Valley Bulldogs are a relatively new “designer” breed of dog that has emerged since the 1990’s. Hailing from Nova Scotia Canada, the Valley Bulldog has quickly started to gain in popularity. As a new cross breed of bulldog, obvious questions arise, such as, are Valley Bulldogs Aggressive? Well…
As a whole Valley Bulldogs are not aggressive. Behind that rough looking Bulldog looking face is a sweet, silly, and gentle family pet. The Valley Bulldog is known for their great temperament and goof ball like behaviors. These family dogs are great as companions and entertainment.
An aggressive Valley Bulldog is far from the norm. Especially one that is well socialized, trained, and has all of their needs being met by a loving family. When a Valley Bulldog is aggressive there are some other factors at play, and not their default setting.
If you are wondering if this breed is right for you, keep reading, I have plenty of facts, tips, and info on the Valley Bulldog.
Thing To Know #1 – Valley Bulldogs have a calm, gentle, playful demeanor and are not aggressive.
Valley Bulldog Temperament – Are They Aggressive?
I had never heard of the Valley Bulldog until a few short years ago. While out for a walk along some trails with my Staffy, we came across a couple with what I could only identify as a Boxer mix. I soon found out this cross breed had a name, the Valley Bulldog, or Bull Boxer.
I also learned that this wasn’t just some random mix of two breeds, but in fact a designer breed. The Valley Bulldog is made up of the English Bulldog and Boxer. These dogs were bred intentionally to play down the high maintenance health problems of the English Bulldog, and bring out the best of both breeds.
Thing To Know #2 – Valley Bulldogs are a designer breed made up of Boxers and English Bulldogs
It’s no wonder this breed has gained so much popularity and notoriety in such a short period of time. They are the best of the Boxer and the best of the Bulldog, all wrapped up into a wonderful new breed of dog.
The Valley Bulldog has a calm, confident, fun loving temperament. Many people including myself would even use the word silly to describe these natural entertainers. The Valley Bulldog’s sweet disposition towards their family make them excellent pets.
The loyalty of the Valley Bulldog is also one of their stronger characteristics. Though they are not aggressive towards people, they can act as a good watch dog for their family. A Valley Bulldog will alert if they feel something is out of sorts, or perceive a threat to their loved ones.
Do Valley Bulldogs Make Good Guard Dogs?
As a guard dog the Valley Bulldog however may not be fit for the job. They are very people friendly, and act as more of a deterrent with their medium to large size, and bulldog facial features. Would be bad guys may second guess a house with a dog that has the Valley Bulldog.
Thing To Know #3 – Valley Bulldogs can be stubborn, and wilful.
Much like the Boxer and the English Bulldog, the Valley Bulldog can be stubborn at times. Some would call this an air of independence, or wilfulness. Both would be accurate. The Valley Bulldog is eager to please their owners, but will need strong leadership, and proper training and exercise to bring out their full potential.
Any dog can become aggressive. The breed rarely if ever has anything to do with the aggressive behavior displayed by a dog. If your Valley Bulldog is displaying any sort of aggression there are certain needs that are not being met for the dog.
Exercise, socialization, training, and calm, firm leadership can all prevent aggressive behaviors before they start. Anytime I have ever seen aggression in a dog, it was due to one or more of these factors missing in the dog’s life.
Are Valley Bulldogs Good With Kids?
Valley Bulldogs are excellent with kids. The Valley Bulldog is very affectionate, gentle, and playful with children which makes them a good playmate and companion dog. A well socialized Valley Bulldog is not only good with your families little humans, but good with kids in general.
Thing To Know #4 – Valley Bulldogs are very good with kids. In fact they adore children.
Any dog can play a little rough, or get annoyed when being played with rough. It is always important to monitor playtime between any breed of dog and children. All parties involved in play activities need to know the rules of gentle and respectful play.
The Valley Bulldog is a fairly big dog, especially compared to a small child, and accidental bumps, and falls can happen. Make sure playtime is under control and nobody is getting too excited or careless during their activities.
Teaching both dogs and children the right way to play, and always keeping an eye out is important. Nothing can be more fun for a dog and for children then play time together. For the Valley Bulldog, this is among their favorite things in the world.
Thing To Know #5 – Valley Bulldogs are strong and can accidentally knock over a child. Always monitor play time.
Are Valley Bulldogs Good With Other Dogs?
Well socialized Valley Bulldogs can be good with other dogs no problem. They are a very playful breed that enjoys interacting with other dogs. Socialization is important for every breed of dog, and the Valley Bulldog is no exception.
Thing To Know #6 – A well socialized Valley Bulldog can get along well with other dogs.
The Valley Bulldog can display some of the Bulldog bravado at times, and be a bit of a bully if not corrected. Socialization from an early age can keep this sort of behavior from becoming a problem.
Valley Bulldogs raised in the same house as other dogs, and even cats, will do just fine. So long as their needs are being met, such as exercise, training, and strong leadership, a house with other pets is great for a Valley Bulldog.
Valley Bulldog Training – Are They Easy To Train?
Valley Bulldogs luckily take after their Boxer half when it comes to intelligence. They are fairly smart dogs that can be easy to train. The loyal, eager to please temperament of the Valley Bulldog paired with their smarts can be used to your advantage.
Calm, firm, leadership used with positive reinforcement techniques is the ticket when it comes to training a Valley Bulldog. They respond very well to these techniques and leadership approaches.
Training with a Valley Bulldog could, and should start the day you bring your puppy home. You will be amazed at how quickly they will start picking up basic commands and rules of the house.
A well trained Valley Bulldog will rarely display any aggressive behaviors. Not only will they have the leadership they crave, but the mental stimulation to prevent any buildup of stress or anxiety that can often lead to aggression in dogs.
Thing To Know #7 – Valley Bulldogs are smart and can be easy to train.
There are a few principles I use for every dog when it comes to training. These principles will help set your Valley Bulldog, and yourself, up for success. Follow these simple rules, and you will find that Valley Bulldogs can be very easy to train.
Keep It Short
Keep your training sessions to about 15-20 minutes. This will ensure you can maximize your Valley Bulldogs attention. A couple 15 minute training sessions a day can add up over time, and is great mental exercise. Anything more than 20 minutes can lead to boredom, or frustration with your dog.
Keep It Fun
Keeping things fun while training is the best way to keep your Valley Bulldog engaged. Entertaining challenges that your dog loves won’t feel like learning to them. Make sure to not confuse fun with excitement. An excited dog is harder to keep focused. Stay calm and don’t over excite your dog, but make the activity fun for them.
Keep It Consistent
Practice makes progress. A consistent daily training routine is the best way to establish great skills, and reinforce wanted behaviors. At least one solid training session a day will pay off huge in your Valley Bulldogs obedience levels.
Keep It Positive
Always keep training positive. Valley Bulldogs respond very well to positive reinforcement training. Their eagerness to please should be rewarded when they complete a challenge, or display wanted behaviors.
You should never yell, shout, hit, or punish your dog while training. Not only is this an ineffective way to teach a dog anything, it can lead to other behavioral issues such as fear, anxiety and stress. These are the types of issues that can lead to aggression down the road.
If you are getting frustrated while training with your Valley Bulldog, it’s time to stop and take a break. Return back to the activities once you are in a place of calm leadership.
Keep It Going
Training doesn’t end once potty training is done. Training with your Valley Bulldog should be a daily, lifelong activity. This consistency will reinforce the behaviors you want, but also allows you to continue solidifying your bond with your dog.
I have had my Staffy for over 10 years now, and we still train everyday. Tricks, basic commands, obedience, you name it, we practice it. There is no cut off point to your dog’s learning, and making things fun turns it into a great activity for everyone.
Keep Them Social
Socializing is just as important as learning basic obedience and commands. A well socialized dog is far less likely to display any signs of aggressive behavior.
Bring your Valley Bulldog out to all sorts of different places to meet other dogs, kids, people, and pets. Introduce them to different sounds, smells, and environments from a very early age. The more socialized a dog, the better their chances of not developing any unwanted negative behaviors.
Thing To Know #8 – Valley Bulldogs respond well to consistent, short, daily training routines using positive reinforcement techniques.
Valley Bulldog Exercise Needs – How Much Do They Need?
One the most sure fire ways to prevent aggression in any breed of dog is adequate exercise.
The Valley Bulldog is a cross breed of a Boxer and Bulldog and their energy level falls somewhere in between.
Valley Bulldogs will need about 45-60 minutes of exercise each and every day. A brisk walk is one of the best activities you can do with your dog. The walk is one of the best ways to strengthen your bond, and practice some training like leash manners and basic commands.
Thing To Know #9 – Valley Bulldogs are medium energy dogs and need 45-60 minutes of daily exercise.
Mixing in other activities like fetch and tug-of-war can be other great ways to supplement your walks. These sorts of activities are ideal for Valley Bulldogs. They love spending time interacting with their family, as these games are a perfect way to engage with them.
Exercise Caution
Be cautious not to over exercise a Valley Bulldog as they do have a brachycephalic muzzle like the Bulldog and can overheat. Breathing problems from over exercise, or hot temperatures can be harmful, so be wary of both with your Valley Bulldog.
Thing To Know #10 – Valley Bulldogs can be prone to respiratory problems and have trouble regulating heat. High intensity exercise and hot temperatures should be avoided.
Giving your Valley Bulldog enough exercise is not just great for their health, but their general well being and behavior. A tired dog is a happy dog I always say. Behaviors like aggression are far less likely to appear when a dog is not pent up with extra energy.
Nervous, anxious, and bored behaviors can have destructive consequences. Exercise can alleviate many of those and create a far more balanced, calm, and content dog. Never underestimate your dog’s need for exercise.
Final Thoughts
A Valley Bulldog that is well socialized, trained, exercised and cared for will be a tremendous family dog. These factors alone will negate any negative behavior issues, especially signs of aggression.
Getting a Valley Bulldog can be one of the best decisions you can make. The sweet, calm, loving temperament of the Valley Bulldog will bring your years of heart swelling joy, and belly laughs.