help

[seals]

We purchased what we thought was a bulldog in March, she is now 9 months old and looks more like a bulldog/boxer mix. We are having many issues with her and getting frustrated.

First, she is becoming extremely aggressive. Going after and knocking down my 8 year old son while playing in the yard with my husband she didn't bite him but was over him about to. I'm getting afraid to take her outside or spend any alone time with her because you don't know what she's going to do.

Right now she stays in the kitchen and we don't lock her in her crate. She's not potty trained yet. We take her out for hours sometimes, just waiting for her to do her business, as soon as we bring her in, she does it.

We have had her in puppy training classes and have done everything that they have asked but now I'm getting to the end of my rope. I love this dog but am afraid we won't be able to keep her. If we are in the kitchen cooking dinner she will bark and bark and bark, if we put her out she barks and barks where I need to bring her in because it's not fair to our neighbors.

I can go on and on, but I'm at my wits end. Maybe this wasn't the right purchase for us, maybe the breeder needs a phone call. I don't know anymore. Help.....

[Sprite1]

I've heard some people transplant the "gifts" outside so the dog is like "oh, okay, I've been here before, might as well here again." Everyone should keep an eye on her - if it looks like she's about to go, take her straight outside (act like you're going somewhere really awesome so she'll be distracted long enough to get her outside... a bulldog might be a little heavy to carry). If you still use puppy pads, put them near the door so you don't have to travel across the house. Remember, praise a LOT when she does go outside, and say "no" when you catch her going where she shouldn't. For my dogs, I used the phrase "go potty" whenever they, well, went potty. Now I can walk to the door and say "Max, do you want to go potty?" and he knows that its potty-break time. Most domestic animals have their own "spot" they like in particular and, unfortunately, sometimes they like inside better than outside. You have to show that she doesn't have a choice in spots - its outside.

Also, I would suggest keeping her in her crate more often. She won't want to soil the place she sleeps in, so she will hold it until you let her out (be sure to take her straight outside!) Also, she'll learn that is her "zone", and everywhere else is your "zone." Teach her to go to her crate on command, so if she gets too rambunctious you can send her to a calm place to calm down. Put it in a low-traffic area; she can still see people, but humans aren't all around her crate. In the corner of the living room or kitchen would do, with a blanket over 3/4 of the crate. Consider crating her when away for short grocery trips and at night - but let her outside to do her business when you get back.

As for the aggressiveness with the 8-year-old, I'd suggest keeping them separate for a time, or don't let them play together. The dog will treat your son as a playmate, and therefore an equal (which, of course, you don't want). Teach the dog "sit", "stay", and "down." People should avoid rough housing with your dog. Instead of the boy and dog playing together, have your dog sitting around patiently when your child plays. You or your husband play with your kid while the other keeps the dog on a leash, calm and away from the action but able to see it. By that I mean sitting on the deck with a drink and the dog on a leash, while you absent-mindedly pet her (best if she is sitting or lying facing away from the action).