Gordon: Disabled 7 Month Puppy

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😥 Gordon is a seven month old Bulldog, paralyzed when he was pulled by his hind legs by the backyard breeder. Dumped because he’s paralyzed and considered severely aggressive.

His rescue was told that to downtrain this Bulldog to be petted, held AND picked up in one session is impossible. It’s agreed it’s beyond the skill set of the ‘best of the best’ master dog trainers. Animal behaviorists have also told them a dog like Gordon is impossible to even hope to hold and pet him even over a dozen sessions. They unanimously recommended killing the puppy.

That being said, the first goal…can this 7 month old Bulldog at least be able to be petted without turning on his foster parents, much less everyone, in this one session?

The dog’s rescue org has saved 1700 dogs with only 3 that they’ve had to euthanize. His rescue bought Gordon a wheelchair but if he can’t be picked up without turning on them, his rescue has no choice but to euthanize. His foster parents are quite experienced with disabled dogs and have had Gordon for over one month. His foster mom states the dog does not respond to treats. Medication is not effective.

The dog was abandoned by the BYB to a no-kill shelter in Mexico. He was dumped. He remained there for over 6 months living on the shelter floor.
Furever Freed Dog Rescue (Vancouver, Canada) stepped up to see what they could do. They flew him up over one month ago. Xrays and are currently awaiting the specialist’s report. If there is no surgery possible, they have a wheelchair for Gordon.

I evaluated his reactivity as relational. The neurological issue is primarily to his lower end and appears physical. His tongue behavior is consequential to neurological impact.

The task is to acclimate the dog to being petted, picked up and hopefully, being held by his foster parents. This will allow Gordon to be placed in a wheelchair. But the dog’s reactivity prevents this. Gordon attacks everyone that tries to pet or hold him, including his foster. His foster mom is highly experienced with disabled dogs but tearfully said this dog has been impossible. She feels he will end up being euthanized. She hasn’t been able to touch him for longer than one minute without being attacked. She’s never been able to hold him.

Addressing the dog’s psychological issues relational to his paralysis requires recognizing the dog’s cognitive processing. Identifying extremely quick behavioral patterns and eliminating rhetorical movements from redundant movements from deliberate movements. Watching the dog’s eyes and gauging consequential behavior. His behavior is consequential of his physical limitations.

The key point of this single 2-hour session is to determine if this dog which I consider V-4 and thus is average-rated reactivity, can he be downtrained to the point of being able to be handled…petted, picked up and hopefully held. If I can’t get him to tolerate being petted, they have no choice but to euthanize.

I’ve scaled Gordon at V-4:
https://arfarfbarkbark.com/vid-training-sessions/vid-dysfunction-scale/

If the dog can be calmed down and establish trust with his foster parents, and hopefully with strangers, this means the dog can be fitted for a wheelchair. This will give the Bulldog greater independence and improve his self-esteem and self-worth.

He’s literally never been held by the fosters, rescue or anyone at all.

2-hour session recorded on June 26, 2019 with 4 people present.




James Tsai, founder of Arf Arf Bark Bark Rescue Foundation, downtrains extremely dangerous dogs. Dogs exceeding 150 lbs that have attacked upwards of 16 people. Senior giant dogs that have lived an entire life on a chain and viciously attacked their foster’s adult family members and visitors.

He has never turned down a dog. James has a 100% success rate. Without the use of treats, medication, painful/restrictive collars, no alpha. James reads dogs at 2/10th of a second. This video is proof.

In memory of Nero Tsai ❤️
https://arfarfbarkbark.com/nerogreatdane/

Arf Arf Bark Bark Rescue Foundation
registered nonprofit

Collar & leash is all anyone needs.

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