Smthomas416
Member
Hey guys!
I work at a dog daycare/boarding facility in New Orleans, and we foster dogs for a few different local rescue groups. Although it's certainly better than being in a shelter, the boarding environment is still really stressful, and can bring out the worst in even the best dogs.
One of the dogs we're fostering is a 2-3 year old Mastiff named Golda. She's with the New Orleans Bulldog Rescue, and she's really small, only about 80-90 lbs. I'm not sure exactly what kind of mastiff she is-- I'm thinking either an EM or a BM (or maybe even some kind of mastiff-mix?) I also don't know much about her history, but she probably came from some kind of shoddy breeding operation, as it looks like she's had puppies before. She has an underbite, and her tongue hangs out a lot of the time-- both of which, in my eyes, are totally endearing qualities. She's extremely goofy and good-natured with every person she's come into contact with. She is reactive to the other dogs in boarding, but these dogs are also really stressed out, and a lot of them are not exactly dog-friendly.
Since I rescued my own Boerboel from the LASPCA about a year and a half ago, I've taken a really special interest in Golda. I take her out for walks almost every day on my lunch break or before/after my shifts. I've been working on her leash manners, and she's doing really great (I've only been walking her for the last week and a half or so). The New Orleans Bulldog Rescue got her an illusion collar (a Cesar Millan product, if you're not familiar), which works similarly to a slip-lead, but the design of the collar ensures that it stays behind the ears at the top of the neck. After the first few minutes of walking (when I think she's just so excited to actually be out in the fresh air), she walks right beside me on a relaxed leash like a polite little lady. We've walked past other dogs, and I haven't had any issues with reactivity since she's more focused on walking and being with me and not as concerned about everything else in the environment. I think she would do just as well with a regular slip lead, or a prong collar, or something like that. Regardless, someone who is knowledgable and has experience with mastiffs or other very large, powerful breeds should have no problem handling her and keeping her in check. She's really smart, makes lots of eye contact, and is really obedient once she realizes what you're asking of her. In other words, she's very willing to take direction if you're willing to give it.
I bring Samson (my two y/o male BB) with me to work when it's not too busy, and she's met him through a chain-link fence. She did bark at him, but you could tell that it wasn't an aggressive bark, and there wasn't any lunging. I think she's gotten so used to all the other dogs who try to fence fight with her that it's now more of a defensive reaction. Samson didn't react or bark back at her, and you could just tell in the tone of her bark that she was more curious about him. There was a definite difference in the way she reacted to Samson and in the way she reacts to other dogs who are actually being aggressive or trying to pick a fight. Her petfinder profile says that she would probably be best in a home without other dogs, but I really believe that as long as the introduction is done slowly and properly, and (once again) she goes to an experienced and knowledgable owner who is a believable source of leadership, then she could live peacefully with another dog.
I would foster or adopt her myself if I could, but I'm 22 and fresh out of college, so I'm really not in the position. I know she would make an amazing companion, and I can only imagine how much she'll blossom once she's in a stable environment. Also, I'm sure that if the right person came along, distance wouldn't be much of an issue. Hell, I'll transport her myself for the right owner! She's just so silly and awesome!! It's impossible not to fall in love with her. Even if nobody on here can foster or adopt, just spreading the word about Golda would be a tremendous help!!!!!
Here is her petfinder page: Meet Golda, a Petfinder adoptable Mastiff Dog | New Orleans, LA
And the email address for the New Orleans Bulldog Rescue is NewOrleansBulldogs@gmail.com
I work at a dog daycare/boarding facility in New Orleans, and we foster dogs for a few different local rescue groups. Although it's certainly better than being in a shelter, the boarding environment is still really stressful, and can bring out the worst in even the best dogs.
One of the dogs we're fostering is a 2-3 year old Mastiff named Golda. She's with the New Orleans Bulldog Rescue, and she's really small, only about 80-90 lbs. I'm not sure exactly what kind of mastiff she is-- I'm thinking either an EM or a BM (or maybe even some kind of mastiff-mix?) I also don't know much about her history, but she probably came from some kind of shoddy breeding operation, as it looks like she's had puppies before. She has an underbite, and her tongue hangs out a lot of the time-- both of which, in my eyes, are totally endearing qualities. She's extremely goofy and good-natured with every person she's come into contact with. She is reactive to the other dogs in boarding, but these dogs are also really stressed out, and a lot of them are not exactly dog-friendly.
Since I rescued my own Boerboel from the LASPCA about a year and a half ago, I've taken a really special interest in Golda. I take her out for walks almost every day on my lunch break or before/after my shifts. I've been working on her leash manners, and she's doing really great (I've only been walking her for the last week and a half or so). The New Orleans Bulldog Rescue got her an illusion collar (a Cesar Millan product, if you're not familiar), which works similarly to a slip-lead, but the design of the collar ensures that it stays behind the ears at the top of the neck. After the first few minutes of walking (when I think she's just so excited to actually be out in the fresh air), she walks right beside me on a relaxed leash like a polite little lady. We've walked past other dogs, and I haven't had any issues with reactivity since she's more focused on walking and being with me and not as concerned about everything else in the environment. I think she would do just as well with a regular slip lead, or a prong collar, or something like that. Regardless, someone who is knowledgable and has experience with mastiffs or other very large, powerful breeds should have no problem handling her and keeping her in check. She's really smart, makes lots of eye contact, and is really obedient once she realizes what you're asking of her. In other words, she's very willing to take direction if you're willing to give it.
I bring Samson (my two y/o male BB) with me to work when it's not too busy, and she's met him through a chain-link fence. She did bark at him, but you could tell that it wasn't an aggressive bark, and there wasn't any lunging. I think she's gotten so used to all the other dogs who try to fence fight with her that it's now more of a defensive reaction. Samson didn't react or bark back at her, and you could just tell in the tone of her bark that she was more curious about him. There was a definite difference in the way she reacted to Samson and in the way she reacts to other dogs who are actually being aggressive or trying to pick a fight. Her petfinder profile says that she would probably be best in a home without other dogs, but I really believe that as long as the introduction is done slowly and properly, and (once again) she goes to an experienced and knowledgable owner who is a believable source of leadership, then she could live peacefully with another dog.
I would foster or adopt her myself if I could, but I'm 22 and fresh out of college, so I'm really not in the position. I know she would make an amazing companion, and I can only imagine how much she'll blossom once she's in a stable environment. Also, I'm sure that if the right person came along, distance wouldn't be much of an issue. Hell, I'll transport her myself for the right owner! She's just so silly and awesome!! It's impossible not to fall in love with her. Even if nobody on here can foster or adopt, just spreading the word about Golda would be a tremendous help!!!!!
Here is her petfinder page: Meet Golda, a Petfinder adoptable Mastiff Dog | New Orleans, LA
And the email address for the New Orleans Bulldog Rescue is NewOrleansBulldogs@gmail.com