Although the Bull Arab may have a reputation in the dog world for looking aggressive, just like all other dogs their behaviour will ultimately come down to the training provided by the owner. And, with the right training, there’s no reason why this breed can’t make a devoted and affectionate family pet.
Originally used to search and hunt pigs, they have a lot of energy and benefit from engaging play sessions and that will satisfy some of their exercise needs. But, that isn’t the full extent of what it takes to train a Bull Arab.
In this guide, we’ll be providing you with all the information and tips needed to effectively train your Bull Arab to make them a model citizen and a welcome addition to your home.
Like all other dogs, Bull Arab dogs require proper training to make sure that they grow up to be well-behaved and well-adjusted pooches that are a pleasure to be around.
The Bull Arab dog breed has a misguided reputation amongst dog owners for being aggressive, mostly because of its looks, but this trait is usually the result of poor training on behalf of the owner.
If you focus on early socialization and obedience training your Bull Arab shouldn’t act aggressively and will be the perfect pet for you and your family.
The Bull Arab dog is very loyal to its owner and is eager to please which means training it can be a fairly straightforward and enjoyable affair. It does take time and effort from the owner though and, while they are a very intelligent breed, some dogs may take longer to pick up their training than others. It’s all about perseverance!
As the Bull Arab was bred for pig hunting it’s a high-energy breed and so they respond best to training sessions that are task-oriented and engaging.
And, as with training any breed of dog, you should always use sessions that are based on rewards and positivity rather than punishments and negativity. This doesn’t only make training easier and more effective but helps to establish a strong bond between dog and human.
A fairly common personality trait in the Bull Arab breed is a tendency to be aggressive towards other dogs and pets such as cats. Due to this, the most important type of training that the breed requires is socialisation so that your Bull Arab learns how to behave around other canines from a young age.
If you have a Bull Arab puppy, the best thing you can do is make sure your pet is introduced to as many different sights and sounds as possible. Take them for regular exercise in your local park and walk them through busy areas. This socialisation teaches them that not everything is a threat and, in turn, they are far less likely to behave aggressively.
You should start to toilet train your Bull Arab pup as early as possible as it is much easier to train puppies than it is to train adult dogs that have already developed certain habits. In many cases, toilet training will have already been taken care of by the breeder, but if it hasn’t you’ll need to get on top of it straight away.
It is still possible to toilet train adult Bull Arab dogs, but it will require a lot of patience and persistence. Again, positive reinforcement should be used here and any accidents should not result in physical discipline as this can scare and confuse your dog, leading to more accidents in the home.
Before you start to potty train your Bull Arab you need to choose a spot outside that you want it to use as its potty spot. Then, you need to start taking your Bull Arab to this sport regularly on a leash so that it becomes familiar with it.
You should then start taking your Bull Arab to the same spot every hour or when it’s clear that it needs to go to the toilet.
If you take your dog to the spot and they don’t go to the toilet then take them back inside the house and try again after 15 minutes.
Whenever you take your Bull Arab to the potty spot you’ll need to keep a watchful eye over them to make sure that they actually go to the toilet and don’t get distracted by something else. This can be a time-consuming process so patience is key!
Each time your Bull Arab uses the potty spot correctly you should reward them with praise or a treat.
You should also refrain from punishment if they have any accidents during the first few weeks of potty training as this is an inevitable part of the learning process and will only make them distrust and fear you. Dogs learn better when they trust and respect their owners as fear can also lead to aggression in your pet.
It may take some time for your Bull Arab to be fully toilet trained so you’ll need to be patient with them and make sure that you consistently take them to the potty spot whenever they need to go to the toilet. Practice patience, use positive reinforcement, and your time and efforts will soon pay off.
Most breeds benefit from crate training as it can help to reduce separation anxiety, help with house training, teach them how to spend time alone, and also help your Bull Arab pup to be comfortable with being transported.
It’s best to start crate training Bull Arab puppies when they’re as young as possible as it is much easier to develop new habits in young Bull Arabs than in older ones.
Firstly, find a crate that is big enough for your Bull Arab to stand up and move around in and then put some bedding and some of its favourite toys inside.
Start introducing your Bull Arab to the crate by leaving treats in and around it, and then start to leave its meals inside.
Start to use a cue word such as ‘crate’ whenever your Bull Arab goes inside so that it starts to associate this word with the crate.
Once your Bull Arab is used to the crate you should start closing the door for short periods. Gradually increase this until you can leave your Bull Arab inside the locked crate overnight.
Remain consistent with the crate training as it may take a while for your dog to be comfortable enough to spend the night inside. Eventually, they’ll come think of it as their own safe space and will take to it of their own accord.
The Bull Arab dog breed is not the best choice of a pet when it comes to performing tricks but there are certain simple tricks that most breeds can be taught with moderate training.
Bull Arab owners should be able to teach their dogs tricks such as shaking hands, rolling over, and playing dead as long as they exercise patience and reward using positive reinforcement.
Keeping to a regular training routine is very important as it’s the best way to ensure that your pooch learns at a steady pace and that it retains what it has already learned in previous sessions.
Bull Arabs respond well to sessions that involve rewards and praise rather than punishments.
If your sessions do involve punishments it is much more likely that your Bull Arab will become stubborn and disinterested, and they may even begin to fear you. So, be sure to remain positive!
It’s good to use treats as a reward when training your dog but you should make sure that they are limited as too many treats could lead to weight gain and other health issues. If it’s been a particularly heavy-training day and many treats have been given, make sure you adjust their food portion accordingly at their following meal.
Clicker training can be a good method as it gradually replaces treats with the sound of a clicker. This means that the dog comes to associate this sound with a reward and stops expecting an actual treat.
Making sure that you train your Bull Arab properly is essential as it’s the best way to ensure that your pooch is a friendly and well-behaved pet. Now that you’ve got the information you need it’s time to train your furry friend!
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