aggression or extreme playfulness

MotherOfChickens

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This might ramble a bit, apologies. I have added stuff that might be relevant-there again, it might not be.


Rescue dog came to us beginning of Feb. Had been in kennels for a couple of months. 5yo spayed bitch, probably a beagle x staffie-small chance she could be a Plummer (previous owners were told she was a Plummer by the SSPCA who had the whole litter as young pups) or someone trying to breed a Plummer which seems to be a JRT x staffie x beagle x fell.

Very people friendly, very trainable and well trained-walks on lead well, great recall, great with stock (birds and beasts), very food oriented, great with the kids and non-doggy OH and family. Was super with old dog who was big but a bit frail. They would play with toys etc nicely, quite vocally and shared bed etc while we were about. No probs at all with her settling in. She's not possessive with food or toys, great at vets, great with house sitter who is also not that doggy. Blanket sucks sometimes in the evenings and sometimes in the car when travelling-also epileptic and on phenobarb.

Anyway, when off the lead and playing with other dogs, she gets a bit much-the snarling and wrestling level gets quite bad. It's only happened twice, once took me completely off guard and the second I gave her the benefit of the doubt. They were playing, growling and wagging tails madly-followed by running through woods and next thing I know it had gone up a level and other dog was plainly not loving it. She came back to me immediately I growled at her to come back. Noone was hurt, playmate is a young, very rambunctious male lab that we see a lot. She does seem to be a bit more 'in the face' of bigger dogs when she sees them even on lead-fine with older dogs and dogs the same size.

Is she just playing? I used to have a terrier cross that played with a Fell terrier all day at the yard. They would really go at it and snarl quite worryingly but there was never a mark on either and they seemed to adore each other the rest of the time. I'll not let her upset other dogs/owners obviously, its an easy thing to out her back on the lead when I see another dog and can keep her on the lead at work where we are more likely to meet them. We will be getting another dog just not quite yet so it seems a shame for her that I can't let her wrestle!
 
My older Stafford bitch does this now that we have lost the matriarch. She tries to be the dominant dog so currently, I keep an eye on her to ensure her play doesn't go up a level. She is quite clumsy with it as well. Doesn't do it with my other dogs. Currently I keep a sharp eye on her with new dogs and she is removed as soon as the game is upped. She knows it's wrong now so I get the guilty look as soon as she steps over the line. Hopefully it will settle down once they all find their place again.
 
can it be a staffy thing then? I've not had one or a part bred before. A vet at work said (not related to this) that they are great people/family dogs but not always great with other dogs. She is quite a character-I can sort of see how she might have been quite a dominant character with people but she has been well brought up (if that makes sense). I am quite blown away at just how trainable she is tbh.
 
We have 2 Rottweiler bitches (litter sisters) who are the very best of friends and enjoy a good wrestle, which can be very physical. However, very occasionally one of them goes over the top and the other responds in kind. We stop them immediately but the other day a friend had let them out for us while we were out and was a bit concerned about very physical/aggressive play when reporting back. I think the horrors knew that she wouldn't be quite so on top of their behaviour as we are and took advantage. Maybe it is a bull-breeds thing
 
My young lab has a staffy friend called Reg .
When they play the noise is terrifying you would think Reg was enaged in a dog fight but it is entirely friendly neither has ever progressed to showing temper and they are the best of friends in Dram is the only dog who plays with Reg because all other dog can't cope with Reg .
I was extremely concerned the first time they met but they have been getting together for over six months now and it is just extreme play fighting .
Reg loves Dram his delight when he turns up is visible and I do think the more he sees him the less extreme the play is becoming perhaps it's something he was missing , he's an only dog and his owner tells me that people don't like staffys so avoid her , I have to say I am not a staffy fan but he's a nice friendly dog .
 
thanks all-I must admit, I wasn't at all worried until yesterday and I wasn't completely convinced it was out and out aggression. Watching her and the setter play was funny -and very loud once he learned to growl along with her! I will try and find a staffy playmate on a local FB group in the meantime.
 
Staffs play very rough but also have a tendency to get a bit too into it. Short play sessions and being quick about stopping it before it gets too out of hand is key. She sounds like she is good at recall so stick to that and let her play for short whiles.

I probably wouldn't get a staff playmate if you know she can get a bit ott. Another staff will too and they will Bounce off each other and You can end up with a real fight. A normal dog will at least show signs of distress making it easier to say ok enough.
 
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