American Bandogge (neo-mastiff/staffordshire terrier), 110lbs, neglected/abused for the first 1.5 years until I got him, he is 20months now.

My question is, he used to be scared of everything (probably due to the neglect/abuse I would assume). He is getting better little by little.

I have noticed on two occasions that he starts to be semi-agressive then backs off.

First time, was at the shop, stranger came up at night, pitch black. Clyde growled, jumped up and went towards the guy while barking (and he RARELY barks). The guy put out his hand to let Clyde smell him and clyde jumped back and backed off.

Same thing happened in the middle of the night. My brother went around the side through the gate to go get clyde and he heard a growl and clyde came barking....my brother yelled 'Clyde' (it was pitch black and he couldnt see him very well) and as clyde approached, once he got near my brother and he put his hand out, clyde 'jumped back'. Almost scared.

What would cause this? How can I cure it? Is it just a matter of him needing to gain confidence?

I was thinking maybe in his past he was hit for barking or has bad memories.

He is intimidating as hell, but I would hate for someone to be coming up or through the back yard and all the sudden he gets scared and backs off when they reach there hand out.

Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks!

I think he lack socail skills being abused as you say, for the 1st 1.5 years, its going to take some time to get him use to handling different people and things. I think you should not let him out of your sight if he is to be left alone put him in his crate or kennel. In this way you control his access to people and them to him. You need to gradually get him accustom to new things and peolpe controlling their responce to him and making all contact positive.

In a worse case scenario if he was too confident and terrotorial and that may happen when he gets older 2-3 years old is that he will try to defend or take out the intruder and you surlly don't want that. A dog that big could seriously hurt someone and he'd have to be destroyed.

So carefully train him that most people and things are ok, slowly introduce him to his new world. Protect him and love him that give him a chance.

I definatly want to train him carefully and the correct way. I have ordered a few of of Ed's videos that I cant wait to start with.
When I say abused, I dont mean like got the crap beat out of him on a daily basis, nothing to that extent. Things like instead of teaching a dog to move...just kick him out of the way or push him, sream and yell at the dog when he does something wrong, when it was the owners fault for not TEACHING the go what is wrong and right.
It was my cousin, so I know this dogs past. Never got attention. He should have never got the dog.
Abuse is abuse...I just wanted to make it clear as to what extent.
"funny" thing is, he thought the dog was just dumb cause it didnt listen....what a jackass! :rolleyes:

Anyways, this has happened on two occasions...both at night and both 'thought to be strangers' I thought of it as 'protecting his territory' but when he jumped back as if to be scared it kind of puzzled me.
Its not on a regular basis and he is really good with people in general...very calm...very affectionate.

He grew up with small children so he is excellent with kids...almost like he knows when to take it easy...

I take him everywhere I go. He is alone at night and thats about it. He LOVES attention, and gets plenty of it.

So he will get better? He is still young I guess....I was mainly concerned if this would be a liftime thing or if it will get better.

Thank you for the reply!!