Bull breeds are the Elphabas of the dog world.
Judged on sight. Misunderstood. Labelled as “wicked” long before anyone gives them a chance.
You don’t need to know the Wicked story to follow this, but in the musical, Elphaba is feared for how she looks, blamed for things she didn’t do, and treated as a villain simply for existing. Bull breeds live that reality every day.
People see muscle and miss the softness.
They see energy and call it aggression.
They see excitement and punish it because they don’t know how to channel it.
Many handle them roughly and call it “play”.
Many ignore the worry in their eyes because they only see the stereotype.
Some cross the road to avoid them.
Some think they shouldn’t exist at all.
And that last part isn’t theatre. It isn’t fiction.
It’s the truth these dogs live with.
What the media gets wrong
The media love to cast bull breeds as the most “wicked” of all dogs.
It sells papers. It fuels fear. It builds a story.
But it isn’t the truth.
I’ve worked with bull breeds professionally for years.
I’ve lived with them. I’ve raised them.
Here’s the real story.
Bull breeds are intelligent,
Anyone who’s seen my Stanlee work knows exactly how smart he is.
They think fast. They learn fast. They problem-solve.
They pick up scentwork, obedience, tricks, and emotional cues quicker than most people expect.
Bull breeds are sensitive
They read your mood before you’ve even noticed your own tension growing.
If your energy is off, they know.
If you’re tense, they feel it.
If you’re calm, they soften.
Bull breeds become what you teach, how you treat them.
A dog that feels unsafe can be dangerous.
That applies to every breed, not just bull breeds.
When you punish a powerful, energetic, clever dog instead of teaching them, you create fear. Fear becomes confusion. Confusion becomes reaction. Reaction becomes a headline.
Training, under guidance, and calm, compassionate handling are what shape a bull breed.
Not force. Not fear. Not the “tough” act people put on them.
The “tough dog” problem
A lot of people like the blocky head and muscular build of a staffie.
Nothing wrong with that on its own.
But some choose them for the wrong reasons.
They want a dog that looks intimidating.
They want a prop.
They want something that fits the part they’ve written in their head.
They don’t want Glinda’s sunshine.
They want someone to stand beside them and look fierce.
But that isn’t who these dogs are.
That’s the costume they’ve been forced into.
The truth beneath the paint
Strip away the reputation.
Strip away the headlines.
Strip away the fear that’s been painted onto them like Elphaba’s green skin.
And you find a dog who feels deeply.
A dog who bonds fiercely.
A dog who wants stability, calm, and someone who sees the real them.
Not the version the world has written.
Not the version the media performs.
Not the version strangers cross the road to avoid.
Give them safety, guide them, give them a chance – and you’ll meet the real character underneath.
Bull breeds aren’t wicked
They’re just written that way.
The clever one.
The soft one.
The loyal one.
The Elphaba who was never wicked at all.
For more information on Bull Breed training, please get in touch!