RE: Training an American Bulldog
I just got an AB about 5 days ago and she is the sweetest puppy I have ever known (of course :)She is 8 weeks old and already 13 lbs. She loves to bite though, and is very playful early in the morning. I have a large crate for 100lb plus dogs and have sectioned it off to fit her while she grows I will extend it. I put treats inside of her crate and praise her when she goes in and sits.
After 1 day, I find her in there sleeping on her own with the door open! I also have a 2 year old mini schnauzer that had a few issues with dominance in the first few days, but using Cesar's "poke" in the side trick and using the little mouth noise at the same time, is helping me establish the pack leader role. For those that are introducing a AB puppy into a family with an existing dog, it is imperative to give more love to the existing dog to insure his/her acceptance of the new puppy.
I did all my studying for 3 weeks prior to buying my new AB puppy and made the decision to buy one knowing full well what I was getting into. The breed is very head strong but loyal and loving, but also is not for everyone. I am up for the challenge because it will sure be one, but the rewards (from what I hear) out weigh the difficult times.
Happy Bulldoggin!
Posted on 01/01/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
When my husband told me he wanted an AB for our family pet (we have 4 kids). I started researching for months all about their temperature where they came from etc. to see if we were even the right personality of people for them to come into. One of the biggest things that kept coming up is how much time these dogs need. Anyone who has to work all the time, has to many other activities etc is surely not going to make for a happy environment for one of these dogs. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they need a stay at home mom to be a functioning animal in your pack LOL that would be unrealistic. But at least steady, consistent, caring training to bring them up the right way with our children, other people and other animals so that we can enjoy them worry free no matter where we take them.
When my husband purchased our first AB pup he was nothing that we had decided we wanted--we wanted a very young 8-10 weeks, female AB puppy that we could train from the beginning. What he got was a 6 mo old MALE AB named BRUTUS that came from a disaster! This lady had responded to my husbands ad for his "dream dog" and told him she had a puppy that she just didn't have time for. She quoted him an extremely low price for a registered AB ($300) so of course my husband (impulsive shopper that he is) purchased the dog! Then informs me (at this point bells and whistles are going off in my head)-OMG what did you get us into!
So since it was going to be 2 weeks before he could pick up this puppy I started emailing the owner like crazy to see what I could find out. Long story short, HE was 6 mo old, was being kept in a kennel indoors up to 20 hrs a day because she worked a lot plus the other dog she had would constantly try to fight with him and it was the only way it couldn't bite him, she said he had been to 2 obedience series classes, but still didn't know "come" or "stay", he wasn't totally potty trained, couldn't stand cats and he'd never been around small children! (our youngest is 2) I just knew I was living a nightmare.
When she dropped him off and my husband was of course at work that day she just dropped everything and disappeared so I was left with this dog I was scared to death of from the sound of everything. Now here's the real story...It took this puppy about a half hour to calm down from running around looking to see where his master went, he was very friendly with me and my kids and by the end of the night he was sleeping on our king sized bed.
By the end of the first week he had not had a single accident in the house, was eating well and we found out that he knew how to sit, down, shake hands, and you could put a treat on his front paw and tell him to "leave it" and he would wait for you to give him the treat! He is wonderful with the kids, my 2 yr old sits on him occasionally and he just rolls over, I can give and take toys from him as well as his food and again my 2 yr old literally took his dog food out of his mouth and all Brutus did was back away.
We have had him for a while now and he never ceases to amaze us! This "disaster Dog" has been the most wonderful addition to our family we could have ever asked for.The only after affect that I have seen in him so far has been his fear of the broom when I sweep the kitchen-he peeks around the corner at me while I sweep and if there is a sudden loud noise when he is outside he will run for the backdoor! I am sure this will just take a little more time before he settles down on these things as well
As for the Lady that used to own him? I ran into her a couple weeks ago and she asked me about him-when I told her of how wonderful and smart he was she wanted to buy him back! Well I bit my lip as my husband talked to her but as soon as we walked out of the store I told him NOT ON YOUR LIFE! Brutus is happily here to stay.
Posted on 12/15/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
As to whether or not some poeple dock AB tails yes they do, be it for the look of the dog (some say they look tougher) or for working reasons (some stock farmers will dock tails so they don't get them caught in underbrush, bitten by other animals etc.) But if you are going to show your AB or want them to look just like the breed standard is supposed to then leave the tail. Judges will issue a cosmetic fault if the tail is docked.
Posted on 12/15/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I have a 8 month old AB he's name is "JUSTICE". My wife wanted a aussie bulldog. I searched the web American bulldog popped up. I was fascinated by there size. I read up on them and talked my wife into getting an AB. We got a pup a few weeks later he was 10 weeks old. I reckon they are a good bread and depends how they are brought up.
We kept him inside for 6 months to get to know the family and I slowly introduced him to our other dog "JADA". She is a female boxer x staffy. We slowly left him outside with JADA for 20 mins, then 30 mins during the day when we were at home. Now when we leave for a few hours he just waits at the back door.
He is house trained. But when he was younger he couldn't hold him self but with patients and training he no longer does it inside. I walk him with my kids twice a day it depends on my shifts. He is great with my young girl who is 3years old. I have taught her how to ignore him if he is to rough and to say "no" and turn her back to him it works all the time. The only problem I have is he wants to kill my cat. But other than that he is a great dog.
Posted on 12/10/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I have an 8month old AB name 'justice'. He is the best dog I ever had,when we got him at 10 weeks old. All he did was sleep and he would love laying on your chest and would go to sleep. It took him a couple of weeks to get potty trained but he has picked it up quickly. When ever he goes out to toilet I would reward him with a treat. He loves his bean bag that we had. It is now his bed. He loves it.
He would lay on it and sprawl himself on it. We would crack up he would lay on his back with his head hanging over the other side with his legs up in the air. I walk him at least twice a day it depends on my shifts at work, I try to socialize him as much as I can. After his walks he eats. Then he would jump on his been bag.
My 3year old daughter loves him she would lay next to him and when when i take him for a walk and my daughter comes along he would walk next to her and when I would let him of the lead and my daughter runs he would run next to her and follow her around.
I taught my daughter how to respond to Justice when he gets a bit exited she would say no and turn her back to him and walk away justice would sit or walk away.my dog would pull at first when going for a walk but i would stop and correct him then I would continue, he now walks beside me with a loose leash. I watch the dog whisper, and pick up a few tips. Everyone in the family has to be consistent because they are a very big dogs. Also everyone has to be confident when training your AB. My whole family loves justice and the bread. The best thing is to be patient and take your time.
Posted on 12/10/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I have an 11month old American bulldog named Sarah, she is a joy to have. She trained really well and is very protective of me. The only problem we are having is her being aggressive toward other dogs outside my 3 other dogs. Any help would be appreciated.
Posted on 11/02/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
Just wondering... do people dock American Bulldog's tails? If so, at what age are they too old to do so? Thanks!
Posted on 11/01/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I have a six month old AB, Stella. My husband and I both work and are gone for between 8 and 9 hours, just Mon-Wed. I am home Thurs and Fri, and the weekend of course. My question is, where is the best place to keep her mon-wed when we are gone? We have a crate for her, but that is just too long to leave her in there. While the weather has been nice, we are leaving her out in the fenced back yard where she has food, water and shelter. She seems to be happy in the fresh air.
Here lies my problem; I live in Colorado. SNOW SEASON is upon us, and is will be out of the question to leave her out there. My other option is the garage, but then it still is cold, and if I leave her in there for that long, then she goes potty in there, and we will have to hose it out into the icy driveway! I can install a heater high up on the wall, to keep her warmer, but it just doesn't seem to be the right solution. What do people do with their dogs in cold weather when they are gone for 8 hours? Thanks so much!
Posted on 11/01/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
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By firefighterford (Guest Post)
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I just got a 14 month old AB. He's great. I have had him now for 4 days. He's house trained and very good with people and kids, as well as other dogs. He even likes my cat. Granted my cat disagrees, but its still going good. The only problem is his pulling on the leash. I bought another type of harness that tightens around their armpit when pulled on. Ii works amazing. I would highly recommend this. He's from a breed of pullers so he's quit big, but it been going good so far.
Posted on 10/12/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I want to get a American bulldogs but I don't no how to train him to do what I want him to , he needs to be potty trained and a nice dog (not hostile) but I want him to no when there danger to attack if nesicary but to return when told to. So, really I wants nice trained dog but pretective to his owner also. Someone please give me help or teell me where I can find some.
Posted on 08/20/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
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By lainey e_mc49 hotmail.com (Guest Post)
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I got my 10 mnth old ab from a rescue hes lovely and mostly good for me except for recall and pulling on the leash. My problem is with my 12 yr old grandson the dog constantly jumps up on him not aggressively but also he trys to hump him , we have tried water spray distraction tactics etc , also does anyone know how this breed is with children in general?
Posted on 06/23/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I have an 8 month old American Bulldog, who is the sweetest, smartest dog I've ever known. And he isn't even out of his puppy years yet! He is does try to test me at times but I stay Calm, Confident, and Consistent! In that order! I call it the three C's! The 3 C's should come after getting an AB! ABCCC!
My advice if you're getting an American Bulldog, especially a male (males tend to be more clumsy & "rougher" in play), is to not get them too early. I've read some posts where people have gotten their AB's at 5 and 6 weeks. This is not detrimental, however, not wise at the same time. At least wait 8 weeks. I got mine at 10 weeks! The breeder insisted on it! TRUST ME A FEW WEEKS CAN MAKE THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. Some breeders don't wait until 8 weeks so they won't have to worry about a bunch of puppies running around, which is what they start to do at about that age; this running around and playing is exactly why it's so important to wait!
After about the 4th or 5th week, puppies start playing with their siblings and their mother. This time is crucial in establishing the correct amount of force they should exert while playing. But more so with these breeds, it is the time where they learn: HOW they know WHEN they are being too rough! If they played too rough with their fellow siblings, then their siblings would "yelp", in which they would back off.
The mom's would use a very calm, low rumble (not growl) and a stare in the eyes, to express this as well and probably not allow them to play with them anymore (mom's would walk away and lay down somewhere else). So, if you are having a dog that you got around 5 weeks old and he/she is being too rough, it's probably b/c they never got a chance to learn what "too rough" is exactly.
First, make sure when your AB's play too rough, that you do not correct them in a "punishing" way. If you do that, especially with the other dogs present, they might associate the negative action at the other dogs and not at their rough playing. Or they might associate it with playing in general, and you don't want them to do that either. Second, make sure you are exercising your AB enough! Get their energy out.
They are a working dog, and will work to please, however, if they have too much energy they will want to please you even more. This extra energy and extra need to please might be shown with extra roughness or extra force. If they don't have a job or are not working (exercising), then they feel it's because you as the pack leader. Don't think enough of them and so they try to prove their worth to you.
Lastly, understand that similar size dogs would be in the same pack. You can't blame your AB for playing too rough to a Yorkie's standards, which is why it's important to consider all the dogs in your pack before getting a new one. Many people will get a small dog (i.e. Yorkie) to be a "cuddle" dog and then a larger dog (i.e. American Bulldog) to be "guard". Very, very irresponsible. I'll explain later about establishing roles with your dogs.
If it's is being too rough with you or other humans, then look him dead in the eye until he sits and say with a low rumble "no" or I say "too rough". No matter what age you get them, they sometimes are. If he knows how to sit, you almost don't even need to say the word b/c he knows what you mean by your stare. Then walk away, put the toy up (if you were playing with one) and ignore him. But stay in his site and go sit somewhere else; besides where the rough play took place.
Then, after some time, go back to playing and repeat action if necessary. You can also turn your back and ignore them in the same way. Don't keep playing and expect him to understand with words alone. He needs to see what should happen when he plays too rough, which is stopping. He will also see from ignoring him, that it displeases the pack leader. If he sees that it displeases you, then he will know that it's not good for the survival of the pack. Pack leaders know best! If you have a real rough one this might take several times. This only works, if consistency is applied. See where the 3C's came into play here. No pun intended.
If the rough playing is with other dogs, first of all, make sure it is playing and not them trying to establish their role and position in the pack. Is the AB standing over the smaller dogs, mounting the other dogs, not letting the other dogs pass them through doors? Things that a dog does to display dominance over another dog that might be mistaken for playing is: rolling over on the back when the other dog is near, pawing, rubbing their lips on them (this might first be thought of as licking, but it's actually a non-aggressive way of saying " I respect you as another dog in this pack, but you're not above me" and "Look I'm NOT licking you. Get it!" Lickng is what inferior dogs do to superior dogs).
This dominance display by a larger dog towards a smaller dog sometimes happens b/c smaller dogs tend to get more attention, picked up, and allowed to sit on furniture than do larger dogs. An Alpha dog or a "Beta" dog in human homes (Beta's are second in command), would be more in this position of attention getting. Your dog might be trying to say to you, "See pack leader...I'm stronger, I can protect you better, why are they getting the attention? I should be the beta dog!"
Be consistent and neutral with all the dogs in your pack, because that's what a true pack leader would do. Let your dogs establish their role and then as the pack leader respect it! If one dog shows its dominance above another, then feed it before the other and so on. I know this sounds harsh but you've got to understand their world. Trust me, the smaller dog will feel better because it will then be able to relax in its new position. It is the job of each individual dog in the pack to establish his or her position.
The pack leader CANNOT establish this for them. Only intervene if there is a sign of aggression and/or if a dog might get injured. If you prevent your dogs from doing this, then it can lead to aggression because they will become anxious to step up to their role. They will become stressed out because they will feel their pack is not stable due to the fact that all the positions are not filled.
A dog will do whatever they need to do to maintain stability within the pack. In their eyes their survival depends on it! No matter if we, as humans, find this ridiculous. They don't understand or trust it, unless you step up as pack leader and maintain stability for the pack. If you do't it will domino into: your AB becoming anxious to display his role irritated more and more to figure out it's role. It takes it out aggressively towards the smaller dog. It gets punished for it by you, and becomes even more aggressive towards the smaller dog and to the pack leader. This is because you are not maintaining stability.Your AB starts trying to bypass the whole pack and become the leader, so the pack can survive! Pay attention to what this "rough play" actually is.
IF it is playing, see what the other dogs do to make him "recognize" that he's playing too hard. It's probably a yelp. Hear the exact sound they give, to tell your AB it's being too rough! When they do that, immediately take the AB away and give him another toy to play (don't play with him as well though because this might start a pattern).
When you are playing with him, the moment he gets too rough with you or what you think would be too rough on your smaller dogs, make a similar sound that your other dogs make at this. Turn your back to him and ignore him. After he calms down and becomes submissive (sitting or lying down), then return to play; repeat if necessary.
You have to do these things consistantly! They were not conditioned to know this if they were taken from their mothers at 5 weeks. Once the rough play is mostly corrected, because you have to understand they can only decrease it so much due to their breed type, give them some time alone with the other dogs (only if you are in a different room).
See how it goes. But I would never suggest leaving AB's alone with smaller dogs totally. Don't put any of them in that position. Mainly because an AB's innocent play or just their clumsiness could accidentally injure another dog. The blame would then be on the pack leader. They ultimately need their pack leader to keep order and balance! Trust me they don'twant to hurt another dog in their pack! That would not be good for the survival of their pack. No matter how small. If you're a good pack leader, then they know all the dogs in their pack are important to their survival. Good luck!
Posted on 06/21/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training our Kids.
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By Loving Dogs Forever (Guest Post)
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Hey All. I work at a cafe which serves dogs.
We are in the middle of an off leash dog park, so come for a coffee and let your pooches have a great time playing with their friends. http://www.cafebones.com.au
If there is any advice I can give, watch the "DOG WHISPERER" Dealing with 500,000 dogs a year, I see no better way to train your dog than this one Caesar Milan can give you. So many techniques which all lead to one point. POSITION IN YOUR PACK.
I have two toy dogs which I treat as my children, so complete control is required, as they mostly walk off leash where-ever they go. (STRICT VOICE CONTROL).
I have also fostered two medium to large dogs, and on the tips I have received from this series and putting it into practice, works a treat every time. Dogs just need to be let know who is the pack leader. YOU!!! Doesn't matter if you are the wife if the hubby in the relationship, or even the child, our 4 legged kids need to know who is the boss, and who is next in line.
Just because they respond the the main household leader, doesn't mean that they can not respond the same to you. They should be 4th in line if you and your partner have a child. Establish Pack Mentality! Watch the series. Everyone I know has had success. My last one took 3 minutes to learn heal, stop, and cross for road leash training (to start). They are very clever our kids, so give them the right education. Love all animals!
smanusu AT hotmail . com
Posted on 06/18/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
so cute puppies
I love your puppies. They are cute.
Posted on 06/13/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I just got Jada 3 weeks ago. She should be around 10 months to a year old. This is the best dog I've seen. She is so respectful an obedient. She is well trained. The American bull dog has been the best breed for me.
Posted on 05/24/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I have a 11 month AB, we also had problems with her listening to us and running after other dogs we asked our vet for advice and he told us to invest in a shock color at first i was wery of this but it had a vibrate setting so you dont actually shock them anyway after a couple of weeks she is 100% better we can even take her for walks and no trying to play tug of war with the leash
Posted on 05/23/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
My dog is only 3 months and he has a peeing problem. When ever he gets excited or scared, he pees. I need help. Will that go away as he gets older?
Posted on 04/28/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I have an AB/boxer mix. I have had him since he was 5 weeks old. I have tried to train him, he knows tons of tricks, but I still have a hard time handling him. He is now about a year and a half old and plays really well with his best buddy, a golden retreiver named Jagger. Recently he has started showing some aggression towards children and other animals, and even caused some minor damage to a Chihuahua that wanted to fight. Is there anything I can do to stop him? I really don't want to put him to sleep! Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Posted on 04/28/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
Response to Joleen
Joleen,
Do you remember when your two children were only 8 weeks old? Just like infant humans, a puppy is not going to behave like you want them to all the time. You'll have to take the good with the bad. Puppies, in general, are a handfull... they don't know their own strength, size, or how much those little, razor sharp, teeth HURT :) But, as a good pet parent, you will teach them. AB puppies, as I'm sure most will agree, are harder to reign in than most. They are extremely bull-headed, hence the bulldog. Completely normal. My suggestion to you is two-fold. (1) Definitely invest time and energy in formal training - PetSmart has good puppy classes; that's where I took my little devilette. You may think that you can train him at home, but in the end you won't be happy with your own results. (2) Please ensure that if your AB pup is around the kids that you are right there, within arms length. Puppies play bite; that's how they play with their litter mates. Right now, your pup thinks you and the kids are his litter mates. Not good, but normal.
I can't say that the next year-plus won't try your patience; because it will. However, a mature and trained AB is one of the most loyal, obedient, and wonderful companions a pet parent can ask for. That being said, AB's aren't for everyone and you might not have the time or energy to put into ensuring that your lil' guy grows to be a balanced dog. Hope all works out!
Happy Bulldoggin'
Posted on 04/25/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
Hello =]
My AB, Rocky, is 8 weeks old now... we got him at only 5 weeks. I'm nervous! I have 2 young children, ages 4 and 11 months, and he is very rough with them. Most of the time he is very loving, but he can get very 'mean'. Now I know that all pups like to gnaw and chew, but he gets really aggressive as if he wants to bite to hurt; it's not just puppy playful biting. He growls and goes into attack mode. I'm very stern with him when he bites and we show dominance when he gets aggressive, but it doesn't seem to be working. It's to the point where I'm considering finding another home for him; but that is my last resort. I also have an 8 lb pekingese (who actually dominates him.. for now!) and two cats who he likes to chase already. Can it be that he is instinctively mean? Please help!
Posted on 04/24/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
Wow after reading all these I am nervous about getting my new AB. I will be able to pick her up next month she will be 8 weeks old. I know she will do fine with the proper training.
Posted on 04/22/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I just got my girl about 2 months ago and she's scared of everything , loud noises and she is 10 months old. If a dog barks anywhere outside she runs to the door, she still refuses to walk through my living room, What do I do, will she ever get past this?
Posted on 04/21/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I have an 8 month old American bulldog and she can be a handful at times. I had her since she was 7 wwwks and i trained her as much as i could but she still has a problem with listening to me. She is a cuddler and fun to have around.she doesn't like when other ppl come over and growls at them but gets scared at the same time, I'm afraid she might bite somebody one day.what should I do about her not listening to me on command?
Posted on 04/11/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I've read all of the entries. We got Ozzy at 6 weeks, a little early. I will admit that it was a mistake, he should have learned much more from his mother and his litter mates. That left it up to us to teach him those things. Though, I believe we have been blessed. He's been a great pup. Almost 18 weeks now. He hasn't destroyed anything and within 2 weeks was house broken. The play biting took quite a while to conquer...now that he is losing teeth it's getting better. Yell and ignore, NO BITE> he turns to licking. the biggest thing I haven't mastered is the Come command. Any suggestions? Sit and Lay Down is going well and still have to work on the come. Consistency is key and if you do it a few times a day, randomly once the command is known it works wonders.
Posted on 04/02/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
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By Amer Bull Tequila (Guest Post)
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My husband and I got ourselves an American bulldog a month after we got married last year, as our wedding present to our selves. She is currently 8 months old now and almost fully trained, She was crate trained at 4 months and even thought iIve had her for this long now, the leash training is still taking longer. Shes very still in her puppy stage and will do anything to demand attention, from flips in kitchen to whining like a pup.
They're fairly a hard breed to handle and need constant attention and repetitive training. She also used to play bite a lot and still does every now and then but, we correct her and it takes a while for her to try again. Definitely many rough chew toys - the ones made for huge dogs and plenty of walks, to calm energy down. so far my 8 month AB can now do basic commands and a few lil neat tricks like inside voice, outside voice. Shake and put toys away. Keep working at it, before you know it, you'll have the best dog ever. Good luck
Posted on 03/15/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
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By Angela And Robert (Guest Post)
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Robert and I have a 9 month old AB. He's seen in this picture here with my older pitt/boxer mix. Dozer can be such a handful at times. He is pretty much potty trained now but still doesn't understand that the porch is technically not "outside". We are wanting him to be more like his sister, she can roam free in our house while we are at work and not mess anything up. The second we let Dozer do it, he eats literally everything. I think if you are looking to calm a dog down and make him easier to train, the best advice I could give is to get your dog fixed. Dozer is in this morning getting the "snip-snip" and I wouldn't have it any other way. These dogs are very Alpha especially the males. Get um fixed! =)
Posted on 03/12/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
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By Larry Snyder (Guest Post)
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Tell me about it! My dog is almost 4 months old and still pee's in her crate and in the house. If I don't take her out every 2 hour's I have to clean the floor. Every dog I have had at least by 2 months learns about outside and not peeing in the crate. I am going nut's.
Posted on 03/11/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
What is the most effective training method for an AB? Our dog is a year old now and since my husband left for Iraq, he has become a handful and it's hard dealing with him, my 7 year old, and my pregnancy (I am 9 months along now.) Anyhow, my husband had him in obedience training where they used a prong collar on him. That method worked for my husband but not for me because I just didn't know how to effectively do it. Plus, in my opinion that prong collar looks cruel.
I really need to get him into training though because he tries to dominate my daughter and is also having problems with chewing on things and getting on my furniture which i don't want.
Any suggestions as to what is the most effective? He is stubborn as heck!!!
sparklingmagnolia at gmail .c o m
Posted on 03/04/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I have a 13 month old AB named Gnarly and he's my best friend. everyone loves him and he's really well behaved. He's potty trained, knows all the tricks from balancing a treat on his nose to rolling over both ways and he can do them with hand signals. He's not fixed so he;s a little hard headed and tough as the terminator, but when i leave him somewhere he wines like a little girl until i get back. He's also a little too friendly. Any tips or suggestions. My vet gave him prozac but i don't like giving it to him, nobody wants a drugged up dog. jwd58 at msstate dot edu is my email but with no spaces and the at sign and a . for the dot
Posted on 02/07/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I have a ten month old American Bulldog who has become my third child. I have 2 small children 4 & 6 and he is a great family member. However, anyone outside the family is unwelcome as far as he is concerned. When guests come he growls and shows teeth, sometimes lunging at the person. He has been mildly socialized as a new puppy and is neutered, but that does not seem to matter. I have found that if I put him in his crate and let the guests come in and get settled he is less aggressive, but you can tell he is very wary of them. I am afraid to take him out to socialize him for fear he might bite someone. He has gone to a few training classes, but he is always so focused on me and his treats. He takes his protective role too far. Any advice?
Posted on 01/16/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I have an 11 month old ab female. I have only had her a month and a half. How do I stop her from trying to chasing after everyone and everything we see so that I can take her for walks?
Posted on 12/10/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
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By Beth & Oscar (Guest Post)
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We just got our first AB 3 days ago, and are stumped at what to name him. He is a big sweet thing all white and listens well. Any body have some suggestions for a good AB name with personality?
Posted on 12/10/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I have a 8 mo old AB Roxi who hates cats and constantly chases them under the trailers breaking pipes and generaly creating choas with the neihbors. She does not come when you call her she runs the other way. (
Posted on 12/08/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I just got 1yr old AB, he is crate trained. I'v had him for bought 2 days. He doesnt wanna go outside to potty, rather stand in kitchen, and he hasnt eaten any-thing sicne been here. I also have a 5yr old female rot (shes fixed) and she doesnt like him. she has liked all dogs, but she isnt real friendly to him. any advice, hes a loving dog, but i might end up having to get rid of him if some-thing doesnt change. forgot to mention, i also have doggy doors so im hoping to get him used to that so he can be like the rottie and have free run indoor and outdoor
Posted on 11/09/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
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By Jason, AZ (Guest Post)
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Kristian, The best way to train them to potty train is to give them praise. Take the dog outside about 15 min after they eat and when they go just start giving them praise when I say that say good dog and pet them and get that tail waggin. Cool things about AB they love to please you the master.
Posted on 11/06/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
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By Wiley from Colts Country (Guest Post)
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So guys don't be alarmed. We all have the same problem with our AB. Mine is 11 months old and at some point in his life I was dealing with at least one of the problems listed above.
But the good news is, he grew out of everything. No more bitting, potting problems or chewing problems. Our dog sleep in the bed with us every night and is a big part of are family.
That's the way I trained him; if he wants to be around us he had to act right. Take your dog places with you. Make him feel loved. If he understand that you are the master then You could not of picked a better breed!
Posted on 11/03/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
(amb) american bulldog
Hi, i have a 9 month old American bulldog he is 6 n a half stone and is crate trained. In our family there is 2 adult's and 3 kid's. He is fine with every one in the family but some times he is a bit nasty to our 4 year old daughter. Not really nasty, but now and then his top lip flickers as she grabs him. Have you got any suggestion's 4 what i should do?
Posted on 10/22/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
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By Tyler Sullivan (Guest Post)
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Hi, I am 15 years old and I love dogs.
My mom agreed to letting me have a Pitt Mixed With an American Bulldog. I was just wondering what is the best way to potty train him. Kennel or what? I know to spray vinegar in his mouth if he is nipping at you, but what do I do about him chewing the furniture? The Dog is a male about 7 months and I will be receiving him in about a week. SO I want to learn as much as possible. I have a little weiner dog that is a girl. Is that going to be a problem for this male dog. I also have an 11 year old sister what precautions should I take?
Posted on 10/15/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
Can someone help me my dog has killed a small dog and a feral cat?
Posted on 09/28/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I don't know nothing about dogs, but a lot about psychology and kids. I have three children that are under the age of six and we got our first pet (an AB) in June. She also liked to bite and the kids would cry about it. First you have to understand that they don't have hands, they aren't intentionally being aggressive, that is just how they explore things. My GF got my a pup from the same breed and she came up with a good idea. When hers bites, she grabs its mouth right where at the back of the jaw and applies pressure. This creates a response for the dog to shut it's mouth. It worked for her! I've tried that technique or I just shut her mouth and push her face down to the ground and say "no bite" she usually calms downs and licks instead.
Posted on 09/22/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I got my AB about two months ago. He was 13 weeks. As much as a spoil him and want to play with him or am affectionate, he seems like he hates it. He seems almost afraid of me. He is startled and on guard all the time. He flinches when I move or come close to him. He runs away from me all the time, unless I sit still and ignore him. Then he comes over to me. I'm really sad about this. I have always been a dog owner, and my other dogs before him were hyper and affectionate and loved attention. My AB hates attention. What should I do? I'm worried for him.
Posted on 09/12/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
I just rescued a 1 year old American Bulldog, her temperment seems fine with our other dog, and with our 7 year old, but she seems to be a bit hyper. Is this normal for her breed. Also I see have read that they need a lot of exercise, but am not sure what that means, does she need to run a lot, my other dog loves toys, so I got her one,but she doesn't seem to want to play with it. I could sure use some insight into this breed. While I have had dogs all my life, and most have been rescued, I am new to having a dog this big, and hyper.
Editor's Note: I have not experience with American Bulldogs but she's still a pup if she's only one. It will probably take another year until she calms down. Also part of it might be because she's trying to please. Just give her a good run in the morning and the evening and tire her out.
Posted on 08/24/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
For miss jackie. One please never use abuse towards any type of bulldog or any dog of that family. It's not right for one, and they are born with fierce instincts. Although not like a pit bull or any other "fighting" dog, they can take you "hitting them gently" the wrong way and become mean and not listen to you. They feel like they need to be the leader and switch things around. You need to train them young. They may be stubborn at times, but it takes patience. You can't yell at a dog all the time. They think that you're excited and they'll only get more hyper, or in some cases get sad. Praise them. They aren't a bad dog, they make mistakes. That's where people go wrong. Take your time, but read ahead and make sure you know enough about your breed before you buy it. too.
Posted on 08/15/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
My husband and I have an 8 month old American Bulldog named Abby, and she is wonderful. We got her at 11 weeks, and it really only took a few weeks to potty train her. The biggest tool you have as a dog owner (especially AB's) is that your pup really wants to please you. So if they have an accident, you have to make a BIG DEAL every time. Not necessarily a lot of spanking (but a little is helpful), but a very loud "BAD DOG!" works. Then take them outside, and then kennel them for an hour or so, ignoring them. If you are a loving and affectionate owner, ignoring them is the worst punishment, and is, i think, the most effective. They will learn quickly.
The play biting thing can be a problem, especially before they lose their puppy teeth. I pretty much agree with everyone on that. Saying "no bite" and a quick pop on the nose usually works, and always have a toy or raw hide within reach so they have no excuse to play bite or chew up your things. Abby definitely chewed up a lot of things (like our couch) when we tried leaving her out when we were gone, so it's back in the kennel until she's older!
We have had trouble with her getting too excited when our friends come over. So we've started putting her in the bedroom until everyone is inside and settled. She does much better than if she's loose when they walk in the door. I'll tell my friends to ignore her if she jumps, although someone recently recommended lifting your knee into her chest if she jumps (i won't hurt them; they're like buffalos, as you all know).
Posted on 08/13/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
i just got a ab male yesterday. he has been here not for a full day he hasnt went to the bathroom that much. any sites for training an ab
Posted on 07/23/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
The AB's are amazing dogs. Mine is just 4 months. He is potty trained, kennel trained, command trained and knows his hand signals.
It has taken me about 2 months to get him to where he is.
I have taken him to classes and have done HOURS of home training. AB's love to learn. You just have to find your babies "nitch".
A friend of mine bought my AB's sister. She is a power house! She doesnt pay a lot of attention when my friend is trying to train her. All she wants to do is play. So we have figured out a trick for training her. We have brought her training into her play time. She has finally caught on to "sit" and "stay" (the stay command drives her NUTZ! lol). When she finally catches on to that we will move on to more.
Good luck to you all! Once you get them trained that are awesome!!!
Posted on 06/26/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
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By Montana Martin (Guest Post)
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buy a training kennel large enough for your amb to turn around everytime your dog eats put him in there. After about thirty to forty minutes let him out and take him directly outside. Each time he goes bathroom outside praise him and give him somekind of reward.
Posted on 06/18/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
electric shock collar will work.
Posted on 05/31/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
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By Heather Wight (Guest Post)
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Hi there. I am in the process of getting an AB and am getting a bit nervous while reading all your entries. Does anyone have any advice for a first time AB owner. I have had dogs before I just wanna know if there is anything special I should know. Thank You.If anyone has any tips please email me at hwight01 AT hotmail.com
Posted on 05/31/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
My AB refused to go to the bathroom outside regardless of how many times I let her out. I initially yelled at her or put her in the crate. I then changed that to staying outside with her and jumping around like an idiot when she went to the bathroom. About one week later she never went in the house again. Hope that helps.
Posted on 05/22/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
my american bulldog is 7 months old. and she gets scared when ever i raise a bucket or just swing it side to side. i never hit or scold her ever. and sometimes she gets scared when i slide her eating aluminum pan across the floor. what can i do to stop this problem. and how did she get this why it started at 5 months old.
Posted on 05/06/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
My AB is almost 11 mths old now. I've been reading the posts from this site ever since I got her because like many of you I was frustrated, worried, and tired of the play biting. The bottom line is that the AB is a naturally aggressive, hard-headed breed. HOWEVER, you can train them to be civil little angels as I'm sure many other owners with older AB's will attest. The key is consistency and training. I put mine through early puppy training. These dogs are incredibly smart and respond right away to structured training. Don't feel bad that you can't train them on your own without assistance. They can be difficult at times. Also, be sure to do lots of dominance training/handling training. You are the boss of this dog and he/she needs to know this fact intimately. Dominance training is essentially ensuring that you are seen as the one who makes the decisions. Touch your AB while they are eating, practice laying the pup on the ground gently, your vet should be able to give you hands-on demonstrations of how to do handling exercises... mine did. So, all this being said, there is no quick cure to the play biting. Don't allow it or you'll regret it - provide consistent, firm discipline. Exercise the dog as much as possible. A tired dog is a GOOD DOG!!! The good news is if you do these things, the biting will pass and your dog will love you unconditionally - ours does. Soon, I will be taking my AB to more training. You can never train a dog too much.
-*- Happy Bulldoggin' -*-
Posted on 04/23/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
i have tried everything from newspaper on table, vinegar in a spray bottle, holding their mouth with little pressure and saying no bite. None of those things work..... Any other ideas he is starting to really play hard and bite hard. He is only 9 weeks old but he loves to play bite.
Posted on 04/22/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Training an American Bulldog
our AB is 12 weeks old and only just going pottie outside, he is still biting a lot tho i'm going to try the white vinegar spray and see how we got on i hope it works as i'm also 18 weeks pregnant so i don't really want to mother him or he wont like the new baby at all, Any suggestions.
Editor's Note: Everytime he tries to bite say "No Bite" in a stern voice. When he stops give him a chew toy, when he chews on that, tell him he's a good boy. Puppies are teething a lot and need lots to chew on, some dogs for a long long time.
Posted on 04/20/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
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