Bull Terriers

[Twisterdog]

Plus, all terriers, and especially Bullies, are quite dog aggressive.

That is a gross over-generalization. Of course, terriers, as a general rule, are more dog aggressive than some other breeds. But to say all terriers are quite dog aggressive is simply not true.

Don't tell that to my terrier pack, currently sleeping all over each other on the couch.

If that were the case, myself and the thousands of other people who do breed rescue for terriers across the country would be completely unable to do our jobs, wouldn't we? Obviously, we take precautions such as crating and temperment testing. But in the vast majority of cases, the dogs are just fine with each other. I have had up to fourteen rescue terriers in my house at once.

That having been said, bull terriers are not the dog for everyone. They are strong-willed and can be stubborn, and as a rule, do have a tendency to be more dog aggresive than other breeds. I have a customer with three bull terriers, and they all get along fabulously. I have another customer with one bull terrier, and she says she could never get another dog.

If you can find a rescue, breeder or breed club near you, I would spend some time around them before deciding. Of course, that should be the case with any breed one considers.

[Giselle]

The fact of the matter is that a vast majority of dog breeds have tendencies towards several types of aggression. Some breeds tend to be wary of strangers and fiercely loyal to their owners. Without socialization, this wariness can often turn into stranger aggression. Example: Anatolian Shepherd. Some breeds are born with the innate susceptibility towards dog aggression. One obvious example is the Pittie. Then, there's also Akitas and Tosa Inus. Then, there are dogs who have are incredibly headstrong and have natural tendencies toward resource guarding. Without training, that turns into resource aggression. Example: Shibas.

It pretty much goes without saying that the common denominator in aggression prevention is training and socialization. With a heavy emphasis on these two aspects of dog-life, you can curb most aggressive tendencies in your dog. To say that all terriers are quite aggressive is a broad brushstroke that does not take into consideration the massive role the owner plays in a dog's behavior.

Jess, I know you are very experienced with dogs and their training. I'm sure that you will do fine. The problems only start to arise when people ignore problems and refuse to train/socialize their dogs. You'll be fine with a Bullie

[Jessika]

Jess, I know you are very experienced with dogs and their training. I'm sure that you will do fine. The problems only start to arise when people ignore problems and refuse to train/socialize their dogs. You'll be fine with a Bullie

OK, phew, that's what I thought. My two current pups are more well-trained than most children nowdays. They certainly have better manners than most, anyway.

Thank you all for your WONDERFUL advice and information