Aggressive and has become my shadow

[vonmister]

Hi my 3 year staffy has suddenly taking to been aggressive with my room mate , they have been together since he was 6 weeks old . He has bitten him at least 3 times stitches he has not bitten anyone else or even growled at other dogs. As for him been my shadow everywhere I go he needs to be with me he lays outside shower toilet door  lays either on the couch or floor . When I move he is right there in in kitchen lays where he can see me 

[Mairead]

Visit to a vet is first step to see if there is a medical issue and you MUST be honest with the vet about the bites and stitches before the vet handles your dog.

Is this dog desexed? Does it know any commands? 

[persephone]

Definitely a vet visit for a thorough check up/discussion . Also do some detective work. What has changed in your life/surroundings? Anything and everything ...especially any illness,job change, building works...changes in daily routines....write things down.

[tdierikx]

Vet visit for the dog, and get a full blood test and checkup... xray if nothing shows on the blood test.

 

I'd also suggest that your room mate might think of getting a checkup from his GP too... a blood test also. Sometimes dogs can pick up on medical issues in humans.

 

I used to have a Rottweiler that was very sensitive to human illness, and she went nuts at a friend one day for no reason we could see. She had known him for years and loved him, but just this one day, she barked and backed away from him like he was on fire. A week later the friend had a massive heart attack and ended up surviving after a quintuple bypass operation. The next time he visited my place, the dog was back to her usual self loving on him like normal.

 

That said, this same Rottweiler was very protective of me if I wasn't well... so something to think about for your own health as well.

 

T.

[sandgrubber]

Of course rule out medical causes first, but...

 

It might just be a staffie thing.  When I had a boarding kennel we got an occasional staffie that had to be kept well separate from some other dog, or all dogs.  Generally this set in at around 3 years.  If you have $ and time you can try a behaviorist, but it's not the easiest problem to fix.

Edited April 7 by sandgrubber

[Dogsfevr]

All the Staffies we board are so human friendly they kill you with kindness.
Obviously a vet check including thyroid level check is a great start.
Then its a be honest with yourself situation.
I guess also consider how well do you trust your roommate & room mates friends that come over when your not there .Anyone smoke,heavy drink,any burglaries in the home or area.
New neighbours,trades people ,
To flip like this is significant & requires some serios thought process.

Human illness in yourself or roommate .dog has been on the receiving end of something unpleasant

[ellz]

A Stafford should be “a gentleman unless set upon”, meaning that they won’t start a fight, but be b*ggered if they will let it go unfinished!!

 

Many Staffords don’t play well with other dogs.  That’s just a “thing” about the breed that owners need to accept.  They’re extremely unlikely to be the social butterfly at the dog park or day care, flitting happily from encounter to encounter.  But if you TRULY understand the breed, you won’t put them into that situation in the first place.

 

As for aggression against humans……that is COMPLETELY out of character and needs urgent and comprehensive investigation!  A Stafford would rather die than inflict a tooth mark on a human.