Are Pocket Bullies Aggressive? How to Train Them to Be Friendly

Pocket bullies are a cross between a Patterdale Terrier and an American Pitbull. These dogs are mainly bred to be friendly, loyal, and loving companions to all families.

However, since American Pitbulls have a reputation for being aggressive, many pet parents are concerned about whether pocket bullies will turn out to be aggressive as well.

So, are pocket bullies aggressive? Pocket bullies are not naturally aggressive. They might become aggressive if they sense a threat coming toward them or their family members as they can be very protective. However, their behavior mainly depends on how well they were trained and socialized.

Keep reading to learn more about pocket bullies and how to train them to be friendly.

How Dangerous Are Pocket Bullies?

Pocket bully with tennis ball to answer are pocket bullies aggressive

Pocket bullies are not dangerous. Just like any other dog breed, they are a product of their environment. So, with proper training and socialization, they would make excellent companions.

There may be some misconceptions about pocket bullies becoming aggressive as they are a cross between Pitbulls and Patterdale Terriers.

It’s no secret that Pitbulls were originally bred to fight with other animals, however, that doesn’t mean that these dogs are inherently aggressive, especially toward their family.

Pocket bullies can be very territorial and protective which causes them to become aggressive if they sense that there is a danger or threat coming toward their owner or someone else in their family.

Do Pocket Bullies Make Good House Pets?

Pocket bullies make good house pets as long as they are properly trained.

They are small in size which makes them perfect for families living in small houses or apartments.

They are not high maintenance when it comes to their grooming as they have short hair and do not need to be bathed too often. They’re generally very healthy so you can have them around your family without any fear of disease transmission or health problems.

They would make great playmates and companions for children as they are highly energetic and can be very friendly and affectionate. They would also make great guards as they’re very protective and possessive of their owners and family members.

American bullies are also good with other dogs if introduced correctly.

Are Pocket Bullies Good with Other Pets?

Pocket bullies can be good with other pets, but it also depends on how well they were socialized and trained.

If pocket bullies are raised around other animals from a young age, they will likely get along just fine. However, if they are not introduced to other animals until later in life, they may become aggressive or territorial.

You can learn how to introduce your American bully to a cat or other small pet in my article that discusses how good are American bullies with cats here.

Are Pocket Bullies Good Around Children?

Pocket bullies are good around children as long as they were properly trained and socialized. However, you still need to be aware of the risks that come with leaving a dog alone with your children because accidents might still happen.

Make sure to supervise all interactions between you and your children, and be on the lookout for any signs that your dog might be turning aggressive toward the children or that your children are unknowingly harming the dog.

When Do You Need to Start Training Your Pocket Bully?

There’s no right or wrong time to start training your pocket bully, whether you’re adopting a puppy or already have an older dog.

Pocket bullies are naturally smart and eager to please which makes them easy to train. However, the training process will be a lot easier if you started when your dog is at a young age.

Early socialization and training can help avoid aggressive behavior in a dog as it matures. It will also help the dog establish a healthier and stronger bond with its pet parent.

If your dog is older, training it or modifying old habits might be more difficult but not impossible, as long as you’re dedicated and patient enough.

How to Train Your Pocket Bully to Be Friendly?

As mentioned before, pocket bullies are easy to train. You just need to start socializing them as early as possible and use the right discipline methods.

How to Socialize Pocket Bullies?

Socialization involves allowing your dog to interact with new environments, scents, sounds, animals, and people.

Pocket bullies will benefit a lot from socialization, especially at a young age, as it teaches them to perceive fewer things as a threat, makes them feel at ease around people and other dogs, and prevents them from developing aggressive tendencies.

If your pocket bully is a year old or older, you will have to work harder to properly socialize them but it’s definitely not impossible.

Many pet stores provide socialization sessions where you can bring your pet to mingle with other pets and humans. If you can’t find a socialization session near you, you can always take your dog to a busy park.

How to Discipline Pocket Bullies?

The first thing you need to do is teach your pocket bully basic commands like “sit” “stay” “come” and “down” before moving on to any advanced commands or tricks.

The best method to use when disciplining pocket bullies is positive reinforcement which involves identifying what motivates your dog the most, whether it’s treats, toys, or words of praise, and using it to get your dog to continue displaying desired behaviors.

Remember that positive reinforcement should be used during every training activity and only a result of good behavior. Rewarding your dog when it displays bad behavior or for no reason at all will send a mixed message that will just confuse the dog.

How to Punish Pocket Bullies?

When it comes to punishing bad behavior, never hit or yell at your dog as this will make it feel threatened and provoke it to attack in self-defense.

The best thing to do is to stop giving your dog attention which is a method known as negative reinforcement. This method can be very effective in discouraging bad behavior as pocket bullies hate being ignored.

If you catch your dog displaying bad behavior, you need to deliver the punishment while the act is still in progress. If you wait too long to discipline a certain behavior, your dog will be more confused.

Remember that aggressive behavior from the owner will result in equally aggressive behavior in the dog and you should always build your dog’s behavior based on love and trust, not fear.

How to Crate Train Your Pocket Bully?

Crate training is a very effective way to house train your dog. Pocket bullies are den animals and prefer having their own designated space where they can feel safe and secure.

When crate training, you should place the crate in an area in the house where they feel comfortable and always make it an inviting place for your dog by putting some of its favorite toys or treats inside. This will encourage the dog to go into the crate without feeling isolated or abandoned.

Make sure to give your dog enough time in the crate so it can do its business before taking it out and reward good behavior with a treat. They will hate staying in the crate overnight at the beginning, but they will eventually get used to it.

How to Leash Train Your Pocket Bully?

Training your pocket bully to walk on a leash correctly is very important as it will help you maintain control of the dog and avoid any possible accidents or injuries.

Start by attaching a short leash to your pocket bully and taking it for a walk around the house. Make sure you keep a positive attitude and reward good behavior with treats or words of praise.

If your dog pulls roughly on the leash or walks ahead of you, stop walking and wait for them to calm down before continuing. If they continue to pull, take them back inside and try again later. Eventually, your pocket bully will learn how to walk nicely on the leash. Just be patient and consistent with the training.

Make sure to choose a well-fitting collar and leash for your dog as it will respond best to leash training when they feel comfortable.

What to Do If Your Pocket Bully Is Not Responding to Training?

Your pocket bully might lose focus and suddenly stop responding to your commands during a training session. This mainly happens when your dog is extremely tired or overwhelmed.

So, it’s very important to allow your dog to take breaks whenever needed during training sessions to avoid straining it. It’s also recommended to keep the training session short, around 15 minutes or so, and repeat it several times a day rather than stretch one session out for hours.

To get your pocket bully to keep responding to your training, you need to be consistent.

Make sure to stick with one method and refrain from changing things up too often or whenever something goes wrong. If your dog doesn’t take to learning a certain command at the beginning, just be patient and keep trying.

The training process is a bonding experience for you and your dog and requires a great amount of dedication.

If you’re still having a hard time training your pocket bully and seeing any progress, then it might be a good idea to seek a professional to help with the training. There are various pet centers that offer basic training classes for puppies as well as more advanced training classes for older dogs.

Are Pocket Bullies Aggressive? How to Train Them to Be Friendly