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So the wife wants a dog...

C

cpals

Diamond Member
My wife's sister and her husband are down from North Carolina visiting and they brought their American Bull Dog puppy with them. She instantly fell in love with him and her sister actually offered us to keep him. Her husband is in the military and will be leaving again soon and she doesn't have much time to spend with the dog since they have a 1 year old kid.

So now my wife is all excited and wants to keep him. I've always wanted a dog, but was always hesitant due to time and also my slight allergies. I'm more allergic to cats, but if I touch the dog and then accidentally rub my eyes I get a little itchy.

Few questions:

1. How are these for 'first time' pets? My wife and I have never owned a dog, but my parents have one.

2. We're probably going to have a kid in the next year or two... are these good around kids?

3. His poop right now is extremely soft and gets stuck in the grass when you try and pick it up - also very 'stinky' as my wife calls it. 😉 Is this normal for a puppy? He's 5 months old.

4. The brother-in-law right now has the dog on some strict schedule of eating once in the morning and then just water the rest of the day... something about this will help house-break them? It sounds strange, but I don't know any better... I've been sneaking him food once in a while cause I feel sorry for the little guy and he gobbles it right up without almost taking a breathe.

Anything else I should be worried about before accepting him? Also, he's a full bred if that helps.

Picture of Dog

Updated Picture

Thanks.

Update

So unfortunately I don't think it's going to work out with the dog or any dog for that fact.

First, I tried to start the house training right now and while he had a few pee accidents I could deal with that and took him outside right away. However, we tried leaving him in the kitchen (instead of the cage as he had been) for the night and in the morning the floor was covered in poop and the house still smells a little. Wife did not like that at all and pretty much started rethinking the whole dog thing.

I did play with him in the house today and tried to take him out every 1/2 hour to an hour and he did his business outside everytime so no accidents today!

Secondly and probably the killer here is as I mentioned above I have allergies and today while I was playing with him he was play-biting me and my arms started getting small allergic reactions and itchy. So I doubt it would be the best thing to keep him and risk my own health... I do go to the allergist every two weeks so I'll see what they think.

Anyone else allergic to dogs or cats and still own one?

Update 2

We discussed it again and decided that we might give it a try. We've moved his cage into the kitchen where he'll sleep at night and keep the accidents down. So far I've been taking him out every 1-2 hours for exercise and pee/poop and no accidents the last two days. He loves chasing tennis balls and a new tug toy I just bought him.

We're giving it a two month test period as my brother-in-law said if we don't want him then we can take the dog back up to where they live and he'll take him back (we were planning on seeing them in July for a vacation spot). So if we absolutely can't handle him after two months worst we'll be out of his some money and possibly some chewed shoes... 😛
 
Its already too late. Sounds like the wife is already in love with this dog. I just got a pug recently. My first pet in adulthood. I love my dog and wouldn't trade him for the world. They are a big commitment but once you get use to him you won't regret it.
 
Originally posted by: Rage187
your sister in-law doesn't want the dog anymore because one day it will snap and kill the todler.
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Nah, the husband doesn't think his wife has enough time to play with the dog and she doesn't want her toddler to eat the dogs poop since it's not house trained yet. 😛
 
Bull dogs can be expensive, they have a lot of problems. Not sure if it's the american bull dog or english bull dog, but any dog with a fucked up face has problems. Like my pugs.
 
Originally posted by: cpals
Originally posted by: Rage187
your sister in-law doesn't want the dog anymore because one day it will snap and kill the todler.
Click to expand...

Nah, the husband doesn't think his wife has enough time to play with the dog and she doesn't want her toddler to eat the dogs poop since it's not house trained yet. 😛
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Those things can be corrected with time/effort. Afterall, I'm assuming the OP is house-trained. 😛
 
do some research online on the breed, such as its habits and known problems. then you will know what to expect.

I say keep the dog, if you understand the breed you will have a happy dog and the dog will make you happy.
 
Originally posted by: cpals

4. The brother-in-law right now has the dog on some strict schedule of eating once in the morning and then just water the rest of the day... something about this will help house-break them? It sounds strange, but I don't know any better... I've been sneaking him food once in a while cause I feel sorry for the little guy and he gobbles it right up without almost taking a breathe.
Click to expand...

Oh.. wow. That's terrible. Don't do that with a puppy, gotta wait until the dog is older before you're only giving it one meal a day.

Simply watch the amount of food given, but give food twice a day. And puppies are like clock work: plan your day to be around for a half hour to an hour after feeding the puppy - it will be taking a dump.

And about that... puppy shit seems to always be that way. I think its just because the puppy's body isn't quite used to what it is eating, and isn't absorbing everything as the body doesn't need all the fiber or whatnot.


Puppies in general though tend to scarf down every item of food put in front of their faces, as well as untrained dogs. Instinct - eat what's available because you don't know when your next meal is, and with only eating once a day, his metabolism is crazy and he's probably insanely hungry in the evening.

For an American Bull Dog puppy, I'd imagine he should be getting like 1cup of puppy food twice a day (maybe a little more - trying to determine if our scoop back home has 8oz cup marks, or something else).
 
Originally posted by: cpals
My wife's sister and her husband are down from North Carolina visiting and they brought their American Bull Dog puppy with them. She instantly fell in love with him and her sister actually offered us to keep him. Her husband is in the military and will be leaving again soon and she doesn't have much time to spend with the dog since they have a 1 year old kid.

So now my wife is all excited and wants to keep him. I've always wanted a dog, but was always hesitant due to time and also my slight allergies. I'm more allergic to cats, but if I touch the dog and then accidentally rub my eyes I get a little itchy.

Few questions:

1. How are these for 'first time' pets? My wife and I have never owned a dog, but my parents have one. Bull dogs are pretty high energy and need a lot of exercise.

2. We're probably going to have a kid in the next year or two... are these good around kids? Bull dogs are great around kids but, like any dog, need to be socialized at an early age.

3. His poop right now is extremely soft and gets stuck in the grass when you try and pick it up - also very 'stinky' as my wife calls it. 😉 Is this normal for a puppy? He's 5 months old. That's normal but, is your wife the only one picking up after him? hint hint

4. The brother-in-law right now has the dog on some strict schedule of eating once in the morning and then just water the rest of the day... something about this will help house-break them? It sounds strange, but I don't know any better... I've been sneaking him food once in a while cause I feel sorry for the little guy and he gobbles it right up without almost taking a breathe. Regular feedings are important and all dogs prefer a schedule. Treats don't hurt but, don't give them when it may reinforce bad behavior. Any puppy, should get two feedings a day.

Anything else I should be worried about before accepting him? Also, he's a full bred if that helps. A puppy is a big commitment. Pups don't raise themselves. Avoiding behavior problems takes consistent exercise, discipline and, lots of tummy rubs. I recommend getting involved with a local dog training club.

Picture of Dog

Thanks.
Click to expand...

 
1. Pit Bulls are generally great family dogs.

However, socialization is a key particularly at that age so they aren't overly aggressive when they get older to other people and animals (this is for any dog).

2. They are generally very good with their family. However, most times it is best to have kids and then bring the dog in. This way they are coming in to an established pack and the yare the "outsider" that has to integrate themselves. But this isn't necessary.

As Pit Bulls were bred to fight other animals , so if you have other pets you have to be careful.

3. Mostly normal though it depends on the food. Make sure to get a good quality food (such as Innova puppy food).

4. Um, no. Never heard of this "technique" and it sounds stupid to me. Puppies should get three meals a day going through their first growth spurts, then transition to two meals a day at around 6 months of age. He could be developmentally hurting the dog.

Dogs can be housebroken in 1-3 weeks. It just requires that someone takes them outside whenever they have to go. At first this means taking them outside every hour or so untill you start to recognize their cues. Also within 30 minutes after they eat. This is why people suggest when you get a new puppy to have at least one person take a week off of school/work/etc. because this is important to train as it is frustrating to have the dog go inside.

Also, dogs typically won't go where they sleep so crate training is a good idea. YOu can have the crate next to your bed at night so the pup is comforted being near you. This way they won't typically go during the night unless they really really need to.

At five months old the dog should be able to "hold it" about 7 hours or so. So you can get a full nights rest but no sleeping in! However the ability to hold it increases fairly fast at that age.

edit Misread, you are getting an American Bulldog, not an American Pit Bull. American Bulldogs are GREAT with children so you should be good to go 🙂
 
read on dog behavior.
read.... they do not interpret things as people do. it is how training goes wrong. its simple things, you cannot yell at them for something they did even minutes ago, it has to be during the incident for it to register for one.
you don't spend your time staring into puppies eyes.. it ends up thinking its your boss etc.
always remember you are the leader, do not give it any other ideas. this is where people generally fail
 
The dog is still a puppy and should be socialized with children, everyone and everything so that they won't fear them.

A puppy should be fed 2-3 times a day and not just once. A quality pet food may help with the stools.

 
Originally posted by: cpals
My wife's sister and her husband are down from North Carolina visiting and they brought their American Bull Dog puppy with them. She instantly fell in love with him and her sister actually offered us to keep him. Her husband is in the military and will be leaving again soon and she doesn't have much time to spend with the dog since they have a 1 year old kid.

So now my wife is all excited and wants to keep him. I've always wanted a dog, but was always hesitant due to time and also my slight allergies. I'm more allergic to cats, but if I touch the dog and then accidentally rub my eyes I get a little itchy.

Few questions:

1. How are these for 'first time' pets? My wife and I have never owned a dog, but my parents have one.

2. We're probably going to have a kid in the next year or two... are these good around kids?

3. His poop right now is extremely soft and gets stuck in the grass when you try and pick it up - also very 'stinky' as my wife calls it. 😉 Is this normal for a puppy? He's 5 months old.

4. The brother-in-law right now has the dog on some strict schedule of eating once in the morning and then just water the rest of the day... something about this will help house-break them? It sounds strange, but I don't know any better... I've been sneaking him food once in a while cause I feel sorry for the little guy and he gobbles it right up without almost taking a breathe.

Anything else I should be worried about before accepting him? Also, he's a full bred if that helps.

Picture of Dog

Thanks.
Click to expand...

American Bull Dogs make GREAT pets.

something that I should mention however, is that the beautiful coat pattern (white with brown/dark patches) on that dog is linked to some potentially serious genetic issues. Don't know the specifics, but it could make for a sick and potentially short-lived dog.

Years ago, a roommate of mine had an American Bull with the same pattern (white with brown patch--torso and eye). Now, this specific dog had some personality issues due to being rescued from horrible owners, and so was extremely terrified around new people, severe detachment disorder (would poop all over the place as soon as left alone).

Again, this was more of a specific issue with this dog's early life, but she actually died quite suddenly, unrelated, a few years later due to a stroke (I think; I heard through another friend what had happened).

Anyway, the main problems with that dog were unrelated, but there appears to be a cascade of issues linked to similar coat patterns (don't mean to use my story as an example of this--just mentioning something you may want to look into.)

They are very, very nice dogs. great around kids.
 
1. I don't think there is a perfect "first time" pet. But Bull dogs can be pretty energetic sometimes and will require lots of exercise to curb this energy.

2. The dog can either become jealous of the baby or tend to protect it as "one of the pack". Just don't "humanize" the dog too much and you shouldn't worry about it becoming jealous.

3. Yeah dog shit stinks. 😉 As a pup the poo will tend to be soft. As the dog grows the stool will get solid (as does the diet) but all poo will be soft when it comes out. I do my poop scooping on Saturdays and if I see a fresh pile I let it sit a few days and harden. Easier to scoop up.

4. As a pup it needs food and water. I have 3 dogs which I feed regularly at 6:00am and again at 5:00pm. They have all the water they want all day. They get snacks sometimes between meals. In the early stages of puppyhood you need to take it out after each feeding and every couple hours as well for potty time. And make this potty time only (no playing) so the dog learns to go out after it's feeding. This will help with house breaking. As the dog gets older it learns when it needs to go and will soon let you know. In the pup stages you can take away the water after the evening meal so it has time to clear it's system and won't need to go out in the wee hours.
 
My friend's American Bulldog is very well behaved, friendly and easily trained. It's a great dog. Definitely benefits from ample socialization and exercise. She would get a little needy and destructive if she wasn't taken to a dog park to run and play regularly.
 
Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
My friend's American Bulldog is very well behaved, friendly and easily trained. It's a great dog. Definitely benefits from ample socialization and exercise. She would get a little needy and destructive if she wasn't taken to a dog park to run and play regularly.
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I think any dog that requires socialization and is energetic and needy can result in the best pet ever, if raised correctly.

Basically, definitely go to like a dog raising class, and maintain your stance of dominance around a dog. Make sure the dog knows humans are the masters, so the dog never thinks it is, no matter who is around. As long as you can establish that, and work with obedience and reward properly, the dog will fall right in line and be a great family pet.

Some breeds are more easily put into a family situation, but I'd argue all dogs can be raised to be great around kids and be good protectors. Some breeds it just takes a little more work getting them to that level. The main thing that tends to stick to type of breed is how aggressive they may be in play and in defense. Some dogs will run or only bark when someone unfriendly walks in, some will want to attack with few warning barks. Those are the ones that require great effort in socialization.
 
Originally posted by: zinfamous
Originally posted by: datalink7
1. Pit Bulls are generally great family dogs.

[snip]
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great advice, but this isn't a pit bull. 😉
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technically in the same class.

However, the problem with "Petey" (look up the doggie in little rascals) is the "people" that own them.

To the OP, I don't think what you have had happen is enough to "have a kid". Cats and dogs are very dependent on their owners. Almost as bad as a kid.
 
Update

So unfortunately I don't think it's going to work out with the dog or any dog for that fact.

First, I tried to start the house training right now and while he had a few pee accidents I could deal with that and took him outside right away. However, we tried leaving him in the kitchen (instead of the cage as he had been) for the night and in the morning the floor was covered in poop and the house still smells a little. Wife did not like that at all and pretty much started rethinking the whole dog thing.

I did play with him in the house today and tried to take him out every 1/2 hour to an hour and he did his business outside everytime so no accidents today!

Secondly and probably the killer here is as I mentioned above I have allergies and today while I was playing with him he was play-biting me and my arms started getting small allergic reactions and itchy. So I doubt it would be the best thing to keep him and risk my own health... I do go to the allergist every two weeks so I'll see what they think.

Anyone else allergic to dogs or cats and still own one?
 
dogs take a lot of work...it will be more then a few days before he is trained correctly, maybe a few weeks for our dog...but then again, she never shat herself overnight.
 
You need to keep the puppy in his crate at night. Note, like a baby, he'll need to go out sometime during the night.

In regards to the allergic reaction, if you're serious, you may want to see your doctor. I know my sister-in-law takes an allergy pill before hanging-out with my dogs and she's fine b/c of it.
 
There are breeds that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction (contrary to advertising there are no true "hypoallergenic" dogs".) Poodles or anything crossed with a poodle would be a good bet, and those tend to be very friendly breeds and great with kids. Lab/poodle crosses, which I refuse to call labradoodles, would probably be a good match for you and your wife.
 
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