Dog Aggression (growling at children and adults)

Hi i need some advice please. I have had my staffy for 1 1/2 yrs now he is 2, He has an aggresive problem that worry's my wife. While out at local market one afternoon with diesel a young girl started to stroke him, after about a minute he turned for no reason and growled very fiercely at her making her parents pull her away franticly and forcing me to tell him off vocally.

Another incident came when he jumped the garden fence into the neighbours and bit the nieghbours young daughter. Circumstances unknown it was not serious enough for them to force us to get him put down, just brojke skin slightly.

Again when walking through town to vets an elderly lady commented on how nice she thought he wa, she stroked him and he once again fiercely growled as a warning. Please note he had a muzzle on at this point, i could not trust him without.

We have a baby on the way in a couple of months Am i to worry about jealousy? I have a daughter of 2 he has grown up with but am worried for future.

Thanks
P.Bolton.

Staffies are usually good with children and are known as "nanny dogs" but it seems something is happening or has happened to make your dog uncomfortable with them.

Have you had him from a pup, and was he well socialised generally, and was he ever socialised (or over socialised in the sense that he was overwhelmed) by children?

It's not unknown for dogs to take a dislike to children because they have been teased whilst the owner is out through the fence or by children walking past the house windows and teasing, so be sure first of all your dog has been safe.

Next i'd tackle any health issue, as health problems can be hidden - this means really a few tests on things which could be affecting him eg pain, endocrine disorders, liver or kidney disorders, and ultimately brain disorders.

It's a means of attempting to check all possibilities, and if nothign is found then it is worth asking for a behavioural referral to an experienced person, preferably a member of the APBC

Hth

Hi tricky I can't really add to Wysiwyg's comments, there is an article here by Dogwebber Shadowboxer that may be of interest to you..

http://www.dogweb.co.uk/talkdogs/dog...ren_10261.html

Hi Thanks for reply's. Diesel has been with us from birth ans was brought up at the same time as my daughter, They have no problems together thats why i dont understand his behaviour maybe it is mental problem. Our neighbours have 2 young girls and maybe he feels threatened by them as they have taunted him thro the window before.

Ahaa this I believe may well be the answer to your problem! Find a good behaviourist who will help you get him desensitized around children. Good Luck.

I think this is it as well!!!

It only takes one incident like this to upset a dog for a long long time unfortunately

Is this the same neighbour whose daughter he bit? If so it's not surprising.

Ensure you keep him safe and never allow him to be anywhere he can be taunted. For example, if you go out to work and leave him in the main living room where he can see out the window, and the girls come by after school and taunt him from outside, it will effect him and the problem will build up. It's essential you look at this and ensure he is kept safe from any taunting children

What has also *probably *happened is that he's now generalised his feelings to lots of strange people, and is worried by them, possibly (in the absence of any health problem) all due to the taunting.

It's essential you get a good behaviourist on your side

Good luck!

Only other thing I would add is have a word with your neighbour over their childrens behaviour and explain how it affecting your dog.

Best wishes in getting the problem sorted xx

Cheers everyone your advice has been taken and much appreciated.

Most good vets have animal behaviourst experts, who can help with him.
but my advice is be very careful. we had a gsd who was great with ourkids. but was very aggressive with other people, (over proctetive) it was only a matter of time before he bit some one and he did. a little girl, who was playing with my daughter. it wanst bad but how many times do you keep makin excuses. it was the 4th person.all adults until now, none was really that bad, but what if it was? how would you feel if it was your neighbours dog who bit your 2yr old? and sadly thats when we had to draw the line. the hardest thing weve ever done in our life. still very much missed.
On a brighter note your dog is much younger than ours was so this problem can be rectified, talk to you vets straightaway. advice is free.