Our American Bulldog keeps blocking my mum & keeps staring, Please Help!

Oh, how can that face scare anyone?

I think you may have answered your own question but don't know it yet.  One of the reasons why your dog is attracted to your mom may be that she is a nervous person.  Bonnie is after all sounds like a nervous dog so it would make sense that she is attracted to nervous people. It's kind of like a curiosity that she has; she needs to know what's going on.  Suddenly her life has changed and now there is this person there who has always been there but something is different so she stares.  You cold give your mom a can filled with coins to shake whenever Bonnie is around, this should distract her train of thought and stop the staring.  She may be less interested in your mom once she doesn't have a need to stare.

Training aside, she doesn't get along with other animal, this may stem from a fear she has of those animal.  You use the word "hates” other animals so I would assume she has a bit of an aggression issue and from the sounds of things would be fear based.  I think a good way to handle this would be clicker training.  This would help with the barking and give her much needed positive attention.  Also adjusting to the new home may take a bit of time so eventually she may just come around on her own.

ORIGINAL: Xebby

Oh, how can that face scare anyone?

I think you may have answered your own question but don't know it yet.  One of the reasons why your dog is attracted to your mom may be that she is a nervous person.  Bonnie is after all sounds like a nervous dog so it would make sense that she is attracted to nervous people. It's kind of like a curiosity that she has; she needs to know what's going on.  Suddenly her life has changed and now there is this person there who has always been there but something is different so she stares.  You cold give your mom a can filled with coins to shake whenever Bonnie is around, this should distract her train of thought and stop the staring.  She may be less interested in your mom once she doesn't have a need to stare.

Training aside, she doesn't get along with other animal, this may stem from a fear she has of those animal.  You use the word "hates” other animals so I would assume she has a bit of an aggression issue and from the sounds of things would be fear based.  I think a good way to handle this would be clicker training.  This would help with the barking and give her much needed positive attention.  Also adjusting to the new home may take a bit of time so eventually she may just come around on her own.

Thanks for the fast reply
bonnie has always been a very nervous dog, whenever there's a hoover out or loud noises she'll scamper off into a different room, shes been like this since she was born which is a shame, shes a loving dog and loves everyone and she used to get on so well with my mum and why its quite sad at the moment , we used to have a jack russel (sadly died last year - age 17) and bonnie did get on with her well but did always try to boss patch (jack russel) around, when we take bonnie out and let her off the lead she will always stay with us unless she see's another dog when she will run upto it and either look or just growl or go for it, she seems more agrresive towards smaller dogs for some reason, there's been a few dogs she has got on with fantastically like a boxer dog that we met over a park once and we used to meet up with the owners and bonnie would play with the boxer for hours so is weird she is ok with some dogs but not others?.

respectfully, coming out of it on her own is not a good idea.  Lots of obedience training is.  Get in some classes and start working.  This will help build confidence in the dog and in the family she lives with.

ORIGINAL: mrv

respectfully, coming out of it on her own is not a good idea.  Lots of obedience training is.  Get in some classes and start working.  This will help build confidence in the dog and in the family she lives with.

I think training is a good idea, So you don't think this to be a huge problem? is it quite common?

Yes I think it is fairly common, it can become a big deal.  The more proactive the humans, the less likely the problem grows.  Most people need another set of eyes and feedback about what they are doing to be able to deal with these types of issues.  Dogs that stay home can be managed, but the restrictions on activity and interaction can actually make them more difficult to live with over time because the dogs cant deal with the changes that typically occur in life.  (another house move, different people entering the network of friends and family, new neighbors with dogs or other animals etc.)

ORIGINAL: mrv

Yes I think it is fairly common, it can become a big deal.  The more proactive the humans, the less likely the problem grows.  Most people need another set of eyes and feedback about what they are doing to be able to deal with these types of issues.  Dogs that stay home can be managed, but the restrictions on activity and interaction can actually make them more difficult to live with over time because the dogs cant deal with the changes that typically occur in life.  (another house move, different people entering the network of friends and family, new neighbors with dogs or other animals etc.)

Thats true, Thanks for the comments!, My dad doesn't see my mums views quite as much and thinks that my mum is just over reacting because of the news stories with dogs biting kids etc, bonnie would never bite anyone, shes a big softie at heart as are most dogs!, i gave them a few tips,

do you think this plan may help? my mum should be the one praising bonnie and my dad should now be the one that does the telling off?, surely this would make bonnie see my mum as a friend more?

While your dog may never bite anyone, it is never a good idea to *assume* that.  Please take mrv's advice and find a good trainer to help you.  If your dog was never properly socialized to other dogs or people, group training class may be difficult, and you might need private lessons at first. But, it will help your nervous dog enormously to understand that you are finally in charge.  Be careful, and find a trainer that doesn't use punishment such as collar corrections.  This may be ok for a pain-insensitive Lab with a mellow disposition, but it doesn't work well on fearful or anxious dogs.  

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

While your dog may never bite anyone, it is never a good idea to *assume* that.  Please take mrv's advice and find a good trainer to help you.  If your dog was never properly socialized to other dogs or people, group training class may be difficult, and you might need private lessons at first. But, it will help your nervous dog enormously to understand that you are finally in charge.  Be careful, and find a trainer that doesn't use punishment such as collar corrections.  This may be ok for a pain-insensitive Lab with a mellow disposition, but it doesn't work well on fearful or anxious dogs.  

Thanks for the tips spritdogs, your right, i shouldn't assume that, its just how she has been since she was born and that is what i go by if you know what i mean, she knows that my dad is in change of the house, its just getting her to know my mum is too []

Your mother can be an active party in this, too.  She could start by being the one who feeds bonnie, insisting that she sits and waits before eating her food.  Your mother could call Bonnie to her and give her a treat.  Tell Bonnie to "watch me" and give her a treat.   Etc. Etc. - you get the picture.  The more interaction, as a benevolent leader and teacher, between your mother and Bonnie, the more clear the relationship will be to Bonnie...and your mother.  Right now, both your Mom and Bonnie are insecure about their relationship.