2 walks today. Son1 took him this morning, me this p.m. He turned and played a vicious, growling game of tug of war with the lead. He was inching it in until i had a tiny bit left and would have had to let go. He would have been run over if i had.

He turned and growled at son2 who was throwing a ball to him.

I'm not too bothered about the mess but he weed on my bed and the bottom bunk yesterday. He wont poo outside. He waits until i shut a door on him (e.g if I'm on loo) then poos right outside the door.

This probably sounds silly but i feel he really dislikes us. I'm quite frightened of him.

He's still chewing the halti harness. The plastic catches are in shreds now.

And he's still limping.

Please, please take him back. He's not the dog you thought you were adopting. Something doesn't add up here but I can't see how this will work. I'm so sorry

Yes you need to take him back and explain to the rescue what it's been like. This really isn't normal behaviour, even for settling in, you need a much more suitable dog.

Poor you and poor dog. It sounds like he's become institutionalised. It's so important that shelters spend time lead training and playing with dogs rather than just letting them run in a pen, otherwise things like leads and toys can suddenly become alien objects or precious resources when the dog is rehomed, and toilet training goes out of the window if they don't have the chance to poo outside their kennel.

The growling is ok - it's how dogs communicate that they're afraid/or that something is precious. My rescue dog was enormously resource-guarding when she arrived and we simply gave her so much stuff (and left her alone to enjoy it) that she soon realised that she didn't need to guard it as there would slways be more. However even now she'll occasionally grumble when eating if she's startled, but it never goes anywhere because there's no reason for it to.

It sounds as if your dog is struggling with change. The growling/biting etc during walks and games sound like a completely overwhelmed dog flooded with new experiences and unable to properly control his emotional excited response - just as toddlers tantrum when they're overwhelmed. Try and keep things calm and predictable, stick to a routine. Give him lots of toileting opportunities and don't let him get too playful or over excited.

Try and spend some calm quiet time just sitting with him chatting and stroking - you need to build a relationship, he's in a house full of strangers that he has no attachment to. He's stressed and overwhelmed and the growling, chewing and toileting are all symptoms of that. He needs a 'friend' Staffies are very people-focussed and often anxious dogs. He needs a human to build his confidence and trust.

These are all issues that a decent shelter should evaluate. I'd be asking what kind of assessments vet checks and training they did before they shipped him out to you

The shelter said he arrived there with "good manners". He does walk ok on a lead when not trying to bite through it.

He doesn't respond to a single command, not even his name. No amount of calling, shouting, thigh slapping or waving will get him to come to you.

I know volunteers walk the dogs but i think that must be it. I asked about his house training and was told dogs like to be clean and soon pick it up.

My sister's going to phone the shelter in the morning and he'll go back tomorrow afternoon. I'm really sad at the moment.

Oh, poor him and poor you. You can't keep a dog you're scared of. You have done him a favour though, if now his issues are highlighted - seek assurances from the rescue they will work on all of this.

The staffie lead grabbing is something our last staffie did a lot. But it was just fun and games. The resource guarding is not necessarily impossible to sort but he needs an experienced owner (and even with experience, anyone with kids should probably not consider him).

As others say, it sounds like the damage was done in the kennels. Staffies are such fantastic dogs. I hope this doesn't put you off them forever! Maybe a pup would be a better fit for you - and rescues often get staff and staff crosses in (I got mine that way). Taking him back is best for him as well as you, so hold onto that. The rescue is utterly to blame. Don't blame yourself a second. You don't want your kids to grow up scared of dogs, so it is far better for them he goes back, too. I don't think his problems are irreversible but he really does need an experienced owner, maybe one who has dealt with such issues in the past.

Have opened the new halti harness and i literally can't get it on him. So now i can't even take him outside. There was plenty of jumping up trying to get it from me but no growling, just the snapping of teeth.

Feel completely defeated.

Poor doggy. It sounds like a normal, functional family home is too much for him to cope with. It makes you wonder how he got to that point. Very sad. Feel for you too, OP.

Perhaps the halti is too much for him. Maybe just try a lead for the next day

Thanks for all the messages. He went back to the kennels this morning. He perked up as soon as I turned up the drive.

I told the kennels what he was like and they said it sounds like separation anxiety.