anyone any experience of American Bulldogs?  I had a look on the net and to be honest they vary so much, some look like pit bulls!

I know a couple through work, but I've only met them briefly. One's only 3 months or so old, and the other, although less than a year, has hip trouble. :-(

I've had one in class.

The most important thing  is to socialise well with good experiences to dogs and humans as early as possible - before 12 weeks, and then ongoing for at least the first year, or ideally for life - and get them well trained (using kind training, no need for anything else).

Lindsay
x

hi
My daughter has an American bull dog and i have to say he is gorgeous, he is not castrated, he is no trouble with people and other dogs although smaller dogs tend to want to threaten him, his best friend is a rottie bitch who he is in love with, my daughter has guinea pigs and he is fine with them also and my puppy goldie loves him n bounds all over him.

Yes they need good handling and a fair amount of exercise but he has no health issues and looks fantastic, he is a lovely family dog, and is now 6 yrs old

If you read about them, you'll find there are three different types- with slightly different roots, one type being rather larger. They were designed as an all purpose hunting/farm dog. They are territorial, extremely powerful and what I would call strong-minded. I would say they are absolutely not a first time dog and you really need to understand what you'd be taking on.

I've met quite a few, some had to be put down for aggression to other dogs as well as people (though the owners had got them as status dogs and probably thought they had bigger, better Staffs- wrong). Unlike the Staffy, they have a well developed guard instinct and so, as Lindsay says, socialisation throughout life is mega important. I would not have one in town and I would not keep a male intact, unless you really know dogs, know this type and have the time and energy to bring them up properly.

All that said, I've met nice ones but, because they are a type with variations, and because you've probably got some 'funny types' breeding them, I'd be a bit worried about what was in the mix.

I'm sure there is someone on this forum who owns them and speaks highly of them. That would be the best starting point if you are serious.

Sorry Julie T, you probably are that person. Sorry also if I have given a negative spin- possibly all the bad ones I've come across are a sad byproduct of the whole status dog problem- and who knows how those dogs have been treated. One guy that had one was not' bad' he was simply oblivious and as shocked as anyone when his lovely, affectionate unschooled and unbiddable male, started to treat other small dogs as prey, eventually killing two on separate occasions as well as biting his owner- badly.

Make sure that you are getting a true AB as there are pitbulls and their types out there that people will class as AB's.  Met some lovely ones in Europe with great temperaments.

not for perrodeagua, would not have one. am happy with my breed.

There are quite a few competing/training in Schutzhund, all the ones I have met have been lovely.

See this link, a balanced and honest description of AB's and some good advice.

http://www.american-bulldog.co.uk/

As with any dog you buy you look at the breed in detail, it's temperament, any health issues etc, find a good reputable breeder and do your homework  before embarking on purchasing any puppy, after all it will be your companion for the next ten years or more.

I can only answer from my experience of the breed, loving , boisterous, gentleman , who is well socialised, walked for an hour or more twice a day, has a penchant for tree boughs, loves nothing better than pulling f
Down a bough if he can out on walks, loves the water, for my part I haven't found him to be a strong guard dog but then again I've never tried to break in, however he unobtrusively is usually at my daughter or her partners side.

See this link, a balanced and honest description of AB's and some good advice.

Interesting site but I would take question with the photo of a young child asleep with an AB - sure that was safe but it is not good to suggest that this is a safe practice with any breed.

Yes, I'm afraid there is a penchant in certain breeds to show children asleep on them as a visual shorthand to say " look how good this breed can be with children".

I do agree, not best practice. Nonetheless, the site does explain a number of the pitfalls of owning this type of dog and what to watch out for, so useful in some degree from those in the know- as it were.

How irresponsible that photo is, the child is a baby still in nappies !