Bulldog Puppy Training

Bulldogs are one of the truly old and elite purebred strains of dogs in modern society. A symbol of England since the 1500s, Bulldogs are stoic, courageous and bullheaded. So, Bulldog puppy training can be quite a chore if your pup is particular stubborn or adventurous in your home.

Choosing Your Puppy

When you choose your Bulldog puppy, keep in mind how much goes into this breed. Bulldogs are prone to many health problems, starting from birth with their high mortality rate. Choose a puppy that is at least eight weeks old, friendly, and not aggressive. Make sure it is in good health with a vet, as there are a number of puppyhood health problems that a bulldog might have, especially with their noses and ears.

Bulldog puppy training should start as soon as you bring your puppy home, but only if the dog is old enough and has been properly socialized. If the puppy is not yet 10 weeks old or if it has not be properly socialized with people and other dogs, make sure you do this first to avoid the creation of any excess aggression issues.

Bulldog Puppy Training

Once your puppy is old enough, start training with basic housetraining. Bulldogs can be especially stubborn at a young age, so it is highly recommend you use crate training and are home as much as possible during house breaking. It will take slightly longer than normal to finalize the housebreaking process, but once they are broken, a Bulldog is extremely careful not to violate its home.

After you’ve established the basics, start creating an environment in which you are the clear and obvious alpha pack leader. Train your bulldog puppy not to bite or nip using toys and a clear whining sound to show that it hurts. Do not allow your puppy to jump on the couch and never let it sleep in your bed. The crate should be used as much as possible in these early months as you stretch out how long the puppy can stay in there.

Bulldog puppy training should move into the obedience phase between 3 and 6 months with focus on basic commands like lying down, sitting, staying, focusing on you, coming when called, waiting inside doors and not pulling on the leash.

You will find that a Bulldog is very adept at picking up on these cues, but may not initially want to follow your lead due to its strong nature.

Using Bulldog Puppy Training to Protect Them

Because of their innate curiosity and courageous nature, a bulldog will try to explore as much as possible. Teach them early not to chase cars, to stop at the curb and to make sure they don’t run away from you in public. Never take a bulldog off its leash until you can be sure it will return upon being called and not run too far from you. The risks are higher with Bulldogs than with many other small breeds.

Proper Bulldog puppy training may seem a little tougher than normal when you first get your new little friend, but eventually you’ll find that a Bulldog is among the most loyal, attentive dogs you could possibly own. They will stubbornly stay by your side, follow your instructions and stay clean indoors. But, only if you lay down the law early and make sure they follow your instructions in the future.