Hi, has anyone got any advice, i have a 7 year old bully bitch who was a RSPCA rescue dog. I got her from the local dogs home about 2 years ago, to be honest i think someone just had her to breed from and got rid when she wasnt any use to them anymore, she had not long had a litter when i had her. Well the problem is when i first had her she would walk for miles with no problems, but as time as gone on she just wont walk anymore, i drive to the local country park now as she won't even walk to the fields just behind my house she just digs her feet in and won't budge when i just get round the corner of my street. Even up the country park now she just gets out of the car has a sniff round and stands by the door, and wont budge. As you might be aware bullys are very stubborn when they want to be,If she does decide to go she will walk until another dog comes around her then thats it, about turn and off she goes, If she knows a dog she will play with it no probs but strange dogs she hasnt the time of day for. Has anyone got any solutions to this problem?
Thanks Matt

which bullbreed is your dog

she is a bull terrier (English)
thanks

Hi

It might be an idea to get your bitch checked out by a vet - reluctance to take exercise is one of the symptoms of an underactive thyroid & can be easily mistaken for part of the normal ageing process. We had a 7 year old Cocker who gradually decided she would no longer go out for walks & initially our vet said it was nothing to worry about until we insisted she was tested for thyroid problems - turns out this was her problem & since she has been given the appropriate medication, she is a different dog & will happily go on long walks (she is now 12). Other symptoms of underactive thyroid are skin trouble & a miserable facial expression (sounds silly but it's true!)
Anyway, just thought I'd mention this possibility as it's a condition that's often not spotted in the early stages!

Jane

Hiya Matt,
I have to say I agree 100% with Jane's post, my rescue Staffie was exactly the same.
Hes 4 now and we only discovered his underactive thyroid this year.
We moved to a new house in May and took him to the local vet for a check. He'd had Skin problems in the past (not always a symptom of Thyroid probs) and just seemed majorly depressed.
He too refused to walk ANYWHERE, we even carried him to the garden some morings to go a loo because we thought he was just plain lazy!
Anyways after a simple blood test by our new vet it was revealed.

Hes a completely diffrent dog now, although I think alot of that is due to Bessie our 6 month old English Bull Terrier Pup keeping him on his toes! lol

Its def worth a visit to the vets though, we thought he was just lazy aswell but turned out to be something easily treatable.

All the best with your Bully.
Let us know how u get on

Lucy X

Thanks for the replies Jane, Lucy, brainless and mari..I think i will get her checked out by the vet, someone mentioned before about a underactive thyroid ( i think it might have been the vet when i took her about skin trouble on her feet) and she has got a bit of trouble at the moment with a dry ear, so sounds like it could be the probem. I will let you know how i get on & once again thanks for the advice. Lucy where did you get your bully pup from as i shall be looking in the new year for another one. :)

Hiya Matt
Good luck at the vets, like I said before its only a routine blood sample thats taken to determin the Thyroid problem. Bodie had suffered for years with a sever skin disorder and had seen numerus vets in our area (E London at the time)
He'd had skin biopsys, mange mite washes, creams, baths, lotions all to no avail then as soon as we moved to Cambridge and took him for a check up, our new vet found the problem streight away!

As for our new addition....what can I say? LOL
Shes a major handfull. We'd all got used to Bodie's Laid back, lazy personality so it was a bit of a shock when Bessie came barging in like a steam roller and mowed down anything in her path! LOL
We managed to get her from a KC reg Bully breeder in Norfolk who were really helpfull. She and Bode have had thier problems but get on really well now.

If u need anymore info please contact me.

Take care and keep us posted on your visit to the Vets!

Lucy X

well Lucy,
been to the vets today and the diagnosis was eczma in her ear which he has prescribed a steroid based cream for, and he also thinks that it is a thyroid problem which he has prescribed tablets for so fingers crossed i should have an active dog again soon :) its like everyone said that she should be very active still at her age. Its nice to hear the little tales of the fun you are having with Bessie, dogs bring so much joy into your lives.
Anyway hope everyone has a nice Christmas and i'll keep you updated on my Lucy's progress.
Thanks Alot
Matt..
ps i'll probably have some info off you in the new year :)

Hey Matt
Glad everythings ok with your Bully.
Thyroid problems are aparently quite common in the "bull" breeds causing poor skin condition and lack of energy. Bode suffered for years with terrible skin but none of my vets checked for thyroid problems untill we moved here.
Glad u like the storys about Bessie, she always shocks me at some of things she does.
I poped down to my local pet shop today to pick up some more food and took them both with me.....Jeez, what a HUGE mistake!
she managed to walk round one of the carasel thingies in the shop that was loaded with Christmas cards, by the time I noticed where she was, the lead had got tangled and the card stand was about 5 inches from hitting the floor!
So yea, the cards spilled out every where and while Im desperatly trying to pick them up I had Bodie snorting and licking my ear and bessie jumping around, trampelling these cards trying desperatly the grab my scarf! LMAO
I dont think I've ever been so embarrassed!

Never a dull moment in my house!

Good luck with Lucy, I hope she gets on well with her treatment, let me know ok?

Have a great Christmas

Lucy X
PS: if u want anymore info on our breeder I'd be more than happy to help, u can leave a message here or E-mail me.

I would also get her heqart checked as excersise intolerance can be a symptom.

the reason i asked you was .as brainless (god i hate saying brainless) said is older bulls do develope heart, and arthritis problems ,at least if you get this checked. than you will be easy in your mind that all has happened is she has your measure and is playing you up. hope its the latter best of luck .

I am thick skinned Mari, named myself that way when I first got the computer November last year. at school my nickname was insult, as I was very quick with the sarcasm to teenage boys!!!

nothing more horriable than a teenage girl I used to be a bit like that myself.( long time ago)but i mellowed:) . really;)here we go again nothing to do with lazy dogs , wheres Norm he will get us back on track

Unless Norm had a s*x change, I think you will find ..He's a she ;-)

NO :D I did wonder about all that cleaning most men wouldent . it was those trusty steeds thing that misled me and then waxman sorry norm :o

So happy I have the smilies now leigh

Goody Goody ;-)

what makes you think that leigh ? Straight up question - wasn't meant to a leading one - I always knew these computers were Big Brother trouble ! Serioulsy I am interested to how you came to that conclusion.

I am so sorry norm .... didn't know you were a male !!
When we used to *talk* in chat ...we all thought you were a female called Debra? Please forgive me if I am wrong ? Aren't you the same *person* who used to run training classes and do rescue work ? Debra had a Daxie called norm and a GSD pup too :-)

on one of the posts norm said that she had a husband im sure but I suppose that probably doesnt mean much these days

No, No ! I was just wondering how you knew I * am * a woman ! I was thinking in terms of Big Brother and everything being available from ones own personal computer ! ( Actually, I do think that will be the case eventually - makes me wonder why the gonvernment want every household to have a computer and there was even talk of people having them for free with internet access - hmmmm - dodgy !

No, I am a girl ( well, girl ! I'm pushing 40 ! ) - but the Norm thing - well - that was my hub really - that and the fact that I do like to be careful with personal details.

>> I was thinking in terms of Big Brother and everything being available from ones own personal computer !

Nooooooo nothing like that! It is was an educated guess after certain *interesting* conversations that we had in Chat .... oh, and your name choice :D

>>makes me wonder why the gonvernment want every household to have a computer .............. hmmmm - dodgy !

The Government might have a hidden agenda, but don't forget that it is Bill Gates who *rules* the world ;-)

Leigh

I thought all Daxies were called Norman? Or was it only Joe's!....lol :P

BTW - the daxie is called Sydney !