Post by Rich on Oct 10, 2008 9:27:42 GMT -5
DISCLAIMER: This will probably be a long, rambling post. Sorry! 
So I never had a dog before. Never wanted one either. I was always a cat person. Still am, actually. I love cats. However my sister-in-law is deathly allergic to them and even though I always thought that was a great reason TO get a cat, My wife disagreed.
So anyway about 3 years ago I decided a dog would be a cool thing to get. Not knowing anything about them, and being who I am, I researched that crap out of it before making a decision. And even then we waited a almost year to make sure that I still wanted it.
At first I wanted a Jack Russell. Research showed me that would be a HUGE mistake.
Then I looked into a dachshund. Again, huge mistake.
Finally research showed that a French Bulldog would be ideal for me. But after talking to my wife's aunt, who is a vet, we decided they are too prone to health problems.
So my research, along with some friends who have bulldogs, convinced me that an English Bulldog was the dog for me. We almost got one - went to see him and everything and he was very cool, but he seemed to be sick so I didn't leave a deposit. When I called my wife's aunt she said based on what I described that he had a bout a year to live. Dodged that bullet. Then she said that English Bulldogs can be pretty problematic health-wise as well.
That's when I decided on the Olde English Bulldogge. A rare breed that is supposedly a lot like the English, but without the health issues. I couldn't find anything bad about them anywhere, and everyone I spoke to that had one said they were great. I found a reputable breeder, and made the purchase. Enter Matryx (Tryxi).
It's been almost a year now. Not everything has been as I hoped it would be, but all-in-all I am very happy.
1. Health problems. She is not perfect in this category. She had a bout with mange when she was still a little puppy, and me, not knowing what it was or how serious (or not) it could be, spent about $300 at the vet only to find in the end that it resolved itself. She also has a habit of chewing her paw sometimes, to the point that it swells up and bleeds. $250 and we still don't know what the problem is - maybe she has an allergy? Maybe it's mange? Maybe she's just nervous? In any case we got her a cone and some cortisone cream and that's working, though it's not addressing the root cause.
2. Housebreaking. 3 words. USE THE CRATE. It works. Anyone who thinks it doesn't isn't doing it right. As soon as I started using it the way the breeder told me to Tryxi was housebroken in under a week.
3. Behaviour. OK. WTF. Bulldogs are supposed to be calm and lazy. Tryxi is the opposite of calm and lazy. She has the energy of a greyhound, I swear. Plus I had NO IDEA that dogs don't just become well-behaved automatically (though rumour has it some dogs do - well mine didn't). Having no idea what's involved in training a dog I spent a lot of frustrating time going nowhere with her, watching her maul guests, people on the street, other dogs ... etc. Then I started watching The Dog Whisperer (I watch it every day, no sh*t), and that guy is a GENIUS. I started using his techniques, and paying attention to the little details, and it really is like magic. I now have her to the point where she
- walks calmly beside me
- listens when I tell her not do do something or to put something down she picked up
- stops and sits when I stop walking
HOWEVER ... when she sees another dog when we're walking all bets are off. She goes ballistic. Not aggressive - just REALLY eager to meet the other dog. This throws a lot of owners for a loop because they don't know what kind of dog she is and often think she's a pit bull. That's most likely because they've never seen a pit bull. She is also still jumping on guests and mouthing them, which is definitely not cool. I have to really discipline her when guests come to the door to keep her off them.
4. Companionship. She is perfect. I never could have dreamed just how much my family and I would come to love her. The kids can't wait to see her when they come home from school. Neither can I. Almost every game the kids play includes her now, and she plays willingly. The kids have covered her in blankets and pillows numerous times, and she just lets it happen. When my wife is home alone (she works from home often) Tryxi won't leave her side. She just chills there in my wife's office. When I am home alone (like right now) Tryxi just finds a spot near my feet and lies there (occasionally she farts, but that's cool - so do I). I LOVE walking her. I take her sometimes for an hour or more, and walking with her, listening to music is SUCH a nice time. Very relaxing. The catch is that she really does need to walk EVERY day. Doesn't matter if I'm tired. That part sucks a bit. But the walk does more than exercise her. It reinforces the fact that I am the pack leader. It's necessary to keep her behaviour in check.
The moral of the story is that just like kids, dogs require a lot of work. But the rewards are well worth it. I still love cats, but it's a totally different kind of relationship.
So I never had a dog before. Never wanted one either. I was always a cat person. Still am, actually. I love cats. However my sister-in-law is deathly allergic to them and even though I always thought that was a great reason TO get a cat, My wife disagreed.
So anyway about 3 years ago I decided a dog would be a cool thing to get. Not knowing anything about them, and being who I am, I researched that crap out of it before making a decision. And even then we waited a almost year to make sure that I still wanted it.
At first I wanted a Jack Russell. Research showed me that would be a HUGE mistake.
Then I looked into a dachshund. Again, huge mistake.
Finally research showed that a French Bulldog would be ideal for me. But after talking to my wife's aunt, who is a vet, we decided they are too prone to health problems.
So my research, along with some friends who have bulldogs, convinced me that an English Bulldog was the dog for me. We almost got one - went to see him and everything and he was very cool, but he seemed to be sick so I didn't leave a deposit. When I called my wife's aunt she said based on what I described that he had a bout a year to live. Dodged that bullet. Then she said that English Bulldogs can be pretty problematic health-wise as well.
That's when I decided on the Olde English Bulldogge. A rare breed that is supposedly a lot like the English, but without the health issues. I couldn't find anything bad about them anywhere, and everyone I spoke to that had one said they were great. I found a reputable breeder, and made the purchase. Enter Matryx (Tryxi).
It's been almost a year now. Not everything has been as I hoped it would be, but all-in-all I am very happy.
1. Health problems. She is not perfect in this category. She had a bout with mange when she was still a little puppy, and me, not knowing what it was or how serious (or not) it could be, spent about $300 at the vet only to find in the end that it resolved itself. She also has a habit of chewing her paw sometimes, to the point that it swells up and bleeds. $250 and we still don't know what the problem is - maybe she has an allergy? Maybe it's mange? Maybe she's just nervous? In any case we got her a cone and some cortisone cream and that's working, though it's not addressing the root cause.
2. Housebreaking. 3 words. USE THE CRATE. It works. Anyone who thinks it doesn't isn't doing it right. As soon as I started using it the way the breeder told me to Tryxi was housebroken in under a week.
3. Behaviour. OK. WTF. Bulldogs are supposed to be calm and lazy. Tryxi is the opposite of calm and lazy. She has the energy of a greyhound, I swear. Plus I had NO IDEA that dogs don't just become well-behaved automatically (though rumour has it some dogs do - well mine didn't). Having no idea what's involved in training a dog I spent a lot of frustrating time going nowhere with her, watching her maul guests, people on the street, other dogs ... etc. Then I started watching The Dog Whisperer (I watch it every day, no sh*t), and that guy is a GENIUS. I started using his techniques, and paying attention to the little details, and it really is like magic. I now have her to the point where she
- walks calmly beside me
- listens when I tell her not do do something or to put something down she picked up
- stops and sits when I stop walking
HOWEVER ... when she sees another dog when we're walking all bets are off. She goes ballistic. Not aggressive - just REALLY eager to meet the other dog. This throws a lot of owners for a loop because they don't know what kind of dog she is and often think she's a pit bull. That's most likely because they've never seen a pit bull. She is also still jumping on guests and mouthing them, which is definitely not cool. I have to really discipline her when guests come to the door to keep her off them.
4. Companionship. She is perfect. I never could have dreamed just how much my family and I would come to love her. The kids can't wait to see her when they come home from school. Neither can I. Almost every game the kids play includes her now, and she plays willingly. The kids have covered her in blankets and pillows numerous times, and she just lets it happen. When my wife is home alone (she works from home often) Tryxi won't leave her side. She just chills there in my wife's office. When I am home alone (like right now) Tryxi just finds a spot near my feet and lies there (occasionally she farts, but that's cool - so do I). I LOVE walking her. I take her sometimes for an hour or more, and walking with her, listening to music is SUCH a nice time. Very relaxing. The catch is that she really does need to walk EVERY day. Doesn't matter if I'm tired. That part sucks a bit. But the walk does more than exercise her. It reinforces the fact that I am the pack leader. It's necessary to keep her behaviour in check.
The moral of the story is that just like kids, dogs require a lot of work. But the rewards are well worth it. I still love cats, but it's a totally different kind of relationship.
