Hi All,
I have a three year old rescue English Bull Terrier. He is a really lovely dog and is generally very well behaved. However on walks he has become very obsessed with sticks/branches/fallen trees. He wants to chew them and carry them. He will not give them up. He isn't aggressive about it but has exceptionally strong jaws. It is really obsessive behaviour something the breed is known for.
He has a couple of times recently jumped up at other people carrying sticks and tried to take a stick a man was walking with. There is no aggression but I am fully aware it could be conceived that way and especially if it was a child.
He is much better when I walk him alone and not with my partner. My partner encourages this behaviour although he is adamant he doesn't. He doesn't see the issue that I do, that playing with sticks is dangerous and that we could end up being prosecuted under the dangerous dogs act if he jumps at someone for a stick and frightens them.
Anyone got any ideas on how to manage/cure this behaviour and also how to talk my oh round to realise it's serious?