Olde English Bulldog pup 9 months with vicious aggression

[massi4]

Hi,

I found this site on Google searching. We are at a very critical stage with our pup Mick at this point. He has been showing aggression since a pup about 3 months old.

We regretfully got him from an Amishman. He was supposed to be a Pugabull. We later found this out to be untrue once he started growing up. We knew we were had.

We had him neutered at 4 months old praying that this would stop his aggressive behavior with the "puppy biting, but to no avail."

It has unfortunately gotten worse and worse. He used to bite both myself and my husband, but now he is 9 months old and weighs about 75 pounds of all muscle. We did not know what we were getting into. We had put our last dog down last July from cancer before we got Mick.

Fast forward, we decided to hire a local trainer costing us about $2000. Our Mick is great with everyone else but us. He only attacks us and the trainer said it is because they are head strong and wanting to be the alpha. My husband has been able to take over the alpha, but Mick still tries him for it. Mick tends to guard different objects anything from the dishwasher, vacuum cleaner, a spot on the floor, anything. He becomes so vicious that we have taped these episodes. Our trainer then gave us techniques to try in these situations plus an arm guard, but still he guards things.

Our trainer then gave us a pinch collar, which as bad as it is, made us have some control in bad situations. This has failed. He bite a hole or chunk from my husband's arm in one of these episodes. Now we are having to use a shock collar.... I do not know what is right or wrong. I have loved dogs all my life and have NEVER NEVER had this situation. It is killing us both.

Now, as of yesterday, he attacked me viciously for no reason other than not letting him jump up in the chair to sit by me. Once I nicely got him scooched off, he turned around and bit my right hand first and then grabbed hold of my left hand, clamped down into a full bite. I tried to get him away by talking calmly but I could not. I could not even get out of the chair as he had me cornered. I have multiple sclerosis and I have lost lots of strength, which disables me. He then came back and bit my left hand viciously until I threw my coffee cup, which startled him and he stopped and went to his bed.

The trainer says I have to be able to become the higher alpha or this will not change and will continue. He said we would have to get rid of him to a male with no children or pets, or put him to sleep. My husband says we give him one more chance this week or something. I am sickened and severely distraught about this even with my wounds. I love this dog so much even with his aggression.

Can somebody help?

Terri

[Karen]

Okay, take a deep breath, and know the situation is not hopeless. You have been lead down a lot of wrong paths here, but the pup is still young, and it is not hopeless. I would completely ditch the "pinch" collar - he is a bulldog, that is not going to give him any pause one bit. I am sorry that trainer still believes that "alpha" stuff, but hopefully he/she has not had you do anything like hold him down or stuff like that.

I would absolutely start with a NILIF program with him. This is "nothing in life is free." Start today. It is not about physical strength, it is about getting the dog to realize you (and your husband) are the source of all good things, and without you, life is no fun.

Does he wear a collar or harness all the time? attach a leash to it, and keep him on leash always for now. It's annoying, but the effort will be worth it in the long run.

Who feeds him?

Who walks him?

Is is more interested in treats or toys?

Sorry so many questions, but we want to help!

[massi4]

Okay, take a deep breath, and know the situation is not hopeless. You have been lead down a lot of wrong paths here, but the pup is still young, and it is not hopeless. I would completely ditch the "pinch" collar - he is a bulldog, that is not going to give him any pause one bit. I am sorry that trainer still believes that "alpha" stuff, but hopefully he/she has not had you do anything like hold him down or stuff like that.

I would absolutely start with a NILIF program with him. This is "nothing in life is free." Start today. It is not about physical strength, it is about getting the dog to realize you (and your husband) are the source of all good things, and without you, life is no fun.

Does he wear a collar or harness all the time? attach a leash to it, and keep him on leash always for now. It's annoying, but the effort will be worth it in the long run.

Who feeds him?

Who walks him?

Is is more interested in treats or toys?

Sorry so many questions, but we want to help!

Thanks so much for the reply. We are sitting here this evening distraught what to do. Our vet referred us to a behavior specialist who is a woman who breeds Bulldogs. She said that the olde english Bulldogs are very strong willed, etc. she to.d us to get his thyroid checked. I have always wondered if it was just something in his brain from bad breeding.

My husband and I both feed him. My husband walks him most of the time. I have walked him but not a lot due to my MS and arm problems. My husband said yesterday on our walk that I should have walked him instead of walking behind him.

Per our trainer, we started attaching a leash at all times. He got used to it and we used it as a tool when he would go into guard mode. He becomes almost like jekel and Hyde, as if he just snaps like yesterday. I have never been a fan of shocking or anything believe me. I don't know if it was the right thing to do at this point. I am going to look up NILIF program for sure. This is a critical stage and I am looking at everything possible. Thanks and I will wait to see your reply. God thank you. We are praying for a miracle. Terri

[Karen]

Thanks so much for the reply. We are sitting here this evening distraught what to do. Our vet referred us to a behavior specialist who is a woman who breeds Bulldogs. She said that the olde english Bulldogs are very strong willed, etc. she to.d us to get his thyroid checked. I have always wondered if it was just something in his brain from bad breeding.

My husband and I both feed him. My husband walks him most of the time. I have walked him but not a lot due to my MS and arm problems. My husband said yesterday on our walk that I should have walked him instead of walking behind him.

Per our trainer, we started attaching a leash at all times. He got used to it and we used it as a tool when he would go into guard mode. He becomes almost like jekel and Hyde, as if he just snaps like yesterday. I have never been a fan of shocking or anything believe me. I don't know if it was the right thing to do at this point. I am going to look up NILIF program for sure. This is a critical stage and I am looking at everything possible. Thanks and I will wait to see your reply. God thank you. We are praying for a miracle. Terri

Let us know how it goes. And yes, the key thing with bulldogs is you have to be more stubborn than they are, and never, ever give in.

Basically "NILIF" means all good things in life come from you. As he is already okay with your husband, make sure for the time being, you are the only one that feeds him. Before you feed him, run him through some commands, a good "sit" and "wait" or "stay" and then count to 10 in your head before he gets the food. If you do a search here you will come up with a lot of information.

Particularly with bulldogs, negative training is pretty pointless, so getting through his thick skull (said in all lovingness) that you are in charge is much more important. As you know, this is a crucial stage in his growing up, so the sooner the better. And if you are not up to walking him because or your MS, when it is time for his walk, you be the one to walk him to the door, and hand the leash to "daddy" so you still are the giver for walks in a way! And when either you or you husband walks him, make sure the leash is always slack, The minute he starts to pull, stop in your tracks, make him sit, then catch up to where he is and do it again! Especially as you have arm trouble, and he is all muscle, this is crucial for your future health and happiness! You'll feel stupid doing it, but it is completely worth it in the long run!

And getting his thyroid checked is a good idea, too. It helps to rule out any physical problems when one is starting training, too!

[massi4]

Thanks Karen...

We are going to start making sure we are doing this, as you state. I am going to remember and go over this with my husband tonight.

We are not giving up just yet. A work friend of mine is contacting an Olde English Bulldogge breeder in my area to seek an opinion as well.

I am praying and praying for a miracle for our Mick.... How can something go so wrong. I know this has happened to so many and their pups, it makes me feel ill.

I definitely will let you know what happens and keep you updated. My husband and I have cried and cried over this. We have invested so much love, time and money in our Mick to have it come to this, we never would have thought it.

Terri

[Karen]

Aww, he's so cute! And whenever you think of giving in, repeat, "I must be more stubborn than my bulldog" in your head until you get through it!