Rehomed youngster, socialisation class?

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superted1989

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This week, we have rehomed the lovely Kray. He's just turned a year old and is Staffie x Mastif (Mastifordshire Bull is our made up name!). Victim of an accidental breeding, chap owned Staffie bitch, he had a few too many drinks with his mate who owned a Mastif male and the canines made beautiful love whilst the men fell into a stupor! Chap wanted to keep Kray, but his lifestyle makes it hard with 2 dogs. and had been trying to rehome him for a while.
He's brilliant around the house and understands sit, wait etc when indoor but it all goes to pot outside. Sadly, he's barely been 'out' and it's all very exciting! I've got him on a Walkezee training harness as he's very strong. He's never been off lead and I daren't attempt it until I know he's not going to eat any other dogs in the area. When we've met dogs, he comes across as boisterous and enthusiastic, not aggressive, and almost turned tail and ran when the local 'thug' dog had a go at him!
I've seen socialisation classes advertised for young dogs up to 18 months. There's no contact information though, it just says turn up! Does anybody know the etiquette for these things? Is it okay to take him in his harness? Should I have a muzzle just in case? Our old Staffie was just shy of 14 when she went, so, having a young dog again is a learning curve! She was great with other dogs, and had fabulous recall, until she got to about 12 and went deaf!
 
Honestly? I would forget the harness and get him in a good half-check or check collar (read up or ask for advice on correct use), he is a big strong dog and you will have more control, a harness will allow him to direct his head and neck wherever he likes and fixate on things.
He will also be able to pull you wherever he likes as you are attached to the strongest part of him.


What kind of lead are you using?

If you have an issue with check/choke collars then try a headcollar. Gentle Leader, Halti, Gencon etc.

I will probably get flamed but I don't think you can mess about with big strong dogs. Yes, positive reinforcement is best but you have to get a modicum of control over the dog and get their attention before you can show them what positive reward is IMO.

ETA also, if he is not already, I would have him neutered.

ETA ETA - would love to see piccies of him, sounds like a lovely lad :)
 
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I can't post pictures at the moment as my PC died and I'm on a borrowed laptop!
I have no aversion to choke chains at all (always used them with parent's GSDs) but, the first walk I attempted with him, he did the whole block on his hind legs, half strangled. The walkezee has a pressure/release system and I've got a double lead on it so that I can move his body around too. Don't know if it's correct, but, I've got a normal, part chained lead on his neck collar as well, just in case! It's like riding in a double bridle! He hasn't been neutered, but will be as soon as possible (it's just not attractive!) as there are quite a few entire bitches around here with 'chav' owners. He's not bodily mature yet, but the structure is there for him to be a powerful beastie.
I've got visions of me going into a class full of tiny little puppies, shrinking into their owners legs, with the ginger beast acting like a council house hooligan!
 
I had a look at the harness since your first post and if you are using a belt-and-braces system with a double-ended training lead and half check collar that sounds ideal.

Socialisation classes could be super for him, do a Google and a ring around of training classes in your area and make sure they are experienced and equipped for bull breeds/large dogs and won't freak out when your fella says HALLLOOOO!!!!!!!!
 
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I'm loving the vision of a class with 20 cockerpoos,puggles etc., etc and one great big very overexcited Mastifordshire Bull. You could clear the hall in minutes.
 
I would go along to the classes without him first to see what is going on, what kind of dogs are there and how well it is supervised. I would also get him assessed by a behaviourist, to make sure that his reactions are not fear based.

I use a harness with two points of contact, one one the back, one on his chest, which works well for me, he cannot use it as an instrument to drag me, but has to stay balanced beside me in order to walk forward. Mekuti do a good one. A dogmatic headcollar is also one to turn to if you have problems with him focusing too much on something.

Positive reward training does work for all kinds of dogs, but you need to build up the training, starting at home, getting him to focus on you, rewarding him for ignoring anything that heightens his level of anxiety. Clicker training is fab for doing this. Work on giving him something to do other than react to the other dog ( look at me/touch my hand etc).

Offlead socialisation classes are great, we go to them too, but they need to be policed properly and not just throwing a group of dogs in with each other and letting them get on with it.
 
Teaselmeg said:
I would go along to the classes without him first to see what is going on, what kind of dogs are there and how well it is supervised. I would also get him assessed by a behaviourist, to make sure that his reactions are not fear based.

I use a harness with two points of contact, one one the back, one on his chest, which works well for me, he cannot use it as an instrument to drag me, but has to stay balanced beside me in order to walk forward. Mekuti do a good one. A dogmatic headcollar is also one to turn to if you have problems with him focusing too much on something.

Positive reward training does work for all kinds of dogs, but you need to build up the training, starting at home, getting him to focus on you, rewarding him for ignoring anything that heightens his level of anxiety. Clicker training is fab for doing this. Work on giving him something to do other than react to the other dog ( look at me/touch my hand etc).

Offlead socialisation classes are great, we go to them too, but they need to be policed properly and not just throwing a group of dogs in with each other and letting them get on with it.
Click to expand...

This ^^^^ (we go to the same socialisation class!)
 
Please consider changing Kray's name. It falls into the Tyson, Lennox, thug category and will not help id anyone reports your Bandog.

I agreed with loose the harness and go to the class dogless to see how it is run.
Positive training is important but you need to set ground rules especially with a powerful dog. If you never say no the option is not there when needed.
 
s4sugar said:
Please consider changing Kray's name. It falls into the Tyson, Lennox, thug category and will not help id anyone reports your Bandog.

I agreed with loose the harness and go to the class dogless to see how it is run.
Positive training is important but you need to set ground rules especially with a powerful dog. If you never say no the option is not there when needed.
Click to expand...

Surely, as a simple cross breed, he doesn't fall into the banned category? We are starting to call him Gray (as in footballer Eddie Gray) as Kray is quite difficult to say, particularly in a houseful of 'K' names! He is having his man parts off as soon as I can arrange it, hopefully that will help with the wind too!
Please be rest assured that, although his primary function is a family pet, he will be fully aware that he is not top dog in our house. I think it's a great idea to go to the class dogless first, I didn't think of that! Last time I went to a puppy class was about 25 years ago with one pf my parent's GSDs, it was hilarious!
 
A cross breed can be deemed of the type under current legislation.
It doesn't help when you have people owning banned breeds and pretending they are crosses as with the local Dogo which pretends to be a great Dane cross.
 
Well, we went to the class and survived! Through another friend, I found a phone number for the lady that runs the classes and she advised to bring Gray along as it was the first class out of a course of 6. There was only 9 dogs, ranging from about 9 months to just over a year, and none of them had been 'trained' as such.
We did walking around the hall, then threading in and out of each other all done on lead. Gray was a bit excited at first, but calmed down really quickly. I've been taking him to the local playing field (on a lunge line, lol) lunch times, as that's when most of the 'not safe to be off lead' dogs in my area seem to go. I haven't wanted to risk a 'friendly' dog coming to say hello, just in case. Gray showed no aggression whatsoever at the class and was quiet happy to sit still when the other dogs were walking around, phew!
He's off to the vets on Monday to check that all is okay to have his plums off and organise microchipping. I've got his vaccination card and think it's all correct, but getting that checked too. After watching a bit of that dangerous dog programme, I'm a bit worried that he does look just like the poor dog that was PTS :( so we're doing all we can to make sure there's no chance others think he's a pitbull.
 
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