Bull Dogs

Author: Denise Partlow

Instagram: @modernk9 Carolinas

Dogs that fall into this group are considered gladiators, they were designed for fighting. Many years ago humans used to fight animals as a way of entertainment. At one point they started using bulls to fight against humans but they needed a dog to help bring the bull down. One strategy that was bred into the dog was clenching the bull by the nose and twisting it until the bull went down; one could only imagine the characteristics a dog needed to be able to do this. They were designed to fight on a moment’s notice, engage quickly, act now – think later- type of personality, and they were expected to keep going until the job was done. However they were not bred to show any of this aggression towards humans.

Some breeds that fall into this category are:
Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog
American Bulldog
American Staffordshire Terrier
Boxer
Bull Terrier
Dogo Argentino
English Bulldog
French Bulldog
Olde English Bulldogge
Pitbull Terrier

Bred for their strength, power and motivation to fight on a moment’s notice may prevent these dogs from making good decisions in our modern day world. They can go from 0 to 60 in a second which can be difficult for any dog handler, especially when they are on leash. They are often over enthusiastic, excited and easily aroused which often causes a lot of mounting, mouthing and jumping behaviors. This character trait can also lead to other dogs feeling overwhelmed in their presence. They often have a very different play style that most dogs in other groups do not appreciate.

Bull dogs were also bred to be docile around humans, which gives us a sweet, loving and quite entertaining dog. However this can also cause them to be clingy and protective of their humans while also setting them up for feelings of separation anxiety.

This is not a full list of characteristics and may not apply to every dog. If you are interested in diving a little deeper, I encourage you to read the book, “Meet Your Dog” by Kim Brophey.