Getting my son's Bull Terrier and I need HELP!
Hello All,
My son is in the Air Force and has a 2+ year old neutered BT. Over a year ago he was transferred to Az and was unable to take his dog. He left him with his son and ex-wife. Tek has always been a peculiar fellow. He would just stand over their other dog for hours, non-stop, non distracted. If the other dog moved, he would run over and stand over it. When I visited and took my little Pomeranian, he stood over him. It was hard to distract him, almost impossible. I had to pick my pom up and keep him away from the terrier. He didn't attack the other dogs, just stand over them. He would wait outside the bedroom door and dart in and stand over my dog. It was incessant!
Anyway, Tek has been left with my son's ex and my grandson for over a year. They live in an apartment and Tek spends most days locked in a kennel with little activity or socialization past those two. He is also left almost every weekend alone, in his kennel. He was peculiar before but now he is aggressive and they keep him muzzled when they walk him. I was told he can't be around other dogs anymore when he did fine before minus the standing over part.
Anyway, my son called today and wants me to go pick up his dog and take care of him because the dog is neglected past food and water. I told him that I would because of course, I wouldn't say no...he's my son. But I need advice on re-socializing the BT, training for his standing over behavior, and any other advice I can get. I already have a pack that is very balanced at home. I have 3 Bouvier des Flandres, a Pomeranian, an Australian Shepherd, and a Shih Tzu. Only the Bouviers are intact (a male and two females). The male Bouvier is 14 months and the females are 9 months, so still puppies, albeit big puppies. They are all well socialized, good mannered, and well behaved. Well, my little Pom is a brat but he thinks he's bigger than he is. LOL.
We live in a rural area so we have room for the dogs. We are just finishing our kennel/whelping house and runs for the Bouviers. Presently, they all live in the house and are with the family everyday. We understand the Bouvier breed very well. We have never used our hands to hit them for discipline, we don't play tug of war with them, we don't let them walk out the door in front of us, etc etc etc. We have worked really hard to ensure they know we are the pack leaders because they can be very dominant dogs.
Tek has been wrestled, poked, and pestered by my grandson. He has been played with very rough. When my grandson visited, I told him he is not allowed to tease or hit our Bouviers because they are going to be big dogs and we can't have aggressive dogs. So, does anyone think that with time, patience, and firm but kind discipline, I can re-train Tek? How should I introduce him to the pack? Should I put him in the garage in the cage first? It is a 8x12 cage, not a little kennel. Should I introduce the dogs out there before I bring him in???
My family and friends call me the dog whisperer because I have a knack for training dogs. But it's just because I pick smart dogs. LOL. I'm not sure I can get through to Tek. But I like him and I am willing to work with him until my son can take him with him.
So there's my story. I appreciate any constructive advice and help from the Bull Terrier breed enthusiasts!
Kind Regards,
Q
My son is in the Air Force and has a 2+ year old neutered BT. Over a year ago he was transferred to Az and was unable to take his dog. He left him with his son and ex-wife. Tek has always been a peculiar fellow. He would just stand over their other dog for hours, non-stop, non distracted. If the other dog moved, he would run over and stand over it. When I visited and took my little Pomeranian, he stood over him. It was hard to distract him, almost impossible. I had to pick my pom up and keep him away from the terrier. He didn't attack the other dogs, just stand over them. He would wait outside the bedroom door and dart in and stand over my dog. It was incessant!
Anyway, Tek has been left with my son's ex and my grandson for over a year. They live in an apartment and Tek spends most days locked in a kennel with little activity or socialization past those two. He is also left almost every weekend alone, in his kennel. He was peculiar before but now he is aggressive and they keep him muzzled when they walk him. I was told he can't be around other dogs anymore when he did fine before minus the standing over part.
Anyway, my son called today and wants me to go pick up his dog and take care of him because the dog is neglected past food and water. I told him that I would because of course, I wouldn't say no...he's my son. But I need advice on re-socializing the BT, training for his standing over behavior, and any other advice I can get. I already have a pack that is very balanced at home. I have 3 Bouvier des Flandres, a Pomeranian, an Australian Shepherd, and a Shih Tzu. Only the Bouviers are intact (a male and two females). The male Bouvier is 14 months and the females are 9 months, so still puppies, albeit big puppies. They are all well socialized, good mannered, and well behaved. Well, my little Pom is a brat but he thinks he's bigger than he is. LOL.
We live in a rural area so we have room for the dogs. We are just finishing our kennel/whelping house and runs for the Bouviers. Presently, they all live in the house and are with the family everyday. We understand the Bouvier breed very well. We have never used our hands to hit them for discipline, we don't play tug of war with them, we don't let them walk out the door in front of us, etc etc etc. We have worked really hard to ensure they know we are the pack leaders because they can be very dominant dogs.
Tek has been wrestled, poked, and pestered by my grandson. He has been played with very rough. When my grandson visited, I told him he is not allowed to tease or hit our Bouviers because they are going to be big dogs and we can't have aggressive dogs. So, does anyone think that with time, patience, and firm but kind discipline, I can re-train Tek? How should I introduce him to the pack? Should I put him in the garage in the cage first? It is a 8x12 cage, not a little kennel. Should I introduce the dogs out there before I bring him in???
My family and friends call me the dog whisperer because I have a knack for training dogs. But it's just because I pick smart dogs. LOL. I'm not sure I can get through to Tek. But I like him and I am willing to work with him until my son can take him with him.
So there's my story. I appreciate any constructive advice and help from the Bull Terrier breed enthusiasts!
Kind Regards,
Q
Comments
I don't really know how to say with confidence that you can work with this dog without using a firm hand. I still follow very old fashioned ways of training, and alpha rolling training in my house. I pretty much follow Cesar's way, the 'dog whisperer.' For years I have rescued and owned several bull terriers in my home without problems. But when a bull terrier turns to aggression, they are like a cannon ball of hell to deal with. It can be no different than an angry pit bull seeing red and wanting to kill all in its path, all dogs have different levels of rage though, some higher than others.
First thing I would do is get a well fit cage/basket style muzzle that Tek can wear long term, and be able to drink/pant comfortable in. Do not use mesh style muzzles, as they restrict breathing. When you get Tek, take him somewhere that is not your home, and introduce yourself as authority and boss right away. You are not a new best friend, you are his new leader, in which, he will follow.
You already sound like to me you have a great head on your shoulders in training dogs, you already posses the right tools of being a correct leader. I too, do all of the things you say you do, the difference with me is, I am not only strict, but very physical. Not like I kick them or anything, but I wont hesitate to get the point across immediately. Start implementing ALL of the things you practice with your other dogs. The best way to introduce your dogs is one by one, individually and while Tek is wearing his muzzle, have someone walk one of your dogs, the most non reactive one first, while your walking Tek, close by but not direct. Have Tek focus on his walk and not meeting or greeting the other dog. If I were you I would get him a properly fit prong collar, so that when he lunges or pulls, he feels it, don't hesitate to give him a good SNAP if he needs it. You will need to work on his reaction for awhile just to get that down. He may even need an electronic collar (shock collar) or maybe even a trainer in your area with experience with bull breeds with dog aggression.
Cesar Millan did an episode with a bull terrier with dog aggression once, I cant seem to find it anywhere though.
Also, have other dogs sniff him, hold him by the mid section with his head in control and allow dogs one by one to sniff his rear. In time, when he gets better you should allow him to sniff, through muzzle, non reactive dogs.
His behavior of hovering over dogs was not strange, it was the first signs of a serious problem. He was not only obsessing over them, but attempting some kind of control over their movement. It is something I see in dogs as a very rude behavior and controlling behavior. They also tend to stand sideways, directly in front of the other dogs, and when the dogs move, they will shift, and stand in front some more. Because his behavior was never corrected early on, it has escalated to aggression.
You must never ever allow this dog to escalate greatly towards your other dogs, they must never feel threatened or the need to defend themselves. Sometimes all it takes is one very unstable dog to come into your home and throw the whole pack mentality out of control. Your dogs must have enough confidence in you that you will control him at all times so that they don't just outright try to eliminate him. Often times when you have a pack full of dogs with stable minds and bring in a dog whose not level, your pack will try to rid of the punk right away. In my personal opinion I would have a hard time ever truly trusting a dog with dog aggression issues with my pack fully. Which is why I never keep a rescue or older dogs. Some that I have rescued were right away no aggression, and they were different, and special cases. You have a long road ahead of you yet, but I have confidence in you that you will make it. Also keep in mind, there are medications your vet may be able to provide that could possibly tone down the intensity in the dog while you work with him. There is an all natural supplement called 'rescue remedy' that I have seen work wonders for this types of things. Let us know as you progress with him how things are developing, I am curious in the matter!
Thank you so much for taking the time to give me such great insight and point out some key things I need to do. I already planned to meet halfway to pick him up. I told my son that this exchange cannot be an "event". They need to say good-bye to him at home. When we get there, he needs to be out of the car (his territory) and there can be no petting, no talking to him, and no eye contact. It is an exchange from them to his new pack leader. PERIOD.
I talked to my son and he said that Tek was not aggressive when he visited at Christmas. He said he was so happy to see him and be out of his cage, he just got on the couch and went to sleep. He also said that he had no problem taking him outside as far as aggression. He said that while he pulled like crazy, he wasn't trying to attack anyone or any other dog. He does still try and stand over a smaller or weaker dog. The conversation made me feel a little better than the conversation with his ex about Tek's behavior. She made him sound like he couldn't be rehabilitated. Mind you..she is out of control, undisciplined, and disheveled. And I say that with love, but the dog behaves like it's leader. (my opinion)
I will definitely take your advice and ensure I am always in control of the pack when he is present. I will keep him with me and on his leash at all times. I will schedule Tek a vet appointment right away and see about getting him anti-anxiety medication during the transition. I plan on setting him up in the big cage inside the garage to start with where he will not be anxious because of the other dogs. From there I will introduce him to Nakoda, my Aussie. She has a calm demeanor and has always been the one to show the other dogs good canine manners. She sniffs, lets herself be sniffed and then is like, 'Okay, you ain't about nothing!". LOL. She will not be dominated though and will quickly let him know.
I will get him a prong collar and get it on him right away. That should help with the pulling and discipline. I will get the beans in a plastic bottle out again. It's a good tool for distracting them from unwanted behavior. It can be tossed, too! LOL. We have a fly swatter we use as a show of authority. My dogs have never been hit with it, but it will send them scrambling if I get it, show it to them, and raise my voice. LOL. I will try the poking in the side, tsk sound, and snapping the collar with Tek if I need to (Cesar Millan style). And I will take your advice where I will not befriend him but be his pack leader.
I am tentatively set up to pick him up next Saturday, I will have everything ready for him by then. In the mean time, I am reading reading reading about Bull Terriers. Thank you for your input and be assured I am listening!
Kind Regards,
Q