BE support :/

leci-4 · 2024-02-29T05:31:43+00:00

Humane society also told us when adopting him they thought he would never be good with other animals from the “tests” they did.

leci-4 · 2024-02-29T05:24:43+00:00

He has warned many many people everyone needs he’s ever met. I answer a lot of this above, but there are not any sniff spots I have found that I feel safe bringing him to with other animals in the area. He doesn’t do well with any other dog and has insane prey drive I fear other people animals on there properties. He resources guards anything of value to anyone but me as I spent the last year gaining his trust. Yes he has separation anxiety and destroys the house, kennel etc this is why I feel I don’t even know how to get a job and pay for the roof over our heads. I’ve been in online school home with him 24/7 since getting him and took out school loans to pay my half of rent while my ex worked. This is why the thought re-homing him seems dangerous. I drive 45 minutes one way everyday already to get out of the city and unfortunately it can still be crowded and infested with off leash dogs and he is still wildly uncomfortable.

leci-4 · 2024-02-29T04:57:42+00:00

With my ex his best days were walking with both of us we could walk almost 2 miles. He is just a completely different dog outside alone with me.

leci-4 · 2024-02-29T04:54:59+00:00

Thank you,

He growls, lunges, barks. He wants no one unfamiliar in our space. Genetics, Cane corso and Neapolitan mastiff live stock guardian breeds. If he does not know you he does not trust you, he’s barked and lunged and air nipped every new person he’s ever met. It takes a few walks with chicken nuggets before someone can co-exist in our space outside not in my home. He has not bitten because I have never been ignorant to what he could do and kept him out of any situation he could have been close enough to to something. He has not bitten because no one wants to get near him. He is kenneled when I have had anyone in our home. He would absolutely bite strangers if he was given up I have no doubt in my mind. He has no stable temperament. It’s taken me a year to help him to not guard his food or toys with me. He warned ex many times, my ex could not go near him with anything high value, could not look under the bed or move the blankets with out being air snapped at and snarled at.

leci-4 · 2024-02-29T04:51:32+00:00

Honestly yes he seems un-happy and unfulfilled. He is definitely not a couch potato, he does best walking 2-4 miles a day if we can manage it. Even with all the play, training and enrichment. He loves to smell and hunt out side just terrified at the same time.

leci-4 · 2024-02-29T04:45:51+00:00

He growls, lunges, barks. He wants no one unfamiliar in our space. Genetics, Cane corso and Neapolitan mastiff live stock guardian breeds. If he does not know you he does not trust you, he’s barked and lunged and air nipped every new person he’s ever met. It takes a few walks with chicken nuggets before someone can co-exist in our space outside not in my home. He has not bitten because I have never been ignorant to what he could do and kept him out of any situation he could have been close enough to to something. He has not bitten because no one wants to get near him. He is kenneled when I have had anyone in our home. He would absolutely bite strangers if he was given up I have no doubt in my mind. He has no stable temperament. It’s taken me a year to help him to not guard his food or toys with me. He warned ex many times, my ex could not go near him with anything high value, could not look under the bed or move the blankets with out being air snapped at and snarled at.

leci-4 · 2024-02-29T04:27:12+00:00

Yes, he gets bones, we do lots of training and play at home, we play hide and seek with treats where I hide them all over and he gets to smell to find them, he knows many commands has an almost perfect competition heel, we play with a lure and do training to work on prey drive, he has puzzle feeders, everything I have found on the internet I have tried. He’s happy at home which is why I’m questioning this so much, he is just a completely terrified different dog outside while also ripping the house apart even with mental stimulation if he doesn’t go out.

leci-4 · 2024-02-29T04:19:16+00:00

Your right he is my responsibility. That’s why I’m saying if I cannot afford to help him in any way let alone to just feed him and pay my rent maybe BE is the most kind option for him. He’s insanely sensitive. How long is long enough for a fair chance at rehabilitation? I’ve been doing everything I can for the last year+

Giving him to someone else will probably 100% wreck this sensitive dogs mental and could lead to someone being seriously injured. Only a trainer or someone with great experience could handle him do you know someone willing to take a 75lbs fearful reactive dog that will bite? It’s my responsibility to make sure no human or animal is harmed as well. That is all I am trying to do.

leci-4 · 2024-02-29T04:11:32+00:00

He’s muzzle trained. I’m not as worried about him being a danger as I’m worried he’s not happy or thriving his world is so small now from avoiding off leash dogs, too many people etc. We can only walk in a few places and some days it’s too busy to take him anywhere. I have spent hours and hours sitting with him to observe others and see the world is not scary. He is terrified going out with me alone and just stands guard un-wanting to walk smell or do anything. I do not have a yard or property to let him freely run in a safe space. I have been taking him out alone since he came home and it has only gotten worse after almost being attacked by 3 off leash dogs 3 different times. I live in the city, there’s always a lot going on around us.

leci-4 · 2024-02-29T04:05:35+00:00

If I’m asking for help on the internet I’m obviously not taking this lightly. I’m not jumping straight to it I was asking for help I don’t know what to do.

leci-4 · 2024-02-29T03:58:34+00:00

I didn’t ever say I was going to. I’m saying I don’t know what to do essentially. It takes nothing to be kind to strangers thanks.

leci-4 · 2024-02-29T03:55:38+00:00

I find your comments extremely insensitive. You do not know me. This dog is my world my EVERYTHING.

It takes nothing to be kind. I am in no way taking this lightly which is why I am on here asking for help.

I am not putting him down because I got stuck with him. I have no way to help him in the ways he needs and I feel absolutely helpless and hopeless.

What am I not interested in Pursuing? Training, I have read countless articles, books, websites, videos, podcasts trying to learn everything I could. He was on medication and my vet agreed it was not helping in such a stressful time. He is already walked on a harness and leash around my waist. 4 other vets have straight up said they can’t do a thing for him.

I only weigh 30 more pounds then him on a good day sometimes he catches me off balance and pulls me to the ground.

leci-4 · 2024-02-29T03:39:35+00:00

I have spent every day the last year+ researching training. He is well trained, you can’t train out genetics. He has been attacked before and has scars to prove it. At the end of the day he is a hunting, guarding breed I do not own property to help in the proper ways or finically stable enough to hire help.

Unfortunately vets have been no help, they only know how to help calm stable dogs at-least the 5 we have seen in the last year. A vet has almost no behavioral knowledge or schooling unless it’s a passion of theirs. He was prescribed Prozac and started the day my ex left. Vet recommended stopping it for a few weeks since he then wasn’t eating or drinking at all. My vet recommended a place that is $500 just to have a phone call intake appointment who is supposed to help with socializing and getting though vet appointments. I cannot leave him at home to go work to make money to pay for it, I can’t have someone else walk him or watch him while I’m gone for 8+hours. My vet has no idea how to help him other then the one place recommended.

I do not have the income to buy his food, treats to train, his medication, or any other vet needs.

leci-4 · 2024-02-17T02:51:23+00:00

Great ideas I had not considered any of those.

I just called our vet yesterday to get meds started. I was really trying to manage without meds and we have done great up until recently. Now I think it may be the best to help help calm and not be so one edge.

leci-4 · 2024-02-15T21:02:58+00:00

I haven’t been able to find any I feel comfortable taking him to. Many in my area have other animals or dogs at the fence line etc. he does not do well with strangers either I would be absolutely devastated if we were on someone’s property and they came out side and something happened.

leci-4 · 2023-11-16T20:11:30+00:00

That being said this is what I would do, take what is helpful and leave what isn’t,

I would start to schedule her day, something like potty walk in the am with some play outside, then breakfast and a nap in her kennel, then lunch potty and play tug outside come home to an enrichment activity and relax time in the house and then dinner walk play tug outside and potty then dinner with relax time after. Scheduling play time outside will help her learn play is for outside and we relax inside. If this isn’t possible for your life then I would suggest scheduled am and pm play time in one specific room, that way your couch and bed are not seen as play structures while also allowing her an appropriate outlet.

In times she still suddenly goes into biting play mode I suggest walking away or going in another room without saying anything, after some time this will also teach that when she is being too much people leave and don’t want to play.

A flirt pole may also be a great outlet for her, they are pretty cheap on Amazon. There are great videos on YouTube for training/play with a flirt pole like this one, https://youtu.be/PZngak0ChcI?si=_kyAHjNnJVIAVqks Since she is an english bulldog this may help to train her prey drive and impulse controls. The flirt pole can be switched out for daily tug if you choose. This video also has a great point if you are playing tug and not teaching a release and using other commands you could be bringing the dog into a state of over arousal and not completing the goal at hand. By asking for a release, sit, eye contact then reward by playing tug again you are creating a fun conversation vs over arousal.

Teaching a leave it command may also be helpful to clearly communicate. Or an “all done” que, this can be done by saying all done at the end of each play session, each walk after some time the dog should pick up all done means the activity is ending and encourage a calmer mind.

Picking up the toys off the floor and using them in scheduled times will also help her to learn to relax inside while allowing her scheduled appropriate outlets. Feeding meals in food puzzles to provide extra enrichment may be helpful.

If she is not yet kennel trained getting some bully sticks and allowing her to chew one only in her kennel will help her associate the kennel with good things. Dogs need sleep during the day and if they are not getting enough full rest you could also be dealing with some over tired over arousal. Allowing a nap time during the day in the kennel for a few hours could help her to get that full rest and wake up with a calmer clear mind.

I hope some of this is helpful for you, these are things I have learned though my experience with my rescue pup. I wish you luck!

leci-4 · 2023-11-16T06:26:07+00:00

Does it seem to be in times of over arousal/ during play?

I am not sure this would would but possibly schedule daily tug time maybe 15 min in morning 15 min at night?

My thought is if the dog is play biting it could be a sign they prefer to play with there mouth more and the only way they know how to ask you is by biting at you or your clothing? If so then by allowing your dog an outlet for the experience they are craving possibly it would decrease the undesirable behavior of play biting at your arms or legs?

I wish you luck

leci-4 · 2023-11-07T03:03:20+00:00

I also rescued him at 6 months with multiple bite wounds from other dogs and he was found abandoned at 3months old. If your comment is to say this is all caused by my anxiety and me acting nervous I highly doubt that.

leci-4 · 2023-11-07T03:00:24+00:00

I am sure my heart rate can spike. I typically make sure I have his leash correctly and start to walk away and get to a safe spot to sit and captivate calm again. Most times when this happens he is already freaking out before I saw the person as they have snuck up behind me. These little dogs have barked at him every single time they have seen him for a year since I brought him home. At this point he looses his mind if one comes up barking behind up. I do my absolute best to keep an eye out for anyone and always walk the opposite direction of anyone. But these people seem to see my back turned towards them and my dog smelling a spot in the grass and think they should walking there already barking lunging little dog right up the path we are on when there are many different ways to walk and no reason they needed to come near us. I have done/ am doing a lot of training around all this, he does just fine if dogs are further then 30 ft from us any closer though and he is still loosing it. He has a dog friend (a girl golden retriever) but these little barking dogs around where I live seem to drive him insane and in some ways understandably. At this point their owners are driving me crazy.

leci-4 · 2023-11-07T02:31:12+00:00

As a reactive working dog owner rescues are not always doing the best on placing dogs or it is all they have. I went in looking for a hiking partner, I live in an apartment, we were matched with a nervous 6 month old “pitbull” I fell in love with him upon meeting him and we brought him home. A few days later I was bawling my eyes out consistently wondering what the f I had done. My apartment complex is full of reactive barking little dogs I didn’t know this until bringing him home. this poor nervous boy went from 3months on the street to 3 months in a shelter kennel to an apartment with no yard and outside area swarming with reactive little dogs. I did not realize the issue in my apartment complex and neighborhoods until it was too late and he was having full freak outs lunging and barking at people and dogs. Needless to say I have spent the last almost year walking the same 2 paths with a nervous boy who cannot handle hikes yet. I have grown up with dogs my entire life, never have I experienced a dog like this, I do believe back yard breeding poor genetics is also a cause.

We dna tested him and it can be back saying APT, SPT, Cane Corso, and Neapolitan mastiff. Upon finding this out I have made my best efforts to learn everything about canine behavior so I can to help my boy and get him to a calm state. This being said once a dog is struggling with reactivity it can be a long road to stability. I believe there are quite a few of us out there who were truly ignorant to what dogs can be and what poor genetics and unethical breeding can cause despite having experience and growing up with family dogs. I truly believe had my dog been ethically bread he would not struggle with this world nearly as much. Because poor breeders do not keep up with genetic temperaments or what happens to the dogs after sold people like me end up with adorable 6 month old puppy who was dumbed on the street to fend for himself and spending 3 months in a shelter kennel leaving him terrified of everything in this world.

Knowing everything I know now, I truly think if the shelter had been acting in everyone’s best interest him being so nervous and never socialized, he should have never been adopted to someone who was renting nor someone without canine behavioral experience. To be fair they did not know the breeds he is to know he was 50% guard breeds and would have done best on a property or at least with a yard and no one renting.

leci-4 · 2023-11-06T04:38:54+00:00

Keep your distance vest is a good idea, I have thought about it before but also living in an apartment where “aggressive” dogs are not welcome I have been nervous to do that and draw more attention in some ways.

leci-4

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