Your new AB puppy:
how to care for and love them...
We're so happy that you chose American Bulldogs of Southern New Jersey for your new AB pup!
We pride ourselves on the utmost care and training of these fine dogs, and I think it shows in our Adult dogs and pups. Remember that these tips and problems apply to all dogs and not just AB's, any dog can have the below outlined issues and they are not specific to just the American Bulldog. Here are some tips to help you cope with the first week and beyond with your new baby:
How to soothe a crying pup:
I know this is going to sound cold, but believe me it will pay off in the end, the best thing you can do
for your pup is to make sure the crate is small enough so the pup will feel secure, add old blankets and a
heating pad underneath the crate but not inside and put it on low (check often that the pup is not too hot, bulldog pups hate to be hot and they cry), I buy a stuffed animal 2x's the size of the pup and put it in with him/her and leave him/her alone! Don't pick up a crying pup or try to soothe the crying pup by cuddling it, for the first few weeks, it will learn that crying is the best way to get your attention, and that will cause a lifelong barking problem. Instead wait until the pup has stopped barking and pick him/her up and cuddle the hell out of him/her, this will re-inforce confidence in him/her.
How to stop a puppy from barking at night:
Some pups bark at night, all night because they miss the warmth and comfort of thier siblings and they feel
lonely. Don't fall for the cute lonely barking puppy face at 3am, believe me the charm of that will wear off very quickly. If your pup barks at night, arm yourself with several (6 or 7) empty soda cans with a few pennies in them with the opening closed with duct tape. When your pup decideds he wants to grace you with his vocal ability at 2am, take a can and TOSS it near the crate (don't hit the crate please), but stay out of the pups view, throw it from a concealed spot so the pup doesnt know it's you who's throwing it, or it will become a game! By doing this, you will distract the pup with a negitive response, he/she will realize that the only thing barking will get them is an unpleasant noisy round thing, that comes flying out of nowhere. Please don't wing the can at the pups crate, I know sometimes you will feel like it but try to control the urge. This method does work, and it can take a few days to a few weeks so please be patient with the pup, always remember that he/she is only a baby.
Housebreaking:
AB's and housebreaking, well I'm gonna be honest with you it's not their favorite thing. Some bulldogs take up to 6 months or more to become fully housebroken, this is why crate training is so very important. I take my pups out 6-8 times a day before and after they eat and then right back into the crate. Playtime is after the pup has eliminated and not before. Get yourself alot of newspaper and line the pups crate with it, please make sure the crate is not too big, or the pup will instinctivly poop and pee at the farthest point in the crate from it's water and food, block part of the crate off, you have to make it almost too small and gradually increase the size of the crate as the pup gets the idea of going outside. The pup will associate newspaper with elimination which is good and will help you with the process. Take a few sheets of newspaper and put it outside on the ground a few steps from the door where the pup can easily get to it and eliminate (remember if your pup is 6 weeks do not allow it to be on the bare ground until after it's had all of it's shots), after a week move the paper a few more feet away, and continue the process until you have the paper in the area of the yard you want your dog to eliminate in. When you get to this point start reducing the size of the paper over a couple days from two sheets to one, from one sheet to a half a sheet, from a half sheet to a 1/4 and usually by this point the pup will go on thier own on the ground without the paper. There are "elimination sprays" that you can buy to help the pup "find his spot", they do work pretty good, I keep the bottle in the spot where I want the pup to go so I never have to look for it or bring it inside.
Feeding:
Good quality puppy chow is essential, store brands are really not the best and you should try to find better quality food at Petsmart or your local feed and pet supply. Feed your pup 3-4 times a day about 1/2-3/4 of a cup each feeding until the pup lets you know how much he needs then increase or reduce from there. Always have fresh water available to your pup, they drink alot! To keep your pup from becoming food aggressive, pet your pup profusely while he/she eats, stick your hand in the bowl take some out, act like your eating the food, even take the food from the pup before it's done eating, it sounds cruel but this is important if you have young children, because a food aggressive dog doesnt care who it bites while it's protecting it's food. We feed pups Diamond Brand Large Breed Puppy, and Diamond Professional to the adults. These two brands are very good and the price is so much cheaper than grocery store brands. Here are the websites for them:
http://diamondpetfood.com/
Don't get caught up in the hype of "a big AB is a better AB" your goal is to keep your pup growing slowly and healthy. After 4 months (or 45 lbs which ever comes first) take your pup off the puppy chow (even if it's a large breed formula) and put them on a good quality adult dog food, doing this will slow up your pups growth and build healthy joints, also add a good quality puppy vitamin at this time. American Bulldogs take up to 3 years to fully mature physically and mentally, and even then they still act like big puppies, lol 100 lb big puppies!
Crate training
This is NOT a cruel practice! It's in your contract to crate train your pup and you will thank me later. Keeping your pup crated keeps him safe from household hazards and also keeps makes the housebreaking process cleaner and more successful. I like to use the crate to secure my dogs when guests come into the house, when the dogs are sick and need isolation, after a bath with a thick lining of newspaper to allow them to dry off in a draft free area and not shake dog water all over my house. After your pup is crate and house broken, do not leave any stuffed toys in the crate or rawhide and do not use any kind of lining in the crate leave it bare plastic, they will eat anything you leave in the crate. I also feed my pups in their crate, most dogs won't poop where they eat and sleep so feeding them in their crate re-enforces this. Crate training, it's a good thing...lol
Playtime:
This is the best thing about having a puppy! You should spend at least 3 times a day playing with your pup, and always with a toy to divert those sharp little baby teeth. AB pups play very rough, and you should NEVER allow your hands to be bitten nor should their teeth even touch your skin. If your pup bites you during play or aggressivly, swiftly reprimand him/her by grabbing thier snout and saying "NO BITE!", then quickly offer a toy as a suitible alternative to your yummy hand. They get the message quick. If this doesnt work, put the pup on his/her back and hold him/her there until they settle down (can take up to 1-5 min) and then give them the alternative toy, if this doesnt work, play time is over and put them in their crate. Consistancy is the key, don't allow the pup to bite you one time and reprimand him another, do it everytime!
Also do not let the pup growl at you, if he/she does put him/her on their back and hold them there until they settle down (can take up to 1-5 min), then offer a toy, if this doesnt work, playtime is over and put them in thier crate, this is what I mean by playing on your terms. Always remind them that you are the boss and so is everyone else in the household.
If you are planning on working your puppy by all means, play tug with him/her and other prey drive building activies, always keep the games on your terms. If you plan on just showing your AB or it is a pet AB try not to play tug with the pup, they can get very into the game and become to hard to handle, better to keep them to playing with soft toys, balls, frisbee's, and chewy bone toys, but always keep the game on your terms and keep it low key.
Socialization:
Showing off your AB pup is the absolute best! Not many people will know what your pup is and you will get tons of attention and questions. AB's need socialization, perhaps more so than some other breeds. There is nothing worse than having a dog that you can't take anywhere because he/she doesnt like strangers and can't be trusted. If you have children or some near by, have them play with the pups supervised of course, if you have a petsmart or petco nearby take them often, where ever there are people bring your pup with you. The more socialization the better! Socialization will NOT make your dog over friendly or effect his/her protectivness, it will make the dog more aware of the difference between "good people" and "bad people". Socialize your pup to other (friendly) dogs, but stay out of the dog parks! Dog parks are filthy and full of disease which can make your pup sick, and also if your pup gets attacked by another dog, it will ruin your dog for life, and for the rest of your dog's life it will be on guard and defensive of any and all dogs that come even remotely near him/her, you and your family.
Training:
Most important part of your pups development without question! Pups can be trained from 8 weeks old and on, but I recommend starting at 12 weeks. Invest in a correction collar (a chain type) and a long leash, about 5-6 ft. I highly recommend you take your pup to some kind of puppy basic obedience class with a certified professional trainer where all people in your household can participate. Be consistant with training and make sure that your dog obeys everyone in your household, including your children. Basic Obedience paves the way for a wonderful companion dog and a pleasure to have around.
Kenneling:
As your pup gets older, you may want to put them outside in nice weather. Please invest in a chain link kennel with a solid foundation such as concrete, concrete blocks. I have never met a dog that was worth a darn who was raised on or spent most of it's life on a chain. American Bulldogs need to be loved and feel like part of the family, you will find out what I mean as your puppy grows.
Love:
This is the last but not the least part of adding a puppy to your household. A loved puppy, becomes a confident dog and a confident dog can be anything!!!
God Bless America and her bulldogs, especially the baby ones!
