Elvis has left the building!

I was asked to visit a lovely couple to see their Staffordshire Bull terrier Elvis that was dangerously out of control! The dog was born in a shed and the bitch removed at 6 weeks, but the pups kept together in the shed for a further few weeks until sold. Obviously they were teaching themselves how to behave and fighting for food as the bitch should never be removed that early as she will teach them how to behave correctly within the pack.

On bringing the dog home it began biting everyone and was taken to the vets. The dog was immediately labeled as dangerous by the vet and they were told to get rid of it back to the breeder, but the breeder was having none of it and took the dog back for two weeks of "training" after which it no longer bit! God knows what the training consisted of but I can guess!

A trainer told them to get rid of the dog and it was basically written off by everyone! The owners could not do this to the dog and having made the worst mistake they possibly could of falling in love with the runt of the litter and the weakest dog, they persevered with it!

The dog by now was nervous around strangers but was otherwise good in the house, but changed into a demon when outside the home, attacking bikes, cars and the local dogs with a passion! After 5 years and with the vets telling them that they had a dangerous dog and could not sell it on because it was so dangerous, they gave me a call and asked me to go and see them!

I visited them in their beautiful home and was greeted by a largish white Staffy who was quiet and calm. I threw him a tidbit from a bowl that i asked them to provide and then ignored him totally. He lay in his bed and watched us and after 15 minutes he came to check me out. He was gentle and respectful and at this point I gave him some fuss which he was happy to take!

Throughout the dog was a gent and so I wanted to see the walk and witness the carnage! Elvis had a padded collar and lead clipped on. This is a real no-no with a dog like this as they are bred to pull and allowing a powerful dog a padded collar or harness can be a recipe for disaster depending on the dog! I showed them a better option of a rope lead and I instructed the owner how to use it and what to get the dog to do!

We left the house and walked down a beautiful lane with the sun shining, Elvis trotting alongside his owner and enjoying the walk. A car came by and I was shown how he lunges at anything that moves by, so I gave instruction on how to correct him at the right moment before he escalates into the attack. Cars and bikes with ladies then passed by with Elvis happily trotting along. I was told usually that he would be in front pulling them along and attacking everything that moves, to the point that he strained his owners shoulder! I asked to visit the park so we could see the interaction with other dogs and whilst there a local man and his Lab were walking free. The lab unusually I'm told, came to play with Elvis and as he approached I saw the explosion of an anxious dog frightened on a lead and using attack as defence. We rode the wave and retreated a few feet to calm him down and waited until his brain switched back, before doing a circuit of the dog on the lead, thanking our stooge for his help; we allowed Elvis to stretch his legs and relax on a long line for safety!

After a nice walk home during which the only car he lunged at was after the owner paused slightly and became hesitant, allowing the old Elvis to surface. We nipped that in the bud and moved on with no further incidents!

At home he was again a gent, sleeping peacefully and relaxed! So day one was good and the owners have some homework to do over the next week, practicing the lead walking, training their visitors to respect Elvis's space and buying a muzzle for the next part of the training and familiarising him with it!

Ill let you know how it goes on now that Elvis has left the building (Safely) and we will prove to the get rid brigade, that Elvis is a great dog after all!

Happy training
Steve