Bxiety, friendly, and individual-determined puppies, the American Bulldog is a true friend and another breed with quite colorful facial expressions. Having descended from the Old English Bulldogs, these dogs are robust dogs, though they are gentle by nature. If you are thinking of adopting an American Bulldog puppy, this article will contain lots of valuable information on this breed’s attributes and how to take care of it, along with details on training an American Bulldog.
Origins and Characteristics
According to some reliable sources, it is believed that the American Bulldog is a native breed of the United States of America that originated in the 18th century and probably more in the 19th century. He is said to have originated from the Old English bulldog, which is known for its stubbornness and bravery, which was applied in bull baiting as well as farm activities. Over the years, for different reasons, the American Bulldog changed into a more universal working breed dog that can be used for herding, guarding, and also as a pet.
As for physical features, American Bulldogs are muscular dogs that have broad shoulders and powerful hind legs. Their head is strong; it is square in shape with a clear cut at the skull and the muzzle. They may have their ears upright or cropped depending on the owner preference or law, and their coats are short and smooth, with colors that include white, red, fawn, or brindle.
Being one of the largest and most powerful breeds, the American Bulldog stands at a height of 21 to 28 inches and has a weight of 50 to 80 pounds. Although it is large in size, the breed is very docile, and this makes it a good family dog once it has been trained and familiarized with people.
Temperament and Personality
American Bulldog puppies are docile, clever, and friendly dogs by nature. They are intelligent and want nothing more than to be of service, which puts them at the top of the list as far as trainability is concerned. Nonetheless, cattiness comes with the intelligence that has to be challenged and trained to avoid getting bored and destructive.
They are very loyal companions and protective of their owners, thus making good guard dogs. As for their attitude towards children, they are usually friendly if raised from an early age with children but may be too rambunctious if not leash trained. They can also coexist with other animals if they are introduced to them, and this is very true for other pets.
Socialization of American Bulldog puppies should be initiated and done right through the pre-weaning period to the adulthood stage. The parents take them to different stations where they can interact with other children, people, and animals, and this helps them to grow into responsible citizens. Penalty and frequently training in proper manners from a young age will assist them to become good companions.
Health and Care
As is the case with any breed of dog, American Bulldogs are not exempt from certain hereditary disorders that can affect them. These issues should be a concern by prospective owners, and the owners should only go for competent breeders who get their breeding animals screened. Some of the known health problems are hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and allergies existing in the Alaskan malamute.
Nevertheless, Lantelmo et al. did point out that frequent cross-sectional check-ups on animals could help monitor their health. Echoing such views, nutrition and exercise routines are relevant to their health and wellbeing. Therefore, to ensure that the American Bulldogs maintain good health, they require moderate exercising. Those are things such as going for a walk around the house, play time, and tricks, including the usage of puzzles, toys, or practice sessions.
This medium breed also does not shed much, and the short coat only needs to be brushed to get rid of the loose hair and avoid skin problems. They should not take baths very often so that they do not dry out their skins, so here are some guidelines that ought to be followed as they bathe.
Nutrition and Feeding
Diet plays a very crucial role for the growth and development of the American Bulldog puppies. The owner should buy only the best puppy food that meets the Association of American Feed Control Officials standards. Young puppies should be fed four to five times a day until they are six months of age, from where they can feed three times in a day.
This breed is known to be overweight; therefore, portion control helps to avoid this vice altogether. Puppy’s age, size, and level of activity are most often used for determination of the amount to feed your puppy by a veterinarian.
Training and Socialization
It is common knowledge that puppies of the American bulldog breed should be trained. Beginning with the fundamental directions, which are sit, stay, and come, the training should be consistent and should not use any negative tactics.
Puppies should be socialized early, which is at an age of about eight weeks of age. Socialize your puppy and make him/her meet other people, other animals,, and other matters in a controlled manner. This is helpful in avoiding any cases of fear or aggression in adulthood.
It can also help to enroll your puppy in obedience classes in order to aid their stability in adjustment and extra socialization. Also, classes allow working with a professional trainer who is able to give some advice and encouragement.
Grooming and Hygiene
Due to these features, American Bulldogs have low maintenance; they require brushing to remove loose hair, which they shed often. This is best done with a rubber curry brush or a bristle brush in order to avoid shedding and get the coat shiny. Brushing also aids in distributing sebum to the hair shaft, which is healthy for the skin.
It is important to trim nails to avoid hardness, and this causes discomfort to the pussycat. Groom them by removing debris that gathers at the canal of the ears in order to help them avoid ear infections, as well as brushing their teeth to prevent dental diseases. Bathing should be avoided, but if at all required, one should use a dog’s shampoo lest the skin react badly.
Lifespan and Commitment
American Bulldogs are medium-living between 10 and 14 years of age. Leaving alone the fact that owning a dog is a serious responsibility that a person enters into for years, this process also takes time, money, and efforts. Those who are planning to adopt a dog should acquaint themselves with the commitments that they should have to undertake, which include grooming, feeding, exercising, training, as well as socializing.
Finding a Reputable Breeder
It is wise, therefore, to take your time and contract the services of a reputable breeder if you are to adopt an American Bulldog puppy. A responsible breeder will take time to ensure that he/she is breeding healthy and tempered dogs, which will include health certifications and breeding history. They will also have to assist the relatives in taking care of the new owner’s training exercises to avoid personality changes in the puppy.
Responsibly breeding kennels are allowed to breeders to let you visit their compound where the puppies are bred, meet the parents of the puppy, and see the environment they keep the puppies in. They are also likely to ask you several questions about your lifestyle and previous experience taking care of a puppy in order to establish whether the puppy would fit in your home.
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