Aimee

mbgood

Hey everyone, I have a dilemma and would appreciate some input.

I was put into contact through a mutual friend who knows my passion for bullies with a couple who are fostering a rescued BT. We met up with our dogs at the dog park this weekend, and my heart melted at the sight of this poor girl. She apparently was rescued from a puppy mill in Iowa, and the foster family suspects that she may have spent very little time outside of her crate. Her age is estimated at around 5, she is very small (30 pounds, very short and compact) and has one ear mostly gone (chewed off?) but healed over. She has very prominent teats, and they suspect she may have been frequently pregnant/nursing, as her teeth are not great. She has now been spayed and chipped, and is getting the good nutrition and exercise she had been deprived of. There are spots on her fur that appear to be scarred, brown and furless in those patches, as if she was against a crate side all day. You can see it on her snout (do those ever grow back?). When they brought her in their home with their 2 dogs, she at first didn't seem to know what a yard was, only staying by the fence. She didn't know how to go up or down steps, but the family's dogs have shown her how to be a dog.

At the park, she was running around, got along great with Murphy (14-month old female), seemed very happy and was sweet and affectionate with me. I know that on this forum, there have been warnings against bringing a second bully into a home with an established one. And of course we all loathe the puppy mills and unscrupulous breeder. I am torn. My husband says, "No way!" as Aimee comes with an issue-filled history (but I can be very persuasive). The rescue wants her to only go to a home with another dog, as that is what she knows. We don't have cats and my kids are adults. 

Any advice?

Here is the rescue link, pictures below. She is the first one.

http://www.underdogrescuemn.com/adoptable-dogs/

exiled

Looking at her expression, her eyes, I think she looks like an awesome dog.  She looks like she has a spark, and confidence that will come out once she's settled and re-learns what life is like outside of a crate with good people.  She's smiling. 

I don't know if you know my history, but I had a BT years ago.  We were on a puppy waitlist for several months, when out of the blue came a rescue.  He looked like he had such potential...and he needed a loving home.  He had been passed around, probably to people that just didn't "get" this breed.  You and I get this breed, we're not first-timers. 

My husband drove to meet the rescue, and immediately saw he was a great dog, scratching his head like it had to be too good to be true.  We claimed him, and stayed on the list for our puppy.  I could tell he was an amazing BT, but he had no training on a leash.  He obviously had been crated with a harness on the entire time.  I live right in the middle of the city, bikes, dogs, people, cars, emergency vehicles with sirens, the activity is CONSTANT and loud.  For a few months, he had a hard time understanding and going along with the program, but I stuck with it, and I LOVE my guy.   

I see the same spark in this dog's eyes.  If you think it can work, you might want to take her to a vet and get her checked out thoroughly.  It must be a family decision and commitment, though.  It's a rough few months sometimes as dogs that have been in a certain situation get used to the parameters of a new home with new rules and discipline.  That's a tough decision you're facing, but a lot of the answers need to come from you and your husband.

philsergeant

@mbgood.  She obviously needs a lot of care and attention. nails clipped and her nose healed. But she looks like she is up to the job! It sounds like you are up to it also but understand your and husband's concerns. These days rescues will allow you to try as much as you can and not judge you, as we never would, for finding that it was too much.  (My daughter rescued a dog 6 month's ago who had a LOT of medical issues representing significant expense... and the rescue paid all of those ). If you have the time and patience it would be wonderful to achieve.. 5 is not that old. as long as your current bullie doesn't get jealous of all the attention... if Murphy and she are getting along initially that's a great sign... She looks like a bullie that will really appreciate and respond well to love. You know all about the required diet already, she'll blossom.

mbgood

@exiled Thanks for your comment, I appreciate hearing from someone who has been there. I'm still on the fence, and while I have often had more than one dog in my family at a time, never has there been more than one bully!

@philsergeant Her nails have been trimmed down since that picture was taken, but her toes look weirdly splayed. The nose discoloration persists--does that ever go away? My hesitancy comes from the psychological damage that could have already been done, but then again, who could possibly need to be loved all the way up more than a doggy like this?

I'm torn. Ideally, I could talk a friend into taking her and then be dog park buddies and offer to doggysit when needed!

exiled

It's just surprising to me looking at her pictures because she doesn't have that look like she's in prison that every BT has that's been in situations like that.  It's like her spirit hasn't been broken, and I can see the confident sparkle in her eyes.  Steve has had experiences with people bringing BT rescues home (which can be a little different than other breeds) and I know he would give you some honest advice.  Again, I brought Rodney home but he was the only dog in the house, no cats or young kids, either.  I spoke with my college-aged kids to make sure there were people that would take care of him if I ever needed help.  I didn't want him to ever have to find another home with strangers.  It was nice to see you're also thinking along those lines to make sure there are other people in the event it just doesn't work out.

I hope someone can give you some advice about the bumps on her nose.  They get so messed up by putting those big noses into small spaces.  The hair is so sparse, too, to begin with.  Poor little pup, such a shame she lived that life.  It always makes me wonder what happens to the nasty people that treated her that way. 

BulliesofNC

Well she looks like she's had a rough life thus far but this doesn't mean she is ruined by no means. I'm VERY shocked to read that she does well with other dogs because there's no question she's been in a few scraps most likely by other dominant and aggressive dogs.

Here's my assumption - She's simply a scared and frightened Bull Terrier in need of desperate love, attention, and affection. The look on her face begs for it. The callous you see on her nose is most likely caused from the chain link or fencing she was raised in. She most likely rubbed it raw many times due to excitement every time she seen a bowl of food coming her way or got excited every time someone turned on the water hose to clean her kennel area. Seeing she has the tip of her ear missing (maybe both since there's no clear photo of one of her ears) it's obvious another dog got a nip in on her probably between kennels and during feeding time. Hopefully the calloused nose isn't from cage fighting with aggressive doggie neighbors in nearby kennels.

You can get the nose looking a lot better simply by daily Bag Balm rubs. She really doesn't look all that old from the photos otherwise she'd be showing a lot more hardened callouses on the sides of her feet and ankles. There's no question that she's given birth to a litter of puppies. To me it looks like she hasn't had more than two litters.

Again, I'm shocked she gets along with other dogs. I still think bringing home an adult Bullie to a home within another adult Bullie is risky. You just never know how either dog will react when jealousy or dominance is displayed which could come days later.

I know it's a big decision for her adoption but I feel this particular Bull Terrier would adapt nicely and with shine brightly with some effort and training. She's worth the efforts. I wish I had her here to hug and love on.

philsergeant

Likewise on wishing I had her to hug and love on... she could do with every tiny bit from everyone ... (and my kids get too much anyhoo)... If you have the address from where she was rescued I have a pal down the street named Guido who will happily drive his '68 Caddy all the way there, just for fun.