Need to get rid of dog !

[user68753367]

We bought a dog 8 months ago where we have tried to train him.... he doesn't listen he still nips and snaps and it's now getting to the point where he is jumping up and going for my toddler and you can hear his jaw snap ! It's scaring me as I can't leave them in the room together he does it to me and my bf he tries to bite his ankles and he's the master so it's in heard of isn't it ? He knows not to go on the couch yet still runs in covered in mud and going on there he's not allowed up stairs but as soon as back is turned he's up there.... we've always told him no and made sure he knows and he does get praised when he's good (which is never ) he chews everything up in site and will just take food of the side and out of my boys hand, I'm currently pregnant and it's getting me so anxious ! He goes on walks everyday so he's excersised a lot. He doesn't listen to me whatso ever and when I play with him he gets aggressive to the point it scares me. Any advice would be helpful ? No nastiness please I'm at by whits end

[TrionicLettuce]

If you bought him as a puppy then he's bang on the age when they hit adolescence and some dogs hit it far harder than others!!

I can only go on what you've posted but he sounds like a typical young, boisterous and over enthusiastic bull breed dog.

You say he gets plenty of walks but how much mental stimulation is he getting? Exercising their brains (especially in an intelligent, eager to please breed like staffies) is just as important, if not more so, than exercising their bodies.

Unfortunately it's unlikely this dog came from a reputable breeder so I'd be concentrating on the rescue route if you genuinely want to "get rid of" him. Get in touch with breed specific rescues and any other rescues which are particularly staffy-friendly. In the meantime get some professional help so you can manage the situation until a place for him can be found. Go through a reputable organisation (such as the APBC, CAPBT, APDT or IMDT) to find a decent behaviourist or trainer as you've clearly had some very bad advice with regards to training.

[PleasantPhesant]

And def obedience classes

[CouldHaveNotCouldOf]

He is at a tricky age where he is testing the boundaries. I love dogs and have had them all my life but even I was at the end of my tether when my dog went through this phase. You just have to ride it out and continue with the training. Every time he tries to play bite, distract him with a toy instead. Even with lots of walks, he is still going to have tons of energy. Have you tried Kongs and filling and freezing them and giving them to him? You need to be wearing him out mentally as well as physically.

[Twogoats]

Poor dog

You really should need a license to get a pet. If you do something like this, then your license should be revoked. They say I'm a dreamer...

[monkeyfacegrace]

Op just rehome the dog.

You have NO idea about dogs. None. Nada.

Don't draw this out, don't get into the rows.

Please just rehome it.

[user68753367]

If you read my thread I've said I'm at my whits end it's taken a lot for me to write this having anxiety and panic attacks and crying with guilt so not it's not easy for me but some dogs are just naughty and I have that one ! You don't know me at all to comment and we have given him a good loving home !

[user68753367]

Yeah we have a kong he is all for it but as soon as he's around the family is bored of that

[CouldHaveNotCouldOf]

What are you filling it with?

[Hillingdon]

Actually I am thinking you are rather clueless. What do you mean by training him? Formal training or something else? Also, very concerned you don't know what a behaviourist is!

I sadly suspect you next say you cannot afford formal training.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

Staff puppies are, IME, like puppies for years. At 10 months old he is still a baby.
Staffies need to be excercised and entertained.
The problem is, because they have this reputation of being lovely family dogs, good with kids etc people seem to think they can get a staffy puppy and it will by magic turn into this "nanny dog"
Then when they realise they are actually bloody hard work, they don't want them any more.

If you are not prepared to engage a behaviourist and put in a lot of work then nothing will change

[Costacoffeeplease]

We can tell more than enough from the way you've posted and the language used

You don't know what a behaviourist is??

[CouldHaveNotCouldOf]

My dogs don't really 'play' with theirs, they have them straight from the freezer each morning when I leave for work and it takes them a good half an hour to get all the stuff out and it tires them out.

[Bubblysqueak]

No you haven't 'trained' him. Training is an ongoing process that happens over the dogs entire lifetime. Not a few weeks when the dog Is new and the novelty hasn't worn off.
You need to be training him daily to keep his mind active and to prevent the nipping.
Definitely try a class or 1:1 trainer .

[PleasantPhesant]

How much time does he spend in the crate?

He may be in it too much....

[MadHattersWineParty]

I'm confused about why you posted OP! Did you not want helpful suggestions? Or do you want people to say 'oh my god get rid of the dog at once, you did all you could!'

Actually I remember a thread just like this a fair few months back which was pulled as it was just meant to wind people up about non-committed dog owners...

[user68753367]

Yes he sits gives paw before a treat and never sits and watches us eat, I know he's a puppy and I'm trying to keep that in mind like I have since we got him but seeing him go for my 3 year olds face and the fear in my child's eyes was hard for me and it's not the last time he did it again !

[WaitrosePigeon]

If he's going for you or the children then I would regome. Especially as you are pregnant too.

[WaitrosePigeon]

*rehome

[user68753367]

Language used ?

[Costacoffeeplease]

Yes, language used - the way you talk about him

[user68753367]

Peanut butter then putting it in the fridge

[Twogoats]

Rehome, and never ever get another pet.

[toptoe]

Some dogs are headstrong personalities. I would rehome him as it hasn't worked well for you and the dc.

For future ref the master of the pack thing has been debunked. Dogs aren't alpha etc. They need baby gates rather than just knowing they can't go upstairs. Training is about carrot not stick, and some individuals need more training than others. You need to book training with the vets' accredited trainer.

However, I think you're past that. There is no harm in putting your hands up and saying youu made a mistake and you can't cope with him. The dogs home may find an owner more prepared as they will assess his character and training needs.

[user68753367]

I never spoke about him like this before, it's when he has started going for my child that I've worried his always nipped and I've always tried to stop that but it's getting where he's biting and he's bigger and stronger now . Your right yes in not ready for a dog and I didn't realise how hard it would be but you can't say I've not tried and does that make me a bad person because I don't know what a behaviourist is ? He's probably best if being re homes if I'm clueless.... we bought him off a family and when we got there it was terrible I didn't want to leave him there now he has a lovely home clean and everything he needs maybe I'm not training him correctly I'm just not myself ATM .... I should of known I'd get these comments .... I feel awful

[user68753367]

We have a baby gate which he can now get over