My staffie attacked another dog.

[shellywelly]

I just need to some advice really. In September I brought a staffordshire bull terrier from the RSPCA. All was going well as she is a lovely family dog who has so far been fantastic no trouble. Yesterday I took her for a walk over to some fields by my house and she suddenly broke the clasp on her lead and darted off towards another 2 dogs who were both on there leads. She started attacking them and I ran over calling her but she took no notice. I eventually managed to grab her and the other dogs owner started swearing at me and he went absolutely ballastic. He asked for my address which I gave him in case he had to take his dogs to the vets. I have got pet insurance for Layla which includes third party so I phoned them up yesterday to see where I stand in case he comes round. They said that I am most probably covered. I just feel really guilty and I feel like a really bad owner. She has never attacked another dog in the past. but I am going to but a stronger lead and a muzzle for her now. I am just feeling really upset with her.

[leelapops]

Aw shellywelly, poor you :( What a shock it must've been for you, and although if I was the owner of the other dogs I would have probably been upset too it can't have helped.

IS this the first time she's shown aggression like that before? Not sure what it is you want advice on-legally it seems you're covered if he was to make a claim. Do you have children? Is she OK with them?

As you said, it might be wise to get a sturdier collar and lead, so there's no chance of her getting free again.

I don't think you are a bad owner-and I don't think she is a bad dog. But I do think you will have to be very wary of letting her off now, and how close she can be to other dogs.

You say she's a rescue-did she come with a history? Or totally unknown?

[cruella]

Hi shelly
Sorry to hear what happened with your Staffie.
I have to say, earlier in the year, my Westie was attacked by a Staffie and was bitten and bleeding quite badly.
She also took off and slipped her lead, due to the fright she got.
My Hubby was also badly shaken at the time.
Don't want to cause you upset, but I did call a colleague of mine who is a Dog Warden.
They visited the owners, found the dog to be friendly with people, which they are, but Staffies tend to have a dislike of other dogs. We found that out from the Dog Wardens.
Make sure your dog is secure on tight lead at all times and cannot run out at other dogs.
Try to keep your dog away from other dogs if possible.
Not much advice I can give you.
Lankeela knows quite a bit about dogs, so she may be able to help you. By the way, the Dog Wardens visited the owners to ensure they made their garden secure.

[leelapops]

cruella I remember at the time how upset you were.

Staffies are very people-orientated, as cruella says, and she may well have had a bad time in kennels too (not to make any excuses, but it's a possibility).

[shellywelly]

Thanx for the quick reply. She came with a good history. I have got three children and I would not have had her if she wasnt very good with them. The rspca classed her as a very friendly dog. Since September she has only barked once and in the house she is extremely well behaved always listens to commands. Yesterday when it happened I just came straight home and cried. I am just so shocked. Every time I take her for a walk now im going to check the lead and also put a muzzle on her. I just feel bad as most people things like this down as bad ownership. The dogs who she attacked had some cuts on them but they managed to walk off ok.

[cruella]

leelapops
You are right. Staffies are great with people but not other dogs.
hey! Fancy you remembering that time my little Mistie was attacked.
She did get over it very quickly though.
Think she is a little toughie. lol

[shellywelly]

My garden is well secure as I was vetted by the rspca before I had her. I just cant believe that it happened. As of today we have not heard anything from the owner of the other two dogs so I hope that she did not cause them dogs to much damage.

[cruella]

Although we were at the receiving end of our dog being bitten and attacked, it is something that can happen, regardless of the breed of dog or the owners.
Don't beat yourself up over this. Things like that happen, unfortunately. Dogs are dogs.
Guess you must be feeling pretty upset tonight.
Hey, tomorrow is another day.
Enjoy your wee dug! lol

[fredpuli47]

Get her a muzzle, as you propose. There's a real risk that she will be destroyed, by court order, and you prosecuted if she does it again. I had a standard poodle bitch ,only some 6 months old, who got out twice and all she did was jump up and 'play bite' a couple of people, not even puncturing the skin .No doubt she alarmed them .Bizarrely, she was declared dangerous by the magistrates . I only saved her life on appeal to the Crown Court. There she was saved, partly because the 'injuries' were so trivial but mainly because she had been kept, pending appeal, by an appointed kennel used by the police as a pound. The owner of the kennel told the court that, in his expert opinion after having her for some weeks, she presented no danger to anybody. Her behaviour had evidently been exaggerated and was essentially juvenile. My barrister was able to persuade the court to spare her.

[kita1]

Get a stronger lead (make sure it can never break), also might be a good idea to get a body harness for her, it is easier and safer, to get a hold of her harness than a collar.

I tend to be wary of walking a dog in a muzzle as if she is attacked by another dog then she cannot defend herself. If you do get a muzzle then make sure it is the Baskerville type (plastic mesh) that she can pant, drink and be given treats through.

I would NEVER give out my address to a stranger - especially one who was shouting and swearing at me!

If he does decide to go to the police then they know exactly where to find you. As the answer above says they can come and seize your dog and you will not even know where it is being held. (Must say in this scenario my dog would 'get out' and disappear for a while to a good friends house - I would get 'another' Staffie a few weeks later).

You obviously feel bad about all this, just make sure it never happens again.

At the end of the day it was an accident - you did not make the lead break, the mans dogs were not badly hurt. Don't beat yourself up, hopefully you won't hear any more about it.

[Illyria54]

I know how you must be feeling at this moment, the only male German Shepherd I have ever owned use to go for other dogs, in his defence he was attacked as a youngster twice, but for the rest of his life I was on my guard whenever I took him for a walk, I started taking the dogs out (I had 3 at the time) at 5 in the morning and again quite late in the evenings to avoid meeting other dogs and got away with it mostly, I tend to agree with the not putting a muzzle on idea as it does make them very vulnerable if they themselves are attacked, put your dog in a harness clip a lead to that and also clip another lead to his collar so that you have duel control, make certain that you have the lead loop over your wrist at all times. You could also ask the RSPCA for advice, he is still technically their responsibly and so are you! they will want to make certain that he stays with you as you sound very responsible so they will help all they can to ensure that happens.
Good luck.

[Illyria54]

Sorry, she not he, I was still thinking about my dog.

[wildwood]

I really feel for you but also for the owner of the attacked dogs. I can imagine that they will be pretty upset.

I will probably get a barrage of abuse but staffies should never be rehoused if the history is not known. In my opinion the RSPCA should not have done that.

[taze]

hi ,sorry to hear you sad news dog fights are never a nice thing to see. you need to stay positive i would read up on pack leadership and try not to get stressed when out walking her and you see other dogs as see might think you are getting stressed because of them and it could make her want to protect you. when out walking her and you see other dogs keep plenty of distance between them and you try to get her to sit looking at you with treats and praise until they are out of sight. if this works it could end up with her looking to you for treats whenever she sees other dogs but do not try and let her meet other dogs unless with a very good pro as 2 dogs meeting can look friendly and become a fight in a split second. good luck

[lankeela]

In our local paper today the owner of a Rottweiler that was off the lead and attacked a lurcher biting it and leaving puncture wounds was fined �500 and ordered to pay costs of �600 and made to keep the dog muzzled for allowing it to be out of control in a public area.. The court said it was irresponsible to have his dogs (3) running loose out of control.

[winny]

we rescued a staffy and were told it liked other dogs. After it putting several holes in my large placid GSD the vet agreed that it was not just finding its place and was obviously not fit to share with other dogs. It unfortunatly had to go back and was re homed alone and got on brilliantly. I felt really bad like I had failed it but my GSD had to come first. Anyway I really shouldnt feel bad about it, no harm was really done. You are obviously a responsible dog owner who will now take this seriously and do everything you can to prevent it happening again. However bear in mind your dog is capable and having had to remove by force a staffy who had "locked on " to the neck of my GSD i must urge you to use a muzzle in public, at least until you have re-trained or completely happy she will not do this again (which may be never) as once they have wavered your trust it is hard to be 100% again. It is not a pleasnt experience to break up a dog fight let alone when you have another owner to deal with. As for insurance do not inform them unless the other people claim. I once rang mine to tel them my GSD had torn a visitors coat (I did not claim)and they therefore no longer would cover him for 3rd party and marked him as vicious!! I appealed and said that running in a road or damaging property should be covered just not biting people but they would have none of it.
I am sorry your dog has caused you this anguish but safety first. I am sure all will be well. Good luck x x x