I
have created this site because adopting two bulldogs at
the same time has been a lot of work, but just might
be the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life.
When Maddy and Mugsy first came home, they were not without
problems. They had been through a lot before they came to
us. Bad experiences had left their mark and would take time to
heal. I am a patient person, but even more so, I am stubborn as a
bulldog. I was determined to turn these lives around.
Maddy
was VERY hyper-active and nervous, and marked the area rugs a lot when
she first got here as the scent of our previous female dog, Edi
was everywhere. We were warned that Maddy does not like other
female dogs so I understood the marking problem which resolved only
after I removed those carpets. She also lunges at other female
dogs, no matter what the breed. This is something that we are working
to train her out of as she is also on occasion, aggressive to her
buddy-boy Mugsy. We have learned that this is a female trait
for dominance that can be controlled with patience and training.
Mugsy
was the exact opposite of Maddy-- VERY laid-back, and somewhat
comfortable in the new surroundings. This poor guy had physical issues
that were heartbreaking. He had dry-eye (very common in bulldogs
and easy to deal with) that had been ignored for years, and his inner
ears were inflamed and sensitive to the touch. Most noticeable of all,
(apparent in our early photos on this site) was his lack of fur on his
upper chest and large bare spots across his shoulders and down his
back.
IT
took about 2 months for M&M to really settle in.
That is two months of dedicated attention on my part.
"Steps forward and backward" along the way, but the outcome
just makes me want to tell the world of my success. Maddy is
completely at home, though "aggression-training" will
continue. She no longer marks in the house and is very appreciative
and loving to her new family. Mugsy is a complete clown!.. He
gets into the kind of mischief that leads us to often laugh when we
should say "no!" His ears are clearing up (will need
time for the inflammation to completely correct) and are no longer
sensitive to the touch. And his fur!... Wow!... it has
completely filled in; its SO thick and soft, and BEAUTIFUL. As
time goes by the color is deepening to an almost reddish hue.
His personality has changed as well. He is now extremely
affectionate wanting to cuddle up like a 70 lb kitten. They are
BOTH like that actually, always looking to please and be by our
side. I love these bullies!
If
you are considering adoption,
please prepare yourself and set expectations in advance, but DO
IT!...
It is an amazing feeling to know that you have saved the lives of
these amazing dogs. They will love you all that much more in
return!
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