Update on Charlie (The BC)

[milos_mommy]

I've been in touch with Charlie's breeder.

Charlie was quite a bit worse off than his original owner let on. I think the girl who had him did care for him and wanted to do the right thing, but I also think her parents downright abused the dog. Apparently outdoors, he is perfectly friendly and acts normal, but indoors he is another story. He freaks out when put on a leash, will willingly go into a crate but have a fit once inside and try to attack whomever lets him out of it, and does not allow anyone to touch his back legs or hind end (the breeder was told he'd been "accidentally" kicked multiple times). She said he's also quite underweight, but believes that's from stress, not neglect. He cowers when he's praised.

The good news is, he's going to live on a farm. The people there have other working BCs, but I don't think they have a whole lot of experience dealing with aggression, either. I asked the breeder to update me in a few weeks. I'm not sure if this dog is fixable, but I think it's possible. She said he gives a lot of warning (cowering, snarling, and growling quite a bit before snapping).

I'll let you know if I ever hear back about him.


The search for a foster dog continues.....

 

[AgilityPup]

Poor poor boy. It's probably for the best that he was taken back to the breeder. And I hope that the people he was homed with are able to work with his problems, or at least be smart enough not to push him over threshold. Hopefully this is just something that will take some time and trust and then he'll be able to trust and realize that not everything is as bad as he thinks it is.

At least we're fairly certain he's being given a chance and not just put down.

 

[PlottMom]

Where are you located? We have tons of beagles that need help

 

[milos_mommy]

Where are you located? We have tons of beagles that need help

NYC. I don't know if you'd be comfortable with putting a dog in an apartment home, or if there's an age limit (I'm only 20...though could probably get my parents whom I don't live with or my 25 year old roommate to sign something), but I'd take a foster beagle. Kinda different from a BC but I'm flexible

 

[Maxy24]

It's too bad the poor dog is so messed up, hopefully he'll do better on the farm, especially if he'll get to be outside a lot.

As for fostering, if you're interested in pits check out "bruised not broken"
Welcome to Facebook

I follow their facebook and they are always asking for people to foster dogs that are currently in kill shelters.

 

[*blackrose]

Poor boy. Hopefully he'll get the kind of rehabilitation he needs.

 

[RD]

I hope that the exercise and freedom he'll have on the farm will help his attitude. Don't give up on finding a foster, MM! I wish I could send you one

 

[PlottMom]

NYC. I don't know if you'd be comfortable with putting a dog in an apartment home, or if there's an age limit (I'm only 20...though could probably get my parents whom I don't live with or my 25 year old roommate to sign something), but I'd take a foster beagle. Kinda different from a BC but I'm flexible

No age limit, and we could totally work with you to find a quieter dog more suited to apartment life - we're in a college town and actually most of our dogs are pretty quiet. People are always amazed at how quiet most of them are if not kenneled/tied outside... they just wanna see what's going on! lol I'd have to find out how our director feels about having one so far away, though (we're in central PA). I'll ask next time I talk to him.

 

[britishbandit]

Charlie was quite a bit worse off than his original owner let on. I think the girl who had him did care for him and wanted to do the right thing, but I also think her parents downright abused the dog. Apparently outdoors, he is perfectly friendly and acts normal, but indoors he is another story. He freaks out when put on a leash, will willingly go into a crate but have a fit once inside and try to attack whomever lets him out of it, and does not allow anyone to touch his back legs or hind end (the breeder was told he'd been "accidentally" kicked multiple times). She said he's also quite underweight, but believes that's from stress, not neglect. He cowers when he's praised.

I have know my friend and her entire family for almost 20 years, and I can tell you right now they are not the kind of people who would physically abuse an animal.

Also remember, that Charlie had been with the second owner for a period of time too. I believe it had been over a month. So don't jump to assume that all of these issues are down to the original owner.

As far as neglect, I can see that, but unintentionally. Being a first time dog owner with no experience with dogs of any kind, both my friend and her family weren't ready/prepared to take on a dog. I'm not saying the family is innocent, in fact I believe that a lot of Charlie's issues stem from mistakes (again unintentional) that they made while he was in their home. However, my friend did say that the breeder had 8 BC's she bred. One of the males (which she was told was NOT Charlie's father) showed similar behavioral issues but didn't concern her when she got Charlie since they "weren't" related. If that is the case, and she was lied to about his parentage, his aggression may be inherited.

 

[Brattina88]

I really don't understand how you can kick a dog, "accidentally", multiple times. If I step on a dog accidentally I am MUCH more careful with my feet from then out out. And I wouldn't consider that a kick, either. I am not saying your friend is a bad person, I just think unintentional or not, Charlie is the way he is for a reason, and I hope he can work hs issues out and live a long happy life I don't see what motive a breeder would have to lie about parentage, either. But since none of us were there, we don't know what happened to Charlie, so it really doesn't matter. I have seen dogs underweight from nothing but STRESS but I also hope his breeder gets him vet checked to rule out medical reasons, too. It *may* all be health related. Then again, maybe not.

MM I don't know if your interested in cockers, but if you are I could hook you up with anice cocker rescue. Hehe just let me know if you're interested. I'd really love to see beagle pics though :rofl1: haha

oh, and thanks for keepin us updated!!

 

[britishbandit]

I really don't understand how you can kick a dog, "accidentally", multiple times.

Well that's what the breeder "thinks". My friend admitted to accidentally kicking Charlie ONCE (not multiple times) when going to kick a toy for him.

 

[Brattina88]

Well that's what the breeder "thinks". My friend admitted to accidentally kicking Charlie ONCE (not multiple times) when going to kick a toy for him.

Gotchya

Poor Charlie. Even I'm confused! :rofl1:

 

[BostonBanker]

For what it is worth, I have known several young, very well cared for BC who feel like skeletons when you put your hands on them. They just seemed to carry a very low body weight compared to 'normal'.

 

[elegy]

yeah steve at nine months was bones and fur, even though he ate a crazy amount of food.

 

[RD]

Eve at 3 years was just starting to really feel solid. Now at 4 she's solid, but as a youngster she had an extremely slight build with lean, sinewy muscle. BCs are not hulking dogs.

 

[milos_mommy]

Yeah, plus it's so rare to see a dog that's not overweight, I think most people think a dog is underweight if you can see their ribs.

A girl I work with is involved in pittie foster, so she gave me the contact info for the woman who runs the rescue. I'm going to email her today...

 

[Laurelin]

I wouldn't be surprised about a young dog of many breeds being very very thin to where you can feel or see ribs, hips, even spine. Nard is almost 3 and still has about 0% body fat on him. He's ALWAYS been this way, just very very hard to keep weight on. HE eats though and is well cared for but the breed in general is known for keeping fairly thin, especially as youngsters. BCs and some other herders (Trey was that way) tend to carry very little fat and can easily be mistaken for underweight when they're really not.