Lola progress
Bulldogs World Forum Archives
These archives contain a copy of the contents of the old Bulldogs World Forum for reference purposes.Posting is disabled in the archives.
Click here to visit the active Bulldog Forum
Lola progress
Submitted by Dgordon80 on April 21, 2010 - 12:39amFirst thanks to all of you for your wonderful advice on Lola's aggressiveness to strangers and other dogs. The weather was great this weekend so we were able to spend sometime on the deck in my condo. Lola was able to be outside and see everything she use to only hear.. Living in a condo is hard on her cause she cant always see whats going on.. We sat outside and let people and dogs walk by which was good cause I knew she couldn't get to them but it was enough to start her positive re-enforcement training. She did pretty good.. barked some and ignored some.. all in all I think sitting on the deck is helping her get back to people around other things.. I don't think the surgery caused her aggressiveness but she was coped up inside almost all the time because she had a rough recovery and well VA got hit with the worse winter ever so not a lot of socializing went on.
We have to go to Richmond in May and my ex roommates dog will be there.. this is the dog lola snapped on a few months back so I am going to have to be real careful and keep them separated.. I have exhausted all options for pet sitting and they have to be there together, his GF and my GF are sisters so we see each other a lot and this trip we can't leave the dogs.. its two level town house so we will have to divide up the time when they are with us.. I don't know of any other way to keep them apart. Lola will be fine until the other dog gets near my GF.. she is way protective of her.. EVIL stage for sure!
It's a slooow process that takes patience and lots of
work...and it may be never ending, it is for us. But it is worth it.
They may be fine, but don't test them...
take them on walks together and enter the house together on leash taking them directly to the kitchen to receive "good dog" treats. Then separate them. Don't test the fighting. Baby steps forward if you see good behavior.
I don't rescue animals because I want to feel better about myself, or morally superior to anyone. The best part of my life with animals is the humility they teach and the humanity the foster.
There is no need to push the togetherness since they don't live together. If the other dog does happen to get out and approach your GF when she is with Lola, tell your GF to get up and move away. Or jump up and say, "Let's get a cookie" and run to the fridge. Distraction is the best defuser for tension between dogs. There is always "a stare or look" before a fight. Catch it and distract.
I agree with Pat, take a crate and a couple of baby gates. You can buy the wood pressure lock baby gates for $10 at Target. They are about 24" tall and easy to step over. Hang a towel over the gate so the dogs can't see each other. They work great for my dogs because they are afraid of the gates. I only have to lean them in a doorway.
Have fun!!
Jon Katz "Soul of a Dog"
remember to take a crate with you Dave...
that way if they have to split up you got something handy to do that..
also a long leash might help between them too and then you will get some idea how the intro will work out.
I have a rescued pug here..that was very abused. he would not let a soul come near him in the beginning. what I did was to take him to the parking lot at the grocery store. lots of people around and such. slowly he got better.
I carried a handful to treats for people to give Max..something he could not refuse. carried more pockets of treats with that pug..lol but it worked.
he never snapped at anyone in his life though..but soo scared and nervous.
now he is soo happy go lucky..he would go to anyone...
that took a year and half..
I bet what happened to Lola is she worried about being hurt. that surgery was pretty traumatic.. maybe she is protecting herself.. did you consider that?? she might not be 100% healed yet