PeggyV
New member
- Sep 13, 2017
- 18
- 1
- Country
- USA
- Bulldog(s) Names
- Grace
Hello,
My EB, Grace, is 3 years old and has never shown any aggression at all. I got her when she was 12 weeks old and we adopted a dog from the pound when she was 8 months old. She never was aggressive to the new puppy nor anyone else. She doesn't even have any food aggression.
She nipped at her vet during a check-up about a month ago, but not until the visit was almost over. We kinda chalked it up to being irritable for being poked and examined etc. and left it alone. She went back to her normal, happy self.
Just today she had a follow-up appointment, and she was happy to see everyone, even the nurse, but as soon as the vet walked in and greeted her she went berserk. It was so disconcerting and unexpected! She sounded like she literally wanted to eat him alive. My vet is a gentle doctor, and I know he's not hurt her.
I apologized and scolded her, but she continued to get riled up anytime he looked at her or simply move his hands while talking. She never did stop growling. Once we left she is back to her old self again, and accepting everyone as if they were her new best friends :/
My vet said he had an uncle that had several English Bulldogs over the span of his life, and almost all of them turned on him once they got older. He also said he had seen a lady with a badly mauled arm who's EB also turned on her one day. He suggested this was simply a character trait that some EBs have, dependent on temperament, breeding and health condition (if the dog has arthritis, for example).
Grace is my first EB, and I researched the breed before I got her. The websites I visited all spoke highly of their loyalty and bonding with their people, and none of them suggested aggression should be a concern as they age.
I am hoping someone here may know something about this. Have you dealt with aggressive bullies and if so, how do you A) recognize the warning signs and B) Properly handle it if and when it occurs?
Thank you in advance for any tips or insight!
PeggyV
My EB, Grace, is 3 years old and has never shown any aggression at all. I got her when she was 12 weeks old and we adopted a dog from the pound when she was 8 months old. She never was aggressive to the new puppy nor anyone else. She doesn't even have any food aggression.
She nipped at her vet during a check-up about a month ago, but not until the visit was almost over. We kinda chalked it up to being irritable for being poked and examined etc. and left it alone. She went back to her normal, happy self.
Just today she had a follow-up appointment, and she was happy to see everyone, even the nurse, but as soon as the vet walked in and greeted her she went berserk. It was so disconcerting and unexpected! She sounded like she literally wanted to eat him alive. My vet is a gentle doctor, and I know he's not hurt her.
I apologized and scolded her, but she continued to get riled up anytime he looked at her or simply move his hands while talking. She never did stop growling. Once we left she is back to her old self again, and accepting everyone as if they were her new best friends :/
My vet said he had an uncle that had several English Bulldogs over the span of his life, and almost all of them turned on him once they got older. He also said he had seen a lady with a badly mauled arm who's EB also turned on her one day. He suggested this was simply a character trait that some EBs have, dependent on temperament, breeding and health condition (if the dog has arthritis, for example).
Grace is my first EB, and I researched the breed before I got her. The websites I visited all spoke highly of their loyalty and bonding with their people, and none of them suggested aggression should be a concern as they age.
I am hoping someone here may know something about this. Have you dealt with aggressive bullies and if so, how do you A) recognize the warning signs and B) Properly handle it if and when it occurs?
Thank you in advance for any tips or insight!
PeggyV