Common concerns associated with the bull terrier:

·       Tail chasing - many believe (incorrectly) that obsessive tail chasing is a neurological disorder.  Towards this end, some owners have invested huge amounts of time and money pursuing a "cure".  And naturally, there are those individuals out there who are more than willing (through either good intentions, ignorance or greed), to accommodate them.    The breeder's experience clearly demonstrates that this behavior is a response to boredom.  Bull terriers are very intelligent dogs.  They need healthy activities to fill their days (as all living creatures do).  Without it, they will respond in mischievous, devious, and sometimes deviant behavior, some by chasing their tales obsessively, some to the point of self-injury.  It would be very unlikely, if left to survive in the wild, one would find a bull terrier obsessively chasing its' tale.

·       "Rage"- many believe that what appears to be uncontrolled aggression in a puppy, is again, an irresolvable genetic condition.  And if found in an adult dog, to again be the same.  The breeders' experience demonstrates that this is not true in virtually all cases, except in rare cases where there is a medically based issue.  A more accurate descriptive term applied towards this type of behavior is simply a "temper tantrum" being exhibited by a puppy.  And in the adult dog, a behavior that was never successfully corrected when it was young and has become a reinforced behavioral habit.  This behavior in the puppy can easily be corrected using appropriately applied correction techniques.  The operative term here is, appropriately.

And what are "appropriately applied correction techniques"?  It is most definitely NOT beating an animal!  But is IS introducing either a pleasant or an unpleasant experience to the dog associated with a wanted or unwanted behavior.  And just as important as the correction, is the technique and manner by which it is applied, and by whom. 

These pleasant and or unpleasant "experiences" are vast and varied.  Depending upon the time and effort one is willing to invest in their dogs' training, will depend upon what technique one chooses to employ.  Additionally, depending upon the potential liability that may be incurred if the dogs' unwanted behavior is not successfully corrected, will influence the technique chosen.

This web page is not the format for a lengthy treatise on animal training in general, or dog training in particular.  However, the following will help the new (and) experienced dog owner in their decision making process as to how to resolve an unwanted dog behavior issue.

Successful training requires one being knowledgeable, understanding, and sensitive to an animals' perspective on the world.  There are very subtle nuances associated with successfully communicating with an animal, usually learned over many years of association.  To teach and learn this knowledge is best done in person, and not in the written form.  It takes a person of some degree of common sense, average powers of observation, and average intelligence to learn to successfully communicate with an animal.  And last but not least, with successful dog ownership in a society, requires a person having an alpha attitude towards their dog.  Dogs are pack animals.  They naturally find their place in either the dominant role or the submissive role.  The dog owner must accept the fact that they are the dominate force over the animal.  Otherwise, the dog will attempt to, or will in fact, dominate its' owner to the detriment of the person and to society at large. 

For further information on the process for acquiring a Butterfly Fields bull terrier, please call 410-867-1910.

Thank you.