I want to get a dog but I have to work, how does everyone on broadway market do it ?

Ah that sounds like some hard work! Really sad some people get a dog and do that, and they had him though the hardest stages.

The qr code, is that your details? Smart.

Thanks that was really helpful. We’d been getting angry with him and telling him off, which we kind of knew was the wrong approach. Think we need to just agree on an approach (treat based and positive) and stick to it. It’s only a very minor blip really as he’s such a friendly and happy boy in every other situation.

Otto is an absolute babe. Ive just forwarded a screenshot to my wife who will go nuts :-D

Good for you for giving him such a great second chance and putting all that effort in for him! He looks lovely.

It’s been a journey, but ultimately amazingly rewarding, as you all know!

You get the QR tags when your ownership is registered here in Catalonia and they direct to a council provided webpage with your details on it.

You could get one made online easily and direct to your own page/public Google Doc.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/market/qr_code_dog_tag

You’ll solve it in no time!

As others have said, you'll get some good help looking into food guarding or resource guarding.

We started from a very young age by hand feeding the dog at every meal time which i think is what most of the positive reinforcement books tell you (if you start with a puppy).
Spaniels as a breed trait always want a trade - i always think of it as i pay her a wage for doing what i want her to do. It did take a while to train the drop / leave it command particularly with a toy but i just made sure i had something to reward her with that was higher value than the soft toy / sock she'd stolen from somewhere.

Please can you dm me where I register. I should do that, wasn't aware. Thanks

Mine doesn't do food guarding in the house but if there's something gross/tasty like an entire kebab thrown the floor (who the fuck does that) she will run big circles around me to try and get to it, or pick up a bit then run away and treat it like a game. The small parks closest to my house are unfortunately frequented by fucking morons and some idiots leave bread out for the birds so there's always something for her to try and snaffle. I've started training her "trade" where I give her a better treat in exchange, it's getting through slowly, the trick is she has to drop the first thing to take this new treat which gives me a chance to take it away.

Definitely one of those sink or swim scenarios

Thanks for sharing and good on you for putting the work in. My partner and i are at the same 6 month stage with our rescue and it's been quite the rollercoaster.

On reactivity, Nori our Staffie cross has reactivity issues with other dogs that we were not made aware of from the rescue charity beforehand. Sadly after a scrap last week where i had to pry another big dogs jaws of her face only for her to lunge back in and she has taken a real downward turn. She now disengages very quickly, looks tense, has poor recall and looks like she's brewing for a fight. In the time we've had her we've had 3 quite severe incidents and i'm worried it's taken it's toll on me and the dog. It's becoming increasingly hard not to tense up when other dogs come bundling over (which clearly makes things worse) or not feel that a disproportionate amount of other dog owners are fucking useless (which given that me and my dog are the "problem" doesn't get me very far with them).

We're trying to lock down a decent behaviourist but we're struggling to find someone that can either give us the time atm. FWIW both the trainer and the behaviourist we've seen have made very positive comments about her but it's hard to put the bad stuff out my head.

Apologies for the dump, feeling the pressure right now!

Don't feel the need to apologise at all! That sounds like a traumatic expeeience.

It's so difficult to keep training, especially when there are so many external factors beyond your control. With Akira I feel like it's a constant battle of 2 steps forward and 1.9 steps back. Progress is so slow, or will sometimes disappear altogether. Two weeks ago when I was at my parents he just took off without warning, and started running down the main road which was terrifying. He got about a mile and I only got him back because a kind stranger stopped and grabbed him.

Feels like we are back to square one, but we aren't, all the training we have done previously is still there, just need to keep reinforcing it. It's tough and tiring though.

This sounds tough. Well done for committing!

Where are you based?

I think you need to start by not blaming yourself or thinking you and Nori are the problem. Lots of dogs are dog reactive or aggressive (particularly if they are attacked when young) and, as long as they are on the lead and under control around other dogs, you are doing nothing wrong. It's been discussed on here before - the irresponsible owners are those that let their dogs run up to you and Nori. If you keep Nori on a lead, they should acknowledge that and give you both space.

You need to enjoy having her and taking her out, so that she enhances your life, so here are some things you might consider:

-Be prepared to accept that Nori might not like most other dogs and find a way to make her life fun without "dog friends". Make her walks and games fun and interesting in other ways.
-Get a harness with a velcro patch that says something like "nervous dog" to make it clear to give you space
-If there are dogs that you know she does get on with, arrange your walks to meet them
-If not, look into when and where you can walk with less chance of meeting other dogs - see if there is a dog run with one gate, take her in when it's empty and ask others to give you 10 minutes before they come in
-Learn to shout authoritatively at strange dogs as they charge over to stop them in their tracks
-Learn how to disengage her from another dog without risking hurting her or yourself - the out-of-control off-lead dog's health is not your priority
-Try to relax (so much easier said than done) as she will inevitably pick up your tension

People will tell you that dogs are less likely to react aggressively when off the lead, which is true, but you don't need to be the owner of a bull breed that gets into a fight off-lead. Keep the moral high ground and be in the right, as you might need that some day.

I'd be happy to meet you and her (without Reggie) and have a look. I'm no dog behaviourist but I do have lots of experience of the breed.

Agreed with others that it's not just down to you to stop Nori reacting badly to other dogs. A responsible dog owner should be able to keep their dog away from a dog on a lead, it's obviously on there for a reason. That is sometimes easier said than done though, we still struggle with Crumpet's recall. That and her overwhelming desire to interact with every dog she meets means that it's sometimes a struggle to stop her running up to a dog on a lead that is clearly nervous. We accept that that's our failing though and is something we're constantly working on, we would never blame another dog or owner if Crumpet pushed her luck and if we sense that she's in a mood to misbehave we put her on the lead and take her somewhere quieter. You'd hope that any sensible dog owner would feel similarly!

Hi Jono,

Sorry to hear you’re having a tough time. I was in the same boat a few years ago with our Staffy JRT cross.

He wasn’t socialised when he was a pup and we probably made mistakes when we (inexperienced owners) first got him as our first dog. He’d bark at dogs 100m away at his worst and regular behave as though he’d murder the other dog if they got close. I honestly thought we’d end up getting rid of him.

We found a behaviourist who helped us to focus on rewarding him for disengaging from other dogs and slowly we built confidence.

Which charity did Nori come from? Most have a behaviourist who can help you. Ours didn’t so it was hand in pocket time.

He’s not perfect but he’s loads better. I don’t dread taking him for a walk these days.

Good luck with it.

Where are you based?

Muzzle on her for a little peace of mind while you're working on this?

Thanks all, i've been feeling really down about this so i really appreciate the kind words.

I'll respond to certain comments individually but i should mention it's more than just lunging, growling or barking, in fact she doesn't really do the last two. I don't want to go into too many details but she has now pinned 3 dogs all significantly bigger then her (do UFC have a dog category?) and i have had to break it up with nothing but screaming and panicking going on around me. But whereas before it felt like 1 in 10 dogs she looked wary of it now feels like most big dogs cause her to tense up. She has been very good with smaller dogs and pups in the time we've had her but again her lunge/snap threshold has changed dramatically with them which is a real worry.

She's definitely more people focused but we've actually found she really wants to play and interact with other dogs but she hasn't learned how to. As a result her boisterousness can scare other dogs and once that happens it puts her on the backfoot.

Feels like we are back to square one, but we aren't, all the training we have done previously is still there, just need to keep reinforcing it.

This is such an important and helpful thing for me to remember. When i got her she would rip my arms off on lead and couldn't follow any commands. Now pending distractions it's loose lead half the time and i can get her to jump over and onto things which looks cool and makes her look like a super army soldier dog.

Be prepared to accept that Nori might not like most other dogs and find a way to make her life fun without "dog friends". Make her walks and games fun and interesting in other ways.

We're absolutely trying to find and accept what will make her happiest. Whilst she looks like she wants to play it may be that it's just too much for her and less stressful things would be better for her in the long run.

Learn to shout authoritatively at strange dogs as they charge over to stop them in their tracks

yep i'm pretty good at this now. Except for one time it wasn't working i had to stomp the ground and genuinely fucked my knee much to the amusement of the kids watching.

Learn how to disengage her from another dog without risking hurting her or yourself - the out-of-control off-lead dog's health is not your priority

We were working a redirection technique given to us by the behaviourist which was working really well, until it wasn't. Before last week if she wouldn't focus on me or be able to u-turn whilst approaching other dogs we weren't stopping or would go another direction.

Try to relax

yep, working on it, regular self checks (am i clenching lead? etc) and deep breaths. Also considering whisky

I'd be happy to meet you and her (without Reggie) and have a look. I'm no dog behaviourist but I do have lots of experience of the breed.

This would be awesome, i shall pm you

we would never blame another dog or owner if Crumpet pushed her luck

Thanks dude, appreciate the kind words. I would say though that if you see a dog that looks like it's crushing the life out of yours it may not be easy to feel that way. Unfortunately i think there's a line and i suspect that if Nori snapped at or nipped another dog a lot of dog owners would say to there dog "well that's what you get" but when it goes past that fear kicks in and people find it hard to not get emotional.

I honestly thought we’d end up getting rid of him.

I never thought in a million years this would cross my mind but it has and i'm sorry you've been through it as it's awful.

Which charity did Nori come from?

Underdog, mixed feelings about them. Great charity but did not give us a very good picture of Nori and i felt quite resentful toward them at first. They also suggested not to involve a trainer for a while which by some accounts wasn't the best advice. They have a behaviourist i spoke to who really helped me through the first incident but we wanted to find someone more local. We've done so and she did some homework on him and made comments about methods he used and that he's not affiliated with certain bodies. But then she's crazy expensive and not easily reachable so not entirely sure what to do next!

Where are you based?

SE London, but no she's not that staffie people keep talking about!

Muzzle on her for a little peace of mind while you're working on this?

Yes we muzzle trained her before and whilst she doesn't like it we're considering going back to it for a short while.

That’s sounds hard to cope with. I’ve been there with rescue dogs in the past. I’ve only once given up (incompatibility with one of our other dogs ) but there were other dogs and other days when I really wanted to. Stick with it. You’re doing the right things.

In other slightly more happy news we have a new puppy. It’s not like we needed one.
First time we have ever bought a dog. All the others are rescues. She’s an English Bull terrier, as yet without a name. We’ve been trying to rescue one for years but without success.

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What a cutie. Awesome little pack you’ve got there.

Absolute belter, big pup envy!

Dat face

Definitely looks like a Buffy....

On the training thing in general (to all those above), it is a lifelong process that never quite stops. It is the price worth paying for your lifelong companions. All dogs are individuals, even within direct genetic lines, I am on the 7th generation of my labradors and they have varied from sods to saints. Every single one has needed different treatment.

MrsDeth approves, she said called her "Dolly"

Cute pup.

I would say though that if you see a dog that looks like it's crushing the life out of yours it may not be easy to feel that way.

A very good point, it's easy to say in theory but I'm sure emotion and panic takes over in practice.

I didn't realise Nori was from Underdog. That's where we got Crumpet from. They've been great with us and were very clear about the issues we might face, although we've been very lucky with her behaviour considering she's an ex street dog.
Do you feel as if they tried to intentionally hide or play down Nori's behavioural issues?

I hope you manage to find something that works for both of you, she seems lovely, it'd be a shame if her nerves stopped her from living her best life!