Have you ever wondered if English bulldogs are aggressive? Probably yes, especially if you have ever thought about having one at home.
With their intimidating faces and strong jaws, the English bulldog often seems like a pretty fierce dog, but is that the case? If you want to discover the answer, keep reading.
Is the English bulldog aggressive?
The English bulldog is not aggressive by nature; in fact, it is a docile, friendly, funny dog, ideal for families, and, above all, very lazy. He prefers to spend the day lying somewhere cozy in the house rather than doing any activity.
Simply put, he is not violent at all, even though his appearance may suggest otherwise.
Even more, the English bulldog has a patient nature, so it gets along very well with children, who do not usually measure what they do all the time and can hurt or bother the dog by mistake.
However, it is also a loyal dog that is always willing to protect its family, which is why it can be suspicious of strangers, especially unknown dogs.
Finally, although he is not aggressive, he is usually quite stubborn, so you should train him well to prevent him from developing bad habits or becoming territorial at home.
Why is my bulldog aggressive?
There are many reasons why an English bulldog could become aggressive. Let’s look at some of the main ones:
- As a puppy, he didn’t interact enough with other dogs.
A bulldog that does not interact with other dogs and people as a puppy will develop a lot of suspicion of any strange dog or person when it grows up since it will not have the habit of socializing.
Of all the triggers for aggression, this is one of the most common.
To avoid this, it is essential that you make your English bulldog puppy socialize with unknown people and dogs and that these interactions be positive so that he learns not to fear or react badly to these encounters.
- He grew up in a violent environment.
A puppy that grows up in a violent environment will be more likely to be violent as well, as it will use aggression as a form of defense.
That is why it is so important that the puppy grows up in a happy space where it does not receive any abuse.
- The family hierarchy needs to be clarified.
Any English bulldog you adopt or buy will be considered part of your family, and for this bulldog, there will be a clear family hierarchy. If he believes his hierarchy to be the highest, he will assume a dominant stance and will, therefore, be more aggressive and much less obedient.
- He is very territorial.
Some dogs are more territorial than others. If your English bulldog is very territorial, he will also tend to be more aggressive because he will find himself in many situations where he must defend his territory or possessions.
For example, if you want to get him off your bed and the bulldog considers it his, he will not get off in a good way and could even become aggressive.
Obedience training usually corrects this excess territoriality.
- It doesn’t burn enough energy.
Excess energy is a clear trigger for aggression, as it makes your dog anxious. Although the bulldog is not a fan of prolonged exercise, nor does he usually do a lot of physical activity by nature, he will always need to burn energy to have an optimal mood.
Typically, a 30-minute walk during a cool time of day is enough to burn off any excess energy.
- You are sick, and the pain or discomfort makes you defensive.
If your bulldog has an injury or some ailment, he will likely become defensive if you try to approach him. It is an instinctive reaction and does not mean that he is deciding to be violent.
Often, it is best to work on your bulldog’s trust in you from the time he is a puppy; this will make him more receptive even in times of great stress, pain, or anxiety.
- Something at home makes you anxious.
Like illnesses and other ailments, anxiety can cause your bulldog to be much more aggressive than usual.
In general, many things can make you more anxious: unfamiliar animals at home, lots of strange people, hearing shouting or arguing, and even excess energy.
In these cases, the ideal way to resolve your bulldog’s aggression is to identify what causes anxiety so you can work on any problem or conflict that may be generating it.
- He needs to be trained correctly.
Although the bulldog is a docile, sweet, and intelligent dog, it always requires training.
If you train him well, or at all, your bulldog will have good habits and may develop a difficult temperament. Plus, likely, he won’t obey you as much because he has yet to learn to do so.
All of this can result in an aggressive problem since the bulldog will not have been trained not to bite.
Now that you know what the triggers for aggression in your bulldog can be, we are going to show you some of the best ways to train your English bulldog and prevent it from biting.
Tips to prevent your English bulldog from biting
Teaching your English bulldog not to bite you requires patience and perseverance, and it is more complex than it might seem. These tips will help you achieve it:
- Give him toys to release his energy and anxiety so he will be less likely to bite you or the furniture at home
- If your bulldog is a puppy, show him that you don’t like him biting you with clear expressions of pain and show him that he shouldn’t do it with a clear and assertive “No.”
- Make sure your English bulldog socializes a lot and, above all, plays with other dogs and other people. By doing so, he will notice that if he bites other dogs or people, they react negatively, which will help him understand that he should not bite.
- Try to get your bulldog enough exercise so as not to have excess energy or anxiety. It will keep the chances of English bulldogs biting you to a minimum.
- Be consistent, and do not let your bulldog bite you even once, even in play. English bulldogs will ensure that English bulldogs understand that they should not bite you or the rest of their family.
Conclusion
There is an old saying that appearances can deceive, and this is true in many cases. The English bulldog is one of the best examples of this since, in spite of appearing so fierce and intimidating, despite its appearance, the English bulldog is one of the sweetest, most friendly, and most homely of dogs.
Of course, like any other type of dog, they require training to understand what they can and cannot do.