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Post by fureverywhere on Jun 10, 2015 21:40:39 GMT -5
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Post by fureverywhere on Apr 9, 2015 20:26:02 GMT -5
An image I use as my avatar for some sites, don't know where it originated from
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Post by fureverywhere on Mar 15, 2015 20:30:57 GMT -5
Everyone else will have to advise you on the particulars of this situation, I haven't been a dog person for enough years to solve the complicated stuff. Some things that leap out at me though-pun intended...
It's generally not advised to bring bully breeds to the dog park period. My dog Callie is not dog aggressive and the sweetest gentleman on the planet HOWEVER he is also incredibly strong. With his gentle behavior I never want to put him in the position of thinking he has to defend himself. You generally have a mixed bag of pups at the park. All it takes is one dog and things can get ugly very fast.
IMHO I feel that any male dog, or cat for that matter is happier and more stable if they've been altered. I think the fact that your roommate's dog is un-neutered is compounding the situation. Also that they are both male. Usually with the bull breeds it's advised they be only dogs or if with another dog, preferably one of a different age and gender.
In a situation like you describe I don't think you can deem which dog is Alpha or in charge of things. Both dogs might quite possibly think they're top dog, that's what is possibly causing the fights. My girl is highly dog aggressive. But our boy is far younger and gets out of her way when she challenges him. But that's not something we could teach him. We were just very very lucky that he is the way he is.
Maybe others will have some concrete advice but I would keep your dogs separated for now.
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Post by fureverywhere on Mar 3, 2015 21:45:54 GMT -5
Oh me like!!!! I got one from Zazzle that said "He is not a pit bull. He is an American Bulldog. He will not eat your children unless they are stuffed with peanut butter."
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Post by fureverywhere on Mar 2, 2015 19:35:42 GMT -5
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Post by fureverywhere on Feb 10, 2015 21:30:24 GMT -5
Yup, well perhaps a step out of Big Hardware and I can head a different direction ya know? Still have to chuckle about that guy though...sheesh I'm only 52, not ready for the ice floe just yet. Hey that's it! As a condition of employment...if I can lift him off the ground and HE can lift Callie the same distance I have the job, works for me Second interview with that young man and yayy I have the job. Oh joy, we came to the conclusion that I will be the oldest person working there, awww jus' call me Mom. Oh and he asked if I was interested in going the dog training route. Hell yes, any experience is more experience. Besides...ten years ago I would have had no idea how to get a dog to follow simple commands. After Callie and especially Sophie I know better. Plus it's about educating the owners and giving them more confidence to handle their pups. As for Mr. Fluffykins...one technique for dog training. In reality I am the most soft spoken soul...but you look a dog in the eyes and give them the face that says " Don't make me go all Joe Pesci on you" and it's amazing the difference. I'll post updates.
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Post by fureverywhere on Feb 10, 2015 21:21:07 GMT -5
Yes, they've had the link on different dog sites for quite awhile. I did Sophie and Callie and it was pretty much on target. Some of it's a bit tricky because they don't allow for multiple answers, but still fairly accurate.
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Post by fureverywhere on Feb 9, 2015 23:57:53 GMT -5
I interviewed today with one place...store manager wuz mighty nice. I do good with older gentlemen. Then this younger guy appeared. I know he was seeing petite senior citizen..."You know dog food bags are heavy and we unload trucks"...ya know son, I lifted mulch bags for customers all summer and I can get a 60lb dog in and out of the bathtub...come over here and I bet I kin pick you up too. Think the older guy might actually give me a call, paws crossed folks.
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Post by fureverywhere on Feb 4, 2015 0:06:32 GMT -5
Thanks, actually there's a dog walker company I got in touch with plus I sent an inquiry to a local doggy day care. The dog walker place responded right away...hum, oh yay maybe I can resign from big box land in the near future...see what happens. I am so tired of big corporate knowwhutahmsayin'?
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Post by fureverywhere on Feb 2, 2015 18:25:38 GMT -5
Hi, I know many of you are local...from NJ, so I have a question. I am on a path to find steady income. Most of the retail jobs around here...heck most jobs in any field around here are part time. If they want to give you 8 hours one week and 20 the next they can. You're merely a number on a spreadsheet filling in hours. I got the idea of dog grooming. I know the downsides of cranky dogs and owners, being damp and fur covered much of the day. But I'm good with dogs and humans, even the cranky ones, I'm strong enough to lift a Mastiff almost my own size, don't mind physical discomfort. I've also noticed there is a call for experienced groomers around here...full time too, very inviting indeed. So where do I begin? There are training courses, but there are probably a bunch of fly by nights there too. I'd consider apprenticing for free at this point if it will get me somewhere. Open to any suggestions. Thanks!
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Post by fureverywhere on Jan 28, 2015 22:06:25 GMT -5
I'd fancy a ribbon system like they used to have with bandanas at certain popular bars back in the day. Of course then it needs to be assumed that strangers will understand the color code. I would love to have some beacon shining over Sophie or an audible alarm...something, anything that would say " She is HIGHLY dog reactive, for the love of G-d stay away from us!". If a yellow ribbon would do it I don't know.
Then perhaps with Callie it would be a yellow ribbon with a blue one intertwined-aggressive towards male humans.
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Post by fureverywhere on Jan 24, 2015 21:40:13 GMT -5
You sure have a gorgeous pup there! You'll find lots of good advice here. I wish I had some to offer...I can tell you "Persistence is a Virtue" and keep your sense of humor. We have two dogs, Callie is a happy, well adjusted AmBull. Sophie our girl has been a basket case from day one. She made progress for several years but as she's grown grayer she's regressed. For instance the other night we were walking next to a store. Someone dropped a box on the loading dock. She got as far as the sidewalk before freezing into a full blown panic attack. Fortunate we could get a ride home but patience, time and applauding the small victories. Something Sophie adores is chasing sticks and balls, fun for her and it lets her run off some of that nervous energy...if you have a yard or a park with an empty secure tennis court give it a try one day.
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Post by fureverywhere on Jan 10, 2015 1:51:34 GMT -5
I'm not going to post the ad that came before my response. Basically it's another dog site I frequent and someone posted a thread about their leather goods. There were several photos of both AmBulls and mastiffs. Spiked full harnesses that say "Gladiator". Heavy chains and nasty looking spikes...this was my response, that got kudos from several other readers...
I don't want to get edited for colorful language...but %&*& H. Christmas on a Raft... I know I'm old and even with a great number of tattoos I'm totally out of touch with modern culture... <<<okay taking deep breathes to compose myself>>> I must say you do lovely leatherwork and I've been known to wear leather cuffs meself. ...but as a bully advocate...those pictures make me a bit queasy, okay they make me gag. Our dogs are imposing looking as &%$& to begin with. Those of us who advocate for them are trying to drastically alter people's perceptions of bullies as demon dogs. Spikes and heavy chains and leather...give them a name like Psycho or Manson and yep you got the perfect bad*** pup. <<<sarcasm is not productive here>>> Just...if you want to pierce your face and have neck tats and pose on your bike it's all good...I don't expect you to put Brutus in pink cheetah print but just try to understand what I'm saying here, just a bit, maybe not now but someday. There I've said my piece.
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Post by fureverywhere on Dec 15, 2014 22:36:00 GMT -5
www.christmasinprescott.com/210476.htmlI ordered one of these and accidently they sent two. I'm a fairly good artist so I just whited out Callie on the second one and will put Sophie on it instead. Then as I looked at the first one I thought "Adorable, but Callie doesn't have coloring like that, Sophie does. So for his I mixed and compared paint until I came up with his shade of tan and repainted his whole ornament. I need to get a new camera but I'll post pics later. Really pleased, fast delivery and they have a bunch of great dog stuff. Later that evening-Then as I looked at the one I designated Sophie...actually she doesn't have that coloring at all. She has boxer and German shepherd mixed in there so her face is actually a mix of dark brown and points of black. But as she's aged she's graying around the nose, and she always had a distinctive white blaze on her nose. So yup, I'm repainting her ornament too. The face shape and lips are right for both of them. The coloring I'm working on. Now if the ornament had natural ears...
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Post by fureverywhere on Dec 14, 2014 18:08:34 GMT -5
I thought I had posted here but guess I got side-tracked. A few weeks ago Callie was limping...again. Last summer he had the same problem and after a week of anti-inflammatory meds he seemed to be okay. This recent problem and he had his back foot totally off the floor and was ripping around on three legs.
We took him to a nearby vet for an emergency visit and they took x-rays. Basically he has the knees of an old dog but he's only about three. You could see bone or whatever where his knees are was fuzzy in different spots. They say it's about trying to keep him from any more damage or he might need surgery eventually.
The problem is keeping him from jumping and running is like when they tell you to keep your human kid on bed rest. Sophie is a totally different build. Long legs and moderate chest, her head is more boxer or GSD, probably that mix. Callie is an AmBull poster boy.
It's logical than that if you're built like a tank with chicken legs supporting you that something's going to give out. I'm going to build ramps for the bed and his chair, also for the back steps. Of course that doesn't stop him from leaping from the top step to the ground when he's excited. Something Sophie does effortlessly but not what he should be doing. Suggestions???
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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 fureverywhere on Dec 13, 2014 22:19:16 GMT -5
I forgot another interesting behavior. I have woken to Callie sleeping on my face. I sleep more leaning away into the pillow so I can still breathe. But you open your eyes to a weight against your neck and face and feel snoring ruffling your eye lashes. Definitely a touchy-feely breed.
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Post by fureverywhere on Dec 8, 2014 18:47:31 GMT -5
Have to say first I haven't had much experience with other breeds of dogs. We had both a beagle and border collie before the dogs we have now. Neither of those dogs was particularly interested in following us around. Outside the BC was always on the watch to run off and disappear.
We've had Sophie 8 years. When she first came home she would follow me anywhere and wrap around my feet. She's gotten a bit more confident now but if I'm in the house or yard she is beside me or in my lap. Callie patrols the house regularly but always ends up beside us or in my husband's lap. Sixty pound lap dogs...yup, absolutely!
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Post by fureverywhere on Nov 27, 2014 20:59:00 GMT -5
Now another question that might or might not have influenced his behavior the other day. The day after he started walking on three legs. He kept his back right completely up off the ground. I got him into the Dr. that evening and they did x rays. My poor baby, what they were showing us was like a ten year old with a sixty year old man's knees. Now we have anti-inflammatory and pain pills.
One help is that I can build ramps for the bed and downstairs chair. But we have steep stairs even steps outside. The vet said treads will help. Something else on my shopping list. The other problem is Sophie. When they go out the back door Sophie tackles him getting outside. I'm sure she's made him fall out there more than once. So I have to hold her back now, teach the rest of the house to do it too.
Poor man, I've only had dogs a few years...now we have to figure out orthopedic problems too.
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Post by fureverywhere on Nov 23, 2014 20:29:27 GMT -5
We know nothing of Callie's history as a pup. He was about a year old when he was picked up strolling down the highway. When animal control picked him up he was well fed and except for minor skin issues perfectly healthy. It's thought that he might have been a runaway. I know the Newark area is full of "sporting breeders". Someone took the time to dock his tail. I'm glad they didn't get to his ears. We also discovered after adopting him that he knows several commands and someone must have put the fear of G-d into him about human food. If anyone is eating even right next to him he will avert his eyes or lay down but never beg or even consider stealing it from you. He'll sit there or lay there drooling until he's in a puddle. But unless you offer the food to him by name and hand feed him...even then it's complete soft mouth, you have to literally put the treat in his mouth. He's submissive to Sophie, me and my husband, kids too. He's fine with other dogs, cats, shows no interest in the rats or squirrels, maybe he'll watch the rats play with slight interest but he'd rather sleep. Women he loves, total ladies man, if he were human he would sing like Pit Bull He enjoys children too, especially if Mami is with them. There's a few men he sees regularly that he enjoys being with. Male strangers he's guarded about, maybe just standing between them and me and staring them down. At night maybe a chesty growl. But he's gotten better about learning to look at me and pass male strangers casually. If a male stranger has a woman or child with him then everything is waggy waggy no problem at all. Today I had to take him to try on coats. He knows the store dog trainer-male...so we went in and out and all was fine. There's an art store nearby that welcomes dogs and we went in to browse. He was so relaxed he stretched out on the aisle floor and took a short nap. Two women came by and got down to tell him how handsome he was. He wagged and licked them happy as a lark with the attention. Then an older woman came by to pet him and once again he smiled and wagged. Another young woman came over and gave him hugs and kisses. So he was a popular guy. Everything was relaxed and fine until we got to the door to leave. A gentleman had just come through the door and was trying to be polite by going back to hold the door open for us. In my head at that moment I was thinking "You are a man with no woman or child and you are approaching me, really it's no trouble I can open the door by myself DON"T COME NEAR ME"... too late he leaped Fortunately the gentleman leaped too, just in time. But it really shook me up. I mean it could have been an injury, he could have gotten the police, in the UK they'd be saying off with his head already just by virtue of his breed...I was shaking as I hustled him and my kid into the car. If he were a dog you were working with what could you do? Can you somehow train a dog past gender based aggression? Right after I finished typing this I was talking to my grown son. He walks Callie sometimes as well and I asked him. If men come near you out on the street, what does Callie do? Interesting that his answer was "Nothing, he just keeps walking with me." I think this leads to the possible explanation that he's guarding ME. Okay that adds an interesting wrinkle to the problem. One more consideration is realizing the layout of the store was part of the problem. Very tight aisles and not being able to see who is coming around the corners. Safer for us to walk places where we have lots of room and that we can easily get away from everyone if we need to. The target problem seems to be human and male. What are some ideas here? Another training class perhaps? Thoughts???
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