One day I was out with my dog, he was muzzled and snuffling around in the grass, he then darted across the field toward a very submissive, soppy and arthritic labrador, he sniffed at her and then I saw him pounce, she squealed because of her arthritis, I got to him in a flash and dragged him off. The owner was ok and said thank goodness he had a muzzle on - but that incident made me decide that where there are dogs he is only ever walked on a lead and other dogs are shooed away. If he is off lead then it is in places where I'm virtually 99% sure there are no dogs. He can certainly do damage even when muzzled - he's very strong physically and mentally but I love him

It's no fun having an aggressive unpredictable dog is it? My husband is away for 3 days and I've got all the walking to do and even though he's muzzled and/or on a lead I still worry. I work really hard with him and he's probably 80% better than he was but I cannot foresee a time when I am not worried or cautious.

I have to say though I've experienced such joy in training him because firstly he's an incredibly fast learned and secondly he responds really well. It's lovely to watch him. I suspect the training and socialisation he had as a pup was absolutely minimal - whoever his owners were they dumped him on the street and then he ended up in very noisy and basic kennels for 6 months -not a good start is it.

It's so sad that a good start could have avoided this and he could be an off lead dog tolerating or maybe even enjoying other dogs company.

I was anal over Tonks' socialisation and had a four page chart of what we had to to see and do in her first 16 weeks. I kept a tally of how many times she had experienced the different things and we went to differnet places everyday specially to experience things, as well as standing outside a local school at pick up time and practising paying attention and greeting people. And the only thing we didnt manage to see was a hot air ballon.

I knew she would have to be bomb proof because of people's perceptions of staffies, and because she is black...not to mention BSL as it was clear early on that she was going to be a big girl.

Remus hasn't had that start but people are more forgiving because he is skinny and lanky...but he's still black.

To be honest I would far prefer people to shout at me than bend down, pick up a stone and throw it at Pereg. Especially when she is in our front yard and tethered so she cannot get near the pavement.

It's the old unspoken doggie law though isn't it. If I see a dog on lead my two get popped on too. Remus goes on the lead even if they aren't because he's not yet learnt that you can't steam up to any dog and start hitting them round the face with your paws. Tonks never goes straight up to another dog and would stand sideways first until shes sussed them out or avoide them completely sniffing the ground while passing them wide. She used to want to bundle them so I have hopes for Remus too!