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Gr. Ch. Sloan's Turbo BST, CDII,
OFA, PennHip...
the grandsire to all our Toro
pups!
Topline
American Bulldogs
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ Table
of Contents
· What are
the differences between the Scott and Johnson type American Bulldogs? What
is the Standard type?
· How are American
Bulldogs with children?
· Will my American
Bulldog protect me without formal protection training?
· I jog, will my American
Bulldog be able to keep up with me?
· What other
activities can I participate in with my American Bulldog?
· What is the energy
level of this breed?
· What are the
biggest problems in the American Bulldog breed?
· What is the
shedding cycle of the American Bulldog? How much hair are we talking
here?
· Will my American
Bulldog get along with other dogs?
· What are
the most important things I should do with my new puppy?
· People have
told me only Shepherds can do Schutzhund well. Is that true?
· Why is Schutzhund
important?
· What is the Working
American Bulldog Association?
· You
don't have any puppies right now. How do I find another reputable
American Bulldog breeder?
· I don't want a show
dog and I have no interest in breeding. Why shouldn't I just buy an inexpensive
AB from the newspaper?
· What is
the price difference Topline charges between pet dogs and breeding dogs?
· I
want to be a breeder, what should I do?
· If I have questions
about training my new Topline puppy, will you charge me for help?
· What other
assistance will I get from you with my Topline pup?
· Why are there
so many nutritional stipulations in the Topline warranty?
· If I buy a Topline
puppy, will you put my puppies photo up on your website too?
What
are the differences between the Scott and Johnson type American Bulldogs?
What is the standard type?
The American Bulldog started out as a
southern farm dog, used to herd cattle and hunt boar. The dog had
a square head and muscular, athletic body. Twenty-five years ago
or so, John D. Johnson and Alan Scott decided that this wonderful working
breed should be recognized as a breed and that ABs should be registerable
as pure-breed dogs. Mr. Scott and Mr. Johnson set about getting the
job done! They were successfully able to petition the Animal Research
Foundation (ARF) to recognize these dogs. The biggest problem was
making sure that the genetic pool was wide enough that these dogs would
not be inbred. To expand the genetic pool of the AB, a certain amount
of outcrossing was done. Alan Scott mainly crossed with Pit-Bulls
and John D. Johnson crossed with English Bulldogs and Mastiffs. Over
the years, these two line developed into very distinct types, with Scott-type
dogs of today, still showing similar traits to the Pit-Bull. Scott
type dogs are compact and muscular, very athletic with a tendency to have
long muzzles. Scott type dogs also have a tendency to dog aggression
and make excellent hunting dogs, but lack somewhat in their ability to
do man-work. Johnson-type often giving a very English-Bulldoggy
type appearance. They have a tendency to be too large for any
real work, however, they do have a work ethic and can perform for short
periods of time when the weather is not too warm. Johnson type dogs
are less drivey than their Scott or Standard counterparts, possibly due
to the fact that a great many Johnson-type breeders keep their dogs in
overweight condition. Over the years, many breeders have decided that the
dog should really resemble the original southern AB. These breeders
bred the two types together and re-created a more functional, bulldoggy-looking
American Bulldog....the Standard type!! That is what we breed here.
A large, athletic dog with moderate muzzle length and the terrific stamina
and working ability that was necessary for the original Southern American
Bulldog! The Standard-type, to us, is the best of both worlds!!
How
are American Bulldogs with children?
Wonderful with proper training and socialization,
your American Bulldog will be your childs best friend and your most trustworthy
babysitter! It is important to teach your AB puppy that the children
are not littermates and they must respect them in their human "alpha" position!
A solid regimen of obedience and daily socialization will set your puppy
on the right path!
Will
my American Bulldog protect me without formal protection training?
Yes and no. American Bulldogs have
natural protective instincts and will certainly put on a big display to
intimidate any intruders. However, you may not be able to rely on
the dog to actually bite to protect you. Especially if you have taught
it from a pup that biting people is bad! Formal protection training
gives the dog guidelines in biting and teaches the dog that in which scenarios
it is good to bite. Formal training also gives you control of the
dog's bite, which is absolutely important as illustrated by the following
true story:
A woman calls a breeder and requests
a male puppy that will grow up to protect her from her crazy ex-husband
who is harrassing her and scaring her almost daily. The breeder provides
the woman with a six-month old male who bonds with her immediately.
When the pup is nine months old, a man breaks into their home. The
woman screams and the man grabs her and is squeezing her tight! The
pup attacks and puts the man in the hospital where he receives numerous
stitches. WOW!! Isn't that great?!! Maybe, maybe not!!
The woman is NOT happy about her puppy's actions! In fact, she calls
the breeder and complains, stating that he sold her a vicious animal!
You see, the story was just told to you from the puppy's point of view!
Here is the story from the woman's point of view: "I was standing
in my living room when my Uncle Charlie, whom I havn't seen in about a
year flings open my front door and comes charging in to put me in a huge
bear hug! I screamed with delight and we hugged! Next thing
I know my pup is attacking him! Poor Uncle Charlie had to go to the
hospital and says he'll never come to my house again!" From the Breeder's
point of view: "This woman asked for a protection dog and that is
what she got. Despite my having told her the necessity of proper
protection training, she went to two or three classes, taught the dog how
to bite and never came back!! This dog perceived a threat on his
owner and in his point of view was saving her life!! He was taught
the game without any of the rules, so she had no way to call the dog off
her Uncle! I took the dog back and his protection training was finished.
He now lives with a lovely family and understands that his job is to protect
them and to trust them when they tell him that protection is not necessary!"
So, you can see that if you want your dog to protect you, it is not really
smart to teach them half the rules!! You can either teach your dog
that biting is bad, or you can teach him that sometimes biting is good
and all the rules that go along with it. It is up to you!
I
jog, will my American Bulldog be able to keep up with me?
The American Bulldog is a working breed;
as such, stamina is very important. Yes, your American Bulldog should
be able to keep up with you when you jog. This can be an invaluable
source of both exercise and bonding time for you and your dog!! Make
sure that you do not "force" exercise your dog, i.e. push him past his
limits. Start with a 20 minute jog and work your way up to
your final goal! Make sure you check his pads for signs of chafing
and keep his nails trim. Your American Bulldog will love being your
jogging partner and will look forward to this time spent together!
Who knows? Maybe you'll even work your way up to putting an AD (endurance
title involving a 12 mile run) on your buddy!
What
other activities can I participate in with my American Bulldog?
American Bulldogs are among the most
versatile of breeds! They participate in agility, weight pulling,
dog-carting, and many varieties of protection work and sports. American
Bulldogs love to swim, hike, jog, herd cattle and hunt boar. American
Bulldogs have marched in parades, participated in obedience trials, raised
money in dog-walk-a-thons and make incredible Therapy Dogs (click here
to read my article on Therapy Dogs). The
possibilities are endless for you and your American Bulldog! If you
have a story of something interesting you do with your American Bulldog,
I'd love to hear it and maybe even write an article about it!
What
is the energy level of this breed?
American Bulldogs are a working breed
and therefore have a great deal of energy. Topline puppies are especially
energetic and will give their new families a run for their money!!
What is nice about the breed though, is that as they mature, they settle
in to a "work when it's time to work, play when it's time to play and relax
when it's time to relax" mentality. What more could you ask?
American Bulldogs do well as both farm dogs and apartment dogs as long
as proper exercise is offered on a daily basis. You must be careful
with ABs in that they love to eat. It will be easy for your dog to
put on weight and this can cause a "couch potato" syndrome....something
that is unhealthy both physically and mentally for your AB!
What
are the biggest problems in the American Bulldog breed?
If you asked me this question five or
seven years ago, I'd have most emphatically answered HIP DYSPLASIA.
However, due to peer pressure and the hard work of the WABA, I feel that,
while still a huge problem in the breed, dysplasia is no longer the biggest
problem. Over the past several years, I've had the priviledge to
judge American Bulldog shows all over the country. With much dismay,
I have found some pretty good looking dogs in the show rings with some
pretty awful temperament! Many of these dogs have championships or
are on the verge of having championships. This says to me that our
conformation judges are not taking the temperament portion of our standard
seriously and I feel that is a crime against our breed! I have seen
the gamut of bad temperament from dogs cowering at the thought of interacting
with a stranger to dogs attempting to bite me for just touching them!
This is a big, powerful breed and it is simply appalling to me that this
type of poor temperament is being overlooked by breeders. A beautiful
dog is not worthy of being bred if it is going to attack and maim someone
one day. I would hate to see our American Bulldogs become thought
of as vicious and that is exactly what will happen if this problem is not
contained. This is supposed to be an extremely people friendly, confident
breed. If you see a pup that looks scared in it's own backyard or
antisocial, walk--no run away...do NOT buy that pup! The third most
prevelant problem in the breed is the instance of skin allergies.
There are a plethora of skin problems in the breed and they must be weeded
out by breeders. Again, people have a tendency to overlook these
problems if the dog is beautiful otherwise. There is even one Grand
Champion I know of that has such bad skin problems that he spent his whole
show career being powdered with white powder before the every class!
He may have the other judges fooled, but not me...I know for a fact that
this dog has a chronic skin condition...AND he is being bred on a regular
basis! What a shame. After hips, temperament and skin disorders,
there are eye problems such as ectropian and entropian...these are mostly
seen in the Johnson type AB. All of these problems can be avoided
with healthy breeding practices.
What
is the shedding cycle of the American Bulldog? How much hair are
we talking here?
An American Bulldog kept as a housepet
will have mild shedding year round. A kennel dog will have a good
deal of shedding in the springtime, but no tumbleweed or clumps of loose
fur like you have in long-haired dogs. If you brush your dog daily,
you won't have much of a problem at all. If your "brushing" is limited
to hair removal via patting and rubbing (like my dogs) then you will have
to wear white every day, a small sacrifice! :)
Will
my American Bulldog get along with other dogs?
Remember that your American Bulldog is
a working breed. As such, dominance is a major part of their temperament.
I never recommend having two male or two female American Bulldogs co-habitating.
I have never seen that equation work once the dogs reach sexual maturity.
One of each sex usually do well together if there are strict rules and
guidelines. Never feed them in the same room, never expect them to
share toys. Never play with them together, always play individually.
Never give them special treats in the same room. American Bulldogs
generally get along well with members of the same sex of NON-WORKING Breed
dogs that are neutered or spayed. Dog aggression to strange dogs
is usually not a problem as long as you don't allow them to be challenged
by that other dog. American Bulldogs want to be the boss among canines
at all costs. My dogs are very neutral to other dogs as long as they
are not challenging their authority! One thing that can cause extreme
dog-aggression in ABs is allowing them to have a bad experience with other
dogs. That is why we don't like our pups going to dog parks.
You are trusting your AB's entire future interactions with other dogs to
strangers and their sense of responsibility. One dog attack on a
pup can cause a lifetime of problems.
What
are the most important things I should do with my new puppy?
There are many things that are important
for you to do with your new pup. Proper nutrition and veterinary
care is imperative in the development of a growing pup. Additionally,
providing your pup with a solid obedience program will be most valuable
in establishing your alpha position in the family. One of the most
important things you must do with your new puppy is socialize, socialize,
socialize!! Get that puppy out and show him what the world is like!
Taking your puppy to shopping centers (and not leaving the pup in the car),
the post office, nursing homes and playgrounds will ensure that your pup
understands the world. Making certain that the pup only has positive
experiences while you are socializing him will make him a happy, confident
dog!
People
have told me only Shepherds can do Schutzhund well. Is that true?
No and it is a very narrow-minded statement
for someone to make! There are a multitude of breeds that excel in
Schutzhund and the American Bulldog is beginning to make a name for itself
as a Schutzhund competitor. To read our article comparing a sample
of breeds, including the AB, in Schutzhund, please click here: American
Bulldogs vs. Traditional Working Breeds, A comparison.
Why
is Schutzhund important?
Schutzhund is a tool that helps the breeder
test the dog for stability of temperament, soundness of structure and working
ability. We have written an article on the subject of Schutzhund's
importance as a breeder's tool. Please click here to read: Why
Schutzhund?
What
is the Working American Bulldog Association?
The Working American Bulldog Association
is the organization for the American Bulldogs that helps breeders screen
their breeding stock to make sure that they are breeding only good specimens
in working ability, structure and temperament and conformation. The
WABA offers a wide variety of titles as well as the Breed Suitability Test.
These titles include Schutzhund titles, ADs, Temperament Evaluations and
Obedience degrees. The Working American Bulldog Association was THE
organization that was most instrumental in encouraging breeders to hip
certify all breeding stock and put peer pressure on those breeders who
refuse to do so. The WABA got the AB International recognition as
a working breed through their membership with the AWDF (American Working
Dog Federation) and enabled, for the first time in history, in the year
2000 the AB an opportunity to compete on an International level at FCI
competition! There are many other organizations out there that have
designed easy, impossible to fail tests for ABs and pass out so-called
titles as though they were candy! If you see a WABA title on a dog,
you know that title was trained for and earned through hard work and a
diligent training program. No cheap thrills with the WABA which makes
their titles the most desirable and valuable of all! Please see our
article entitled Balanced Breeding for
more information on how the WABA is used as a breeder's tool. Make
sure to visit the WABA
website for information on their tests and programs!
You
don't have any puppies right now. How do I find another reputable
American Bulldog breeder?
This is an excellent question and one
we get asked all the time. Unfortunately, in a breed that has a high
price-tag, a lot of backyard-breeders get involved to strike it rich!
Sadly, those breeders are the only ones that really do make a lot of money
from breeding. When you are dealing with a big, strong, powerful
and dominant working breed, and one that suffers from some pretty serious
health issues, it is imperative to find a good breeder. In our article,
"How to Select a Breeder" we explain in detail the things to look for when
looking for a good breeder. Keep in mind that a good puppy is worth
waiting for. Most reputable breeders have a waiting list of four
months to a year. Click here: How to
Select a Breeder
I
don't want a show dog and I have no interest in breeding. Why shouldn't
I just buy an inexpensive AB from the newspaper?
If after reading all of these FAQs and
the many articles we've written on the subject (How
to Select a Breeder, Balanced Breeding,
Why
Schutzhund) you can still ask me that question with sincerity, then
I have no answer for you. I wish you the best of luck.
What
is the price difference Topline charges between pet dogs and breeding dogs?
Topline puppies are all sold as pet dogs
with the pet warranty as outlined in our warranty section of this website.
This helps keep our pups affordable for the pet owner who wants a top-quality
puppy but may not care about working or showing or breeding dogs.
We feel that every dog we produce has show and work potential....after
all, it is a major goal of our breeding program to only produce dogs that
will excel in all venues. If you want to breed or show your Topline
pup and want a more comprehensive warranty, for an additional charge you
can purchase that show or breeders warranty. Please see Topline
Warranty page for more information!
What
other assistance will I get from you with my Topline pup?
On the first page of our website it says,
"When you purchase a puppy from Topline, it is not just the end of
a transaction, it is the beginning of a relationship!" What this
means is that you become a part of the Topline family. We want our
pups to do well and as responsible breeders, it is our job to ensure that
they thrive and succeed at anything their families wish for them.
With that in mind, Topline is here to assist you in any way we can.
We have helped members of our extended Topline family in everything from
finding a Schutzhund club to train with to finding a good stud dog to breed
to. We are here to answer your questions in training, showing, breeding,
health related matters, nutrition and anything else that we can help you
with. If we don't know the answer, we will help you find it.
I guess you could say we are "hands-on breeders".
Why
are there so many nutritional stipulations in the Topline warranty?
We do everything
we can to discourage our puppy customers from feeding cheap, supermarket-type
dog food. That is like raising a child on nothing but corn pops and
candy-apples! Nutrition is key to the proper physical development
of your pup. Poor nutrition can lead to skin disorders, hip and elbow
problems and lack of bone and muscle development. On the other hand,
proper nutrition can be a deterrent to all these problems. We insist
that our pups are raised with every advantage in life, hence our rather
stringent warranty conditions!
If
I buy a Topline puppy, will you put my puppies photo up on your website
too?
You Betcha!!
