It's a TRAP!!! Don't fall for that face!!!
This dog...
He's far too smart, mischievous, rambunctious, loveable, and cuddly for anyone's own good. Especially his.
We cannot have nice things. We cannot leave for too long. (I mean, he IS only 3).
We ABSOLUTELY cannot have visitors... he becomes a sneaky, biting attack dog. He acts like he's jumping up for a pet, but instead, he's biting. Hard. We've been working on this issue for a full year, since he reached puberty. We noticed it happening around when he'd been with us 6 months.
Let me clarify: we are family/ home #6 or 7. He's been with us almost a year and a half. He's THREE. Do the math. As cute as he is, he is definitely a lot to handle. He's not old enough to be the fluffy potato with the saggy skin lying on the couch. His previous homes definitely were not ok with this level of k9 challenge. Gibby is not the first or last to experience this, so it is in no way reflective, or intended to be, on his former homes. He had good and bad before us. Now he's home forever. He's getting it, slowly.
He's insecure and scared someone coming to the house is going to take him away. He does settle down and has been learning to self sooth. When he's completely out of his mind, he takes a loud, whiney timeout in his crate.
During his brief timeout, while he's crying like an actual 3 year old, Sparky, our mini macaw, takes the opportunity to mimic and taunt him. Payback. Gibby jumps on Sparky's cage, trying to bite him. We've resorted to piling and stacking things around the outside of the cage to keep Gibby off of it. It works, but looks terrible.
Why go to all the trouble for a dog, you may be wondering. Let me tell you, as trying and tiring as he can be, he's the sweetest, gentlest (with us and our 18 year old pug, Harley), most eager to please, typical adolescent English Bulldog.
He wiggles like nobody's business when he's excited. He zooms under blankets, as if diving into a shallow swimming pool. (He uses the same motion when shoving things off the couch or bed).
He has his routines and funny behaviors that makes us laugh all the time. He's such a complete little clown, dark side included.
So, if you are worried about defending yourself and being diligently observant with a nervous, reactive, 70lb (mmm, maybe 75- he's gotten a bit too fat) sausage pork chop meatball, I'd suggest meeting us somewhere other than our home right now. We adore him 99% of the time.
At bedtime, he reminds me of what a real life teddy bear might be like. Squishy and HOT!! LOL
BUT SERIOUSLY FOLKS, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, DO NOT FALL FOR THAT CUTE FACE OR HIS CHUNKY LITTLE DOG BUTT THAT LOOKS LIKE A FACE.