Most of my dogs – Rose, Lenore, Izzy, Red, even Frieda – were consistent dogs, they were more or less the same all the time. Even when they were working the sheep, my border collies were always responsive and predictable.
Bud is another story, a new experience. There are at least two Buds, maybe more. Outside, he is a Helldog, tearing off after anything that moves, and many things that don’t.
He is responsive, but in his own time, and not in the fever of a chase. He is Jekyll out there. There are places I wouldn’t take him – like a walk in the woods off leash, I just wouldn’t trust him if he saw a turkey or a bird or a chipmunk, or God forbid, a bear. He has no idea that he is small, as the sheep are learning.
Inside the house, he transforms, from Jekyll to Hyde. His ears are down, his eyes go soft, he pays close attention to me and to Maria, he plays with Fate, he hops up into my lap for scratching, he cuddles alongside Maria when she is reading. He can’t really get close enough.
In the afternoon, I have what I call a Peaceful Hour, although it is usually a peaceful half-hour, I can’t stay still for too long. I meditate, think about my life, sometimes fall asleep, as I did today. It’s been a tiring week, a lot of driving, planning, fund-raising, a lot of writing, a lot of emotion.
I dozed off at one point, and when I opened my eyes, there was a soft, squishy, still dog lying with his head on my shoulder, resting alongside of me. He is still, I can feel his breath on my chin, I think I can hear or feel his heartbeat against my chest.
He could not be sweeter or more loving. I am fond of both Buds, although outside he is a handful. I keep telling Maria he is part Pit Bull. He might be.
I gather Pit Bulls are that way also, fierce and hard to control outside, sweet and loyal inside.
Bud is my first Jekyll and Hyde dog, he is teaching me a lot. And I have to say, I love sharing the Peaceful Hour with him. There is something healing and comforting about seeing that face.
Bud is all terrier. That is just the way they are.
Your Bud isn’t part anything but a complete & thorough Boston Terrier. They have the soul of a warrior and the heart of a hummingbird. All dogs are wonderful, but a Boston Terrier is like no other. I discovered that at the age of 10 when my family got our first. Jiggsy was so much immediately a part of me that I couldn’t stand to be away from him all day. I walked home from my elementary school everyday at lunch to see him. He lived to be 19 and the day he left us, all those years ago, is still too much for me… I pray your wonderful Bud is at least as long-lived. He sounds like quite a guy.
Every terrier I’ve ever owned has had this same Jekyll and Hyde personality. Hellions outdoors and sweethearts indoors, except when they are emptying out the wastebaskets or tearing up the furniture.
Please, PitBulls ( and all bully breeds for that matter) get enough of a bad rap. No, they are actually very consistent indoors and out if they are trained properly, just like all dogs. I own working line Dobermans with high prey drive, however, if I call them off something (small critters to large) they know to come, NOW, not if or when they feel like it. The recall is the only command that can mean life or death so they there are no if/when I feel like it Mom. I live in a rural area with bear, rattlesnakes and many other potential harms including cars. I realize Bud is a rescue with no previous training and may have lost his inhibitions for a few things (especially house training issues) not the same as training one from a pup. He most likely will never be reliable off lead. Keep using the meat tenderizer if it works for him, doesn’t for all dogs
I agree, Marianna, pit bulls need no defense from me. The problem, which you don’t mention, is not the dogs, but the way in which some people misuse them. Hundreds of children in NYC face reconstructive surgery every year from dog bites many from pit bulls. It is not that the dogs are bad, it’s that some of the people who get them are bad or ignorant. The truth is the truth and when a bad person gets ahold of powerful dogs, bit it a pit bull or shepherd or rottwieiler or chow, awful things can happen. Dog bite stats on children especially are horrific, and rising every year. I understand the issues involving Bud and training and have written about them many times, and I am aware training a two-year-old rescue is not the same as raising a pup. I’ve mentioned that many times as well. My wish would be to stop denying that there are problems with some breeds that are neither trained nor regulated, hiding from them is dangerous and irresponsible. I never blame the dog.