Category Archives: Character

Annoying Bull Terrier habits: Why does my dog always follow me?

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Bull Terriers are not only family dogs. They are also very physical. That goes for them acting among each other and also for their interactions with humans.

This funny youtube video, posted by Australians Against BSL, speaks volumes:

I often hear people wondering: Why does my dog always follow me? I hear people complaining about tripping over their dogs in the kitchen because they are always right behind them. Or they take a nap on people’s feet.
But just because Bull Terriers are very physical that does not mean that we have to accept everything no matter what.

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Nipping, jumping and rough play in adult Bull Terriers

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Dog owners frequently contact me with questions. An all-time hit are undesired behaviors in dogs of all ages. I have taken one of the recent request for advice as the basis of this essay, because the problem situation seems to apply to a lot of situations owners experience in one way or the other.

Dog owners often find themselves confronted with are undesired habits of their dogs, which can show in a variety of behaviors. Bull Terriers are little bull dozers even when they are happy and just want to make fun or show affection. And when young they come with a bunch of quirks in addition, such as nipping and roughhousing, which are all too typical. But that does not mean we have to accept them as the owners.
We all know that the best time to work on those undesired behaviors is as early as possible while the dog is still young and has not settled into routines and behaviors yet, in order to avoid bad habits from developing and establishing and our dogs from taking them as “normal behavior”.

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I am afraid that my Bull Terrier will become an aggressive dog

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This time I’ve taken this desperate cry for help from Ruby to write a few more articles about the “wild puppy days” of a Bull Terrier in order to help other owners who are experiencing exactly the same problems as well.

“Hello, I am having a hard time trying to train my 4 month old bull terrier, Pluto is his name. He is full of energy and I have a few questions to figure out how to make him stop acting up. He is always ripping the carpet in my house, He starts to get crazy (happy and excited) when he sees people, or other dogs, he doesn’t stop barking even if I speak to him in a calm voice, and in the car he will continue to bark at me or try to get on my lap. I really want to get some help on how to train him because I don’t want him to get out of control when he gets old or become aggressive. Please help me.”

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Help! My English Bull Terrier keeps jumping at me and hurting me!

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Help! My English Bull Terrier keeps jumping at me and hurting me!Does your Bull Terrier keep popping up like a “Jack in the box”? Are you green and blue with “bruises of joy” from your dog?
All of those, who already owned a Bull Terrier in the past probably know about this issue.

It is a pretty natural behavior of this breed. Many English Bull Terriers are very high-energy and active dogs and need proper outlets for this energy. Poorly exercised Bull Terriers can easily develop destructive and self-destructive, obsessive behavioral disorders.

Many NEW owners are pretty much caught by surprise when their English Bull Terrier keeps jumping at them and going up a lot – often accompanied by constant nipping. Luckily this behavior can be corrected.

But let’s take a quick glance at the causes first. 

Jumping is not limited to English Bull Terriers, but it is very common among them and if not corrected can become pretty extreme and even lead to injury, loss of teeth and similar unfortunate events.

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My dog destroys all her toys

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My dog destroys all her toysIn my blog among others I try to also address problem behavior or general problems occurring when a dog, especially a Bull Terrier, newly comes into a household. Who does not know this complaint: “My dog destroys all her toys”.

This is what I want to talk about today.
I often hear of owners of Bull Terriers and other mid-sized dog breeds searching for the “indestructible” toy or complaining about how much money they spend on dog toys, because their pooch just destroys everything they offer – often within minutes.

And I confess: There was a time when I was one of them and was looking for this miracle toy, too. There are so many manufacturers out there using the term “indestructible” – which I personally find misleading with EVERY pet toy I have encountered so far. So we owners are spending hours on research to find the perfect toy, spend the extra Dollar on something that is labeled “indestructible” and make sure to choose something too big to just be swallowed by our dog – and still find it in pieces just minutes after we gave it to our Bull Terrier.

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The aggressive puppy – do I have an aggressive dog?

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The "aggressive" puppyThis essay was inspired by many stories of owners feeling overwhelmed by their puppy’s behavior or exasperated in their attempts of correcting aggressive puppy behavior in their English Bull Terrier puppies and tired of their nipping/ biting and dominance issues.

First of all, please note that young dogs DO nip, chase feet, even growl and guard – these are all absolutely normal behaviors for a puppy.
An aggressive puppy usually is not “bad” by nature. The puppy is behaving exactly the same way as before, when it was still member of the litter among its siblings.

Now in your household the puppy needs to learn which behaviors are acceptable, and which are unacceptable. Aggressive puppy behavior needs to be addressed and corrected by training through the owner.

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Have you noticed that your dog sucks on blankets or other soft objects?

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Today I have a question for you, guys:

Have you noticed that your dog sucks on blankets or other soft objects and do you know why he/ she does that?

I had planned on writing an essay about this after researching possible causes. The problem is, I could not manage to find conclusive information on the internet and not even after talking to other dog owners.

Have you noticed that your dog sucks on blankets?

Mila suckling on a pillow

Obviously a number of owners have witnessed that their dog sucks on blankets or other soft objects, such as pillows or soft toys no matter what breed.

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“Dangerous dog breeds” – myth and prejudice

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Is there really such a thing as “dangerous dog breeds”?

A recent discussion in this Bull Terrier forum I really like has reminded me of my own bad experience with prejudice and inspired me to write this article that has already been in my head for a log time.

"Dangerous dog breeds” - myth or prejudice?

Dr. Bully or Mrs. Hyde?

I come from Germany, where I also had unsettling experiences with people’s reaction to my English Bull Terrier. But I know that other countries, among them U.K., U.S. as well as many other countries, have also restricted and some countries have even decided to completely ban certain breeds.
Source: petolog.com
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How to work out a Bull Terrier

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If you have been asking yourself: Do Bull Terriers need a lot of exercise? In a word: YES! They definitely do!

How to work out a Bull Terrier

Bull Terriers are jokers who need exercise and mind challenges

Bull Terriers are jokers, embracing life to the fullest. They are like raw diamonds. If you use the wrong polishing tactics you will only get a pile of carbon. If you use the right tactics and commit to LIVING WITH your Bully, instead of just owning A DOG, you will get the most precious and loving pet you can imagine as the reward for your efforts.

Here you find some information on how to work out a Bull Terrier and what else to consider when you acquire a Bull Terrier as your new family member.
The Bull Terrier needs consistency, a lot of attention, education & guidance and he needs exercise as an outlet for his huge amount of energy. You will notice pretty soon that your new companion seeks a lot of interaction. Bull Terriers are not just pets. They really are family members and they act like it.
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Bull Terrier Character

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Bull Terrier Character – Kids in a dog suit

Bull Terrier Character - Mila jumping after a ball in our yard

That’s the Bull Terrier Character – Mila eagerly jumping after a ball in our yard

Bull Terriers are often referred to as “kids in a dog suit”. If you have lived with one of them for a while you will probably approve this saying.
These Dogs have a sweet and fun-loving disposition. They are energetic, agile and playful.
English Bull Terriers are intelligent and eager to learn. Some say they are “thinkers” and have to figure out things their own way.
This is why they are often considered harder to train than other dog breeds.
Also this facet of the Bull Terrier character may be the cause of their reputation as stubborn individuals.
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