The Bull Terrier is a dog with an extremely distinctive appearance, and many people become fascinated with it after seeing it just once. But before deciding to keep one, it is important to understand that the breeds personality is rather special. It is not as naturally compliant as many other dogs. In fact, it can be highly self directed and stubborn, which makes training more difficult and raises the threshold for ownership.
Bull Terrier personality
The Bull Terrier has a varied personality. Much of the time it appears honest, brave, energetic, and very loyal to its owner. It is often especially gentle and friendly with children and is full of curiosity toward different toys and games. At the same time, however, it is also regarded as one of the more forceful and challenging dog types. It has its own independent mind and often likes to take the lead. Some individuals may appear so stubborn that they seem almost unreasonable. Still, in a real emergency, a Bull Terrier is the kind of dog that is likely to stand up for its owner without hesitation.
Bull Terrier training
The Bull Terriers self awareness is strong, its personality is stubborn, its temper can be intense, and its general obedience is not particularly high. If you want to train one well, it is important from the beginning that the dog understands you are its owner and leader. Even then, it may not cooperate smoothly during training, so the owner needs a great deal of patience.
If the dog feels that its territory is being threatened, it may bark, fight, or show other strong reactions. In some moments it may seem that no amount of talking or persuasion will matter because it simply wants to do things its own way.
Training a Bull Terrier is not the same as training many other breeds. Because it is so stubborn, harsh intimidation and punishment are often not especially effective. In many situations, guidance and?? style handling works better. By working with the dogs temperament little by little, and combining that with methods such as temporary confinement when necessary and food rewards when appropriate, it is still possible to train a Bull Terrier into a well behaved companion.