Expert: English Bulldogs ( Marie ) e-mail me at mpmaltese@gmail.com - 7/6/2011

Question
I'm hoping you can help.  We have a 15 month old male AB that we got when he was 12 months old.  We have had in home obedience training as when we got him, he had none.  He is very loving and sweet but does not like it when someone pulls him and he will get aggressive.  My 13 year old son has gotten in his face while playing and Tank has started growling at him.  One time we had a lot of commotion at the house and I was trying to get him outside and he wouldnt go so when I pulled on him, he lunged at me and I have no doubt he would have bitten me.  He also growled and lunged for my husband when he made Tank smell the poop he had just done.

This afternoon, Tank was obsessing over one of my son's friends and when my son tried to push him away, Tank attacked him and actually broke skin all over his hand as well as his shin.

There has always seemed to be tension between Tank and our son - not sure if they are both jockeying for position or what.

INformation on Tank:  unaltered (would this make a difference?). We got him from a family that kept him outside in a kennel all the time and was never let inside the house.  He had no training and received little attention until we got him.

Do you have any thoughts on why this would be and what we can do?  

Thank you very much!
yvonne

Answer
Yvonne,  Tank does not have respect for your family.  Tank thinks HE is the PACK Leader in the home.  As for your Son, he is number one and not Tank.
Please try to keep Tank away from the kids.
Have him neutered ASAP -this will help a bunch.
Have a home-trainer come to your turff.  

You may want to re-home Tank to a house with No children.

I am not a behavior expert.  You can ask one of our Dog Behavior Expets here at allexperts.

Sorry that I can't be of more help:
The Neuter issue is big !  It will help him to be hormone-free ........


BEST of Luck and Be safe,

Marie Peppers LPN MA