The English Bulldog Puppy Blog

The key to understanding your dog is to also learn how to read your dog’s body language. In this way, you can assess her attitude thus you predict your dog’s next move. Dogs are non-verbal so body language is the best way you can talk to them. Vocalization in forms of barking, howling and whining, takes second place to a canine body language. You are sure to spend some time observing dog once you learn these basic types of dog body language. The advantages of understanding dog language will protect you and your dog form dangerous situations. It will also aid in training or determining common behavior problems.

Confident dog

This is shown when your dog stands straight and tall with her head held high, ears perked up, and eyes bright. You can see its mouth slightly open but relaxed. Her tail may sway gently, curl loosely or hang in a relaxed position. Your dog is friendly, at ease and non-threatening with her surroundings.

Happy dog

A happy dog is basically the same as a confident dog. The dog will usually wag its tail rapidly. Expect your dog to jump and run around with glee. A playful dog will show the “play bow” where its front legs are stretched forward, head straight ahead, rear end up in the air and wiggling. Take this as a positive sign to play.

Anxious dog

The anxious dog may act similarly submissive. It often holds its ears partially back with its neck stretched out. It stands in a very tense posture and sometimes shudders. Often, an anxious dog slightly whimpers or moans. See its tail set low and may be tucked. An anxious dog may overreact to stimulus and can become fearful or even aggressive. If you are familiar with your dog, try to divert its attention to something more pleasant. However, be cautious when you try to soothe your dog. Do not provoke her or try to soothe it.

Submissive dog

A submissive dog is meek, gentle and non-threatening. Your dog holds its head down, ears down flat and averts its eyes. Its tail is not tucked but is low and may sway slightly. Your pet may roll on its back and expose its belly. You might see your dog doing the submissive pose when you just got home. A submissive dog may also nuzzle or lick the other dog or person to manifest passive intent. Sometimes, your dog will sniff the ground or otherwise divert her attention to show that it does not want to cause any trouble.

Fearful dog

The fearful dog combines submissive and anxious attitudes but with more extreme signals. Your dog stands tense, yet very low to the ground. Its ears are flat back while its eyes are narrowed and averted. The tail is between her legs. A fearful dog typically trembles and often whines or growls. Your dog might even bear its teeth in defense. Just like scared man who feels very threatened, your dog may also urinate or defecate. A fearful dog can become aggressive at the moment it senses a threat. Do not try to reassure the anxious dog. Instead, remove yourself from the situation calmly. Be confident and strong when you do steer your dog away. Do not comfort or punish your dog. Dogs are territorial so move her to a less threatening, more familiar location.

Anxious dog

The anxious dog may act somewhat submissive, but often holds her ears partially back and her neck stretched out. She stands in a very tense posture and sometimes shudders. Often, an anxious dog slightly whimpers or moans. Her tail is low and may be tucked. An anxious dog may overreact to stimulus and can become fearful or even aggressive. If you are familiar with the dog, you may try to divert her attention to something more pleasant. However, be cautious – do not provoke her or try to soothe her.

Aggressive dog

An aggressive dog goes far beyond the word “dominant”. All feet are firmly planted on the ground in a territorial manner. When an unwelcomed visitor advances to its territory, your dog may lunge forward. The ears of the dog are pinned back, head is straight ahead, eyes are narrowed but piercing, tail is straight and full. Your dog bears her teeth, snaps her jaw and growls or barks threateningly. The hairs along her back stand on edge. Instincts will tell you to get away carefully when you see a dog showing these signs. Do not run. Do not make eye contact with the dog. Do not show fear. Slowly back away to your safety. If your own dog becomes aggressive to the point of harming other people, seek the assistance of a professional dog trainer (try Dog Whisperer) to learn the proper way to correct the behavior. Dogs exhibiting aggressive behavior should never be used for breeding.

Dominant dog

A dominant dog will try to assert herself over other dogs and sometimes people. Your dog stands tall and confident and may lean a bit forward. Its eyes are wide open and makes direct eye contact with the other dog or person. See its ears up and alert complete with the hair on its back standing on edge. Its demeanor appears less friendly and possibly threatening. You may also hear lowly growl. If the behavior is directed at dog that submits then there is little concern. If the other dog, however, tries to be dominant, a fight may ensue. A dog that directs dominant behavior towards people can pose a serious threat. Do not make eye contact and slowly try to leave. If your dog regularly exhibits this behavior towards people, you need to modify your dog’s behavior.

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The natural way that dogs communicate is by barking, whining, and howling. Dogs express what they want to say to humans. We also want our dogs to bark as a warning of a potential danger or protect us form harm. These forms of canine expression can become a problem when it becomes excessive. The effective solution is to let your dog understand when to bark and when to be quiet. It’s our job to teach this important thought to our dogs. The minute you notice that your dog has a barking problem then start working on this problem before it is too late. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to correct the behavior. It is a good idea to train your dog with Speak/Quiet commands. I know that it is easier said than done. This is possible with dedication and consistency. Don’t lose hope. Your dog can learn to how to bark on command and be quiet at the same time.

The reason why dogs bark

First of all, you can target the problem by knowing why dogs bark. Dogs will bark for a variety of reasons. They just don’t bark in order to annoy you and your neighbors. In fact, other breeds of dog bark more than the others and actually bred to be barkers. Some breed like the Basenji does not bark at all but vocalize in other ways. If you listen close enough, you will eventually learn the meaning behind the different barks of your dog. Thus, the crucial step to make toward correcting the barking behavior of your dog is to understand the reason why. Here are reasons why dogs bark:

Warning/Alert

It is pretty common to hear a dog bark when someone is at the door or when strangers pass the car or house. Most dogs bark when they sense some type of threat more like announcing, “You can’t go near here or else I’ll bite you.” The sound of this bark is sharp, loud and authoritative. You can train this dog instinct to help protect your family and home.

Anxiety

Dogs cope well when they express an anxious bark. It is an of self-soothing for many dogs. It is often high-pitched and sometimes accompanied by whining. This type of barking is common when dogs experience separation anxiety.

Excitement/Playfulness

This kind of barking is very common in young dogs or puppies. You hear a playful bark when, of course, they interact and socialize with people or other dogs. The sound of this bark sounds upbeat and musical. Some dogs make an excited bark when they know they’re going to get a treat or out for a ride or walk.

Seeking attention

You know what this bark means when you hear it. It as if your dog says “Hey! Hey! Look! Here I am!” This tone is similar to the tone of a whining child.

Boredom

The bark of a bored dog is the same to a dog that barks just to hear its own voice. It may sound annoying to you but is also sad to hear. Dogs that are bored often make this sound to release excess energy or just utter sense of loneliness. A walk or playing time may be just what your dog needs to beat boredom.

Responding to other dogs

You might have seen your dog do this. When one dog down the street starts to bark then one by one the other dogs in the neighborhood joins in the barking session.

Put a stop to excessive barking

By know why your dog barks excessively, you can now start to control the behavior. The best way to prevent excessive barking is to try to get rid of the possible source of the behavior. You should be certain not to encourage your dog to bark when not needed. You can also give her activities to divert her energy besides barking.

• Make sure your dog gets enough exercise so there is no excess energy to use just to bark.

• Don’t leave your dog alone in long periods of time as much as possible.

• Never encourage your dog to bark when you comfort, pet, or feed it when it barks for attention or out of anxiety.

• Don’t shout at your dog to stop it from barking. It can cause your dog to bark even more.

• Avoid using shock collars as punishment. Only are they painful and unkind, your dog will learn how to test the shock collar and eventually work their way around them.

• Get her attention with a clap or whistle. At the moment she is quiet, redirect her attention to something more productive and rewarding such as toys or treats.

• When you get your dog’s attention, practice basic commands such as sit and down in order to shift its focus.

• Do not ever let your dog bark constantly outside. You can hardly train her to stop barking by yelling at your dog across the yard. It is a sure and quick way to turn neighbors into enemies and the local police to pay you a visit.

• Train your dog to learn how to speak and be quiet.

• Consult your veterinarian or trainer if you continue to have barking issues no matter how hard you try to manage the problem.

• Consider the idea of a “De-barking” surgery with your vet.

De-Barking Surgery

“Debarking,” or cordectomy, is an elective surgical procedure that involves partial removal of a dog’s vocal cords. It does not remove your dog’s ability to bark rather it makes it sound more quiet and raspy. In this dog lover’s opinion, debarking surgery is unnecessary and unfair to the dog. Most often cases, barking problems indicate an underlying issue that is usually behavioral. Surgery may eliminate the noise away, but the anxiety, fear or similar problem remains. Why not spend your time and money on training and/or visiting a veterinary behaviorist rather than debarking your dog? Surgery and anesthesia always are risky. You should carefully think any procedure a hundred times. If you want to debark your dog purely for human convenience and does not medically benefit your pet then this solution should be avoided.

When other dogs bark in excess

The sound of dogs barking is considered to be a type of noise pollution. It can turn into a nuisance then a nightmare most especially when you try to sleep or sleep. You can politely approach your neighbor to discuss the matter or write a civil yet direct letter. You may try kindly suggesting a local dog trainer or behaviorist. Many people prefer to contact the neighborhood association to act as a moderator. As a last resort, you may need to call the police. Be mindful, however, that this last resort can be damaging to your relationship with your neighbors. On the other hand, you may let the barking issue slip after a certain amount of sleep deprivation.

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Many bulldog show and pet pageants are constantly undertaken annually where bulldogs and other dog breeds strut their stuff on the red carpet. As a bulldog owner, the idea of showcasing your English bulldog in dog shows may have cross your mind but you don’t know where to start. Explore the world of bulldog show and what you can do to prepare your English bulldog and develop its winning streak.

Preparation
The nice thing about prepping up your bulldog for show is that bulldogs are relatively simple and easy to show. English bulldogs require very little preparation. With regular brushing, they will naturally have a clean and shiny coat greatly enhanced by rubbing it with chamois leather or velvet pad. Parts of their good hygiene are occasional bathing (especially when they are predominantly white) and daily wiping of the eyes (to avoid eye staining). Check if al wrinkles are clean and dry and make sure his ears are clean and nails are trimmed.

Show Training
When you exhibit your English bulldog, remember to emphasize the good qualities and tone down the not so good feature. Show training is long term investment which requires your bulldog to start early in life. The international Championship judge, Judith Daws, recommends letting your puppy stand on a table every day even for a few minutes preferably from the age of six weeks. Let him wear his collar without any leash. At the start, focus on getting your puppy to stand still while you continuously stroke him. The position of your dog’s legs and feet are not important at this point. Next, place one hand on his chest while the other hand cupping his rear. You hold this position for ten or fifteen seconds while continuously saying the command “stand”. After a few sessions, you will be able to move his legs into the proper square position sometimes holding his chin or his collar to stabilize your pet. The back legs should be placed slightly closer together. When viewed form the front, the back legs can be seen between the front legs.

Show training should be adjusted to the temperament of your bulldog. Be constantly patient and ensure it to be a fun time for your dog with a treat at the end of each session. Avoid getting distressed and frustrated when training didn’t end as you planned. In this case, your dog will notice you have become exasperated. It’s better to avoid showing any signs of frustration otherwise your dog will regard training as something unpleasant. As with other trainings, keep sessions short and always end it on a positive note regardless how small the achievement.

Entering Shows
Your bulldog must be at ease in the presence of other people. You should do this before you let your dog enter shows.

In UK and USA, puppies are accepted in the show ring from the age of six months on. Refrain from entering any breed shows until you are sure that your puppy and you are prepared. It is most often wiser to hold back young dogs that are not yet ready for the show ring than risk his chances of being placed.
When it is your first time to attend, just sit and watch other more experienced handlers, while your dog will get accustomed to older dogs and new environments before his debut. Unlike other dog breeds that are judged by standing sideways, bulldogs are always exhibited front-on facing the judge.

What to Wear
The author of the book Bulldogs, Christian Bruton, highly recommends handlers the following tips. Pet owners should plan an outfit that complements your bulldog. Look for something that looks reasonably professional without distracting attention from the exhibit. Women should refrain from wearing long flowing skirts that tend to flap around and detract from the general outline of the dog while moving. It is wise to leave high heels and dangling jewelry at home. Loose trousers and flat shoes are most widely accepted. For male handlers, the same author recommends “a shirt, tie and jacket. Make sure that the trousers are loose fitting enough to allow you to get down and stack your bulldog. Jackets should not be too tight across the shoulders which restrict your arms when you reach over your dog.

What to Take
Bring a breed bag containing bowl of drinking water, bottle of water, dry towels, a brush and a chamois leather, grooming chalk for the white parts of the coat, showing leads, plastic hand spray with water and diluted shampoo for last minute cleaning when the venue of the show is dusty or muddy. The emergency kit should have travel sickness tablets. Select a bag with a secure, separate pocket in which to keep the show schedule, the car park ticket and passes and ring cards. Don’t forget to bring along a crate and trolley on which you place inside the crate. Bring blanket or cushion to place inside the crate. Take plenty disposable kitchen towels to clean up the cage in case of “accidents”. A lock and key may also be very useful to secure your dog in his cage when you need to leave your dog for a short while. You can also cover the crate with a light piece of cloth, dust sheet or scarf so that your dog won’t be distracted by the crowd and other dogs.

Behavior in the ring
Be calm, confident and relaxed to avoid nervousness “traveling down the lead to the dog.” Don’t over handle your dog. Aim to show leads of the loose fitting nylon variety that fall away form the neck. A very important feature of the Bulldog is the arch and strength of the neck. Thus you do not compensate lack of show training by “stringing up” your English bulldog like a terrier.

Here is a toast to the next big winner of beauty pageants. Good luck!

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English Bulldog – check out GreatDogSite.com for English Bulldog information; read reviews, view photos and ask questions.

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The most essential skill you should teach your English bulldog puppy is how to behave on a leash. Once your puppy is trained well to walk on a leash they are more manageable. Taking him out on walk on a leash will be a bonding experience you can both look forward to.

Train your English bulldog puppy in this first set of skills as early in life as possible. It is much wiser to train your puppy the right way to walk on a leash at a young age rather than trying to re-train an older dog. Start reading and be on your way to have a well-trained puppy.

Puppy and his collar

Let’s get down to basics and introduce your English bulldog puppy to his first collar. To ensure that the collar is comfortable, pick a simple light weight leather collar for this task. You can place it on your puppy as you are feeding him or when you are playing to serve as a distraction from the collar. As he gets adjusted to the feel of the new collar, he will probably roll around and scratch to loosen and dislodge it. Remember not to take the collar off while he is doing it. Wait until he has settled down and forgotten about it before you take it off.

Puppy and his leash

As soon as your English bulldog puppy gets comfortable wearing his new collar, it is time to move on to introduce the leash. The principle of making him get comfortable to the leash is the same with the collar. Choose any light weight and thin leash for your puppy. Clip his new leash onto his collar then let him check it out and drag it around the house under your supervision. He will likely become comfortable with his collar and leash if he wears them often.

Stepping out

Now that your English bulldog puppy has no problems and is comfortable in his collar and with the leash, it’s time to pick up the other end of the leash. Keep your training session as short, sharp and fun. During this early period, take advantage of your puppy’s alertness since he will love to follow you around everywhere.

The basic principle at this point in training is to shower him with praises when he walks along on the loose leash and to stop when he does pull on the leash.

To begin the session, walk around the house with the leash in hand and your puppy trotting along beside you. Observe if your puppy is walking beside you on a loose leash then reward him with praises, petting or even some treats. Stop immediately when he strains on the leash. Refrain from pulling him back to where you are and to just call him over and reward him when he obeys. Immediately stop on your tracks at the moment he pulls the leash. Your puppy has to learn that he gets nowhere when he does yank the leash.

The same rule applies when he sits down when you are walking. Don’t pull him back to where you are – do same by calling him over and reward him when he returns. Avoid creating an impression to your puppy that the leash is associated as something to be feared. Be gentle yet firm as a trainer. Lengthen your walk over time as your puppy learns walking on a leash in the right way.

Arm yourself with loads of patience and lots of treats for your English bulldog puppy. Make use of new ideas and make your training double the fun and before you know it your puppy will be walking calmly by your side.

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Enjoy this guest post from Bobby Callahan!

A Guide To Solving The Most Common Bulldog Problem Behaviors by Bobby Callahan

The Bulldog is a wonderful breed of dog, one that is widely loved all around the world. People love Bulldogs because they are loyal, affectionate and deeply devoted to their owners. They also feature an extremely unique appearance which sets them apart from other dogs, and which makes them very favorable to many owners.

The variety of Bulldog problem behaviors are usually not limited as they are to other dog breeds, and this is because overall they are very even tempered, well behaved dogs. Bulldogs are not usually heavy barkers and although they are great watchdogs they do not bark incessantly but rather only when they need to.

There are certain problems that may arise however, including excessive chewing, jumping up and down especially on guests as they enter the home and digging. These Bulldog problem behaviors can obviously be quite difficult to live with and so obviously if these sorts of problems occur in your case you will need to deal with them appropriately.

There are a few different Bulldog problem behaviors that are quite common, but as aforementioned digging is one of the most common of all. There are a few different reasons as to why your dog may be digging, and seeking entertainment is one of the most typical explanations. If they are left alone in the yard for long periods of time, have a relatively barren environment or is a particular active type of dog who needs an active job to be happy, then chances are he is simply digging for entertainment purposes.

On the other hand, if they are digging at the roots of trees or shrubs then they are most likely digging for shelter or protection purposes. Rather than getting angry with your dog it is important that you try to determine the root cause of their problem, digging and other, and then from here take the proper steps in terms of fixing the behavioral problem.

Keep in mind that solving your dog’s problem behaviors may take a renewed commitment on your part but it is going to be more than worth it in the end. You should never let challenges such as your Bulldog problem behaviors get you down or threaten the bonds that you have with your pet, and so have patience and remember that with a little time and some helpful tips and techniques you will be able to get your dog acting like the pet that you always desired.

You should get your dog out for a walk at least twice daily, more if you can. You should also teach your dog a few commands and tricks, and always keep interesting toys in the yard to keep busy even during those times when you are out there as well, so they will always be kept busy and will therefore be less likely to have digging or other behavioral problems.

This way they will not associate their behavior problems with not getting what they want, and as a result will begin to become more obedient.

Bobby Callahan is a passionate lover of the Bulldog and has a popular website where you’ll discover how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Bulldog. Among other topics there, you can also learn all about Bulldog Problem Behaviors plus a whole lot more.

Article Source: GetArticles.info

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