It goes without saying that a biting Bulldog is a very serious matter. Most owners have to deal with a nipping or biting dog at some point, so it’s best to know how to deal with it before the problem gets out of hand. The worst case scenario is that someone may get hurt, perhaps a child, and the dog will have to be put down. A biting puppy is a hassle; a biting adult dog is a menace to others and to itself. If your Bulldog is a biter, no matter its age, take action quickly to stop the behavior.
Many Bulldog pups will go through a biting stage and this is the easiest and best time to stop it. The younger the dog the easier your task, since puppies are easier to train. And since puppies up to 6 months are still forming their foundational character lessons learned during this time will likely be retained for a lifetime.
Many Bulldog owners make the mistake of thinking their puppy is only playing when he or she bites, or is perhaps teething. In reality, your dog is testing its environment to find its place in the pack. Many dogs are genetically inclined to seek a dominant position and biting or showing its teeth is one of the primary ways it will do this. So, stopping the biting is more about teaching your dog its place than it is about changing a simple habit.
The most important thing you can do is to maintain firm authority in the relationship without being harsh or violent. Let your Bulldog know that you are the leader and that you will be a good caregiver and protector if the dog follows the rules. It might also be helpful to mimic how a mother dog or litter mates would behave. Give a nasal whine when the dog bites, and perhaps give it a light pinch on the neck to show your puppy what it feels like.
A stern word, given without anger, will help reinforce the negative consequences of biting. Some offer a toy as a replacement for biting and there is a place for that, but it won’t teach the dog the kind of pack behavior that is most essential. If the problem is persistent take your Bulldog to a professional trainer for evaluation and help in curing the problem.
A poorly trained dog might grow toward maturity believing that nipping and biting are acceptable. A Bulldog 10-12 months old is considered a teenager, for comparison sake. If it bites at this age take strong steps to stop the behavior before it becomes so ingrained you may have to do something drastic. Stop playing any kind of game with your dog that simulates fighting – tug of war, wrestling, and so forth.
Secondly, you should enforce stricter limits on the dog as a way of retraining it. Start crate training if you haven’t done that yet. Sign up for an obedience class and attend every session, putting into practice at home what you and your Bulldog are learning. Expect obedience from your dog and deliver firm, controlled consequences for its bad behavior. Also praise your pooch when it follows direction and obeys.
If a Bulldog continues to bite into its mature years then you’ve got a major problem to contend with. Your dog believes it is the leader of the pack, and this which may lead it to attack you, another person or another pet.
Seek the help of a professional trainer and follow their guidance carefully. Learn what you’ve done to help create this problem and change your actions. If you don’t change your behavior toward the dog you simply cannot expect it to change its actions. Unless the dog is impaired in some way, its biting is a result of conditioning and a lack of pack leadership.
Assert your dominance or risk someone being harmed by the dog or having to have your Bulldog destroyed. Now you see why biting is so serious and why nipping it in your Bulldog puppy is always the best way to go.
Jill B