Very strong Staffie cross - behavioural issues

[Papergirl1968]

This is my first time posting in the Doghouse and I'm sorry it's so long.
I have a Staffie cross (don't know what she's crossed with) bitch, about two and a half years old, that my daughter bought from travellers who had bred from her and said they were going to shoot her. I don't think they'd treated her well. For various reasons my daughter (who has quite an unstable lifestyle) can't have her so dog lives with me and my two cats.
I am struggling with walking her however as she's fine with about 8/10 other dogs. She's very tolerant with puppies and generally respectful with bigger dogs, but the odd one she hates for no apparent reason, and will lunge towards it, swinging in a semi circle. I'm a pretty big woman and it's all I can do to stand still and hold her, let alone walk away with her. 0n occasion she has dragged me a few steps. She is on a harness that goes round her chest and shoulders which I know isn't great as that's where she is strongest but she did once attack another dog prior to me getting the harness, by managing to pull her head out of her collar. The pet shop owner has said a muzzle isn't ideal for Staffies because of the shape of their face.
She's fine with people but the other thing that worries me is that I have recently been diagnosed with a brain tumour which means I have seizures and I don't know what she'd do if we had one while we were out and I let go of the lead. Run off and possibly get knocked over, find her way home, or stand by me and get protective of me if someone tried to help? The seizures also mean I can't drive, so we are limited to routes near where we live, and I'm juggling working part time and looking after my mother who is elderly and has dementia. I have more seizures when I get tired, but I do try to walk her for 45 min to an hour daily.
The other thing she's started to do in the last few weeks is take things such as shoes, slippers, cuddly toys, even books, and rip them up. I let her have it if it's something I'm not bothered about. If it is something she can't have she will sometimes growl at me in a kind of half hearted way if I try to make her drop it. The only thing that seems to work is offering a biscuit to make her drop it, or shouting no at her, which I've only recently tried and is proving effective. I try to keep the things she goes for in another room or out of her reach but any other suggestions welcome. I have actually wondered if she does it deliberately to get a biscuit or if by letting her destroy some things but not others I'm giving her mixed messages.
I've not had a dog before and she is a lovely dog, very loving, very gentle with my mom, good with the cats, and very bright, but although I love her very much sometimes I really struggle, especially when I'm not feeling well. And I have no idea what I'm going to.do if I need surgery to remove the tumour, in terms of someone looking after her while I'm in hospital and walking her while I recover.
Money is really right so I can't afford a dog trainer or dog walker.

Hi OP,
I'm sorry to hear of your illness.
The first thing that came to mind was the Cinnamon Trust, maybe see if they can help with a Walker?
cinnamon.org.uk/cinnamon-trust/

One of my parents rescue dogs is a reactive Staffie cross, soft as anything with all humans, dogs he knows and 75% of dogs he encounters on walks. They've seen numerous behaviourists but essentially have to learn to live with the fact that the dog is unpredictable and reactive, as they can't risk it attacking other dogs. In practise this means doing walks in quiet places, the dog being kept on the lead etc.

I hope someone else can provide more advice, good luck OP.

Ps if the behaviour with shoes etc is new, possibly it's boredom if dog is having less walks etc? Could you give her a frozen kong to keep her busy/chews and maybe a toy she has to work at to get treats.

I really hope the Cinnamon Trust can help you out or direct you to someone who can.

I think you need to try and rehome , sorry.
It doesn’t sound like you have the time and energy she needs right now.
If you can find a good home then I would let her go

I am really sorry to say it, don't think yours is the right home for this dog at this point in time. That's not your fault, but I think you need to consider doing the right thing for her, which is to find her a home with someone who is in better health and who has more time and money to dedicate to her problems.

She needs help from a qualified behaviourist and more exercise than you're currently giving her. Most dogs would be climbing the walls on 45 minutes a day - it's just not enough, and it helps to explain some of her behaviour (especially the stealing and attention seeking).

Her behaviour around other dogs is fairly standard for many Staffies - they are known for being dog aggressive which is why so many were bred as dog-fight dogs, sadly, though as you can see, they are generally excellent with people as the handlers wouldn't want the dogs to turn on them and cause injuries to people.

I would look at a breed-specific rescue and see if there is anyway they can help you out at all. I'm sorry if that's not what you want to here but dealing with a reactive dog requires a lot of work and persistence.

I’m sorry you’re going through this. I love Staffies but they get bored pretty easily and need attention holding games as well as walks. I think being allowed to destroy some things but not others would be confusing tbh. Also not knowing what she’s crossed with is adding an additional element to this. If she’s a fighting dog then it’s unlikely to be a good natured chill dog.

Personally I would be very worried about what she would do during a fit, either in a get scared and bites or, probably more likely, very defensive.

I think rehoming through a reputable shelter would be worth looking into.

“She's very tolerant with puppies and generally respectful with bigger dogs, but the odd one she hates for no apparent reason, and will lunge towards it, swinging in a semi circle.”

Like on sight? Or when meeting them? Or?...

I’m trying to work out if there’s something you could be doing to manage that.

“The pet shop owner has said a muzzle isn't ideal for Staffies because of the shape of their face.” That’s a load of rubbish, you totally get muzzles that fit broader headed dogs.

“The other thing she's started to do in the last few weeks is take things such as shoes, slippers, cuddly toys, even books, and rip them up.”

They does sound like boredom tbh, but also... there is no reason not to swap them for a biscuit and short term buy her some chews.

But it kind of doesn’t sound like you’re best situated to have a dog just now tbh, with your health and commitments... she probably needs more exercise than she’s getting and from the sounds of it a fair bit of training...

I think you can get a harness where the lead clips onto the front of her chest, not her back. So if she pulls it forces her to turn around and stops them pulling.

This group has very good guides on reactivity, pulling, resource guarding etc - www.facebook.com/groups/374160792599484/?ref=share

How long have you had her in your care? Is your daughter able to help with walking, even if she cannot have the dog in her home?

The reactivity is difficult especially with a strong breed. I'm a little concerned about the seizures - do you get any warning?
I only say as seizures can be very confusing for dogs and sadly there have been some cases where dogs have tried to wake their owners up and actually caused injury to them.

I'm sorry, OP, that you are in such a difficult situation, but neither you nor the dog sounds particularly happy. And reactive dogs (voice of experience, we had one) are bloody hard work - it can be really stressful and emotionally draining.

There is also the issue of your own safety. There have been cases where dogs have killed adults having seizures (a quick google will throw up several).

In your shoes, hard though it is, I would try to rehome her.

Sorry, my Fire keeps crashing tonight so I'll reply in short bursts so I don't lose the lot...
Thank you everyone. I was afraid re homing would be suggested. I haven't ruled it out but it would be a last resort.
Daughter is moving closer very soon but I do have a few reservations as playing can verge on teasing, and she will be telling the dog off one minute and fussing her the next.

I've had her about 18 months I suppose. While daughter did a good thing in rescuing her, she didn't have the maturity to be responsible for an animal.
She seems to dislike some dogs on sight, or on meeting. Others she greets tail wagging, ignores completely or just stands and watches till they've gone past.
Some of my seizures are absence seizures where I just space out, stop talking for a few minutes and am confused for a short time afterwards, but I've had two where I've lost consciousness and fallen. They've all been at home apart from one in a taxi and the dog hasn't reacted as far as I can tell. I have no warning at all.

From experience- 45 min walks can be plenty for a staffy. They tend to be quite lazy dogs! Just try and add in mental stimulation too- puzzle toys, slow feeders etc.
There are muzzles that work fine for staffies and with the risk of seizures I'd be inclined to muzzle train her. Also look at a waist belt to attach her lead to so you can't drop the lead. A halti or headcollar will help you stop her from pulling. A double ended lead will let you attach to the head collar and her harness so you have control and security.
I know it's hard but there are work arounds. Unfortunately there a lot of people who will advise people to give up on reactive dogs not realising how much we love our babies.

I'll definitely look into getting a different harness, and into a muzzle and more toys.

Along side the other advice, I have a 35kg staffy cross (possibly American Bull) and she is STRONG. The harness you have your girl in isn't ideal. She needs one that doesn't go across her chest. You need one with both a clip on top and at the front. Woofles are brilliant. You then get a lead splitter. When she pulls you'll have more control.
Buy a treat pouch. Few quid off ebay. Fill it with cheese cubes/bits of something she loves. Clip it to your belt or pocket. Every time you see another dog use "here" or "look" or whatever feels natural and shove a treat in her gob. Keep plying her with treats until the other dog has gone.
We started doing this with our dog sat but she can now do it trotting next to me.
Get a licki mat and some other puzzle toys (a tennis ball with a hole cut in and a bit of her dinner allowance in/a cardboard box with scrunched up paper and a few dried spratts thrown in). Do some sit/stay/paw/high five training sessions (5 mins a few times a day) to keep her busy.
Baskerville muzzles are good for staffy and bull breeds but please take it slowly and do muzzle training.
Someone has already recommended it but the dog training advice and support group on facebook is amazing. The files at the top will help.
If all else fails, there are amazing breed specific rescues who foster only so no kennels.

Sorry, massive cross post there.
The belt lead is a good call too. They often have a shock absorber on them too.

Daughter is moving closer very soon but I do have a few reservations as playing can verge on teasing, and she will be telling the dog off one minute and fussing her the next
Oh good grief, don’t let her do that. She’ll make the whole situation 100x worse.
I’m afraid that with all you’ve said (including this about your daughter) I’m in the rehoming camp, sorry. Either that or you hire a behaviourist and do some intensive training, but with your health issues that doesn’t seem feasible. And your daughter could undo the hard work very quickly.

We had a staffie x (our vet thought with a Rhodesia ridge back) that was strong and very reactive to other dogs, and some people.

We are experienced dog owners but she tested us to our limits, until she got old and lazy.

If your health means you cannot give your dog what it needs I'd recommend re homing too.

I know my daughter sounds a nightmare and she can be, but she's adopted and has lots of issues relating to her past experiences. Not an excuse for the way she behaves but an explanation.
The dog is quite insecure, I think. She's fine in our house - she's fast asleep draped over my legs now - but follows me about at my moms even though it's somewhere she's very familiar with, and only sleeps lightly as if she's afraid of me sneaking out and leaving her.

“She seems to dislike some dogs on sight, or on meeting. Others she greets tail wagging, ignores completely or just stands and watches till they've gone past.”

What I’m trying to work out is if she’s lunging at dogs from quite far away, with no interaction... or if it’s interaction she objects to.

The second is much easier to deal with - because really all you need to do is prevent interactions and train her to pay attention to you as dogs pass minding their own business.

The first tbh, you want professional help with, I know you said money is tight, but one session with a trainer is going to come in at less than a muzzle, harness and lead....

Lunging at some dogs from quite far away who, as far as I can tell, haven't even looked at her. She took no notice of two spaniels happily running about off the lead in a playing field, but took exception to a bigger dog, which was unusual for her. Also enjoyed meeting a poodle but took exception to a similar looking dog (not sure what it was, possibly a poodle cross).
She knows where every bloody dog lives along our routes and I have to drag her past their houses. Worst of all is the collie she attacked - she really hates that but as it lives literally round the corner it's hard to avoid going past. I hear from my neighbours that the collie has issues too so maybe she picked up on its vibes.

What was your daughter thinking?

Unfortunately there a lot of people who will advise people to give up on reactive dogs not realising how much we love our babies.

While I don't doubt OP loves her dog, she has some pretty serious health issues and an upcoming surgery to consider - you have to look at everyone's needs here.

Dealing with a strong dog that lunges and reacts when you can have fits at any minute and will shortly be recovering from brain surgery isn't really a good combination for anyone.

Sometimes the right thing to do is admit you're not the right home for your dog. And that's okay. It's not giving up - it's admitting the dog needs more than you can give and realising they would be happier and better suited elsewhere.

Daughter wasn't thinking. Like a lot of adopted young people, she's immature and impulsive. And I wasn't working then nor had the brain tumour - well, I probably did but wasn't aware.

I have to say that I would also be inclined to say that you are not well positioned to meet this dog's needs right now, and nor is your DD - I can recall some of her challenges from previous threads.

I know you love her, but it's not kind to keep her if you cannot realistically give her what she needs. I would connect with a Staffy rescue organisation.

I’m so sorry, but you have to very seriously consider rehoming her and make steps to do so.
Anything else is not doing the right thing for this particular dog.

You do not want her to end up with a history that means she cannot be rehomed, or worse.