[tinetttstation]

Hello All, As you can see from my profile, my wife and I are animal lovers and truly enjoy the company of our 2 AmStaff terriers...until recently

We have a 6 yo female, Staffordshire bull terrier who has become aggressive toward our other pets…another AmStaff and 2 cats. Her behavior has become obsessive and as we have recently had a baby (3 weeks ago) an animal aggressive terrier is the last thing we need in our house. We have tried to train her...we have taken her to the vet and she is in good health. She is wonderful with people and very social. Active and loves to play and be around people…we are animal lovers, but unfortunately we just can’t handle her and having her caged is not an option we would like to entertain. I could never forgive myself if something happened to any of our pets or GOD FORBID to the baby in the midst of a dog scuffle. Does anyone have ANY advice about what we can do to either get her into a foster home, a rescue organization or other options…

Please help…any advice would be helpful.

Sincere Thanks.

[Pipindula]

Why wouldnt you consider crate training her? This is your dog and did you not make a commitment to her when you brought her home?

I'm sorry but if it were my dog in question I would exhaust ALL possibilities before I would ever consider rehoming her. Even then, I would make something work.

Good luck to your dog.

I am glad you are thinking about your baby, and safety of the baby.

[agracias]

The first thing to do is, keep your head! You have to remain calm and in control. Your dog can sense when you are tense, stressed and scared. Bully breeds are always, to some degree, dog aggressive....some more than others. Sometimes you may go years without any problems, then one day your dog gets up and decides he/she doesn't like her other dog 'siblings'. Dog aggression cannot be eliminated, but it can be managed. If you don't practice NILIF, please start doing so... here is an excellent thread on NILIF.. http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=1571

Others will come with some great advice... please take all of it into consideration. Until you get your own emotions under control, do not hesitate to crate and rotate. It isn't going to hurt the dog, and until you get your own emotions collected, it could be your best bet.

If you don't have a break stick, get one ASAP. Every bully owner should have a break stick and know how to use it correctly. Never use it on any breed of dog other than bullies, but don't hesitate to use it when a fight breaks out. It's a good idea to have more than one, so you can get to it quickly. One of our members here has them, Boogieman, you can PM him or order one from this site... http://www.pbrc.net/break sticks.html you can also learn a lot about break sticks and how to use them correctly. Here is another great thread on breaksticks, http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=1513

I know I've given you a lot to read, but you need to read it all. Bully breeds are strong dogs, you have to have a strong, level head about you to handle them. It isn't impossible, but it can be if you aren't in control, of your emotions, and your dog.

[santorio]

Welcome to the real world of bully breed ownership. All I can say is crate and rotate. Unless you feel like crating your cats you might look into removing them from your home. ALL bully breeds have a tendency to be animal aggressive and no matter what the dog whisperer says there is no amount of training the will fix it. Good luck.

Ferk out

[Pipindula]

MN, you are my hero

[WaydayTew]

...I would go back to the vet and get a thyroid test done if you didn't have it done before, possibly a full panel blood test. It doesn't sound right to me that after six years she has a major personality change.. or was she always kind of iffy? Still, most vets don't think to test for thyroid, but it's becoming more and more common.

I'm with the other poster here..when you refer to caging..do you mean keeping her in a crate? Crating her will keep her from being able to hurt any of your animals while you are gone. It essentially means, when you cannot supervise her, she will be in a very safe place, unable to hurt, or be hurt by other animals. It keeps her out of trouble. This doesn't mean you can abuse the crate training system, she will still need exersize, attention, and love, but it gives you a safe place to keep her and make your life worlds easier.

I also say to exhaust all options. Take her to a certified behaviorist or an ace trainer, up her exersize and keep her away from the other animals. A behaviorist will be able to asses your problem with some fresh eyes and will help you come up with a top notch management system to re-acclimate your dog to the other animals. Maybe it IS the baby that is making her anxious, or not so much the baby, but that her routine is being messed up because of the baby. Try your best to stabilize that routine, keeping feedings, exersize times, cuddle times, all of them as constant as possible. She might be able to relax once she realizes her world isn't falling a part. In the end, you have to remember it's the staffy bull nature to NOT like other animals, and you may have to keep her separate from the other dog and the cats for the rest of her life. Animal aggression isn't the same as people aggression though, just because she is aggressive to the other animals, doesn't mean she's going to be aggressive toward people now, or even the baby. This is why a good trainer or behaviorist would be a good idea, they will help you to better understand your dog and your situation.

If you feel you absolutely have to rehome her, make sure she is spayed and get on the internet to look for local rescues that might be able to take her. You can try to rehome her yourself through petfinder.com or the newspaper, but that means you have to be very vigilant in where she goes. Grill the people to death and make sure they know what you're getting into. If you don't want to put the work into finding the right home, or if you are forced to take her to the shelter in the end, take her to your vet instead and put her down. Might not be the most popular opinion here, but I work at a shelter. I've seen the sad faces of dogs who just cannot forget their past lives, and cannot seem to open themselves to a new one. Its better that the dog goes quietly in the arms she knows and loves, then in a crowded shelter, scared and alone, or winding up in the hands of someone who can only mean trouble for the breed.

[agracias]

Also, you didn't mention it, but you don't leave your animals alone unattended, do you? I'm not talking about the cats, I'm talking about leaving your bully alone, unattended, to have free roam of the house, while you are gone? If you are doing this, begin crating your dog when you are gone, or one day you will come home to a dead cat, especially if your dog is showing aggression to the cats already. She could just want to be protective of the new baby, and not let the cats around "her baby", but you have to train her that, that job is yours, not hers. Always crate her when you leave home during the day.

[Taunteefrurge]

...I would go back to the vet and get a thyroid test done if you didn't have it done before, possibly a full panel blood test. It doesn't sound right to me that after six years she has a major personality change.. or was she always kind of iffy? Still, most vets don't think to test for thyroid, but it's becoming more and more common.

I'm with the other poster here..when you refer to caging..do you mean keeping her in a crate? Crating her will keep her from being able to hurt any of your animals while you are gone. It essentially means, when you cannot supervise her, she will be in a very safe place, unable to hurt, or be hurt by other animals. It keeps her out of trouble. This doesn't mean you can abuse the crate training system, she will still need exersize, attention, and love, but it gives you a safe place to keep her and make your life worlds easier.

I also say to exhaust all options. Take her to a certified behaviorist or an ace trainer, up her exersize and keep her away from the other animals. A behaviorist will be able to asses your problem with some fresh eyes and will help you come up with a top notch management system to re-acclimate your dog to the other animals. Maybe it IS the baby that is making her anxious, or not so much the baby, but that her routine is being messed up because of the baby. Try your best to stabilize that routine, keeping feedings, exersize times, cuddle times, all of them as constant as possible. She might be able to relax once she realizes her world isn't falling a part. In the end, you have to remember it's the staffy bull nature to NOT like other animals, and you may have to keep her separate from the other dog and the cats for the rest of her life. Animal aggression isn't the same as people aggression though, just because she is aggressive to the other animals, doesn't mean she's going to be aggressive toward people now, or even the baby. This is why a good trainer or behaviorist would be a good idea, they will help you to better understand your dog and your situation.

If you feel you absolutely have to rehome her, make sure she is spayed and get on the internet to look for local rescues that might be able to take her. You can try to rehome her yourself through petfinder.com or the newspaper, but that means you have to be very vigilant in where she goes. Grill the people to death and make sure they know what you're getting into. If you don't want to put the work into finding the right home, or if you are forced to take her to the shelter in the end, take her to your vet instead and put her down. Might not be the most popular opinion here, but I work at a shelter. I've seen the sad faces of dogs who just cannot forget their past lives, and cannot seem to open themselves to a new one. Its better that the dog goes quietly in the arms she knows and loves, then in a crowded shelter, scared and alone, or winding up in the hands of someone who can only mean trouble for the breed.

I don't know why it has to be rocket science which requires a behaviorist, tons of bloodwork, and other tests.
If the vet said she's healthy, then she probably is.

Bully breeds can, *GASP!*, suddenly become dog/animal aggressive at ANY point in their lives.

I'm all for trying to socialize and getting them "used to" other animals, but what's genetic is genetic, and no training or behavior modification is going to make that amstaff LOVE or enjoy the company of other animals. Training and *some* behavior modification work might help the dog learn to be better controlled around other animals, with its owner/handler present, but the dog should still not be trusted alone with other animals, and it's attitude isn't going to *poof* change to make it all of a sudden LOVE other animals.

I understand where your heart is, but do you HONESTLY think this is a thyroid condition? I mean, the OP could go get that tested if they haven't already because it's good to know that all anyway, but this kind of sudden behavior change IS something that frequently happens.

The OP explained a typical bully breed. Great with people, but dislikes other animals. It's ok to search for other reasons, but I wouldn't count on it being any other reason.

[sabbixsweraco]

Crate and rotate:
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=7289

Breaksticks:
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=1513

Managing a multi dog home:
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=3110

NILIF:
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=1571

[WaydayTew]

I never said that a behaviorist was going to absolutely help the dog like other animals, infact I clearly stated that the dog might need to be separated from other animals for its entire life. I understand the bully mentality, and I don't think the thyroid problem would be causing the animal aggression.

It just seemed that the OP seemed very worried about the dog becoming aggressive in general, that the baby some how might get hurt along the way and I figured offering information on contacting a behaviorist or a trainer might help them better manage their animal aggression problem, and handling the dog in general. Online information is great, but in no way does it replace seeing a professional in person, especially if the dogs very life is on the line.

If the dog seemed kind of iffy with people, along with being animal aggressive, or if the OP was afraid the dog might be moving to human aggression along with that animal aggression, then a full blood panel/thyroid would definitely be a good suggestion, and thats what I meant it as. It was just a suggestion though, they don't need to take it if they really don't suspect anything else going on.

[tpJKhY8Z]

I never said that a behaviorist was going to absolutely help the dog like other animals, infact I clearly stated that the dog might need to be separated from other animals for its entire life. I understand the bully mentality, and I don't think the thyroid problem would be causing the animal aggression.

It just seemed that the OP seemed very worried about the dog becoming aggressive in general, that the baby some how might get hurt along the way and I figured offering information on contacting a behaviorist or a trainer might help them better manage their animal aggression problem, and handling the dog in general. Online information is great, but in no way does it replace seeing a professional in person, especially if the dogs very life is on the line.

If the dog seemed kind of iffy with people, along with being animal aggressive, or if the OP was afraid the dog might be moving to human aggression along with that animal aggression, then a full blood panel/thyroid would definitely be a good suggestion, and thats what I meant it as. It was just a suggestion though, they don't need to take it if they really don't suspect anything else going on.

I would agree with the thyroid test dependent on the age and alter status of the female.

I have seen a thryroid test pop up some interesting results. While it is probably just the AmStaff being what it was bred to be, it doesnt hurt for them to try the test and see what it turns up.

[N1bNXuDb]

Crate and rotate:
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=7289

Breaksticks:
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=1513

Managing a multi dog home:
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=3110

NILIF:
http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthread.php?t=1571

[Cgnebksb]

Everyone thinks it is so easy! Find a rescue, put the dog in a foster home. HA
The realty is most rescue foster homes are full. On Petfinders alone there are almost 10,000 Bully type dogs up for adoption. The older a bully breed dog is the less likely he will be adopted, general public really believes some night when they are sleeping the dog will rip their heads off.
Another problem is foster homes fill up permanently when the foster falls in love with the dogs. We see it all the time. A foster can take in 2 dogs but in a years time they have adopted 2 of the dogs and can no longer take in dogs. I am even guilty of that. I have 8 fosters here, one I already adopted and another I probably will also unless I find the dream home for her. I have 6 grandchildren the youngest is 2 and I have RA but I have no problem babysitting my grandchild and fostering 7 dogs while taking care of the 3 dogs that are mine. Oh and as an added bonus I have 9 indoor rescued cats. Thank God for Simple Solution and steam cleaners. Oh and naps...I make all the dogs take a nap in their crates once a day. It is nice to have a break from keeping every critter safe. The cup of coffee in peace is nice also.
You get a routine that works and stick to it. Crate and rotate works for everyone. There is no reason why 2 dogs who do not get along should ever be in the same room with your child at the same time or in the same room with each other for that matter.

[Cgnebksb]

...

If you don't want to put the work into finding the right home, or if you are forced to take her to the shelter in the end, take her to your vet instead and put her down. Might not be the most popular opinion here, but I work at a shelter. I've seen the sad faces of dogs who just cannot forget their past lives, and cannot seem to open themselves to a new one. Its better that the dog goes quietly in the arms she knows and loves, then in a crowded shelter, scared and alone, or winding up in the hands of someone who can only mean trouble for the breed.

I can not agree with this more!!!! A shelter is a cold and lonely place to spend the last days of your life.

[agracias]

One other thought I had... I have two crates right beside each other. But I have a board between the two, so that the dogs cannot see each other, cannot begin baring and snapping at each other and stressing each other out. They both know the other is over there, but they can't see them, therefore, they try to "play" between the crates, or get ticked off at the other and start barking, snapping at the other one in their crates.. To me, this just stresses them out more and they are more likely to retaliate when they do get out of their crates.... that's just my opinion though, I don't know if anyone else feels this way.