English Bull Terrier Advice please

[wizzysjpip]

Hi guys does any one on here own an English Bull or have experience of them?
just wonder what the breed is like in general?
problems encountered??
basically anything really
many thanks

[x Sarah x]

They vary so much, so be good to get opinions of individual owners rather than try and cover the breed in general

I have one, female, 3 years old.

Shes settled quite a bit now, but up until about 2-2 and a half years she was very hyperactive dog, very strong, couldn't let her run riot around children because although she loves them to bits she just bulldozes through them like a bowling ball, lol

Very affectionate dogs imo, Kizzy likes not to be near you, but to be on you!

They can be notorious chewers, though never had any problems myself, shes chewed up slippers and also sponges before, anything spongy or soft like loo roll has to be kept well out the way.

She doesn't have toys lying around, they are given to her and taken away again because she gets obsessed, we also don't encourage rope pulling too much for this reason.

She is fine with other dogs and has never acted aggressive towards one when passing or meeting, but if another dogs starts on her she does not hesitate to snap right back at them and at this point we must take her away before the other dog gets hurt.

They don't feel pain, so you have to know your BT very well to know when something is wrong, small changes in behaviour let you know something is up, or just the general trail of blood coming from your dog, lol

They are stubborn and will try to push you to the edge all the time, you have to constantly keep on top of them, show them your the boss and be firm with them. These dogs are so hard a kick up the bum or a slap does nothing for them.

If Kizzy gets over excited she has to be pinned to the floor, not so much these days now shes settled down but when she was younger she was a bit of a bugger, they have selective hearing and you can repeatedly tell them no and they won't listen, you have to move towards them before they realise your talking to them!

You have to be leader of the pack with these guys.

Kizzy has a crate, its her safe place, its not used as discipline, she sleeps in there, she goes in there when we eat, when she eats, when we have visitors and she takes herself there when shes unsure of a situation. I never believed in crates before owning a BT, i'd say its pretty essential for them.

Kizz is also very routine orientated, any change in routine or something new in the house and she knows.

They know no limits when it comes to playing or running, they have endless energy and Kizz would spend all day spinning in circles if she could, you need to be able to tell them when enough is enough.

However there is also no limit to how much they love you, the companionship and unconditional love is what makes it all worthwhile with them. They just want to sit on you and be stroked and fussed for as long as you wish.

And they are rather stoopid, my partner got her because he works all day and wanted a dog that could be left alone, Kizzy is thick as pig poo and she wouldn't know if you've been gone for 10 mins or 10 hours, but now i'm here she has me all day everyday, though she just sleeps all day these days, tsk

[wizzysjpip]

thank you so much for that wonderful reply. rite from your heart. alot of usefull information many thanks and your girl is truly gorgeous

[wizzysjpip]

anyone got any good websites about bull terriers so i can have a read please??

[chewy86]

briefly as you had an owners account of a bitch i had a dog and he was nuts from day dot lol always active, always hungry. loved to play rough but knew when to pack it in. you have to be strict with them as like to try and be boss, they are great dogs mine was never aggressive more of a mard arse lol and word of warning they love to chew your hand and it hurts lol and they bark like they want to eat you and your family but its just thier excited nature. when i went the breeders house to look for my pup i crapped myself with her two big males lol but you learn quickly whats what!
when i got him i was warned that dogs are stupid and nuts till the day they die and bitches tend to be more calm as they age not much though his mum still nutted me on our first meet lol.

[wizzysjpip]

thanks again great advice,. ive had some experience a close frind has a female ebt but shes very boyish. crackin girl tho.loyal loveable playful just wonderful throughout.. im lookin to adopt one but just gettin info first

[x Sarah x]

and it really hurt when they head butt you

I know the chewing, she usually starts of licking your hand and progresses to chewing your fingers!

[wizzysjpip]

haha thanks sarah.. my mates ebt headbutted me and yes i agree i did hurt ALOT and the way she loked at me like ''well you were in the way of me playin''

[LIZARD]

I have 2 a dog and a bitch. Ruby will be 3 soon and murphy will be 3 in september. Rubes was a rescue we had her at 6 months of age, we had murph as a pup. Rubes had never been on a lead or collar and never been in a house. She was used to people and kids but had never seen another dog.

Rubes was fairly haedstrong and boisteroius but loved cuddles. Training was fairly easy but she has select deafness when she wants lol. Murphy is by your side all the time. I do find dogs and bitches different. Both love cuddles and have learned not to jump up n knock the inlwas and parent over now lol!

I find my dog more active than the bitch and hes not allowed any ball type things as he gets obbsessed so as soon as we discovered this it all stopped. Ruby likes to dig, so left to her own devices she would destroy my sofas by digging them up lol.

Lucky for them we have a nearly 2 acre garden so they do what they like then come in and kip on the sofa, infront of the fire or laze in the garden on a warm day. I only work part time well 3 hours a day now in the week, so they go to sleep in their crates then

The thing i like best about them is i find them very adaptable. If u wanna laze all day infront of the fire n do sod all they will do it with ya, if you wanna go out gallavanting about the countryside all day they will do that with ya too.

As long as they have enough excercise they are slow dogs that potter around nicely, infact they can be VERY bloody lazy hehe

[wizzysjpip]

great replies thanks guys.. its all good to no..