Bull Terrier

[old yeller]

hi guys,

can anyone tell me what bull terriers are like ?

i have always liked the look of them, but have heard people say they love to fight other dogs ?

are they as trainable as other breeds ? are they pigheaded ?

i have a staffy rescue dog , he is around 10 or more ? he is a great dog a pure english , i take him out to my local showground most days were i let him off the leash, but he always comes back when i call or whistle ,

are bullys able to be trained to do the same ?

and i have been thinking of getting him a mate ? i was going to get a foxie , but i am also interested in getting a bully girl ?

so any help would be great ?

regards jason

ps

sorry if i have posted in the wrong spot, please move if in wrong section ?

[conztruct]

Hi Jason,

There is a topic in the Dogs 101 thread which will probably give you a fair bit of information about the breed.

In terms of my experiences with them as an owner, they are generally very people friendly, can be trained and are easy to care for. However, you do need to be careful to ensure they are well socialised and a training program commences early. Bull Terriers aren't any more aggressive than other dogs - it has a lot to do with the environment in which they are raised however, you do need to understand that bull terriers are powerful dogs and can inflict more damage than other breeds can if involved in a scrap.

Bull Terriers i've found are generally quite stubborn but will pretty much do whatever you want providing they get the reward they want - positive training works very well with them.

I would suggest that you do some research online, etc about the breed and you may also like to speak to a breeder who can provide you with some more information (the websites of breeders on here are quite helpful).

Hope your search goes well.

Cheers.

[Zhou Xuanyao]

I LOVE BULLTERRIERS

They are trainable and biddable, especially males.

In my opinion, not to the same extreme as Staffies though. I think Bull Terriers are more independent and ask a little more of their handlers, but nonetheless are certainly highly intelligent, get a rapport happening and you can teach a BT anything, ofcourse that includes perfect recall.

Yes male and male, who knows. Maybe they will be ok, maybe not. A bitch ofcourse solves any potential problem there, but my personal view is that bitches of all breeds tend to be that little bit harder to train, and a little bit more independent so keep that in mind aswell.

[old yeller]

thanks so much for the reply guys, your help has been great ,

lo pan ,

thanks for the info about bitches , a desexed dog maybe a better option for me then ,

if anyone else wants to let me know there thoughts about there bullys that would be great,

regards jason

[Teebs]

I have a 6 year old Male Bull Terrier and a 5 year old SBT bitch, both desexed

The Bully is top dog and bullies the SBT from time to time, but nothing to bad.

I have done more training with Atlas than I have with Kaos - He hasnt done it for a while, but I did do obedience with him, we were in the top class, meaning mostly offlead work, he was great... BUT - it took us a long time to get there pig headed dog he is!!

Atlas lives with 3 cats and my other dog, he is great around cats, but I cant have him play off lead with other dogs - he was good until he got attacked when he was about 3 now he isnt too fussed on other dogs and likes his own space

[BoStoNmAdNeSs]

Most of whats said above holds pretty true. I'm not sure I would say that a BT is "highly intelligent" - Would love to think so but they're not in the class of a Lab for instance (I've had both of these breeds over the years).

They are trainable but you need to put a lot more time into them than you do a labby. The bitch I have here (lying on my feet right now after just getting yelled at for eating the catfood) is quite smart in a lot of ways. Lead trained, obedient, will sit (im)patiently and wait until she gets told she can eat and a number of other things.Her mother went to the highest level of obedience at the Obedience club and also competed in flyball.

Do they like fighting..? Nahhhh.....I agree with the poster above in relation to early socialisation and putting the time in with them. Also agree that they may not 'like' fighting but if they do, they're good at it. I've never owned a bully that was dog agressive, chased cats or any other creature. Again, all about the time we've put into them (I will declare I had one who bit a person once). In this house we have along with her (shes a Minature actually) - we have a Cavalier King Charles and a Chihuahuahuahuahua. The Chihuaha smacks the Bully up most nights. Always wins. The bully and the CKC have had a couple of fights always started by they Cavvy (jealous little wench).

They are almightily stubborn and if they dont want to do something, then you go get your block and tackle to move the buggers

There will ALWAYS be a bull terrier (or miniature) in my life. Can't beat em!

[Teebs]

they also gain about 100kgs when they fall asleep in a spot you dont want them to be, making it impossible to move

[BoStoNmAdNeSs]

they also gain about 100kgs when they fall asleep in a spot you dont want them to be, making it impossible to move

Amen to that

[bullylove]

I think that anyone with a bully will tell you they require lots of patience ... But they repay you so many times over. They are by far the funniest dog I have come across. Stubborn.. Yes but maybe they just need more convincing about what it is you want lol

[Teebs]

I remember with Atlas I was having trouble getting him to "finish" - sit in front of me, then get up, walk around behind me and sit next to me.

We went over and over it, took it in small steps, used different food, had other people handle him. He would NEVER do it

One night i was eating KFC - Atlas on the lounge, he saw I had yummy food, got up, sat in front of me, got up and walked around behind me and sat next to me!

After trying to hard to get him to do it, the bugger did it without a command! I could have killed him

I cant see me ever NOT having one in my life, he has driven me mad at times, but god he is a funny dog!

[BoStoNmAdNeSs]

I remember with Atlas I was having trouble getting him to "finish" - sit in front of me, then get up, walk around behind me and sit next to me.

We went over and over it, took it in small steps, used different food, had other people handle him. He would NEVER do it

One night i was eating KFC - Atlas on the lounge, he saw I had yummy food, got up, sat in front of me, got up and walked around behind me and sat next to me!

After trying to hard to get him to do it, the bugger did it without a command! I could have killed him rofl1.gif rofl1.gif

I cant see me ever NOT having one in my life, he has driven me mad at times, but god he is a funny dog!

And THATS a Bully for you..!

Edited May 3, 2010 by Bull Terr(ific)

[Teebs]

Damn, Bully is typing...

Her girl is an Angel and makes all our dogs look naughty

[Bully]

Bull Terriers aren't as biddable as the staffies but they are certainly not stupid. Positive training is the only way to train a bully. Pele, my 5 yo girl has her Companion Dog (CD) title in obedience and is training towards CDX. Pele learns very quickly. When she's in the mood she can work brilliantly, when she's not fergit it Pele gets on well with all dogs, although she's not really a play with other dogs dog, she'd rather hang out with the humans. If she had gone to other owners who didn't put in the early work who knows how she would have turned out. Her nickname as a puppy was the "Feral Peril".

If you put in the early work socialising and training and work with a registered breeder to select a bully pup with a laid back personality it could work well with your staffy boy.

IMO the best book for training Bull Terriers is When Pigs Fly - Training Success With Impossible Dogs by Jane Killion Jane is a Bull Terrier owner and breeder who has put many obedience, agility and conformation titles on her Bull Terriers.

[Bully]

After trying to hard to get him to do it, the bugger did it without a command! I could have killed him

Sounds like getting Pele to sit and hold the dumbbell. It just wasn't happening, so after me telling the whole class about it the little skunk did a perfect retrieve with a sit and hold until I asked her to "Give" She knew what to do all along - grrrr!!! Pele is good at making a liar out of me That's Bull Terriers for you :D

[manlynau]

Many years ago i did vet nursing and I have very strong memories of various breeds, what i remember about bullies is we loved it when they were our patients, the ones i dealt with were friendly dogs that were easy to handle, you could do a number of procedures and they would not complain. we would call them Stoic. One of our vets had two white ones as pets and they were very comical but in no way guard dogs ...

I have a bully x which came to us as an adult ... he is the best! if i didn't already have three dogs i would definitely consider a bully high on my list of wanted..

so big fan here ...

[Teebs]

Many years ago i did vet nursing and I have very strong memories of various breeds, what i remember about bullies is we loved it when they were our patients, the ones i dealt with were friendly dogs that were easy to handle, you could do a number of procedures and they would not complain. we would call them Stoic. One of our vets had two white ones as pets and they were very comical but in no way guard dogs ...

I have a bully x which came to us as an adult ... he is the best! if i didn't already have three dogs i would definitely consider a bully high on my list of wanted..

so big fan here ...

Oh Atlas isnt a fan of the vets he grows and crys and goes nuts, my vet is used to him and just does what needs to be done, while cracking up laughing at what a sook my Big Tuff Bull Terrier is

[conztruct]

they also gain about 100kgs when they fall asleep in a spot you dont want them to be, making it impossible to move

Hahahahahaha.......so true, or for mine when you have to move them to have a bath.....

[conztruct]

IMO the best book for training Bull Terriers is When Pigs Fly - Training Success With Impossible Dogs by Jane Killion Jane is a Bull Terrier owner and breeder who has put many obedience, agility and conformation titles on her Bull Terriers.

I agree - the bible - not only for bull terriers but any dog I reckon........

[Zug Zug]

I've lived with one bully and very frequent visitor with two others (all many years ago now). All GREAT dogs, very funny, real characters. Had a tendency to want to sleep under the covers on cold nights, then wake up to a noise at 3am and run for it taking the blankets with them. (Well, ok, this was one dog and one time but it was unforgettable and very typical I have to say!)

Oh, one also liked to rebel when asked to leave a room by standing right IN the doorway so you couldn't close the door.

Great dogs. Shed plenty of hair which is a shame but not unlike most smooth coated breeds. Yes lots of socialisation a very good idea especially the males. Never had any similar issues with the females I've known. But on the whole they are laid back dudes and very nice dogs if you raise them intelligently. And so loving with their owners - total devotion!

Pele is an angel. So sweet while my dog aggressive poodle x is all twitchy and snappy, Pele never bothers to react. Who said bullies are aggressive? Not Pele, that's for sure. She'd rather just chill.

[Bully]

they also gain about 100kgs when they fall asleep in a spot you dont want them to be, making it impossible to move

Hahahahahaha.......so true, or for mine when you have to move them to have a bath.....

And they are lap dogs