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High Energy bulldog?

Kelsey W.'s profile image

Hi Everyone! I am struggling to take care of a bulldog who is in my care for the next 4 days. My dog who is super mellow and can handle almost anything has gotten already fed up with him because he is constantly in her face he has also been going after my cat and doesn't take the hint when other animals growl or hiss appropriately. He also wants to play but does keep away which I do not play but barks constantly if I don't play with one particular toy. He also doesn't like kennels but apparently he has made a mess at home because I did not kennel him this morning. I am at a loss of what to do with this dog and almost ready to call the owner and tell her that I can't keep him but I know for sure she is out of town. He is also supposed to be getting 3 to 4 walks a day but he pulls very hard I took him on one last night and the only way I was able to do it was by putting the leash around my waist and walking him that way which again is a struggle Any advice?

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Leighann H.'s profile image

Wow. That sounds tough. I know how exhausting it can be to have a high maintenance type. I had a similar dog several weeks ago: whenever he saw one of my other boarders, he thought it was 110% playtime. He was so intense, one of my more experienced trainer friends offered to come out and do an assessment for me after hearing about him! She recommended suspending all doggy playtime due to his high levels of anxiety and utterly rude manners (towards humans and dogs); in his case, allowing him to practice those poor social skills would only reinforce the behavior and could potentially lead to dog aggression. Keeping him separate from the other dogs, was a bit more work, but the calmer atmosphere was better for me, mentally!

  • So, how about keeping the bulldog leashed to you? Would that prevent the high-intensity interactions? I tried this with my tough case, but the other dogs would always come close to me, and then the leash was pointless.
    Keeping him leash would also prevent him from doing keep away during play sessions.
  • I might also declare the "barking" toy completely off limits: if you're going to be a pushy brat about this toy, than the toy goes away and we don't play with it. If he continues with the barking, I'd do a time out. Holding one end of the leash, calmly declare "time-out" and shut him out of the room (either into a bathroom, closet or in the backyard). Allow him to try again after 10-30 seconds.
  • The kenneling is a tough one. What kind of mess did he make? Housetraining? Destructive chewing? Does he have any history of kenneling, or is this his first experience?
    In his case, I'd probably consider some kennel-stress the lesser of two evils, and crate him anyway. However, if I wasn't concerned about destructive behavior, I might try to shut him in a larger, but still somewhat doggy-proof, area. We have a long, tiled hallway that I use for this sort of thing.
  • This fellow needs a front-clip harness to help with the leash pulling. Sounds like he could certainly use 3-4 walks/day to help drain some energy, but if his leash manners are that horrific, it's going to be a real struggle. Agree that strong pulling needs to make the handler stop moving forward. However, this is a lot more difficult in practice. If, if, if and only if, he has a harness on, I would try some quick 180 degree turns to help him focus on you instead of the environment.
  • Additionally, this dog would not be eating out of a bowl at my house. Most of his kibble would come out of an interactive feeder/food dispensing toy, AND I would also reserve some for use throughout the day to reward him for settling/calming down. How about a knuckle bone?

Let us know how it goes!

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Hey Leighann So I took away his toy he was obsessive of and gave him his other 2 toys.. The difference is his favorite is a small crab which is hard to grab but the other 2 are longer stuffed animals that have been easier to manage. He seems to do a little bit better with these ones. My dog is now

Kelsey W.'s profile image Kelsey W.

at my folks house where she is very happy. for the mess he basically just got into the kitchen but has been making house training messes as well though I've been home for those. He will be in a kennel for now on he doesn't like it but it the more I put him in after he gets to hyper or does something

Kelsey W.'s profile image Kelsey W.

he isn't supposed to do and he seems to be calming down a bit. As for the walking I totally thought the same thing that he needs a harness! My dog uses a gentle leader but obviously that won't for him. What I am doing right now is tying the leash around my waist and walking him stairs are just hard

Kelsey W.'s profile image Kelsey W.

He came with marrow bones! But no automatic feeder so he will get one of those bones later if he keeps up what he has been doing for the last half hour which is just chilling (thank goodness)

Kelsey W.'s profile image Kelsey W.

Great advice Leighann. I'd be interested in knowing how to tell the owners. I find some owners are sensitive about getting bad news about their dog, but sometimes there just isn't a nice way to say it. I'm sure that bulldog is not welcomed back.

Frances M.'s profile image Frances M.

In Kelsey's situation, I think the fact that her personal dog was too stressed out by the bulldog's intensity is the point to focus on. I try to make it about MY program being a poor fit, rather than THEIR dog having a problem. Tough in his case...

Leighann H.'s profile image Leighann H.
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Laura R.'s profile image

To help make walks easier without additional equipment, you can form a makeshift no-pull harness if you have a long enough leash. You clip the leash to the collar as normal, then, starting between his shoulder blades, wrap it behind one front leg, under his chest, behind other back leg, and threaded through itself again between his shoulder blades. you should have a loop around his middle behind his front legs that prevents him from pulling nearly as much.

Here's a video of a slightly modified version (only wraps around one front leg) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_oJo... - Maybe one will give you a bit more leverage over the other. I've also seen the loop down over the dog's waist, but I wouldn't recommend that as it's a lot more likely to injure him, especially if he continues to try and pull.

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Kelsey W.'s profile image

Hey Daniela,

  1. I brought him over to my folks place (only 2 blocks) so he could run around and explore their large dog friendly yard. He was more interested in being inside with the people.

  2. The owner does not crate him however he made a mess while I was at work on Friday. He seemed to not like it the first time but has been slowly become accustomed (I have been home all day today and tomorrow as well but Mon and Tues I won't be). I think its more not being aloud to be free reign and do what he wants (he is a bit pushy that way)

  3. I have thought of that and I hope for his owners sake that he isn't like that all the time! He has been a bit calmer today. I took away his toys and that seemed to help a bit. And his owner seemed more anxious to leave instead of chatting about her dogs history and needs.

  4. I have only sent pictures thus far to his owner and she hasn't responded at all. Which makes me a bit sad and a bit worried but I am assuming she is not interested in her dog while I vacation. I at this have no idea what I am going to say to his owner when she gets here on Tuesday.

Thanks everyone so far for your responses and support I can't express how much I have appreciated the feedback

Comments

Please keep us updated on how it goes! Hopefully things work out!

Daniela & Michael C.'s profile image Daniela & Michael C.
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Frances M.'s profile image

I feel so bad for you. You would wish that every stay would go smoothly. I have been in your position just not with a bulldog. Bulldogs are very stubborn dogs and from the things you are saying it shows he is dominant in his home so he expects you to play when he wants to play that is why he barks at you. I have mellow dogs to, so when I get a dog that is in their face two things are going to happen. My dogs will put that dog in it's place and if he/she is stubborn and just doesn't get it, I have to separate them with baby gates then let them be together again and if they just can't seem to get along, the gates go up again. As far as walking, make sure you are not using a flexi leash and keep the leash short and towards his head as oppose to his neck so you have more control and show direction that way he knows what you want him to do. Once he starts pulling stop walking and correct the behavior, bulldogs might be stubborn, but they are pretty smart. If it gets too much to handle call the owner and ask them if they have any tips on redirecting the dog's behavior and if all else fails, call Rover they are there to help. Good luck.

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Thanks Frances, I had no idea what I was getting into. I even asked all the right questions I don't the owner knows her dog at all... My dog is now staying with my folks and my cat is hiding high from the dog. The leash he has is a poor rope one I now have it around my waist and is easier to walk

Kelsey W.'s profile image Kelsey W.
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Daniela & Michael C.'s profile image

Hi Kelsey -- I am sorry you aren't having the best stay experience. Just a few questions:

1.I know you said he usually does 3 - 4 walks a day - and has no harness. Is there a dog park or open area where you can take the little guy to run some of his energy out? This might prove helpful since he will probably end up with more energy as a result of being in a kennel/crate all day.

2.I know you have made mention of a crate/kennel --- is this one you have provided or did the owner bring it? If a dog is not accustomed to the crate/kennel, it may end up injuring them or having the opposite affect (instead of calming him down, it will only make him more rambunctious).

3.Is this the dog's first time away from his parents and/or home? If so, this may be his way of showing separation anxiety. Also remember that dogs behave differently when not around their owners, and especially when in new places. So, while something may ring true when he is with his mom/dad, it may be completely different when he is with others.

4.Lastly, I would be careful about the wording you use when talking to his/her parents. Like Leighann stated, it may be better to say something like "MY home" or "MY program" were not a good fit, and other phrases that put the focus (or for lack of a better term, fault) or you, rather than the dog, even if it is the dog's fault.

I really hope things get better for you. Please don't hesitate to call Rover's help line for advice, as well!

Comments

Thanks for the reminder about separation anxiety, Daniela!

Leighann H.'s profile image Leighann H.
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