I don't know what to do with my English bulldog Freddie.
He is just over four and was neutered a week ago.
His behavioural problems are getting worse and I feel I have tried everything but nothing seems to work.
I'll try and give a rough outline of the problems.
He steals food from my children - from their hands etc. I try to keep him away from them when they are eating but they are 3 and 10mths so not always possible.
He steals anything that he can get - toys, remotes etc. Everything has to be out the way when he is awake and alert. This is far worse whenever anybody visits the house - he will continually steal even when he's being offered attention.
When I try and remove certain toys he guards them and can get nasty with me (never the children)
A new thing is that he has started barking at me for no reason (that I know of) -
sometimes it seems aggressive. This has only been a recent thing but always seems to be after the children have gone to bed.
People don't really visit me anymore as its too stressful. Apart from family that he knows really well, he is just awful when newish people come round. Stealing, jumping up, humping their legs etc.
If I try and remove him from the room he snaps at me and just barks, growls and cries the whole time.
There really are many other things but hoping this will give you an idea.
So we got Freddie when he was 12 weeks ish. His mum had died soon after so he didn't learn anything from her. However his sisters don't seem to have these problems.
We had our first baby when he was 8 months old.
My husband works away for months at a time. He has currently been away for 3 months.
We moved into a new house a month ago.
He has never shown any of this behaviour towards my two children (although he has overpowered my friends children with his size )
I hired a dog trainer to come to our home a year ago. She was a lovely lady but didn't have any understanding of the breed. I followed her advice for months and nothing changed.
I know that they are stubborn breeds but I feel as though I'm being overpowered by him. It feels as though he is always challenging me.
I am aware that there's a chance that these problems may be my doing and am open to the criticism.
My friends don't understand why I haven't rehomed him, but they only see him at his worst. For all his faults I love him dearly and would never get rid of him, but this current life is no fun for any of us - including him.
Any advice would be really appreciated. I have the details of another trainer, but was hoping to hear from some people who have dealt with this or at least have knowledge of the breed - as they are so unique.
Many thanks, and so sorry for the long post.
He is just over four and was neutered a week ago.
His behavioural problems are getting worse and I feel I have tried everything but nothing seems to work.
I'll try and give a rough outline of the problems.
He steals food from my children - from their hands etc. I try to keep him away from them when they are eating but they are 3 and 10mths so not always possible.
He steals anything that he can get - toys, remotes etc. Everything has to be out the way when he is awake and alert. This is far worse whenever anybody visits the house - he will continually steal even when he's being offered attention.
When I try and remove certain toys he guards them and can get nasty with me (never the children)
A new thing is that he has started barking at me for no reason (that I know of) -
sometimes it seems aggressive. This has only been a recent thing but always seems to be after the children have gone to bed.
People don't really visit me anymore as its too stressful. Apart from family that he knows really well, he is just awful when newish people come round. Stealing, jumping up, humping their legs etc.
If I try and remove him from the room he snaps at me and just barks, growls and cries the whole time.
There really are many other things but hoping this will give you an idea.
So we got Freddie when he was 12 weeks ish. His mum had died soon after so he didn't learn anything from her. However his sisters don't seem to have these problems.
We had our first baby when he was 8 months old.
My husband works away for months at a time. He has currently been away for 3 months.
We moved into a new house a month ago.
He has never shown any of this behaviour towards my two children (although he has overpowered my friends children with his size )
I hired a dog trainer to come to our home a year ago. She was a lovely lady but didn't have any understanding of the breed. I followed her advice for months and nothing changed.
I know that they are stubborn breeds but I feel as though I'm being overpowered by him. It feels as though he is always challenging me.
I am aware that there's a chance that these problems may be my doing and am open to the criticism.
My friends don't understand why I haven't rehomed him, but they only see him at his worst. For all his faults I love him dearly and would never get rid of him, but this current life is no fun for any of us - including him.
Any advice would be really appreciated. I have the details of another trainer, but was hoping to hear from some people who have dealt with this or at least have knowledge of the breed - as they are so unique.
Many thanks, and so sorry for the long post.