How to Raise an American Bulldog
The American bulldog is friendly and very eager to please by nature. Though it is known for its aggression with other dogs due to a fighting background, the bulldog is generally very gentle with humans. But please be prepared to spend a lot of time socializing your dog to be with people and other animals. Any signs of aggression toward people should be dealt with immediately by a professional trainer.
Steps
- Vaccinate your dog when you first get him or her and see that he or she gets yearly booster vaccinations to maintain his immunity to disease. Consult your veterinarian about flea control products and worming your dog.
- Feed your dog a high-grade dog food. The first ingredient should be meat if you want a quality product. Crude protein should be no less than 30 percent and crude fat no less than 20 percent. The fiber content needs to be 4 percent or less.
- Socialize your bulldog when he or she is young, to be able to be with people and other animals. Establish your authority over your dog and be sure to take him or her to public areas, giving strangers the opportunity to pet and play with him or her. It is very important for you to establish dominance early on. This is a VERY dominant breed, and if you fail to "show him who's boss" you will be spending a lot of time later on practically begging him to sit and stay. Socialization and gaining dominance will help the dog develop an even temper.
- Start obedience training early. Because this is a dominant breed, it's important to be able to control your bulldog by voice alone. Positive reinforcement will go further than physical, as this breed is eager to please. If you must discipline, try the cold shoulder approach, this dog loves your attention and not getting it is worse than any smack with a newspaper. Especially since your not going to hurt a 120-150lb (full grown male) with a newspaper.
- Give your bulldog vigorous exercise for a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes a day. This is an active breed, and the dog will require much activity. Keep him or her on a leash when out in public to avoid fighting with other dogs. If you don't, prepare to see a side of your dog that you didn't believe existed the moment he sees another male.
- Understand that American Bulldogs are prone to certain health conditions such as cataracts (cloudy eye lens) and hip dysphasia (a malformed ball and socket in the hip joint).
- Expect male and female American Bulldogs to grow to 22 to 34 inches and weigh between 100 and 150 lbs.
- Know that the American Bulldog will live to about 15 years
Tips
- Early socialization with other animals will help minimize bulldogs aggressive tendencies but is no guarantee.
- This breed does not do better in hotter climates.
- Contact the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for more information about hip dysphasia.
- If your dogs tail goes between its legs, know that it is either scared of you or understands its place. The only way to tell the difference is when you are playing with your dog or its just "following" you around. If its tail curls up with the tip looking like its going to touch its back when you play with it, but it sits down close to almost being between its legs at some times (such as eating/drinking), it knows its place and this is a good sign. If its tail doesn't curl while playing/walking or any other activity, your dog is afraid of you and you need to rethink your thoughts/habits about raising a dog.
- When raising a dog you should always be calm. This rule is a huge factor in raising a bull dog. If your bull dog thought a person was scaring or putting you in danger it would tear through that person in a second. All dogs can sense fear.
Warnings
- Choke chains do little to control an American bulldog due to its high pain tolerance. A pinch collar works better.
- For the absolute best control, buy a harness. Its hard to get them in if they haven't grown out of the puppy stage (about 2-3yrs), but if you can control your dog with voice alone it is THE BEST means of control. Note that if you cannot control by voice ques alone, and are not stronger than the dog, prepare to be pulled around...and possibly on your face. If you think this might happen just stick with the pinch collar!
- During socialization it is VERY important that you watch your dog. I've seen plenty of "fights" with my dog involved where he was only playing. If your dog is involved in a fight and its tail is wagging/curled/or anything but straight, the only thing you have to worry about is the other dog. If you notice your dogs tail going straight...its time to try to socialize again another day.
- American Bulldogs get very...very....very strong. Its important to keep in mind, that while it wont intentionally hurt you, it is quite possible he will at one point in his life. Always remember, while playing with your dog, that the harder you play with him, the harder he thinks he can play with you.
About Canine Temperament
Because of breed-specific dog legislation and negative publicity associated with many breeds of dogs, temperament testing has assumed an important role for today's dog fancier. Temperament Test provides breeders a means for evaluating temperament and gives pet owners insight into their dog's behavior. It can have an impact on breeding programs and in educating owners about their dog's behavioral strengths and weaknesses as well as providing a positive influence on dog legislation.
What is temperament?
W. Handel, German Police Dog Trainer, in his article, "The Psychological Basis of Temperament Testing," defines temperament as:
"the sum total of all inborn and acquired physical and mental traits and talents which determines, forms and regulates behavior in the environment"
The test focuses on and measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog's instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a threat. The test is designed for the betterment of all breeds of dogs and takes into consideration each breed's inherent tendencies.
The test simulates a casual walk through the park or neighborhood where everyday life situations are encountered. During this walk, the dog experiences visual, auditory and tactile stimuli. Neutral, friendly and threatening situations are encountered, calling into play the dog's ability to distinguish between non-threatening situations and those calling for watchful and protective reactions.
The Temperament Test focuses on and measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog's instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a threat.
The test simulates a casual walk through a park or neighborhood where everyday life situations are encountered. During this walk, the dog experiences visual, auditory and tactile stimuli. Neutral, friendly and threatening situations are encountered, calling into play the dog's ability to distinguish between non-threatening situations and those calling for watchful and protective reactions.
Dogs must be at least 18 months old to enter this test. The test takes about eight to 12 minutes to complete. The dog is on a loose six-foot (6') lead. The handler is not allowed to talk to the dog, give commands, or give corrections.
Failure on any part of the test is recognized when a dog shows:
- Unprovoked aggression
- Panic without recovery
- Strong avoidance
The Temperament Test consists of ten subtests divided into five subcategories:
Behavior Toward Strangers
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to strangers in a non-threatening situation.
Subtest 1: Neutral stranger
A
stranger to the dog approaches the handler, shakes hands with the
handler and engages the handler in a brief conversation, ignoring the
dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's reaction to passive socialization and the dog's protective instinct.
Subtest 2: Friendly stranger
A stranger to the dog approaches happily and briskly, is very friendly to the dog and pets the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's active social skills.
Reaction to Auditory Stimuli
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to auditory stimuli and the dog's investigative behavior.
Subtest 3: Hidden Noise
The
handler/dog team approaches a hidden assistant who rattles a metal
bucket filled with rocks and sets this bucket in the path of the team.
The handler may encourage the dog to investigate the bucket only when
asked to do so. The handler's focus must be on the bucket, not on the
dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to test alertness and curiosity.
Subtest 4: Gunshots
The
handler stops at a designated marker with his/her back towards a well
hidden assistant. The assistant fires three shots using a .22 caliber
starter pistol (SHOT-PAUSE-SHOT-SHOT).
The purpose of this subtest is to measure the dog's recovery response to a sudden noise.
Reaction to Visual Stimulus
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to a sudden visual stimulus.
Subtest 5: Umbrella
The
handler/dog team approaches an assistant sitting in a chair holding a
closed umbrella parallel to the ground at a 90 degree angle to the
approaching team. When the dog is five feet from the assistant, the
umbrella is opened. The handler may encourage the dog to investigate
the umbrella only when asked to do so. The handler's focus must be on
the umbrella, not on the dog.
Tactile Stimuli
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to unusual footing.
Subtest 6: Plastic Footing
Both the handler and the dog walk the entire length of a 15-foot by 6-foot clear plastic strip.
Subtest 7: Wire Footing
Only the dog will walk the entire length of a 12-foot by 3-foot unfolded exercise pen.
The purpose of these subtests is to measure the dog's sensitivity to unusual footing, its ability to recover from the fear of unusual footing and to measure its investigative behavior to the unusual footing.
Self Protective/Aggressive Behavior
Objective:
These tests collectively evaluate the dog's capacity to recognize an
unusual situation, its threshold to provocation, its protective
instincts, and its propensity to realize when the situation becomes a
threat.
Subtest 8: Non-Threatening
The handler/dog team stops at the designated marker. A weirdly-dressed stranger crosses the path 38 feet in front of the team.
The purpose of this subtest is to test the dog's alertness to an unusual situation.
Subtest 9: Threatening
The weird stranger advances 10 feet towards the stationary handler in a threatening manner.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's ability to recognize when an unusual situation turns into a provocation.
Subtest 10: Aggression
The weird stranger advances to within 18 feet of the stationary handler in an aggressive manner.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's protective instincts.
The stranger is never closer than 10 feet from the dog. The handler's 2 foot arm and the 6' lead is added in for a total of 18 feet. Aggression here is checked against the breed standard and the dog's training. A schutzhund trained dog lunging at the stranger is allowed, but if an untrained Siberian husky does the same, it may fail.
At the conclusion of the test, the handler will receive a critique about the dog's performance. Certificate.
