I'm thinking about buying an American Bull dog. But all I know about them is what I read. I have kids.?

Answer 1

they are GREAT family dogs!!!!!!!!!!how old are your kids... they can be a bit awkward aboout their size and not realize how big they really are.. but if you get it young and they grow up together you should be fine... have you considered rescue?? try going to the poind and check out the mixed breed dogs before you make your decisision.. who knows you and your family might fall in love... tell the shelter what you have to offer and what you expect out of a dog and they are great about matching dogs/pups with new homes...smile good luck in your search...

some info for ya:
Description: The American Bulldog is bred from working dogs and designed for catching livestock and protecting property. They are larger then their close relative the Old English Bulldog. American Bulldogs are powerful, athletic short-coated dog, strongly muscled, and well boned. The head is large and broad with a wide muzzle, and very powerful jaws. American Bulldogs generate the impression of great strength, endurance and exhibits a well-knit, sturdy compact frame. The American Bulldog should be evaluated as a working dog, and exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog's ability to work.

Other Names: Old Country Bulldog, Old Enghlish White

Type: Guardian Dog

Height: Desirable height in a mature male ranges from 22 to 27 inches; in a mature female, from 20 to 25 inches.
Weight: Desirable weight in a mature male ranges from 75 to 125 pounds; in a mature female, from 60 to 100 pounds.

Colors: All white, pied, or up to 90% color; brindle or red patches (red is defined as any shade of tan, brown or red)
Coat: The coat is short, close, and stiff to the touch.

Temperament: American Bulldogs have the essential characteristics of the Bulldog which enable it to work as a hog and cattle catching dog, and a protector of personal property. These tasks require a powerful, agile, confident dog with a large head and powerful jaws. The American Bulldog is a gentle, happy, loving, family companion who is fearless enough to face an angry bull or a human intruder. They are fine with strangers if they have a chance to meet them. They love children but might be unintentionally too rough with them and therefore should be supervised.
With Children: Yes, the American Bulldog is known for it's Love for children.
With Pets: Yes, the American Bulldog is excellent with other pets, especially when raised together and socialized.

Watch-dog: High
Guard-dog: High

Care and Training: Brush their coat with a firm bristle brush or rubber mitt and bathe only when necessary. Puppies should have early socialization. They need short walks in a cool environment, overexertion, or exertion in hot, humid weather, is dangerous. Bulldogs cannot swim! Most wheeze, snore, and drool. Tail folds and facial wrinkles should be cleaned daily.
Special Needs: Attention, fenced yard, leashed, socialization, training.
Learning Rate: Highly intelligent, mostly an independent thinker, living to please their masters.

Activity: Medium - High
Living Environment: Indoor or outdoor, The American Bulldog requires an experienced owner who has time to train and socialize their dog. American Bulldogs should generally only be housed with a dog of the opposite sex

Health Issues: A very healthy, hardy dog. Some strains have hip dysplasia, parvovirus, skin allergies, or eye problems.

Life Span: 8-15 years
Litter Size: 6 - 16

Country of Origin: USA
History: Bulldogs in England were originally working dogs who drove and caught cattle and guarded their masters' property. The breed's strength, courage, and familiarity with livestock led to its popularity in the brutal sport of bull baiting. When this sport was outlawed in England, the original type of Bulldog disappeared from Britain and was replaced with the shorter, stockier, less athletic dog we now know as the English Bulldog. The original Bulldog, however, was preserved by working class immigrants who brought their working dogs with them to the American South. Small farmers and ranchers used this all-around working dog for many tasks. By the end of World War II, however, the breed was almost extinct. Mr. John D. Johnson, a returning war veteran, decided to resurrect this breed. Along with Alan Scott and several other breeders, Johnson began carefully to breed American Bulldogs, keeping careful records and always with an eye for maintaining the breed's health and working abilities.

Answer 2

How old are your children? If any of them are younger than school age, I would wait to get a dog - any dog - of any breed - until the YOUNGEST is at least school age.

Young children and toddlers will torment a dog - play roughly with it - just by being children. We humans understand that - but the dog will not. And even the most even tempered of dogs will eventually snap when pushed too far. Remember, dogs don't have hands with which to push annoying children away - they only have teeth. Snapping or nipping is still biting - and little kids faces are at just the right height for some serious damage - and it won't be the dog's fault - it will be YOURS - but it WILL be the dog who gets euthanized because of it.

That said, my APBT - a Tan/White bluenose named Baby Blue - is the sweetest thing on 4 white paws. He was pulled out of a fighting pit where he was being used as a "bait" dog to train a more aggressive dog. He gets along well with babies, baby chicks, other dogs, young children (with supervision - the kids, not the dog) and people. My partner's severly handicapped grandson loves him because he licks and hits you with his wagging tail.

Again, however, if your children are toddlers and/or under school age - wait until THEY are older. Pitties have a hard enough time being accepted socially. Please don't set a dog up for failure because your children played too rough with him and he nipped someone.

And this would happen with the most laid back of dogs - labs, goldens, etc. all dogs bite when they're tormented enough.

Answer 3

If you're still in the thinking stage, why not look around on http://www.petfinder.org to see if there's a bull dog rescue in your area? You could volunteer to help out with the dogs and learn more about the breed, perhaps even foster a dog until you find the one that meshes best with your family.

good luck.

Answer 4

Oh what a wonderful dog you will be getting if you get one.

I have a Johnson Amer. Bulldog, she was a rescue after being terribly mistreated and used as a puppy mill dog and dumped because of tumours.

She is calm, playful, protective of my kids and simply a great girl to have.

She fitted right in with my 2 other British Bulldogs when she arrived.
I strongly recommend the purchase of this breed.

Answer 5

We had an american bull dog named L.B.There are a few different types of ABD. We had a Blue Blood, which is one of the largest types. He got to be about 125 lbs. He had hip dysplaysia, which is common due to imbreeding, and that started showing up around 7 months. All and all he was his own personality. Good with kids, good with my dog Scrappy but very protective around other dogs and strangers. He didn;t really listen to me when it came to getting OFF the furniture, but actually gave me dirty looks and rolled over! LOL...what can I say, he was my husband's dog. He did like to dig holes, though. Lots of them. Unfortunately, he got stolen out of our yard last year, (out of a 8 ft privacy fence no less)and we have never found him. :(

Almost forgot - he was allergic to any type of flea bath/powder/frontline, etc. He'd get hives.

Answer 6

A bulldog is a fine breed with kids, but why would you spend hundreds of dollars on a potentially inbreed dog when you could go to the pound and get a mixed breed bulldog for next to nothing?

Answer 7

any dog of any breed can make a perfect family pet . it is how it is treated by its family that will make the pefect hound

Answer 8

be very careful..t