[PaulaEdwina]

JMO but taking away food after it's been put down and trying alpha rolls and poking is just overstimulating a stubborn dog. IMO you're just feeding the fire. Not knowing your dog from Adam I would say in this situation I would use the next feeding opportunity to teach instead of 'teasing' him and feeding his frustration. In the next feeding I would hand feed without the bowl all together and when he gets rough close my hand and the second he shows some subsidence open my hand again. All without emotion or energy.

JMO of course.
Paula

 

[PaulaEdwina]

That's the way the second feeding goes, when I hand feed him. He's a bit too small to use my legs to move him, I just my hands and forearm.



I was worried about over stimulating him a bit... but figured I can't let him think he won.....

Considering the personality he seems to have I would be very concerned about overstimulating him - he doesn't seem to be the type who will back down. There are other ways of winning than alpha rolls and the like - being the source of all good things is a very good way of winning.

So I would say pause. Take a cleansing breath and try this without the emotion right? The idea of taking food away after it's been given because the dog is being food agressive or pushy often results in him being more food agressive and pushy.

Just a thought.
Paula

 

[PaulaEdwina]

I know he is a BULLdog.. and being such, I expect him to be stubborn. I know that eventually I can win him over... but my real concern is for the rest of the family. I don't want him to perceive that he and I are the alphas, and the rest of the family are subordinants. Does that make sense? If I am having trouble getting him to relent, with me being his primary caregiver, then what chance does my toddler have? Or my clueless teenager?

I understand your concern, but make the experiment valid. You know this breed is stubborn - stubborn doesn't come suddenly later. I'd say to give him a fair evaluation try this again without all the energy. I sense you're concerned about temperament - that's a reasonable concern, but don't borrow trouble. My youngish (6yrs) male Yoshi is pushy and stubborn but very much understands his position in the house. For instance, if he's somewhere I need to be he moves like someone set him on fire when I ask him to move. I can push him around by invading his space.

BTW what will the breeder do with the returned pup?

Paula

 

[PaulaEdwina]

She said she would work with him, evaluate him, and find an appropriate home for him. Without kids, single dog... whatever the case may be.

Thanks, I never knew how that worked.

Paula