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Post by melonie on Dec 6, 2014 17:37:11 GMT -5
Today Cleveland And River were playing. Things began to escalate a bit and I took steps to stop the play. Winston chose that moment to be the fun police and escalated it. I got it handled but then River jumped back in and all hell broke loose.
I got River to safety, but it took a good while to get the boys apart. The only thing that worked was my bottle of vinegar and water. I had to go get stitches, and the boys will be going to the vet as soon as my daughter gets here.
My heart is breaking. My boss is being a royal bitch. And my dogs are in rough shape.
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Post by suziriot on Dec 6, 2014 19:05:57 GMT -5
Oh no... I'm so sorry Melonie!
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Post by melonie on Dec 6, 2014 22:10:47 GMT -5
Cleveland ended up with stitches in a couple locations. Just a few to help stop the blood and keep things closed. We had to bathe him to see all the damage. He can't walk well because Winston bite his front leg. He even got his pecker nipped.
I chose to not bring him out of lala land. Letting it wear off so he will rest. Even out of it as he was he tried to resist the bath. I moved his crate to the living room, so he's interested crashed out. I have the space heater going to help keep him warm.
Winston is ok, lots of wounds but none as deep as Clevelands. He is sore and tired, so he is crashed out on my bed.
River is ok, I was able to get her out of it after she joined in. She was the root cause and biggest influence of it escalating so high.
The bill for the boys is 185, she didn't charge me for the stitches or the nail trim on Cleveland.
I haven't figured out yet how the hell to manage crate and rotate with them.
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Post by michele5611 on Dec 7, 2014 13:40:13 GMT -5
So sorry Mel. Poor pups and poor you. How us everyone doing now?
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Post by emilys on Dec 7, 2014 23:11:39 GMT -5
so sorry .............
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Post by Dave on Dec 8, 2014 0:35:06 GMT -5
Sounds like a skirmish more than a fight. Anyone that keeps more than one pit bull in the house can expect this from time to time. I know how horrifying it can be, and it sounds like the boys are going to be fine. You, maybe not so much. It sure does take a toll on you.
My girls have had a full on fight twice. They both resulted in overnight stays at the e-vet. Thousands of dollars later, they recovered and now are separated by two barriers at all times. You will figure out how to crate and rotate, and it won't be easy at first. You will adjust, as will Winnie and Cleveland. It will work because you love them both. It won't be easy, and you'll want to rehome one of them, maybe you'll think about it more than once. That's okay. You have their best interest at heart.
It'll be a merry-go-round for a while, that's normal. Don't feel guilty. I know it's easy to say, but take it from someone who's been there multiple times over 20+ years, it's just how it is with these dogs.
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Post by maryellen on Dec 8, 2014 6:10:21 GMT -5
Oh no I hope you all are ok now. I agree with Dave's post too, plus when you add another dog into the mix he dynamics change too.. It will take time but the boys will adjust to the crate rotate or room rotate schedule , and you wil too . Hang in here!
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Post by sugar on Dec 8, 2014 16:22:06 GMT -5
Oh no, I hope you are all doing better and all healing up fast.
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Post by melonie on Dec 9, 2014 1:11:18 GMT -5
We're all doing ok. The boys act as though nothing has happened. Cleveland was resting in his crate and Winnie laid down beside it after sniffs and licks. I originally thought I would have to keep them out of sight of each other. I did for the first 24hours, but they're fine being crated with the other free. I'm away from home for the next couple of days, so they're all on strict crate/rotate. They'll be ok. This was more than a scuffle, but not a full on death match. It was one of the worst I've experienced though. I have considered re-homing River sooner rather than later. I talked to my sister about it and she does have a couple potential homes. I will never give up my boys, the way Cleveland responded to me after all of this, Was so heartwarming for me. He just sagged into me, and would struggle to be near me and follow. Only calming once I was with him. Primary reason I let the sedation wear off instead of reversing it. He needed to chill and wouldn't have done it easily otherwise. Winston isn't as needy of me, but he too has been more cuddly than usual. Sent from my SGP561 using proboards
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Post by melonie on Dec 9, 2014 1:15:40 GMT -5
My boo-boos and I Meant to post this photo of Cleveland, not that side view. Sent from my SGP561 using proboards
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Post by maryellen on Dec 9, 2014 10:08:36 GMT -5
Ouch!!!! I hope everyone heals fast! Sometimes its better to not add another dog to the mix- in your case you are better off with just the two boys ... I know in my case i cant add any more dogs as it rocks the harmony i have now .
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Post by melonie on Dec 11, 2014 0:03:00 GMT -5
I got home tonight and the boys look a lot better. Cleveland is still has a bit of healing to do though.
Since I was at my sisters, I got a chance to observe Rivers brother Walker, and their mother Charlotte aka Boo.
Walker has a lot of the same mannerisms that River has, but Boo doesn't have. He is a bit timid, but more comfortable around people he knows. He is food aggressive, with every dog except his mother. She puts the smack down on him. Boo and Walker will gang up on Brody and bully him. (none of these dogs are bull breeds) The similarities between River and her mother are comical. The two other females that were adopted out to my sisters friends all have similar tales about the hell and sweetness that these pups have been. I did tell my sister to keep an eye on her dogs and not let them bully Brody. Brody took it in stride, while I scolded them away from him.
While I was gone the boys were on strict crate/rotate. When I got home I dealt with Churriguera River first and then rotated everyone outside. Each dog had a bit of one on one then I let both boys out together and we sat on the sofa just chilling and the boys licked each others booboos.
Going forward, I won't have all three dogs out at once and limited supervised time for 2 out at a time. Just going to take life slow, work on finding River a home with kids and patience.
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Post by melonie on Dec 11, 2014 22:31:24 GMT -5
Not sure how this happened. He's doing good and off the pain meds. Sent from my SM-G730V using proboards Attachments:
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Post by maryellen on Dec 12, 2014 6:49:14 GMT -5
Is that new or you just didnt see it before? That looks painful
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Post by melonie on Dec 12, 2014 21:56:19 GMT -5
I didn't notice it until Sunday night, but by Weds it spread.
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Post by fureverywhere on Dec 14, 2014 17:44:56 GMT -5
Ooooh sending you all hugs Melonie. I hope everyone is doing better by now. Our doggies can be such blockheads sometimes. Sophie attacked a pup I brought home over the summer. Another girl and after a day Sophie made it clear to her "My Mommy NOT YOURS". I was so sad, especially since I still see them walking that girl and they haven't found her a home yet. Plus how scary it is to see our dogs get violent, horrifying to watch. I hope you manage to get it all worked out somehow.
I wonder too about gender. I've read in some places that bullies should be only dogs. Then other readings say opposite gender can work but definitely not two boys or two girls. Callie seems to understand when Sophie isn't playing anymore and immediately backs away. Or if she starts blocking me and acting jealous he goes off and curls into someone else's lap until she gets over herself. I wonder if it's about gender or he's just an easygoing guy, I don't know.
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Post by melonie on Dec 15, 2014 2:24:03 GMT -5
River has a dominant streak in her, it's subtle, and only flashes when she values something. Cleveland will react if over excited or challenged. Winston will act as the fun police sometimes, and if he has been known to react if pushed. But It's hard for me to pin point a trigger since it seems random. Inthought for sure I was going to have a dogfight over the dead cat in my yard. But I didn't even though each dog was seriously vying to tear it apart and excitement level was through the roof. I've always kept a good eye on the boys, and managed their free time. If play got too rough I broke it up before it escalated. I think it's easier to have m/f pairs, but a good match still relies on the individual personality of the dog.
I'm taking it day by day, rotating everyone and trying to keep a mellow home.
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Post by melonie on Dec 20, 2014 21:31:32 GMT -5
Update...
The house has settled into a new normal. Winston is all healed, but Cleveland is still healing. River is still a clueless twit.
Cleveland is afraid of River, and has grown more clingy to me. He readily goes to his crate or hides when River is wound up. So I have limited any time he is around her. Winston has only now shown interest in playing with her, but I Squash all that nonsense.
Winston and Cleveland are getting a long but their time together Is short and directly supervised. Winston has taken care of Clevelands wounds and they've had a few snuggle moments. These are good signs, because I need to be able to potty them together in the future if I end up in an apartment. They are ok with the rotation so life has gone on fair well.
I've had a couples people express interest in River. The one home she would do well In has a bossy pit, so that is a no go. The other home would be good for a different dog. They have 6 unfenced acres, and she wouldn't be a full-time house dog. So, no. Sent from my SGP561 using proboards
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Post by maryellen on Jan 4, 2015 11:38:15 GMT -5
How are they doing now? All better ??
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Post by melonie on Jan 5, 2015 22:42:10 GMT -5
Now that the boys have healed they're handling River a lot better. Winston doesn't like to be annoyed by her very often. But he does play with her outside In games of chase and goofiness. Cleveland is back to playing with her like He used to.
The boys spend time together with no issues but it's supervised and controlled. No passive supervision with any of them. Still rotating a lot, and trying to keep verbose happy!
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