Like many canine breeds, the temperament of a dog depends a lot on how it was socialized from the time it was a puppy. I wouldn't put any child around a dog that wasn't well socialized with other people or other children. Kids have a tendency to sometimes tease or provoke a dog without even knowing they're doing so. How well a dog tolerates a behavior like this that is foreign to them depends a lot on how that dog was raised and socialized.

Bull Terriers that have been raised properly around children make wonderful pets and are as kind hearted as can be. The link below is a fantastic video which depicts hundreds of photos of nothing but Bull Terriers and the fortunite children lucky enough to grow up with one.

In the past month, he has become suddenly agressive and will snap and try to bite.  It is usually while he is resting or laying in the floor.  Today we were sitting at the table talking with no food and he jumped out of the floor and try to bite at our daughter who was not having any contact with him.  The other more serious times he was laying in the floor and one of the kids would walk by to the kitchen and he would jump and snap. 

We have had him out and socialized him with other people and dogs.  So far he has not been agressive only at home. We are working with him on simple obedience and are starting an obedience bahavior training class this week. The only other time he reacts unusual if we have him in the car to go to the convienence store and someone walks by the car he gets very aggitated.  If you sit with him and hold him, he calms down and is fine.

We can't have him agressively biting.  It is not the usual puppy mouthy terrier tendency. 

We need help!

I have attached a picture of Jinx with my husband...please note Jinx taking up the couch so my husband sits on the floor. =)

Do Bull Terriers get along with cats?

My feelings are, if you raise a bull terrier with a cat, dog, or other animal from the time it was a small puppy you normally won't have any problems with them becoming friends and companions. 

Socializing a Bull Terrier with other animals is very important and should be encouraged at the early stages of their lives. Yes, there are many families that share their home with an EBT and a cat. Naturally, if a Bull Terrier had never been socialized with a cat the chances of him or her walking up to one out in the street and becoming best friends is very slim. With that said, you will read or hear from others that Bull Terriers do not get along with cats. However, you'll also read that Bull Terriers, on average, don't do well with others dogs also. Let's face it, these conclusions are most often based on the Bull Terriers who have never been socialized with other animals and most likely are the only pets in their home. They don't have any social skills what so ever with other animals and they're natural reaction when confronted with one would either be to playfully pounce on another dog or cat which obviously wouldn't be excepted and most likely be countered with aggression which wouldn't be tolerated by an EBT or the Bullie would automatically be defensive from the start and feel the need to become dominant. Either way this behavior would only result in a fight and once a Bullie has their first big fight with a dog or a cat you're going to have a challenge trying to train him or her to avoid becoming an aggressive dog towards other animals. Thus the reason for properly socializing them when their young and learning the ropes.

I think it's unfair for people to say "Bull Terriers do NOT get along with Cats or other Dogs" when that's not a true statement especially if many people have them living together very happily.

I have attached some photos people have sent me of their Bullies and the cats they live with. Additionally, I wanted to show this really funny video of a Bull Terrier that's obviously used to being around cats and has more patience for a mischievous cat than anyone could ever ask for out of a dog. 

Bull Terriers become very attached to their owners and their families. This
usually makes them very good natural guard dogs, but care must be taken that
they are not encouraged to become possessive and jealous. While this would seem
a desirable attribute for someone who wants a dog to protect his wife and
family, it can be a nuisance if the dog does not distinguish between acceptable
strangers and malevolent ones. Bull Terriers can also become involved in the
presence of violent physical activity such as children's fist fights or
exceptionally rough play, activity where they see no reason not to join in, or
to guard the family against the physical assaults of outsiders.

Bull Terriers like to join family activity and for this reason require
constant and firm discipline. They can be wonderful with children if handled
with common sense, both by the adults and the children. Bull Terriers will
tolerate a large range of children's behavior but they will not tolerate being
teased and can be rough if constantly provoked. In their formative years, as do
children, Bull Terriers require large amounts of supervision. They are tireless
playmates and will chase balls, follow the children and watch their games for
hours on end.

Many Bull Terriers can and do enjoy the company of other dogs with certain
exceptions. Male Bull Terriers who have not been altered do not, as a rule, get
along with other male dogs. There comes a time when one of the males must
dominate, and there is inevitably an unpleasant fight after which the two must
live entirely separately for life. A male and female Bull Terrier can live
together quite happily, and two females can sometimes share the same home.
Again, care must be taken that jealousy does not arise. It is not fair to expect
an older Bull Terrier who has enjoyed the full attentions of the family to want
to share with another dog. This again is very similar to a young child who
suddenly finds himself confronted with a baby sibling - some care must be taken
to assure the older one that the youngster belongs to the whole family.
Bull
Terriers shed their coats twice a year. The loose hair can be removed by a daily
rubdown with a special rubber glove or grooming comb specifically made to gather
hair. The hair does shed during these periods and the white hairs are more
noticeable than the colored ones on furniture and clothes.

Old age brings on the usual battery of infirmities to which Bull Terriers are
not immune. A Bull Terrier may well live an active and healthy life until he is
eleven or twelve which is about the normal life span of this breed.
Males and
females vary only slightly in temperament. The unaltered males tend not to
tolerate prolonged association with other unaltered males, as previously noted.
Undesirable tendencies based on the drive can be remarkably reduced by spaying
and neutering females as well as males. There can be more difference in the
temperament of families of Bull Terriers than in general between the sexes. Some
families tend to be more possessive and less tolerant of other dogs than others,
and some families have a tendency to some shyness and apprehension with
strangers and in strange places. Some families are very bright and innovative
(which can be mixed blessing) and some are less intellectual and more placid.

Bull Terriers are unique in the spectrum of dogs. They have been carefully
selected and bred largely by responsible, caring people who understand the
legacy of their chosen breed. They can give tremendous joy or wreak havoc,
depending on the time and effort spent by their owners to control and develop
their special character.