Even Rich Bulldogs Can Be Bullies

New parents Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz did more than nest prior to Bronx Mowgli’s birth.

They called in the canine Cavalry: Cesar Millan of Nat Geo’s “Dog Whisperer” fame to straighten out their unruly male Bulldog Hemingway, and the impish younger female Bulldog Rigby, who was starting to pick up his bad behavior.

Sunday, December 28 at 8pm ET/PT sees hardcore rehab case English retriever Cricket and the Simpson and Wentz Hemingway & Rigby Bulldog rehabilitation on National Geographic Channel.

Seven months pregnant, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and “Fall Out Boy” bassist/lyricist Pete Wentz called in Cesar to help them square away the aggressive nature of their male English bulldog Hemingway.  Simpson noted: “We’re about to have a baby, so it’s a big concern.”

Fears of how the dogs would react around their new baby prompted the immediate intervention.  “I find myself avoiding other dogs, I avoid going to dog parks with them,” explains Wentz.  Added Simpson, “The first time I noticed Hemingway had some issues, whenever I would see him around other dogs, he would [be] aggressive.”

Adding 5-month-old female English bulldog Rigby seemingly escalated Hemingway’s dog aggression, shown in dramatic B-roll as Wentz walked the dog through their Los Angeles neighborhood.

Cesar gave the couple his calm assertive tutorial, showing Pete and Ashlee how to reestablish dominance over a breed that takes enormous patience and resolve to retrain; Bulldogs are called that name for a reason, they are tough, willful and smart customers bred to bait bulls in England.

During the 1600s, bulldogs were used for bull and bearbaiting.  Owners used the tenacious dogs in their gambling sport.  Bulldogs were unleashed to attack a bull lashed to a post, biting down on its tender snout attempting to suffocate it.

Rigby is an adorable stinker; you see her watching all the lessons Hemingway is getting and see the gears whirling in her little droopy-faced head.  The footage of the two running on the treadmill and playing with the exercise balls is great too.

Next, he demonstrates with ease how to walk with Hemingway and pass other dogs on the street — leading the dog and showing Hemingway who is in charge.  Cesar also works with the couple in their fitness room, teaching them how to properly use the treadmill with both dogs.  Finally, Cesar gives them a lesson on feeding, and how to claim the space around the food.

Cesar shared his dog experience and wisdom:  “Dogs don’t care how rich or famous you are; they only know who’s the leader and who’s the follower,” said Cesar.  “My job was to teach Pete and Ashlee how to take the leadership role before their baby came into the picture.”