Greetings!
Hello from PA. My name is Heida and I am new here. I was recommended to join the group and I am hopeful I will be able to gain as much knowledge as I can in order to train our Bully to be the best she can be for our family.
I am sad to say that we bought our girl from a breeder who obviously didn't care about the formalities and morals of taking the proper care of their dogs. However after 9 months we have ggrown quite attached to Kenzie and since I am a SAHM I will be doing the majority and ongoing of the training. Mckenzie (kenzie) is now 9 months and is deaf, has an ear that doesn't stand up completely, skin allergies, a urine issue that started after we had her fixed and a constant ear infection. Despite all these issues we love her and want to be her only home. It's quite amusing to say the least because our youngest daughter who is 3.5 is deaf and my husband hearing impaired as well.
She fits right in. I have never been around this breed of dog and although my husband has worked for the humane league,rescued many dogs, she is definitely one of a kind. I do not regret getting her. I've trained her with a few hand signals. Sit, spin,lay down, shake. They were cute for a while but as she gets older she needs to have boundaries and she definitely lacks them when she dashes across the floor and bounces off the couch and against a Window or practically throws herself down the stairs past us to play. We still crate her. I'd love to have her out like our other dog Rosco (chihuahua)but she has been showing dominance towards him..Although he growls and then bites at her. Mckenzie has pinned him down three diff times by the neck. It's aggressive however I wouldn't blame her because he's going after her. I just don't want it to progress. I was told to start the PIN method whenever she starts the dominance with anyone or anything. That's a start. However I also would like to actually train her to stay,and wait for other commands. To not put her awful bone in my face and to have boundaries like we teach our children. She has taken up the art of jumping the 4 foot fence to the side of us over to see the little dog next door. We are now at odds with our neighbor because she's afraid Kenzie will attack her dog..i hate to say but I don't know if she will. I refuse to get rid of her because of her issues. I just need some guidance in how to continue the process with her. I apologize for the novel.. just getting a little overwhelmed with the ordeal. Thanks in advance
I am sad to say that we bought our girl from a breeder who obviously didn't care about the formalities and morals of taking the proper care of their dogs. However after 9 months we have ggrown quite attached to Kenzie and since I am a SAHM I will be doing the majority and ongoing of the training. Mckenzie (kenzie) is now 9 months and is deaf, has an ear that doesn't stand up completely, skin allergies, a urine issue that started after we had her fixed and a constant ear infection. Despite all these issues we love her and want to be her only home. It's quite amusing to say the least because our youngest daughter who is 3.5 is deaf and my husband hearing impaired as well.
She fits right in. I have never been around this breed of dog and although my husband has worked for the humane league,rescued many dogs, she is definitely one of a kind. I do not regret getting her. I've trained her with a few hand signals. Sit, spin,lay down, shake. They were cute for a while but as she gets older she needs to have boundaries and she definitely lacks them when she dashes across the floor and bounces off the couch and against a Window or practically throws herself down the stairs past us to play. We still crate her. I'd love to have her out like our other dog Rosco (chihuahua)but she has been showing dominance towards him..Although he growls and then bites at her. Mckenzie has pinned him down three diff times by the neck. It's aggressive however I wouldn't blame her because he's going after her. I just don't want it to progress. I was told to start the PIN method whenever she starts the dominance with anyone or anything. That's a start. However I also would like to actually train her to stay,and wait for other commands. To not put her awful bone in my face and to have boundaries like we teach our children. She has taken up the art of jumping the 4 foot fence to the side of us over to see the little dog next door. We are now at odds with our neighbor because she's afraid Kenzie will attack her dog..i hate to say but I don't know if she will. I refuse to get rid of her because of her issues. I just need some guidance in how to continue the process with her. I apologize for the novel.. just getting a little overwhelmed with the ordeal. Thanks in advance "Work for a cause, not applause. Live life to express, not impress. Don't strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt"
Comments
It may be a little late on the floppy ear but no harm in trying to follow the threads on ear taping... (but you may not want to distract her with all the other priorities you will be enforcing). The first thing is apparently food.... What are you feeding her? Did you read up on all the nutrition strings? The "running in the house" thing, showing dominance and general disobedience, are all issues you can and will work out with a firm hand and persistence. There are many discussions on various disciplinary methods and requirements and once you have read them all to see which best match and suit your little girl, please get specific with your details of how you are instituting and what response you are getting so we can all help. The biggest thing is not to get overwhelmed, which is easier said than done... because remember, especially with the deafness, she reads and responds to your emotions more than your actions.... So keep everyone in the family on the same page, (mixed messages don't help), take a deep breath, get ready for 6 months hard work, and pretty soon you'll have a much healthier and well behaved Bullie. The yeast infections (surface ear) are typically diet and you can treat them with Remicin if you can get it, or Zymox, until you get the diet under control. Deep clean her ears frequently too, there are ear cleaning liquids at Petco, whatever. Please send pictures and stories.
We have a 6 year old (on the Autism Spectrum) and a 3.5 year old who is deaf, so you can imagine that chaos with them and this little girl. But, I know that we can all become on the same page. I just avoid having the girls alone with her at all cost because I don't want them teasing her and confusing her, especially since she is hearing impaired. We typically point at her when she is doing something wrong and she stops and look at us. If she is bad, my husband used to smack her butt but we BOTH know that is not going to help her it's more aggressive forming. (please don't think less of that) I am all for any different discipline measures so by all means have a go and tell me what any of you have done.
In regards to the aggressiveness with our Rosco, they have a love hate relationship. He is almost 6 and getting weird at his older age and she is very excited and hyper and just wants to play ALL THE TIME.. so he gets annoyed, snaps at her and growls and she reacts. I'm assuming she is just retaliating to his initial go at her. But, I don't want either of that.
We have taken her to the vet a few times and we have her on Ceruclean ear cleanser and Remicin like you mentioned.
In regards to her ear, it was standing up for a while but than it bent as you can see in the first picture of her. The other ones are when she was a little younger.
With ALL that being said that seemed negative.. she is gentle and it makes me laugh when she just plops her big butt on me, or when she she intentionally sits on Rosco just to get him going.. or when she wraps her legs around my leg to play. (Not humping..)
Thank you for your help and I will be on the look out for any information you provide.
Know that what you are experiencing is pretty "normal".... for Bullies.... With the kids they can be a problem if their taunting or playing is taken by the Bullie as being a real invitation to play, cause they play rough when they are young.
I also just posted into the diet section, and am going to try the chicken and rice combo. That will be a nice mix up for her.
Thank you for your help
My opinion is that you need to immediately get her on a better diet as stated by Phil. That Purina is pure garbage and will only cause problems for her. I'm confident you will see huge improvements by getting her on a good grain free food. Please take the time to read my recommendations on proper nutrition: http://bulliesofnc.com/bull-terrier-nutrition
I don't think it's too late for you to train that one ear to stand correctly either. It appears to be strong enough to train again in order to get it to stand correctly.
I noticed also that you are providing bones for your dogs. Often bones can cause them to become very defensive and lead to a fight in order to protect their bone. I encourage you to provide them bones while they are in their kennels especially if they have a tenancy to be aggressive with each other.
Smacking her butt from time to time will actually get her attention and I'm not against it as it will at least send a message to her as to your disapproval of her behavior. My Bullies are quick to realize when I give them a swat that I'm upset and they adjust accordingly. It's not done to afflict pain, and a Bullie wouldn't be fazed by it much anyway, but more to catch their attention and have them focus on You and what your telling or instructing them. Regardless how you discipline your BT as long as she understands your displeasure she will learn to adjust her behavior to keep from getting in trouble. Unfortunately at her age right now swatting her rump won't have much effect as she will convince herself that this form of punishment is weak and continue being bad knowing the repercussion isn't very bad. The pinning method will work much better. Also, especially since she's deaf, you may wish to try an electronic collar.
Keep us posted on your progress.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
We had a problem with our female BT, Willie. We used the pin system. She was a little brat when younger, and at times we thought we would never break her. Now, with a litter still in the house (7 weeks) Willie can be in her pen and she will go into aggressive mode in the front of her (male dogs walk past her pen), but her tail is wagging. Like it's part of play, but assertive she wants out of the pen. Look at her eyes and even though she is barking mean, her eyes are full of love.
Good luck with your bully. They are worth all the work.
I will pick up some grain free food and mix with also with a cup of chicken and egg. I'll also pick up that salmon oil and nu-vet vitamin supplement. I'm eager to see the difference.
I plan on getting a shock collar, I was weary of it but with the fence issue I'm going to have to. The woman next door has an extremely loud dog and the only reason Mckenzie acknowledges the dog is because the dog jumps up as well. It's not like Kenzie can hear her, its just she sees her. I want to avoid any potential issues as well.
I taught her to spin by circling my hand. When I give her a treat in the kitchen, I point in front of me and she comes, my hand out flat to sit, I circle my hand for her to spin, she lays down and then I give her the treat. She's always so eager to do it she jumps right into the circling.
Leslie, we as well give her a pill for the urine incontinence ( phenylpropanolamine) daily. It works wonders.
I am located in Lancaster county, in Marietta along the river.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
One of my sons goes to college in PA, and he still hasn't adjusted to the cold, lol. Looking at the news report of the extreme weather, hope you and everyone else is staying warm.
I was hoping no one would ask because I really wanted to avoid buying from a "backyard breeder". However, even with her issues I do not regret bringing her into our family. Both parents were on site and very nice, but I can tell that she isn't up to standards with ones you would buy from a reputable breeder like Bullies of NC. The breeder sold her to us less than the others..and Im assuming its because she had a hearing impairment. He didn't inform us of that--I found out later and of course would never give her up, just had it out with him that he was so irresponsible. However, it was our responsibility as well to be a little more picky with finding a Bull Terrier as well..but either way, I am happy we have her.
Also, I will definitely work on the circling. I do see her chase her tail sometimes, but its not consistent. I think she gets overly excited and spins in front of me for the treat, but if you tell me that isn't good then I will work on that too.
Oh yes, I also taped her ears with the female product that you recommended in the Youtube video!
My recommendation would be to conduct two things:
These are my suggestions and I encourage you to put some thought into doing right not only for yourself but for others down the line that will be receiving a puppy from the same breeder in hopes of getting a healthy puppy. This isn't about stirring up trouble but preventing the breeder from thinking they got away with what they did and helping the next guy from going through what you did.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
I will definitely look into reporting to the AKC.