Agressive 5 year English Bulldog towards some dogs

[Logan]

I feel your pain. Our male is 4 years old and is the exact same way, but it isn't just dogs he doesn't know, it is with one of our own, a male Golden Retriever. We have to keep them separated all the time. We have double gates so that they don't see each other at all but just like your situation, on the occasion that they fight, the bulldog starts it, but the Golden Retriever wins it. It is just an awful situation with an otherwise very sweet, fun dog. I think our situation is definitely caused by jealousy. The Golden has no care for any other cat or dog and had the Bulldog not started it, I think they would have been fine together. In fact they were for months! I know that we didn't get a handle on the situation early enough and I kick myself for that all the time. The only suggestion I can give you is to make sure you give your girl plenty of attention, but I would definitely keep her separated from visiting dogs for the safety of everyone (including the humans). In the last two fights we had between our dogs (in the last year or so), I was bitten once and my husband was bitten once, all while trying to grab collars to pull them apart. It is so dangerous.

[sewtater]

Thanks for sharing your experience with your English Bulldog. She just started this when she turned 5. The sweet retriever goes home tomorrow and since she lives a couple hundred miles from us, I don't think I will have her again. Like your retriever she would always win the fight. She would get a little slobber on her but the Bully would always get the worse of it. When they do get in a fight I always have a harness on the Bully so I can just grap it and get it broken up before any real damage can happen. Since she was a year old I would take her & 4 other dogs to our Dog park. She loved playing with all the dogs & she thought every one should have to say hi and give her some loves. Not once did she ever get in to a fight. Then when she was 3 years old, the other dogs moved away so we don't go to dog park very often but I have a big yard for her to play & run with the other dogs that stay overnight. She never has any problem with dogs smaller than her, in fact her best friends are a doxie(female) and a male Bichon/poodle mix. They could play for hours.
So you may be right about jealousy, but I try to give lots of love to her and things should be back to normal after tomorrow I hope. Will let you know How it goes.

[snakemama]

My friend has a labby who behaves similarly. He has to watch the dog closely when he's playing with other dogs, and before the dog gets anywhere near the "danger zone" pull him out of play for a few quick sits and downs, and a break before he gets to go play again.

Interrupting the behavior before it's out of control seems to be key. Easier said than done, I know, but hopefully things will be a little easier for you as time goes by!