Sophie is a perfect example of how wrong a Staffordshire Bull Terrier’s reputation for aggression is. I have been to a good number of Staffies, and in only a very few cases was aggression of any kind involved, mostly between siblings of the same sex.
Sophie was rescued by Wood Green Animal Shelter and went to live with her new family at the age of fourteen weeks – she’s now a year and a half old and still quite small.
Restless
She is very restless indeed. She rarely settles. She flies all over people, leaps right over the chairs, she chases her tail, licks people compulsively and chews her feet. She spends a lot of time pacing about and whining.
She also has a skin condition which I’m sure is made worse by her general stress levels.
When I was there she settled a lot sooner than usual when people come to the house. This is because I insisted everyone, including the two children, took no notice of her until she had relaxed – which took a long time.
One touch, one word or even eye contact – and off she went again, patrolling, whining, pacing, licking, chewing.
Walks
Sophie pulls so much she has to wear a Gentle Leader which she hates. She’s a mix of playful and submissive with other dogs on walks, though tends to get excited and jump up at people. After most of my recent cases, it is nice to go to a dog that has no aggression issues towards other dogs – and this a Staffordshire Bull Terrier!
Walks, given because they hope to calm her down, are having the reverse effect.
Less is more
When she gets home it takes her a long time to unwind – she is even more manic than when she started out. This is a clear indication that the walks are doing her no good at all. It’s a case of ‘less is more’ for the time being.
Sophie has a lovely home with a lady who is conscientious in trying to do the right thing, and two helpful children. This family would like another Staffie puppy in the fulness of time, but agree they must get Sophie ‘fixed’ first, and then they will know how to get things right with a new puppy from day one.
Two weeks later: Good progress with everything
