Portly
New member
I picked up Portly from the Colorado Mill Dog Rescue, a greatorganization of staff and volunteers, on May 16[SUP]th[/SUP] without having aclue how our lives were about to change. As soon as I got him in my truck I began to realize and understand themeaning of adopting a rescued mill dog. Whilebeginning the twenty five minute drive back to our home, Portly immediately puthis head on my shoulder and wouldnāt remove it for almost the entire drive evenafter I rolled down the window so he can put his head out. It was then I realized we are going to haveto teach Portly how to be a dog again. In addition I made a mental note to alwayskeep a spare shirt in the truck.
As an addition to ourfamily, Portly, is an absolute joy! Heāsfantastic with kids and adults; endearing himself to everyone he meets and goodw/ other animals. He also seems to bepicking up training very well by learning simple commands quickly, except forthe first few hours he has not had any issue understanding where his bathroomis and when to use it. So here is thequestion; This past Sunday I had Portly on the leash for our morning walk andwe made it roughly to our front yard when he decided he no longer wanted towalk for whatever reason and rolled on his back to what is best be described asthe ādying cockroachā position andwouldnāt move. After a few minutes hegot up, took a few steps and rolled on his back again. After two more iterations I gave up andbrought him back into the house. I attempted to walk him again last night,Tuesday, with the same result.
Trying to figure out why he was rolling on his back I cameup with a few possible explanations. OnSaturday, the day prior, he had his nails clipped and maybe one was clipped tooclose and was causing him pain thus his unwillingness to walk. A second through was maybe environmental butin all of these instances were either early morning or evenings w/ the temperaturein the mid 60s. The third possibility ishe may simply not like to walk and as a former mill dog this is new andsomething he has never done previously. Iām at a loss as to why and what I can do about it but I do know if this is our biggest "issue", then its all good!
As an addition to ourfamily, Portly, is an absolute joy! Heāsfantastic with kids and adults; endearing himself to everyone he meets and goodw/ other animals. He also seems to bepicking up training very well by learning simple commands quickly, except forthe first few hours he has not had any issue understanding where his bathroomis and when to use it. So here is thequestion; This past Sunday I had Portly on the leash for our morning walk andwe made it roughly to our front yard when he decided he no longer wanted towalk for whatever reason and rolled on his back to what is best be described asthe ādying cockroachā position andwouldnāt move. After a few minutes hegot up, took a few steps and rolled on his back again. After two more iterations I gave up andbrought him back into the house. I attempted to walk him again last night,Tuesday, with the same result.
Trying to figure out why he was rolling on his back I cameup with a few possible explanations. OnSaturday, the day prior, he had his nails clipped and maybe one was clipped tooclose and was causing him pain thus his unwillingness to walk. A second through was maybe environmental butin all of these instances were either early morning or evenings w/ the temperaturein the mid 60s. The third possibility ishe may simply not like to walk and as a former mill dog this is new andsomething he has never done previously. Iām at a loss as to why and what I can do about it but I do know if this is our biggest "issue", then its all good!
to EBN and the most WONDERFUL world of Bulldogs!
I know the dead cockroach look. Our male bullmastiff (140 lbs.) pulled that in the show ring when he was young. The entire arena was hysterically laughing as my 16-year-old, 98-pound daughter tried to make him get up. Mabel hasn't rolled over, but she will plant all four feet and give us the stink eye for making her go further. I'm getting a stroller/wagon. She also spent most of her life in a crate (we think) and couldn't win a race with a tortoise.
