Expert: Christine Puetz - 9/28/2009

Question
We purchased an english bulldog puppy at 7 weeks.....he is now 4 months old, doing perfect with the potty training,seems so very smart in many ways,  he does however have and has had an obsession with mouthing everyone,we can't rub his belly, give him any kinds of attention at all without him nipping at us..... in which we reprimand him ( with a rolled up paper, just saying NO, yelping, like he hurt us, getting a hickory and lightly tapping his bottom with it, and as the teacher from classes we took told us to do, picking him up and biting his ear, immediately when he nips us )    in hopes of him learning that this is not permitted......he has gotten better, but far from stopping ...in the last two weeks he has gotten it seems to me when we reprimand him more mad and starts barking and jumping at us while nipping at me, a few times bringing blood , i need to know if this is normal behavior or should i worry about this puppy becoming an agressive adult dog, which i do not want......any information you can give me will be so welcomed , as with any ways of curbing him of this behaviour.  thank you, jared

Answer
Jared,

It is normal for bulldog puppies to chew.  He thinks he is just playing and doesn't realize how sharp his little teeth are.  But you definitely do not want a bulldog that bite.  It sounds like you are doing all the right things to get him to stop.

He may think you are playing when scold him and so he is just playing back.  You need to change to a different type of scolding every time he starts to relate it to playing.  If the rolled paper or stick are not working any more, then use something else - maybe a wooden spoon or flyswatter.  Something that makes noise it a good thing.

Make sure EVERY TIME you scold him, he knows it is not play.  Do not ever use the scolding method for play!  It is VERY important that he learns that biting is not acceptable behavior.  He is still young enough to learn this and you will have a wonderful bully when he does!

Christine Puetz