Bull Terrier Puppies Blog

Skin allergies are quite common among Bull Terriers. Some people don’t take it seriously, saying it’s just a bit itchy and that’s all, but it can be a real suffer for the puppy. But how to notice? The skin gets irritated, reddish and the dog is scratching a lot more than before. You should always pay additional attention to the area between the toes, because that is where the allergic reaction can be seen first. The vet will probably prescribe some steroids or antibiotics, but the best thing to do is prevention. For this, you have to know the source of the problem. The food allergies are harder to guess than the ones caused by plants in the surrounding area. The most common reasons for their allergy are originated from food: it can be red meat, poultry, or anything else, like rice or potatoes. The best thing to do is to start a diet, so you’ll see what your bullie is allergic to. But take into consideration that it takes at least 2 months to see if the diet is working or not.
Apart from this, it is obviously necessary to take your pup to the vet as soon as you see the first signs.

The narrow line between training and abuse

Many dog owners think that their Bull Terrier is the smartest in the world. There’s no problem with this, up to certain a point. This point is when the owner expects as much from the dog as if it really was the most intelligent creature the world has ever seen. They expect them to learn everything right away, whereas dogs need time to learn things, the same way as we, humans do. Just in a different way Well, the point is, that training requires time and patience. It can be different for all dogs, but we do have to keep this in mind and take the time and energy to train our Bull Terrier.

Another common mistake (also because of the lack of patience) is to give up. Many people think that they have already tried everything but the dog doesn’t want to learn. In this case, maybe the methods are not the best, or they need more time. There are no dogs who wouldn’t be able to learn at least a few commands. Giving up is never a solution.

So, if we have the time and the patience we can avoid the next, and maybe the biggest mistake: to turn training into abuse. Probably you expect me to tell you where this line is. I can’t. This is something the owner should know. Training is all about communication. If you know your Bull Terrier, if you pay attention to him, you see how he feels. Unfortunately many dog owners don’t have this ability, because they only keep pets for entertainment, while a dog is much more than that.

Going back to training, a very important rule is that your goal should be that your Bull Terrier obeys to commands because he is keen to do so. NOT BECAUSE HE IS AFRAID. Many-many owners forget about this, and feel the training successful, but actually they are making their dog unhappy. How can someone live happily in fear? No way. These owners are only keeping a dog to make themselves happy, and don’t feel the responsibility they should.

So the point is, that ‘positive training’ is possible. Actually, that’s the only way.

The first difficulties most Bull Terrier owners face is potty training their puppy. As with general training, the main principles remain the same: a positive, rewarding approach and a lot of patience is required. There are, however a few tips and tricks that will make the whole process faster and easier for both puppy and owner. Find out what Sharda Baker has to say on the topic, who has developed her best practices by years of trial and error.

Please comment if you have something to add.

Is it normal, anyway?!

Yes, it is. Just imagine the situation from the point of view of your Bull Terrier. He is part of the family, often treated as “the kid”, and then, suddenly, a new creature arrives and takes all the attention of his beloved family. It is quite similar to what older children feel, when a little brother/sister arrives. One of the differences is just that the dog can’t speak English

Actually, if we are aware of this ‘problem’ in advance, the situation can be handled, but it needs consciousness and to be started in time, long before the baby’s arrival. Let’s see how we can prepare our Bull Terrier for the new family member.

If your dog’s daily routine has to be changed with the baby’s arrival (it probably will), you should start changing the rules much earlier, giving him plenty of time to get used to the new set up. This way it isn’t going to be so sudden and shocking. If your Bull Terrier hasn’t really been trained before, it’s high time to start. He should learn at least a few commands, like sit, stay, etc. This way, he’ll be easier to handle.

Many families worry about their dog endangering the health of the child, so the best thing to do is to take your pet to the vet, get him checked and get some advice. Get your Bull Terrier used to the new smells, sounds in advance (blankets, lotions, toys). It’s also a good idea, that just after your baby was born, send home a blanket that the baby had been in, so your dog can experience the child’s smell in advance. It is very important to know that your  Bull Terrier will get a lot less attention from the mother, so when taking the baby home for the first time, the mother should greet the dog, so it is better if someone else is carrying the baby.

It is also a good idea not to leave them alone together at the first times, until your Terrier feels comfortable with the baby, because, for example, it is very possible that the dog won’t tolerate the child’s crying very well in the beginning. You have to teach him that this is a normal sound, and you should motivate him not to bark (with treats, for example).

And the most important rule for last, maybe it seems too obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning: try to give as much attention to your Bull Terrier as you can. The point is that he has to feel that you do care about him. If you keep this in mind, most probably there will be no problem. You could also try Preparing Fido, which is an amazing collection of Baby sounds designed especially to get your dog ready for the arrival of the new Baby!

Bull Terriers are more popular than ever in Europe and America, but the Middle East weather is not exactly their favorite. Even though they don’t mind some heat, they won’t be happy about the heat of the desert for a long time. So if you are considering relocating to the Middle East and are not sure what dog breeds are popular in the Middle East, read this blog post.

Bull Terriers are very active, highly energetic and playful dogs. As they have a good sense of humour it is always up for a game or a joke. Bull Terriers like to be doing something interesting. For this reason they are the happiest with active families. This dog is protective of its family and makes an excellent watchdog. This video shows that  Bull Terriers don’t only play but have their lazy moments as well.

Check out how to buy one.