Destructive Young Dog

[Simple]

I will go back through this section with a fine tooth comb later on. Thought I would start the topic now to get responces rolling in.

I have a pure bred ball of fun english bull terrier brought from a registered breeder via this site and recommendations

He gets walked close to every day from about 5am till 5:30/5:45am if not longer sometimes. Has or had plenty of chew toys snack treats as in pig trotters or cow hoof type thing at random not every day. He has a friend another bully slightly older female.

I know his young (his 1 yr and 4 months) but seriously he gets alot more than most dogs I know of. We go to canine club training, visit the stables see our horses. So we do lots of differnet things. The dogs are that spoilt they have a aircondition kennel!

Im work from home and Ive had to resort to bringing him inside and create training him. He started barking to get my attention due to location and neighours we dont really get along with Ive had to go get him and put him away, I cant give him a training check no as soon as I step out the door he stops and if someone holds on to him and I go inside he wont bark as he has someone so either way he wins! He cant wear a anti bark collar as he wears a boundry collar as he was getting out in one section and he has been pinched before and rangers returned him free of charge with a strict warning that my dogs will eb targeted for dog fighting. I dont like he has to even wear that so putting both on if you were even allowed to I think would be cruel.

Him being inside is not really an issue I just feel he needs dog time outside fresh air! but whilst out there his that destructive Im surprised his not dead yet from blockages! he has eaten so much retic, this mornings efforts has tipped me over the edge. Another section ripped up. He has eaten so many pegs from say when a house mate hasnt clipped them back up. Ive done my nar nar at them. (my work from home is laundry for fifo people so I need the pegs!)

No bark busters here Im just at my wits end everyone keeps telling me to sell him. Im sorry but no I want to work this out and have a happy pack/household, I waited to long for this dog and Im not about to let him win the ultimate battle of being kicked out. I just dont know what to try anymore. I cant let him bark neighbours will have rangers here in 2 mins flat, he cant be outside without the boundry collar or ranger will bust my chops.

If Ive forgotten anything I'll reply. If you have any questions I'll try answer them to the best of my ability.

Photo of Bolt.

[Fuzzycuddles]

It sounds like he is bored and after company, is a second dog an option? I hope someone on here is more helpful.

[Bundyburger]

Bored, or seperation anxiety is my thoughts.

How much stimulation does he get from you at home, aside from just being with you? My fella needs at least an hour walk every day ideally, and 2-3 training sessions a day to keep him ticking over. Even with that he is still destructive and stressy. I've just put him on a calming supplement for a while to see how he goes. He's only been on it since Friday and we were home all weekend, so time will tell whether it keeps him calmer and stops the digging (his stress reaction).

[fuzzy82]

Dog's don't need to be outside in fresh air all day long. In Europe most dogs live inside and are only outside to pee or be walked. If he behaves inside, and keeping him inside "isn't an issue", then I would just do that.

[Teebs]

Sounds like a bull terrier

If I am home atlas has to be inside, he likes being with me and will snuggle up on the lounge all day when I am home.

Does he bark when you are not home?

As for chewing, reach everyone to pick everything up. Your dog could die by eating things. At still chews everything so I always make sure there is nothing around for him to eat

[Teebs]

Also go and talk to your neighbours. Explain that you know you have a problem and are working on it.

You don't Want your neighbours to hate you and the dogs, good neighbours are a great thing to have so go and talk to them and try to get them onside

[Simple]

fuzzycuddles yep have 2nd dog she isnt to much of a problem has a few issues I think from a preivous family.

bundyburger sorry dont know how to quote. He is allowed to follow me around do as he pleases when out of the creat. he gets created when I have to work eg folding the washing. Dont hear peep from him he just goes to sleep. I get him to sit, drop when his loose so he gets random periodical training.

fuzzy82 I thought it might of just been me feeling like he needs to be outside more. I might have to take a cup of concrete and toughen up i just felt bad he wasnt outside enough for my liking. He definatly isnt scratching at doors to get out any time soon thats for sure.

[Simple]

sorry teebs didnt see your reply.

oh Ive drilled the house mates they whinge he ripped clothes off one day. I said I know it wasnt him, he proceeded to tell me it was. I said have you looked in his create today? he had been created while I was out so wasnt them said how about you use the pegs that you drop all the time to hang instead of just flicking them over the line! warned them that is one of my dogs ends up at the vets due to a peg it will at their cost to get them fixed!

Doesnt bark when we are out as long as he knows were coming back. Or if I sit in the drive way to long eg trying to sort child out in the back. He barks to say your aking to long either get out and come back or go away. I havent tested the theory of does he bark when we are away all day. There has always been someone coming and going. This christmas is the first time we will be going and they cant come. Were going to neighbouring town 2hrs south we wont be home for 4 days so have got a friend to come stay with them as Im to worried he will bark once he relises we are not coming back. Friend has his creating instructions his happy to do that.

we are on a lets agree to disagree with neighours. We moved in then about month later they moved in and well unfortunatly my dog (rip amme due to age and illness) kind of ate their cat. so we have not been the best of neighours we will look out for each other properties neighbourhood watch type thing but apprently my dogs are killer pit bulls. so we'll never see eye to eye.

[dancinbcs]

Sounds like a Bull Terrier to me as well. About the only thing they can't chew through is solid heavy duty weldmesh. They can and do easily chew through timber, chainwire, standard crates and anything else they have access to. I remember seeing what was left a chainwire run at a friends boarding kennel after she had a Bully in overnight.

I would be inclined to build a weldmesh run and use a barking collar on him when he cannot be inside under supervision. He could go in there when you cannot watch him and that would keep him away from the washing and everything else.

[Red Fox]

I agree. Build a run and fill it with things he is 'allowed' to destroy - toys, bones, boxes, plastic bottles, etc.

A run will prevent him from eating things that he shouldn't or being baited by nasty neighbours, it would also eliminate the need for the boundary collar. In between just have him inside with you.

[periannath]

He's a baby BOY bull terrier.They are a lot of hard work and their determination and stubbornness can be extremely trying.. While their early history is bull baiting that's a very long time ago and they are bred as a 'gentleman's companion" .And that's what they want to be.With you.They will also run your life and your home if you allow it. It sounds as the his training of you is going nicely.He barks you go to him.I understand you have to because of the noise issue but from his point of view it works!He needs to go on the NILIF program or be reprogrammed with clicker training.Bull terriers adore their crates and he will prefer to be in his crate near you than getting fresh air. I would not give him things that he can destroy he will likely take it as open slather to rip up everything he can get his paws on.Put your energy into teaching him not to destroy things.Don't believe that they are stupid.It is their cunning plan to kid you into believing they can't be trained.

[Simple]

oh we love training its been a huge learning curve for me find it so interesting. I would have to read up or get more opinions on clicker training. We (as in Bolt) got banned in canine club with training treats so I thought you click and reward? bit hard to reward when I cant. He is OVER food driven. He will go spastic. responce and focus out the window. They thought it was just me lol so instructor took him so off they went all good till she went to reward him the scent just sent him stupid he grabbed her treat bag and tore the loop of her pants so bag fell off. they continued the lesson with treat and he was fine.

otherwise i deffinatly dont think his stupid, im on a mission to prove bullies arent dumb like most of people I know think. He passed everything bar one thing for level 1. Sit, leave ya dog 3 meters. I had ony practiced it once as I lost the treat reward half way through the season so he had to be retaught his reward was a scratch not a treat works well till you need that focus that comes with food lol

will look up the NILIF you mentioned Im very keen to learn more. Ive had bullies before but not from his age got him at 13 weeks. The others Ive had were ex show bitches. Who knew only how to 'stack' but they picked u sit, stay, leave, and shake hands quiet well not sure if that was becuase they were more mature.

Have mentined to my other half about a dog run and changing from boundry to bark collar. I dont mind him being inside with me I just felt bad he wasnt out side as much as I thought he should be. He is very social he is used at canine club to teach dog agressive dogs to calm down and be nice.

shall go google away thank you so far.

[Red Fox]

I would walk away very fast from any club that banned treats for a food driven dog. Learn how to channel his food drive and you'll have one very focussed, easy to train young dog.

Edited December 20, 2011 by SecretKei

[juice]

I agree ,his barking is controlling you, i use NILF on Bonn, as she can be pushy too, i have to be on top of her all the time.

Sometimes at meal times she will bark at me ,so she just waits longer to be fed then.

OT,

I need some advice, last week i noticed when Bonn got off the couch there was a wet spot where she had been laying, it stained the sheet, anyway, today we get back from the walk, she crash's on the garage floor to sleep.

I go out and call her to spray her with fly reppellant, as she jolts out of sleep, she wee's? lots of i assume wee shoots onto the floor.

does she have a bladder problem?

Any idea's?

[persephone]

juice .. a new thread in health might be the best for this to get noticed

[juice]

sorry, thought i was replying in the bully thread, it was linked here, der, blonde moment!

[pie]

I would walk away very fast from any club that banned treats for a food driven dog. Learn how to channel his food drive and you'll have one very focussed, easy to train young dog.

Agree!

He sounds clever and certainly willing to please (no way one of my dogs would work for scratches alone )

From memory you are up in the Pilbara though so I'd imagine there wouldn't be many training clubs to choose from?

[**Super_Dogs**]

Dog's don't need to be outside in fresh air all day long. In Europe most dogs live inside and are only outside to pee or be walked. If he behaves inside, and keeping him inside "isn't an issue", then I would just do that.

I agree that if he behaves just keep him inside.

One of my girls is inside all day (because she gets into the neighbours yard) and then when I get home she stays inside as she wants to be with me.

I always think she must want to be outside - but I leave the door open when I am home and she chooses to stay inside with me.

[Simple]

sorry went away for couple of days.

There is only the one club here live in the northwest of wa mining town. I didnt see it as a bad thing as he goes up his classes you have to do the testing/exams with no treats anyway. Level 3 I think and up. So I seen it as a challenge that we could do it without as he has been doing ok I just lost the focus in the sit, stay leave ya dog. He passed everything else. Oh he loves a scratch any attention really. a scratch will tip him over though if you dont do it lightly enough lol leans into you so cant scratch to much or he ends up laying down legs up belly rub ha

Agree I find him very trainable. Am currently teaching him to 'leave' food, his that food driven he can get that excited he will clean someone up knocking them over. If I dont have hold of him that is. teaching him to leave hopefully will have 2 advantages for us. Due to location baiting is quiet common so when out on walks not that he is off lead but on the off chance he goes for something I should be able to say leave and not go for it. Two shouldnt take any food of people without my consent.

Otherwise we have the chewing things up under control there is nothing left to chew lol only surprised balls and ropes. Starting to get him to drop them back in a tool box which he shouldnt be able to get through lol

they now have clam shell pools to play in with summer starting to kick in I think it was 43 the other day and 47 in the next town. so they will spend more time inside either way now its heating up.

[Nekhbet]

go to a feed store and purchase a goopy tin of Crib Stop. It's basically pepper spray in a can. Grab a brush and apply liberally to everything you can in the backyard then wear the hell out of that dog. If you have a treadmill teach it to hop onto it while you do things like get ready for the morning, eat dinner etc. Saving that bullys are known for compulsive behaviour does your dog have rockers or spinners in the lines?