QUESTIONS ABOUT AMERICAN BULLIES
When training your American Bully puppy, a person needs to understand how a dog thinks. Bully Puppies have short attention spans at first. So, use that attention span to your advantage. When the puppy listens for a couple of seconds, congratulate them with treats or affirmation. Those seconds will turn into minutes, and other training will follow suit.
#1 Things not to do!!! When telling your American bully puppy or exotic bully puppy to stop a behavior, DO NOT say their name while telling them no. They do not understand being told no if their name is used as well. Their name is used when you pet them, call them to you, or give them a treat. So when you say their name while correcting a behavior, it confuses the dog, which leads to the behavior getting worse and the owner losing control of their dog due to the confusion they have caused. This is the number 1 reason why bully owners turn their bully puppies into bad characters; it’s not even the dog's fault, and it’s easily corrected!
Bully Puppies are to be vaccinated with 2 5-way parvo vaccinations at 5 and 7 weeks of age. The 9-way parvo vaccination should be given at 9 and 11 weeks, with the final two puppy parvo vaccinations being given at 13 and 15 weeks of age.
The biggest misconception is allergies are grain-based. This is just a total myth. Allergies in bullies are all protein-based. The meat in your dog's food is what's causing the allergic reaction. Try changing your food to a different meat type. This will rid your dog of allergies he or she is encountering. We personally feed all our dogs from puppy stage to grown-up Lamb and Rice.
When introducing your puppy to house pets, we recommend allowing the grown-up to meet the puppy through a cage. Allowing both dogs to smell each other and get acclimated prior to seeing each other without some type of protection. A dog or puppy that is attacked can never be reversed once it happens. Best to use steps when introducing. Smelling each other first goes a long, long way.
Let's start with what's worst first. Raw hides. This is by far the worst chew toy for any dog, period, as they stretch and can choke your dog. The number one way to lose a dog is via toys. Choosing the best toys for your pet is imperative. We recommend deer antlers or elk antlers for your bully, as they are great for cleaning their teeth and keeping their breath fresh. The Elk antlers can last a very long time. Once they become 3 to 4 inches, throw them away.
Behavior is the top indicator. Suppose your dog isn't acting like their normal happy self. Something is wrong. If they are lethargic, take them to the vet immediately.
First... Check your dog for parasites such as worms. Deworming shall be done every month with a bully or any dog, for that matter.
Second... Genetics are never to be overlooked; just because two bullies are bred together doesn't mean the pups will be thick. Linebreeding, out-crossing, and in-breeding are all tools of an expert American bully breeder and exotic bully breeder. An expert breeder will know what to do over the years with their particular line of dogs.
Third.... Like with any breed, there are breeds within a breed. Some display great examples of the breed, and some are poor examples of the breed. It has been and always will be about genetics. Great genetics shows up every time.
Fourth.... Are you underfeeding your dogs? This is usually the case with scheduled feedings. American bullies need more than the recommended amount. Their big rib cages and huge muscles need those calories to grow correctly. With our bullies, we free-feed them; there is always food laid out, so they never feel hungry, never are in a rush to eat, and never feel the need to be food-aggressive!
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BREEDING
When breeding a female, it is common practice to wait til the female is at least 18 months of age. Give the female dog time to mature. Any so-called breeder that does this prior to being 18 months old should be kicked out of the breed! There is no reason to rush!
Next, to be more precise, one should progesterone check the female. This can be done at your vet. Depending on the vet, they will recommend when they believe the female is best to breed. Our kennel begins breeding once the levels hit 5.0, and we breed til she hits 20. The situation would determine where a surgical AI or regular AI is needed.
A typical gestation lasts 57–63 days. When your female is close, her behavior will be the first indicator. With most females, they will begin nesting. Nesting is normally a sign she will go into labor within 72 hours. Also, there is labored breathing. If she is panting, she is in labor. Also, a temperature check can be conducted via the rectum. When the temperature reaches 98 degrees, she is in labor. Also, if you squeeze the nipple and milk comes out, she is ready to have those babies.