Hello - new mum here!

[JessandJackson]

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hi everyone! I have just joined and only had my pup (Jackson) since last weekend - we got him from Battersea and he is eight months old.. battersea certificate says he is an English bull terrier but I don’t believe that I think there is a cross in there perhaps a Lurcher? Hoping this wonderful community can have a stab in the dark but alternatively we may just get a DNA test ..

However. I have adopted an absolute angel. Really happy with how our fateful paths met

 

[merlina]

Hello! And yes maybe bully/lurcher - which make lovely dogs- I've known a few. It's heartening to hear a successful rescue story...long may you both prosper and have a wonderful life together!

 

[JudyN]

Welcome - I think you might be right about the mix! Could you give a side view of Jackson standing up, so both head and body in profile? How tall is he?

 

[JessandJackson]

Here you go I tried mid food lol. He’s just coming up to knee height at the tallest point on his back.

 

[JudyN]

He's quite dinky, isn't he? There could well be some whippet in there which means he's officially a lurcher He's officially a gorgeous little poppet too

 

[Whippylove]

Welcome
What a beautiful boy he is!

 

[Josie]

Welcome! He’s gorgeous

 

[JessandJackson]

Thanks everyone!! Please to meet you all.

Does anyone have any tips of weening him off being with me. I am off work till January as I do not start a new job till then. I have left him once already for two hours and he chewed up the loo roll... but nonetheless he was curled up on the sofa. I’m just worried he’ll bark as we are in a maisonette. Thoughts?

 

[Kara 1]

How long are you leaving him for next year when you start work ..

 

[JessandJackson]

We are paying a dog walker - I will go to work at 7:15 back by 3:15 and my fella goes to work at 9 - back a lot later in the eve. Was planning on getting our dog walking friend in at 11 am to do a check up wee poo snacks strokes then an hour walk at 1:30....

 

[Kara 1]

All sounds good ..i would make sure he has a good walk in the morning before you both go to work so he is tired ...leave him with a stuffed kong ...my bull lurcher still chews now if he gets bored and he is 8 yrs old and has the company of 4 other dogs ....bull lurchers are very sensitive. ...
I would start getting him used to a routine of you leaving him each day building up longer each time just so that its not such a big shock when he is left when you go back to work ...
He is gorgeous

 

[JessandJackson]

Thanks for the supportive words.

Yes I grew up with staffys so can understand the temperament; they are similar.

Loves a stuffed kong and I wash out plastic bottles and put treats In there. Keeps him occupied for ages...

Yes will do
Monday 1 hour
Tuesday 2 hour
And so forth

Do you recommend bringing him to friends yet and for a sleepover or wait a good month till he’s got his routine; would you also trust him with a Xmas tree lol he doesn’t bite anything else in the house. Yet. Doesn’t go for washing. Tea towels. Etc

Great to hear you have the same breed as me... could you tell me a bit more and what you’ve learnt

 

[Kara 1]

If you feel he could cope with a sleepover then i would .....
I love EBTs i have a jack russell X mini ebt Tom and murphy a bull lurcher. ..murphy had a square muzzle and very bull terrier looking up until he was 8 mths and then his nose got longer and pointy and he has ended up looking more like a small greyhound. ..he has an amazing temperament and after owning different lurcher crosses for 40 yrs and fostering them for 23yrs i would say the bull lurchers are my favourite. ..loyal affectionate but not clingy ...

 

[Kara 1]

I expect you already are but lots of dog socialising with him ....
Murphy loves the company of others and tom loves him ....
Do you think you will get him a dog friend later on

 

[JessandJackson]

Oh they are beautiful!

We think he’s got a stronger bully gene as at the front when he stands he’s very muscular and stands inward like the EBT.
Already he’s coming across protective yet placid.

What do you feed yours? We are currently
Scrambled eggs and biscuits for breakfast
A tiny packet of wainwright’s for lunch
Snacks in between
Dinner half a sachet of wainwright’s
Trying to ween him off lunches

How did you train yours out and about? Ie we live near bushy park - lots of smells dogs woods and deer... we kept him on a long lead today as at the beginning he just wouldn’t leave a golden R puppy alone; my voice was background noise. He doesn’t run off he is just highly distracted. Like there were kids at the park and he was obsessed with their football it was a nightmare and so I had to leash him up and didn’t want to as he needs to stretch and sprint.

We have a baby gate between the kitchen and living room and when I prepare food we shut him off and he just taps away but when I let him in he is good he doesn’t jump just sits by me. Do you recommend not closing him off. It’s almost as if when he can’t see me I.e I went into the bedroom shut the door behind me, he doesn’t bark (she says)...

He’s very good though at night he understood after four days being here that bed was his bed and he doesn’t even stir throughout.

Do you find they love napping also?

Sorry for so many questions and outbursts lol keen new mum obviously.

 

[JessandJackson]

I expect you already are but lots of dog socialising with him ....
Murphy loves the company of others and tom loves him ....
Do you think you will get him a dog friend later on

Once we have a baby and our own house then definitely as I’ll probably take up working from home. Looking forward to getting older how sad is that.

 

[Ari_RR]

I’m just worried he’ll bark as we are in a maisonette.

I assume "maisonette" means "neighbors".... In this case, while getting him accustomed to being alone, I would also make rounds, see those neighbors, perhaps bring them cookies or some such thing, tell them we have a puppy and will very much appreciate their help. This may soften their reaction to possible barking, and - who knows - you may even discover someone who would be willing to stop by and check on him while you are at work.

As for leaving the puppy alone. Our thought process was - what would we like him to do while we are out? Only one answer - sleep! So, long interesting walk, with lots of sniffing, maybe a training session after, then step out for a short time... repeat slowly increasing time...

 

[Kara 1]

Mine are raw fed ...at 8 mths old i would be weaning him down to 2 meals before you go back to work ...
As for training i am lucky that i have otjer dogs and murphy has learnt from them and we have woods and fields around ...
You can start recall indoors and in the garden lots of praise and high value treats ...he will get there ...EBTs are very intelligent. ..and stubborn
I always leave the radio on for my lot when i go to work

 

[JessandJackson]

I assume "maisonette" means "neighbors".... In this case, while getting him accustomed to being alone, I would also make rounds, see those neighbors, perhaps bring them cookies or some such thing, tell them we have a puppy and will very much appreciate their help. This may soften their reaction to possible barking, and - who knows - you may even discover someone who would be willing to stop by and check on him while you are at work.

As for leaving the puppy alone. Our thought process was - what would we like him to do while we are out? Only one answer - sleep! So, long interesting walk, with lots of sniffing, maybe a training session after, then step out for a short time... repeat slowly increasing time...

Yes-one chap above but he does shifts so I couldn’t tell what those hours are let alone when he’s in. Then the girls next door. They adore him. They came over and knocked to meet him so yeah I would like to think one of them would check in as she works from home.

Yes when I came back the first day I left him alone there was mess but I peaked through the window and he was snoring away. Suppose there’s only so much whining and chewing a pup can do before one gets cream crackered especially even after a walk.

 

[Caro Perry]

Thanks for the supportive words.

would you also trust him with a Xmas tree lol he doesn’t bite anything else in the house. Yet. Doesn’t go for washing. Tea towels. Etc

He's gorgeous - Harri was 6 months old at Christmas last year and no we didn't trust him. The tree was inside a doggy play pen!