Bulldogs World

My fisrt bully (RIP Arthur 1996-2000) was the love of my life and a dream come true. He attended obedience classes and did so well he could do a 20 min down/stay with me out of the room. By 7 month of age he began biting me and my daughter. Unprovoked and simply out of the blue. With my vet`s help, I had a behavioural consultation with a behaviourist from the Vet College in Guelph Ontario Canada. We were given 3 pages of instructions and followed everything.There was follow up. He got worse as time went on. He lunged for my granddaughter`s face as well as another little girl. We signed up for another behaviourist, this time a vet/behavioursist well known in Toronto. My vet by this time had told me he had outstayed his welcome with us. I vowed to do everything possible to help this boy. We followed again, everything the vet/behaviourist said to do. He got worse, in spite of everything. He lunged for a woman`s hand in PetSmart and almost got her. It was getting so scary, I could barely take him anywhere. He finally bit me badly on my hand one night and there were 6 punctures on my hand and I have scars. I was just putting on his leash and collar to take him out. I finally allowed my head to rule my heart and had him put down at the emerg clinic that night. I knew he had the potential to badly hurt someone, perhaps even a child.

We fed him cookies, one after the other while the vet started the i.v. He just thought it was another trip to a vet which he loved (the attention!) He passed away with cookies in his mouth. That made it better for us, to not see him scared at all. He died happy.

My vet said he must have had a brain tumor, or something similar. He was purchased from a top breeder (Chris Neilson, used to have a column here and is an all breed judge) He had consistent reward based training and was never punished, or any reason for the agression at all.

It took me a long time to recover from this, as a matter of fact almost 5 years went by before I was able to get another bully. My present boy (born 2004) Mr. Higgins, has had the same positive reward based training and is a wonderful example of how good natured this breed is. He lives to please me.

I want to say to you what a wonderful chance you have given your bulldog. I know how much it must hurt you, but believe me I would have done the same thing if I thought Arthur had not had such a serious aggression issue. My heart remains totally broken to this day.

I knew you had had to give up Lola but I didn't know the whole story.  I know how much you loved your girl and I'm so sorry to hear about what happened.  Sounds like everything worked out as best it could.  Nice that you can still check in on her - and that she is safe and happy.

I know how terribly hard it is for you, believe me, I know. But Lola is alive and well, and you have the ability to keep track of her life even though she is no longer with you. You are blessed to have come to the conclusion you did, without having to put her down. She is loved and cared for (though we always will love our bullies more than anyone else can!), and she has the freedom to be Lola without fear of an injured child or a frightened bully girl...

Take heart my friend and know you love her the most, the best, and forever. 

I am not happy to hear others have gone through what I have as I would not want another sole to give up their dog or see their infant baby be bitten but it is good to hear that we are able to move on and see the positive.. I am very thankfull that Lola is alive and glad she is bringing joy to someone else as she did for me.. Life is not meant to be fair and I have to accept that.. I could easy have lost Lola at a young age for no reason like many have on this site.. so its always glass half full(once the pain allows me to see it that way).. nothing but love for everyone in this forum.. I got EXACTLy what I needed from this post and I thank all of you that have shared my time with Lola..

PS for all of us North Easterns.. be safe.. winter is not over by a chance

NM