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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Talk to me about American Bulldogs please?

30 replies

SeeJaneKick · 02/03/2011 21:48

DH really likes them...he wants one...I'm wary of the breed due I confess to some horror stories in the media....are they ok? Does anyone have one?

OP posts:
Crawling · 02/03/2011 22:14

I have not had one but my friend had one growing up, he was soft, sloppy, loving and very friendly. The only problem I remeber and I dont know if it was personal or typical of the breed was he had a very high chase instinct and had to have a lot of training because he kept trying to chase cars, so was not allowed off the lead till that was sorted but other than that he was great.

Original poster
SeeJaneKick · 02/03/2011 23:26

Thanks crawling...I had heard they have high protection instint too...and can get unsociable and aloof with strangers....so need to be well socialised young.

OP posts:
Laska · 03/03/2011 08:02

Sadly there are lots in rescue in need of great homes.

Crawling · 03/03/2011 11:33

If there are lots in rescues can you do some temporary foster care for one and see how you get on with the breed? Or go around nd ask to meet some and see how they are?

Original poster
SeeJaneKick · 03/03/2011 16:43

I dont think they woud let us foster with small kids...most homes won't let those with children adopt adult dogs.

OP posts:
MotherJack · 03/03/2011 16:55

Don't look at the RSPCA and DogsTrust, SJK. (Actually, do they even consider fostering?). It's the smaller breed rescues that look for fosterers AFAIK, but I am not convinced many would be rushing to foster an American Bulldog in a home where there is no breed/type experience. I may, of course, be talking out of my @r$e!

barmbrack · 03/03/2011 17:00

Why not get a family dog if you have small kids, instead of a breed that is bred for aggression?

Honestly, bonkers.

izzybiz · 03/03/2011 17:04

Here we go.... Hmm

izzybiz · 03/03/2011 17:06

Some info here

Not media hype either.

MotherJack · 03/03/2011 18:04

Like all breeds, they can be lovely family dogs, Izzy, and they are not bred for aggression, Barmbrack. But all breeds are not for all.

DooinMeCleanin · 03/03/2011 18:07

Doris Banham Trust will consider you for adopting or fostering, even if you have young children. They also get lots of bull breeds, so might well have an American Bulldog that would suit your family.

I only know one AB and he is a sweetie, who lives with a small child and manages quite well not to eat him Smile

Crawling · 03/03/2011 18:25

What is the media saying is wrong with a American Bulldog? Confused I dont do media or news sorry.

MotherJack · 03/03/2011 18:35

They generally do manage not to eat children, don't they, Dooin? A rescue should certainly match you with a potential dog for adoption, SJK. I sponsor Doris Banham - they are a great rescue organisation.

However, I would think that a rescue looking for a temporary foster home would look for one experienced in the breed and not one wary of them? Please set me straight though as I am interested. I am just talking about foster, not adoption.

MotherJack · 03/03/2011 18:36

The media will say anything is wrong about a dog that public perception believes looks like a banned breed, such as a Pitbull Terrier, Crawling. Or just bull breeds in all honesty/my experience.

MotherJack · 03/03/2011 18:42

I should mention really - I phoned a rescue to offer foster for a bull-breed dog in kennels and she was with me in 3 days. I love bull-breeds, but do have 12 years experience and a lot of confidence with them.

DooinMeCleanin · 03/03/2011 18:48

Yes they normally do refrain from eating small children Grin

I don't know if they require you to have experience with bull breeds. They told me they would be happy for me to foster from them pending a homecheck, which will be done as soon as dd2 stops vommiting on everyone Hmm, but I have owned Bull breeds and other 'dangerous' breeds before.

MotherJack · 03/03/2011 19:04

lol at 'dangerous' breeds. Mine is a 'dangerous' breed. She is plonked on her sheepskin bed right now, being dangerous (as a yorkshire pudding). I do feel that rescues would generally ask for experience in the breed to foster. If they were adopting they would try to match a family pretty much exactly with a dog whose temperament they knew - and I am NOT excluding American Bulldogs from this by any means. If they were fostering, would they not look to find a solid base for the dog, one that may be able to find out more about the dog based on extensive dog knowledge or experience of the breed? Again, I am just basing this on questions about fostering rather than adopting.

How is your 'dangerous' devil-dog breed anyway? Wink

MotherJack · 03/03/2011 19:06

Oh, and hope DD2 stops vomiting on everyone soon.

DooinMeCleanin · 03/03/2011 19:16

Ack, Devil dog is not a dangerous breed. He is a fox terrier x. He is nn Devil Dog because he is by far the most dangerous dog I have ever owned.

He is fine, but still as mad as a box of frogs.

MotherJack · 03/03/2011 19:44

I know he's not a dangerous breed - just a little bugger! Grin

DooinMeCleanin · 03/03/2011 19:57

His newest bad habit is trying to get the postman Blush Hmm

We are trying to train him to ignore things that are posted through the letter box, but funnily enough we don't have many volunteers to post things through while we are training him Hmm

None of my 'dangerous' dogs ever tried to eat the mailman Grin

MotherJack · 03/03/2011 19:59

Right - I have just been doing the washing up {it's my zen-calm post-bedtime thunking time Wink) and it's just become clear to me why I have been blabbering on about fostering. It's because, in my view, fostering should only be undertaken if you can provide a firm solid base for a dog that has already been potentially traumatised by being abandoned and it should not be used as a trial to see if you like that particular dog (and it would be just that one) as you might well decide you do not like that particular dog and that poor dog might well feel abandoned again when you deliver it back to the kennels. That is why I have been going on about experience of breed/lots of dogs for fostering.

I'd love to know if I am wrong by the way - it's just my conception.

MotherJack · 03/03/2011 20:02

It's funny that - the 'dangerous' breeds actually liking people Wink

I can't imagine why you have no volunteers, Dooin. If you were closer, I would volunteer (someone else, obv Wink Grin)

You aren't close are you btw?? NE??

DooinMeCleanin · 03/03/2011 20:05

Hmm, I see your point, but they normally still match families to suitable dogs, even just for fostering so I doubt they would give someone inexperienced a dog with a serious issues.

DooinMeCleanin · 03/03/2011 20:05

Yes I am NE. I am in Teesside.

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