Bully Breed Thread!!!

[Florida Bullfrog]

As far as his welfare, he’s better off at his new home than here. He met his family last week and spent about 4 hours cuddling with the children of the family. After that, he’s been depressed all week, refusing to play or be social. I called them yesterday and asked them to come get him. He lit up when they walked in the room. They’ve been sending me videos and he’s spent all waking moments today playing.

I’m convinced they can immediately bond with the family they’re supposed to go to. I use that as a guide to decide who gets which puppies. That’s spiritual, not scientific. But I believe its a thing.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Yes. In Florida they can’t be sold before 8 weeks. But these aren’t being sold.

There is a reason they can't be sold before 8 weeks. I hope he turns out okay.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

There is a reason they can't be sold before 8 weeks. I hope he turns out okay.

He’ll be just fine. Better there where he’s happy than here where he’s depressed.

Its sort of like thinking chickens have to be kept in a coop as opposed to being turned out to fend for themselves. 8 weeks is the lowest common denominator.

Proper time to home puppies is going to depend on breed and vary between litters and individual pups. This was the proper time for Groot.

I’m listening to the puppies whine now because momma won’t nurse them. She knows that its time to turn off the spigot.

 

[lomine]

My dog and his littermates were dumped on the side of the road in a cardboard box when they were 5 or 6 weeks old. Thankfully they were found, rescued, and eventually fostered until they were at least 8 weeks. Mine was probably over 3 months old by the time I adopted him. And while he did spend those weeks in a lovely foster home with 2 of his siblings, two older dogs, and a great family, it did have a negative effect on him.

He is terrible at reading other dogs. He thinks every dog wants to be his friend even when they are clearly trying to bite him. I've had to yank him back from snapping jaws when we were accosted by aggressive dogs because he was just ready to play. He also doesn't know how to correct other dogs when they cross his boundaries and make him uncomfortable. He plays really well with dogs that match his energy but has a hard time with dogs that like to play a bit rougher. (He only plays with dogs I know well. and I step in when it gets to be too much for him.)

I want to make it clear that he isn't stupid. He's extremely intelligent. It's more like he never learned from his mother how to communicate well with other dogs. It's kind of like a toddler just starting to speak in sentences but never progressing past that point. Puppies staying with their mothers is not just about needing milk. The 5-12 week range in a puppy's life is such a critical time for them.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

My dog and his littermates were dumped on the side of the road in a cardboard box when they were 5 or 6 weeks old. Thankfully they were found, rescued, and eventually fostered until they were at least 8 weeks. Mine was probably over 3 months old by the time I adopted him. And while he did spend those weeks in a lovely foster home with 2 of his siblings, two older dogs, and a great family, it did have a negative effect on him.

He is terrible at reading other dogs. He thinks every dog wants to be his friend even when they are clearly trying to bite him. I've had to yank him back from snapping jaws when we were accosted by aggressive dogs because he was just ready to play. He also doesn't know how to correct other dogs when they cross his boundaries and make him uncomfortable. He plays really well with dogs that match his energy but has a hard time with dogs that like to play a bit rougher. (He only plays with dogs I know well. and I step in when it gets to be too much for him.)

I want to make it clear that he isn't stupid. He's extremely intelligent. It's more like he never learned from his mother how to communicate well with other dogs. It's kind of like a toddler just starting to speak in sentences but never progressing past that point. Puppies staying with their mothers is not just about needing milk. The 5-12 week range in a puppy's life is such a critical time for them.

How do you rule out his issues being genetic (his natural personality) or from his experiences being abandoned and bounced around homes? Or perhaps the issue was he wasn’t taught anything in the 4-5 weeks prior to being abandoned? Maybe he had a bad mother. Or maybe the humans who had him were just letting the mother nurse them and nothing more (think about what the home life must have been if it was the kind of people who would abandon puppies on a roadway).

A lot of variables in play, too many to assume the problem was not having an extra 3 weeks with momma.

 

[lomine]

A lot of variables in play, too many to assume the problem was not having an extra 3 weeks with momma.

All the studies overwhelmingly say otherwise. Many say 12 weeks is best. By your own reasoning 3 weeks isn't very long so why not let them have it.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

All the studies overwhelmingly say otherwise. Many say 12 weeks is best. By your own reasoning 3 weeks isn't very long so why not let them have it.

Because the difference between 3 weeks old and 5-6 weeks old is dramatically different than how things usually are between 5-6 weeks old and 8 weeks old. Taking into account of course breed and the circumstances of particular litters and individual pups within the litter.

I’ve had some 12 week old pups before. They’ve usually developed bad habits from their breeders at that point. After weaning, the humans around them are going to have as much or more impact on them than their mother.

Sounds like my experience with receiving older pups is the same experience you’ve had. The older pups are, the more likely life has beat them up and bad nurturing is imposed on them by humans, their previous pack, and other life circumstances.

Just after weaning, they’re more of a blank slate that can be better molded to what their human master wants or needs them to be.

 

[lomine]

Because the difference between 3 weeks old and 5-6 weeks old is dramatically different than how things usually are between 5-6 weeks old and 8 weeks old. Taking into account of course breed and the circumstances of particular litters and individual pups within the litter.

I’ve had some 12 week old pups before. They’ve usually developed bad habits from their breeders at that point. After weaning, the humans around them are going to have as much or more impact on them than their mother.

Sounds like my experience with receiving older pups is the same experience you’ve had. The older pups are, the more likely life has beat them up and bad nurturing is imposed on them by humans, their previous pack, and other life circumstances.

Just after weaning, they’re more of a blank slate that can be better molded to what their human master wants or needs them to be.

I could keep going with how wrong I think you are in this regard but it would be pointless. I'll base my opinions on my experiences and lots of science and you can do your own thing. I really don't want to derail this thread. It's not about breeding, its' about sharing bully dogs. So I'm going to stop replying to any posts about this particular subject.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Hello from Overo Mare @Painted Calls

 

[ShrekDawg]

Another pic from Overo Mare @Painted Calls