Hi there, am new to the site & looking for some advice with a new dog we have just got. Firstly we already have a 6 year old Shar Pei who is the most docile (lazy) dog in the world, we had an American bulldog who sadly had to be put down in January. He hated other dogs with a passion but loved the Shar pei, i assume as she is probably the most non threatening dog you could wish to me.
Anyway we have taken in a 7 month old Old Thyme bulldog. We have taken him from a friend and we have 2 small boys. He has come from a household with children and we have no problems with him around the kids, he is very playful but gentle. The problem i have is that at 7 months he has never had any training. The house he came from had 2 large dogs, the bitch being incredibly aggressive & the male large dog being his playmate. The bitch had pups which lead to her being aggressive towards our dog hence we have taken him in. I walk my other dog everyday, as soon as we put a lead on him its clear he has never been walked on a lead, has no road sense & knew no basic commands. In 4 day he has learned Sit, Lie down & paw which is excellent. Today however i walked him on his own, he is on a lead when 2 smaller dogs came over to him and he started to growl & lunge. Now he has been socialised with other dogs but not necessarily in a good way as they have never really been trained either. so I am unsure if the lunging is playful or he was being protective or mearly felt threatened as he was on a lead. Walking home he lunged & barked at a man for no reason but is very loving to anyone who comes into the house. Today my friend came round with her daughter who is wary of dogs and he switched from playful to barkingat her, i personally think this was cos she dithered in front of him & went to run & made him wonder what on earth was going on? I believe he is young enough to retrain & being in calmer environment (coming from a house with 2 dogs, 6 pups, 7 cats & 3 kids) he will become a calmer dog. He is very willing to please but i want to stop his reaction to other dogs before it starts. When we bought him to our home he walked straight in up to our dog & began playing, she in turn put him in his place & he follows her round all doe eyed lol. Sorry for the ultra long post but any advice will be gratefully recieved x
Anyway we have taken in a 7 month old Old Thyme bulldog. We have taken him from a friend and we have 2 small boys. He has come from a household with children and we have no problems with him around the kids, he is very playful but gentle. The problem i have is that at 7 months he has never had any training. The house he came from had 2 large dogs, the bitch being incredibly aggressive & the male large dog being his playmate. The bitch had pups which lead to her being aggressive towards our dog hence we have taken him in. I walk my other dog everyday, as soon as we put a lead on him its clear he has never been walked on a lead, has no road sense & knew no basic commands. In 4 day he has learned Sit, Lie down & paw which is excellent. Today however i walked him on his own, he is on a lead when 2 smaller dogs came over to him and he started to growl & lunge. Now he has been socialised with other dogs but not necessarily in a good way as they have never really been trained either. so I am unsure if the lunging is playful or he was being protective or mearly felt threatened as he was on a lead. Walking home he lunged & barked at a man for no reason but is very loving to anyone who comes into the house. Today my friend came round with her daughter who is wary of dogs and he switched from playful to barkingat her, i personally think this was cos she dithered in front of him & went to run & made him wonder what on earth was going on? I believe he is young enough to retrain & being in calmer environment (coming from a house with 2 dogs, 6 pups, 7 cats & 3 kids) he will become a calmer dog. He is very willing to please but i want to stop his reaction to other dogs before it starts. When we bought him to our home he walked straight in up to our dog & began playing, she in turn put him in his place & he follows her round all doe eyed lol. Sorry for the ultra long post but any advice will be gratefully recieved x
