Rosie1989
New member
- Dec 22, 2012
- 10
- 1
- Bulldog(s) Names
- Vincent (vinnie)
Sorry for the long post guys but please stick with it 
So I don't know if you read my posts from last year, but basically my rescue English Bulldog Vinny was becoming increasingly dominant and aggressive. He would corner me and growl and regularly attacked other people, including biting our neighbor putting him in hospital. We could not have people in our apartment and although he had always been more respectful of my boyfriend he eventually attacked him. He weighs about 85 pounds (not fat, just big and strong) and would drag me round walks and was completely uncontrollable. We were devastated and tried everything. He wore a muzzle whenever we had people around or was outside, but his pure side would leave large bruises from his attacks. I read a load of books and watched all seasons of dog whisperer. I went to multiple trainers in the area and without naming names I had 4 refuse to meet with Vinny at all and told me to put him down, while another 5 either met him or had a skype meeting with him with basically the same response. This was all between october 2012 and june 2013. In July he attacked my boyfriends mother and we made the soul destroying decision to put him to sleep. I was a wreck. In the week leading up to us taking him to the vet I made one last reach out to a trainer and found my new savior!
I spoke to Steve on the phone and he was so honest but essentially told me although he couldn't guarantee it he would train Vinny and tell me whether it was handle-able or beyond repair. This gave me solace. I could not live with making a life changing decision based on my limited knowledge of dog behavior. We went to his FREE meetings for a few weeks, in which time Vinny attempted to attack and bite basically all the trainers and really showed his wicked side. Steve came to pick him up for a 4-6 week doggy bootcamp, which had the price broker in to more manageable amounts as we are a young-ish couple (24 and 26) and could not afford the full price up front. We said our goodbyes as Steve had agreed he would take Vinny to be put down if he felt it was the best option. Half way through he called and said Vinny would need to stay longer and he eventually stayed for 10 weeks. My partner and I used this time to save all our pennies to pay for the training and buy a car so we could take Vinny out places, which Steve recommended. Living in a one bedroom apartment we do have a park across the road but we couldn't take him off the leash ever as he continually attacked people and their pets.
The day Vinny came home was terrifying and we had soo much to learn. Steve gave us a structure and the tools we needed, including a few items I previously did not agree with. He told us we had to let him off the leash to run 3 times a day and to keep training! Vinny was still himself but it was like night and day. It showed us how miserable he must have been before as he seemed so relaxed and content. The lack of control in his life was obviously not good for him either. He is now happy to take himself off to bed for a nap which he previously would never have done as it would interrupt his constant psychotic stalking. He runs in the park and will play with me and I trust him enough to take him places. We go hiking and have recently started an agility class, he isn't very good at it yet but we are working on it. He still would rather not be near other people and when we have people in the apartment he will take himself out of the situation and go to sleep or sleep in the room and pay people very little attention. He is not going to be a sociable dog that jumps and kisses people but he is happy and that is all i care about.
Going through this process made me realize how incredibly scared I was of him. I am still recovering and Vinny is still a work in progress having good and less good days but it has been a bonding experience that has changed my life. If anyone is going through any similar issues please reach out and I will put you in contact with Steve. I hope my experience will give anyone in the same situation the will to keep trying and a brighter outlook. Every single person who knew Vinny said he was a lost cause and irreparable, but from this I 100% believe that no dog is a lost cause. Good luck to any difficult bulldoggy parents out there
So I don't know if you read my posts from last year, but basically my rescue English Bulldog Vinny was becoming increasingly dominant and aggressive. He would corner me and growl and regularly attacked other people, including biting our neighbor putting him in hospital. We could not have people in our apartment and although he had always been more respectful of my boyfriend he eventually attacked him. He weighs about 85 pounds (not fat, just big and strong) and would drag me round walks and was completely uncontrollable. We were devastated and tried everything. He wore a muzzle whenever we had people around or was outside, but his pure side would leave large bruises from his attacks. I read a load of books and watched all seasons of dog whisperer. I went to multiple trainers in the area and without naming names I had 4 refuse to meet with Vinny at all and told me to put him down, while another 5 either met him or had a skype meeting with him with basically the same response. This was all between october 2012 and june 2013. In July he attacked my boyfriends mother and we made the soul destroying decision to put him to sleep. I was a wreck. In the week leading up to us taking him to the vet I made one last reach out to a trainer and found my new savior!I spoke to Steve on the phone and he was so honest but essentially told me although he couldn't guarantee it he would train Vinny and tell me whether it was handle-able or beyond repair. This gave me solace. I could not live with making a life changing decision based on my limited knowledge of dog behavior. We went to his FREE meetings for a few weeks, in which time Vinny attempted to attack and bite basically all the trainers and really showed his wicked side. Steve came to pick him up for a 4-6 week doggy bootcamp, which had the price broker in to more manageable amounts as we are a young-ish couple (24 and 26) and could not afford the full price up front. We said our goodbyes as Steve had agreed he would take Vinny to be put down if he felt it was the best option. Half way through he called and said Vinny would need to stay longer and he eventually stayed for 10 weeks. My partner and I used this time to save all our pennies to pay for the training and buy a car so we could take Vinny out places, which Steve recommended. Living in a one bedroom apartment we do have a park across the road but we couldn't take him off the leash ever as he continually attacked people and their pets.
The day Vinny came home was terrifying and we had soo much to learn. Steve gave us a structure and the tools we needed, including a few items I previously did not agree with. He told us we had to let him off the leash to run 3 times a day and to keep training! Vinny was still himself but it was like night and day. It showed us how miserable he must have been before as he seemed so relaxed and content. The lack of control in his life was obviously not good for him either. He is now happy to take himself off to bed for a nap which he previously would never have done as it would interrupt his constant psychotic stalking. He runs in the park and will play with me and I trust him enough to take him places. We go hiking and have recently started an agility class, he isn't very good at it yet but we are working on it. He still would rather not be near other people and when we have people in the apartment he will take himself out of the situation and go to sleep or sleep in the room and pay people very little attention. He is not going to be a sociable dog that jumps and kisses people but he is happy and that is all i care about.
Going through this process made me realize how incredibly scared I was of him. I am still recovering and Vinny is still a work in progress having good and less good days but it has been a bonding experience that has changed my life. If anyone is going through any similar issues please reach out and I will put you in contact with Steve. I hope my experience will give anyone in the same situation the will to keep trying and a brighter outlook. Every single person who knew Vinny said he was a lost cause and irreparable, but from this I 100% believe that no dog is a lost cause. Good luck to any difficult bulldoggy parents out there
THANK-YOU, for not giving up on Vinnie!! You and your bf saved this boy's life thru your perseverance and believing that Vinnie could change. Of course, your trainer Steve played a big role in this too but w/out you believing in Vinnie, this would not have the happy conclusion that it did. I know it's an ongoing, work in progress still, but that's how I feel about my boys too...always something to learn and to improve on.
