Elevenpeaks American Bulldogs

Puppies are here!!!

2007-12-06T15:18:00.001-05:00

Puppies are now here.....and ready to go to their forever homes.
If your interested in any of these puppies you can email: elevenpeaks@sympatico.ca or call 519-762-6746 to make any inquiries regading this amazing litter.

tugnuts teddy and elevenpeaks pouncer
female

Up coming Litter #2

2007-09-04T20:21:00.001-04:00

Elevenpeaks Simon Of Mastoppers X Elevenpeaks Delta of Lichtard's

This is a repeat mating that produced large bone and large headed dogs. Some finish weights were 135 lbs. (male) and 104 lbs. (female) so we are expecting the same.

Simon scored in the top 30% of the breed for hip scores and is registered ( ARF/AKC/UKC/EKC/NKC) and yes he is as magnificant in person. He is also a big baby that is loved by everyone.

Delta is the only American Bulldog in Canada that is certified as a therapy dog with St. Johns Ambulance. She is also hip scored (OVC no DJD).

We are now accepting deposits on this litter that is due in the first week of November and should be ready to go right before christmas.

If you would like more information about this litter please email us at:

http://www.blogger.com/elevenpeaks@sympatico.ca

Up Coming Litter #1 Tugnuts Teddy and Tugnuts Pouncer

2007-09-04T19:57:00.001-04:00

Tugnuts Teddy X Tugnuts Pouncer

This litter is due the 2nd of October 2007 and has created quit a bit of interest considering that it has not "officially" been announced.

Teddy is one of the most physically correct Males i have had the opportunity to view and his movement is as percise as a switch watch. I am quite confident that he with throw the same into the pups. ( picture above)

Pouncer is a very special girl who is a Elevenpeaks Simon Daughter (picture to the left). This is going to be her first litter and we anicipate that she will bring that large bone and head to the pups.

Needless to say we are excited and are ready to start taking deposits on this litter.

If your interested in getting more information about either of these dogs please contact us at:

elevenpeaks@sympatico.ca

American Bulldogs and choosing breeding stock

2007-06-08T10:09:00.000-04:00

By: George A. Padgett, DVM Professor in the Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University

The first and major hindrance to recognizing the significance and cost of genetic disease is that most breeders believe that the MAJORITY OF DOGS ARE GENETICALLY NORMAL. This is not the case at all. Aside from what is likely to be the case, if you believe most dogs are genetically normal and you find out your dog carries a defect, whether it's cataracts or something else, you do not want to talk about it because you believe your dog is different (less worthwhile) than MOST dogs. The average for genetic defects in any breed is about 14.
This belief causes a person to be secretive about a trait, to deny that it occurs, and, as a result, to fail to address the defective gene as a problem which can be solved.
It is difficult to convince breeders that ALL dogs carry defective genes because people tend to hide problems and thus they are not an obvious part of the productivity of a dog or a kennel. However, the elite of the breed, the superior dogs, those that contribute a disproportionately high number of genes to the gene pool of the breed, allow us to get a better look at the problem for two major reasons.
• The first is that a good stud is used on b###hes outside the control of the owner of the stud and thus the offspring of the stud are observed by multiple people and with multiple people it's hard to keep a secret. As a result, GOSSIP occurs. It may be true (also may not) but it's treated as gossip and sort of whispered rather than being openly discussed. Alternatively, a stud of lesser quality and not as well used, producing, say, two litters, may well have expressed the identical gene but the gossip is controlled (only two breeders are involved).
• The second reason relates directly to the first. For a genetic disease to exist in a breed, there must be affected dogs, carrier dogs (those having one gene for the trait), and dogs normal for both genes existing within the populations. Obviously, a dog bred more widely has a better chance to contact a carrier b###h and thus give the trait a better chance to express itself than a dog that produces one or two litters, even though both dogs are themselves carriers [controlled test matings may be the only way to establish who's who].
As a result of these two major features of genetic diseases and dog breeders (odds of producing a defect and gossip), you cannot name a single major dog in my breed that has produced 200 puppies or better (40 litters, 5 per litter) that has not produced some defect (try it, see if you can think of one). Further, once you know the dog has produced a recessive defect, then you know that each of his puppies has a 50:50 chance of being a carrier for that defect whether the puppy was born before the stud produced the defect or after he produced it.
What breeders most often forget, however, is that the reason you know a superior dog has a defect is that the dog is in fact superior. He is used more often than dogs of lesser status because he produces winning offspring. He adds quality to the breed or he would not have been allowed to produce so many puppies (remember, this is controlled by the owners of the b###hes, not the owner of the stud). WE now have 200 puppies on the ground, many of which are already champions (or you wouldn't have 200 puppies on the ground!), half of which are carriers. The owners of these dogs have already made a large investment in them and now they do not want to talk about any defects involving their dogs. What I call "THE CODE OF SILENCE" is imposed; it is unethical to talk about defects, owners that talk about defects are though of as abhorrent. Breeders that admit their dogs have or carry a defect are hounded by others no matter what quality the dog nor how healthy the dog. The stage is set for what breeders do best to one another: THEY LIE TO EACH OTHER or they evade or they do not involve themselves in "useless" discussions or they fib or they do anything they can to avoid the fact that THEIR dog carries a gene for a given defect or may in fact have the defect (if it cannot be observed without special techniques).
This is the dilemma that dog breeders face no matter what the breed, no matter how famous the dog. ALL DOGS HAVE DEFECTIVE GENES LIKE ALL PEOPLE HAVE DEFECTIVE GENES. The question now becomes what should you do about it and what can you do about it?
Dog breeders in general ... cause defective genes to spread within a breed by failing to approach genetic defects in an open manner. They control the matings of their dogs, but somehow they end up expecting "nature" to correct defects in the same manner natural selection works in a wild population. If "nature" bred their dogs there might be some basis for the belief that a disease such as cataracts might be corrected over a period of one or two hundred years by natural selection. The fact that none of the breeders (having the belief that natural selection is protecting them) would be alive when it happened doesn't seem to faze them.
TRAIT'S WILL NOT DISAPPEAR BY THEMSELVES. NATURE WILL NOT SAVE YOU BECAUSE NATURAL SELECTION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DOG BREEDING.
Dog breeders in general need to face genetic defects as a realistic part of the problems encountered in the process of producing good sound animals. We need to quit whispering about defects and gossiping about defects and instead set up a sound program that allows the standard selection procedures to go on so that we breed good dogs and avoid major defects. A decision needs to be made so that you can control what you have, breed it out or spread it.
Disclaimer: The NRTA is posting this article for information purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Solving the Problems and the Painful Truths
There is no easy answer to get rid of defects in dogs. Remember most dogs carry 14 disease/defective traits that may come up in your breeding program at some point. Most defects are recessive in nature meaning that both parents are carrying the gene and will produce the problem. Some however are not recessive in nature and only one parent needs to be carrying the gene in order to produce it. Lastly some defects are a combination of environmental issues and nutritional issues alone where neither of the parents are responsible for the defect. Unfortunately a lot of diseases have not been studied in dogs to be sure what exactly the genetic inheritance of the particular problem is. Here are some examples.
Hip Dysplasia is one of them. Some experts say its genetic while others say it’s due to early injury and still others theorize that it’s a combination of nutrition and environmental factors.
The general consensus on Patella Luxation and Legge Perthes has been assumed that it is recessive in nature and that in order to produce a pup with the problem both parents must be carrying it.

Demodectic Mange is a great one under controversy. Since all dogs have the mites on them from birth it can be rather hard to determine if the pup breaks out because of stressful conditions or if there immune system has not fully matured yet or if its strictly genetic.
Under or Over shot jaws can be caused by genetics or by breeding two dogs with dissimilar head shapes. Meaning one dog has a long muzzle and the other parent has a short muzzle. The upper and lower jaws grow at different rates so that if a puppy has a good bite when very young and suddenly goes over or under there is a chance that the bite will self correct once the jaws catch up with each other. That is not always the case though.
The list goes on and on with defects but two healthy dogs that have been bred several times without occurrence of problems can suddenly produce a defect that shows up.
If you breed a male and a female and come up with defects then you can not always be sure that both of the parents are carriers when they do not express the defect themselves because of the lack of information on genetic inheritance modes. Generally speaking though, if both parents are carrying a bad recessive trait, a quarter of there offspring will show the defect, half will be carriers and a quarter will be free of the problem. It is now impossible to say which offspring are carriers and which are free of the defect. The affected ones are obvious.
Now what do you do? There are ways to breed out the defect genes but it’s a lot of work and takes many years to accomplish. You have a few choices.
1. If you are not a serious breeder and do not have enough dogs or different lines to work with in order to breed out an undesirable trait that has showed up suddenly in your lines then spay/neuter the dogs that are in question and all offspring produced if they had been being considered for breeding. This means that if you are someone who purchases pups from different sources because they are nice pups and have not bred those lines to tell what defects they carry or do not know about the complete history of the dogs you are just breeding unknown factors into the offspring each time you breed. The truth of the matter is that you are not a breeder, your just breed dogs.
2. If you are a dog owner with a couple of dogs and like to have a litter once in a while, be sure that you check up on the pups that you have sold to be sure that they do not have any problems. If even one pup comes up in any of the litters do not breed those dogs again.
3. For those who are a true breeder with substantial breeding stock and are willing to work in the “breeding out” of a trait over time you stand a good chance of producing excellent pups to move into the future with. It is time consuming, trying and an expensive venture. You would need to have test bred your dogs to find out exactly what they do and do not contain in the way of good or bad genetic traits, which is a 5-7 year long process at minimum. Of the test bred dogs, do not sell those pups that are in question or might carry a negative recessive gene to other breeders unless you are fully prepared to disclose this information to them. The offspring will show no signs of illness but when bred to another carried the negative trait will come back to the fore front. There is no way to predict when it will show up unless you can trace the lines back to a common dog in the ancestry that is a “known carrier”. And this means not just a dog that appears in the pedigree on both sides but a dog that is common as a “known carrier”. Also require a spay/neuter contract to all buyers of those pups if they are going into private homes.
So if you are now willing to work at it, here is some advice from experts and some options:
Limit reproduction of known carriers for the long-term genetic health of the population but then a high number of individuals must be removed from reproduction. Some of these carriers are bound to be otherwise exceptional, and these are the animals for which the choices become very difficult.
Another method is to neuter the affected individuals as they become known, the parents of the defective individual, and all of their previous offspring. This is the most radical selection against a defect, and it effectively removes carriers from the population as they are detected as well as some noncarriers. So while the "neuter all carriers" approach will work to dramatically reduce the number of carriers in a population, it rarely completely eliminates all carriers since some slip through the cracks of the system.
A less drastic than “neutering all carriers” plan is to neuter the sire because he can spread the gene more widely than can the dam, which produces fewer offspring. Still half of the offspring of the carrier dam will be carriers. One approach is to neuter all of her sons but allow her daughters to reproduce. About half of these will be carriers. If these are in turn used for reproduction, the carrier rate goes down to about one-fourth, although which specific fourth is uncertain without a breeding test.
If excellent males are generated, an alternative to the above scheme would be to test-mate them to known carrier females to determine which of the males do not carry the defective gene. Those documented as free of the gene can then be used widely and safely for breeding of animals free of the specific defect. In this way, the positive traits of the line can be continued while leaving behind the defect. The process is long and involved but well worth the effort in some circumstances.
So remember no matter how perfect a dogs conformation is or how beautiful he looks or how many shows or titles he has won, beware of what may be hidden deep in the lines in the way of recessives. You will NEVER know that the recessive is there until you happen on another dog which carries that same recessive and viola, you have a big problem. Unfortunately this can not be foreseen the vast majority of the time and pretty much every time you breed a dog it is a test breeding unless you have had those lines for many years and test bred each of the dog with several mates. For each time you outcross a dog into new lines it is like starting all over again. What lurks behind them can not be predicted. You may cross dogs without problems to several mates for several generations and it’s that one time that the wrong two dogs come together and the problem rises to the surface so fast that you hardly can believe that it’s happening.
It is so commonly said that “I got a bad dog from a breeder”, that breeder may not have had any idea of what recessive the dog was holding. When that unknown recessive was bred to your own dog and you got a bum litter, well then you at least found out that not only did the breeder you bought the dog from carry an undesirable trait but yours did too. Now it’s back to square zero again. It’s also commonly said, “How could the breeder not have known?” That’s easy enough, the wrong genes in there particular program never came together.
In the Rat Terrier breed specifically the problems that seem to be coming up are due to the fact that it is a fairly recent breed that has come into popularity. More dogs are being sold and or traded across the USA. They are a mixture of many different breeds from long ago, some containing more blood from certain breeds then from others depending on the geographical location they came from. When blood from one of the original breeds that was crossed in comes together and that particular breed had an abundance of problems, surely those problems would show up once again. As the breed becomes more and more pure in its own strain as a Rat Terrier the genes start doubling up for good and for bad. In the early stages of the Rat, there were many outcrosses made to several different breeds. This is called Hybrid Vigor. The dogs were very hardy because they are carrying many genes that are different from each other. Once those genes start doubling up, for good or bad you start to see the problems that were always there in the first place.
The bottom line is that in every breed there are problems and those problems are going to show up from time to time. The only way to start producing dogs free of defects is to watch our lines closely for problems that crop up and correct them immediately. That means to use one of the techniques as described above. There is no sense in blaming owners, breeders but only ourselves. We all know when a problem arises and common sense should take care of the spread of the problems. Breeders should try to find any defects and halt them. Not blame other breeders for bad dogs which they may not have known about in the first place., but talk about what might have gone wrong somewhere in the lines and don’t repeat the mistake. Owners should at least notify a breeder if a pup they bought came up with a problem somewhere down the line. If a breeder is unaware of any pups produced with a problem there is nothing they can do about it. We all try and do our best, lets continue to do that and keep the Rat Terrier breed going as defect and disease free as possible.

Skunk and how to get rid of the smell

2007-05-28T13:28:00.001-04:00

I buddy of mine had one of his females sprayed by a skunk so he called me asking for help.

This is what you need to know about american bulldogs and skunks. When they get together it smells. I know it is over simplified but prevention is the key. have you dog trained on a recall even when there is a strange animal in the "hood".

To understand the enemy skunk you have to know how it defends itself. The skunk can spray up to five times and a total distance of ten feet. Most dogs will get sprayed at "point blank" range. The skunk can then reproduce new musk from his anal gland in about 10 days to make it full again, i guess his war chest is a renewable resource.

The best remedy i have hear of used and it comes with many people saying it works is:

4 cups hydogen peroxide
4 tablespoons of baking soda
1 tea spoon of normal dish soap ( used to thicken and hold the other 2 together)

Use rubber gloves.
work from the head to the tail do not get in the dogs eyes....it will be very painful and harmful to the dogs if you do.
rinse it off.
repeat it if you need to

Remember that if the skunk is still alive and it gets away. There is a chance that your american bulldog will take another run at the skunk......be prepaired.

American Bulldog Breeding restrictions

2007-05-23T16:01:00.001-04:00

I just got this email from Kim Vacchio and I support her and her endevours 100%...please read the complete email and check out her links.

AMERICAN CANINE FOUNDATION LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MAY 2007

WILL WE BE ABLE TO SHOW AND BREED DOGS IN THE FUTURE ?

Breeding restrictions are being passed everywhere, "MANDATORY SPAY AND NEUTER" laws are surfacing all over.

Breed bans are being attempted all over the United States.

WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO STOP OUR RIGHTS FROM BEING TAKEN FROM US ?

Can we as Dog Fanciers win the fight against the animal rights campaign intended to stop canine ownership ? (YES)

Mandatory spay and neuter serves no legitimate governmental purpose, it does nothing to protect the public, it is unconstitutional and needs to be correctly litigated in court to stop it.

Why is it unconstitutional ? Neutering or spaying a canine will not reduce human aggression, when its mandated to the public animal control agencies end up seizing so many canines that shelter intake numbers increase over 100%, budgets to maintain attempted enforcement increase and tax payers money is wasted. Mandatory spay and neuter of your pet forces you to have a surgery performed on your pet that can cause serious medical problems in the future development of the canine. Forcing you to alter your pet with surgery is violating your rights and causes damage to your property without a rational basis. Mandatory spay and neuter is promoted by the animal rights movement to aid in ending domestic pet ownership. When governmental agencies enact mandatory breeding laws they target the Dog Fancy, the responsible breeders who obey the laws. The Dog Fancy is forced to obtain breeding permits with requirements that can't be complied with which in return stops purebred dog breeding. Irrational thinking is behind the mandatory spay and neuter campaign fueled by PETA/HSUS and other animal rights organizations.

In California at this time animal rights legislation is passing taking all breeding rights of Dog Fanciers away and placing it in the control of animal control agencies !!!! LA County passed mandated sterilization laws with breeding restrictions, Riverside County is proposing it, Kern County is proposing it, Sacramento and Orange County are being lobbied by AR Organizations. AB1634 was introduced this year to stop canine breeding.

From: ACF

The American Canine Foundation was founded in 2000 to protect the Dog Fancy’s rights to own canines. ACF is the only organization to successfully litigate constitutional challenges against breed bans

2001 ( ACF v Pontiac ) Case settled breed ban repealed.

2002 (Tack v Huntsville) Alabama Supreme Court affirmed the trial court decision that no breed of canine is inherently dangerous

2004 (Margolius v Denver) ACF proved Denver can’t identify a breed of canine (Amstaffs / APBT’s )

2006 ( Tellings v Toledo ) BSL was ruled unconstitutional by the Sixth District Court of Appeals. The case is appeal and will be appealed to the US Supreme Court if needed

ACF has filed a federal lawsuit against the State of California and Los Angeles County to challenge mandatory spay and neuter laws with breeding permits that require turning all registration papers over to animal control who then can either approve or deny your right to breed your canines. (ACF v Ben Sun, Los Angeles Co, San Francisco) Northern District Federal Court.

At this time AKC Kennel Clubs are being forced to turn over their data to LA County AC and must provide their member data bases.

The American Rottweiler Club, the Shorline Kennel Club, the Golden Retriever Club of Greater Los Angeles, the Western Rottweiler Owners, the Lake Matthews Kennel Club, the ADBA and countless Dog Fanciers from California and other states have donated substantial amounts to fund ACF’s California lawsuit.

ACF AGENDAS 2006 / 2007

In August 2006 ACF through their Colorado attorney filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Aurora citing several constitutional rights violations. The Commerce Clause is being argued regarding the 10 AKC breeds and anything that looks like them that Aurora banned. Plaintiff's in the case are ACF, Tina Villani and Florence Viazon. Experts used will be Dr Brisbin PhD, Dr Milani DVM, Dr Al Stinson DVM Professor of Veterinarian Medicene, Jim Crosby, Jan Cooper, Glen Bui and Dr Estep PhD.

ACF is filing a federal lawsuit in the State of Washington, King County passed a mandatory spay and neuter law several years ago, its failed and cost tax payers wasted money.

ACF is filing a state level lawsuit against LA County in the Los Angeles County Superior Court asking for a temporary restraining order. LA County has been enforcing their mandatory spay and neuter law and has targeted an ACF member in LA County who will be named as a Plaintiff on the case. The case will be filed before April 2007 with a Plaintiff who owns an AKC registered Poodle.

ACF has pending a constitutional challenge in Ohio where the Sixth District Court of Appeals ruled BSL violates equal protection, substantive due process, procedural due process and the vague doctrine along with the right to be heard. The case is in appeal and ACF is prepared to take the case to the United States Supreme Court to stop BSL.

You may think that your breed of dog is exempt from animal rights legislation in your city, and everything is just fine? If you do you would be closing your eyes to the real problems of today. Laws are being passed by the animal rights agenda to change owner to guardian , ban breeds of dogs, restrict breeding and end domestic dog ownership in our country every year.

(ACF) GOALS
STOP BREED BANS
STOP GUARDIANSHIP PROPOSALS
EDUCATE TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP
EDUCATE CHILDERN ON DOG BITE PREVENTION
STOP MANDATORY SPAY AND NEUTER

To do this we have assembled the best team of canine experts in the United States.

ACF has won several court challenges in the past and we need your support to prevail, send donations to ACF and indicate where you want your money to go.
To view our website go to: americancaninefoudationlaw.com

ACF
23969 NE State Rte 3
Suite G101

Belfair, Wa 98528
or Pay Pal at (http://by134fd.bay134.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&a=46ae66e0caf933ca88bfe78530bb4b55c66f771ea26edf3e8742d8c00377a267&mailto=1&to=legislation2003@hotmail.com&msg=05346328-2166-4686-918A-2F6C91540068&start=0&len=7887&src=&type=x)

americancaninefoudationlaw.com

Our Dogs- the american bulldog

2007-05-16T22:13:00.000-04:00

byR. H. Voss

Text originally printed in 1933 in a British publication called "Our Dogs".

Mr Voss was the #1 authority and historian of his day on Bulldogs. This same article was printed before in Stodghill's ARF Cowdog Magazine, issue #114 in 1989.

R.H. Voss suggest that the breed goes back to the war dogs of the ancient Britons. Briton was made a Roman province in the year 50 AD, when the British chieftain Caractacus was defeated by Emperor Claudius. At That time there were "pugnaces" or war dogs, in Briton. They were used in war, for the contests in the amphitheater and in the chase. These fighting dogs of Briton were known as the Broad Mouthed Dogs of Briton. There is very little doubt that they were the original and remote ancestors of our Mastiff and Bulldog. They appealed to the Romans, who sent considerable numbers of them from Briton to Rome, to take part in the sports of the amphitheater, and it has even been said that the Romans appointed an officer to select British dogs and export them to Rome. There is evidence that from Italy the breed of British war dogs was disseminated over the continent in the years 50/410. Bear Baiting The Saxon kingdom of England was succeeded in 1066 by Norman Kings and the training of bulls, bears, horses and other animals for the purposes of baiting the with dogs was practiced by the jugglers who were introduced into England by her Norman conquerors. As early as Henry II 's time 1154 the baiting of bulls and bears by dogs was indeed a popular amusement. Henry II had gained Bordeaux on his marriage with Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1151, and this important town remained in the hands of the English till about 1411, for approximately 260 years. From 1356 to 1367 the court of King Edward III "father of Edward the black prince", with it's attendant sports of bull and bear baiting, was held at Bordeaux. It was in or about 1406 that Edmond de Langley, Duke of York, the forth son of seven son's of Edward III, wrote a treatise entitled "The Mayster of the Game and of hawks to Henry IV, and in his treatise he described the Alaunt or Allen dog as a dog with a large and thick head and a short muzzle, which was remarkable for his courage, so that when he attacked an animal he hung on, and was used for bull baiting. He described the great French Alaunt, drawing a distinction between the Gentil and the Alaunt de Boucherie. The French Alaunt being a descendant of the English Alaunts exported to Bordeaux, and in turn the ancestor, without any doubt whatsoever, of the Dogue de Bordeaux, the huge fighting dog of South of France. In 1556 it is known that great numbers of English Alaunts were introduced into Spain and the island of Cuba by Philip II for the purposes of the arena. In 1557 Dr. Caius, of Chambridge, described the Mastyve or Bulldog which was undoubtedly the direct descendant of the Alaunt, as a vast, huge stubborn, ugly and eager dog., of a heavy and burdenous body, "serviceable to bait and take the bull by the ear two dogs at most being sufficient for that purpose, however untamable the bull might be. Bull Broke Loose, from a colored engraving, artist unknown, circa 1820 In 1585 a Hondius painter an oil painting on an oak panel [which came into the possession of Mr. Frank Adcock] which depicted two bandogges or Alaunts attacking a wild bore in the bed of a shallow stream. One was red with a black muzzle, and the other was white with brindle ear patches, and they were both had "rose ears", and long fine tails, and looked as though they must have weighed 100 to 120 lbs. The red dog had a firm grip on the left ear of the boar. The fact that the "pugnaces" of Briton were known as the "Broad Mouthed dogs of Briton" and that Claudian in 390 AD stated that they were able to pull down a bull, shows that these dogs were, of course, in a rough and typical manner only the original stock from which the Bulldog and Mastiff sprang. That these dogs were in the years 50/410 exported to Rome by the Romans, and form Rome disseminated over the Continent, there is no doubt. Further, it has been shown that as early as 1154 the baiting of bulls and bears by dogs in England was a popular amusement. Also it shows that from 1151 to 1411 Bordeaux belonged to England, and that the English court was actually situated there from 1356 till 1367, with its accompaniment of bull and bear baiting. It was while the English still held Bordeaux that the Alaunt was undoubtedly exported to France from 141 onwards for a period on 260 years, and he was almost certainly crossed there with some remote descendants of the British war dogs which hundreds of years previously had traveled to France via Rome. It is absolutely in keeping therefore, to imagine that the Dogue de Bordeaux as imported to England in 1895 by Mr. Sam Wookiwss and the late Mr. H.C. Brooke, was the originally descended from the English Alaunts which were exported to Bordeaux from 1151 to 1411. THE DOGUE DE BORDEAUXIn 1895, in the year that Mr. John Proctor judged the breed at the Bordeaux show, it was a dog of an average height of 25 1/2 inches and of an averaged weight of 120 lbs. The skull circumference was 26 inches. Nose length as measured from the corner of the eye to the tip of the nose was three inches on the average. These dogs for many years. from the English occupation of Bordeaux onwards, were bred for encounters in the arena, being pitted against each other or against the bull, the bear or the ass, and even as late as 1906 these encounters occasionally took place. The famous Mastiff, Beaufort, whose measurements approached the standards of perfection were, 27 inch skull, and the length of his muzzle was 4 inches, whilst he stood 29 1/2 inches at the shoulder, and therefore weighted about 160 lbs, forty pounds more than the average Dogue de Bordeaux. In 1907 the dog's use in the arena in France began to be entirely discontinued, and at the Paris dog show that year there was only 10 Dogues on view, and the winners had button ears and black mask, like English Mastiffs. THE NAME BULLDOGDuring the reign of Mary, Elizabeth, James 1 and Charles 1, which covered the years 1553 to 1649, the bating of bulls and full grown bears by dogs was a very popular sport. Hentzner, in his itinerary, printed in Latin in the reign of Queen Elizabeth in 1598, stated that there was a place built in the form of a theater for bating and "great English dogs" which shows that in 1598 they were still very large. In 1556 Philip II became king of Spain and introduced great numbers of English Alaunts into Spain and the Islands of Cuba and Majorca for the purpose of the arena. In my own mind there is very little doubt that the dog from Burgos depicted in the old bronze plaque, dated 1625, was a descendant of these English dogs or was an imported English dog himself. It was not until 1631, in the reign of Charles I, that the name "BULLDOG" was first mentioned in England. There is a letter in the record office which was written in 1632 from St. Sebastion in Spain, by an Englishman called Prestwich Eaton to his friend George Wellingham in St. Swithens s Lane, London, asking for a good "MASTIFF" dog and two "BULLDOGS" to be sent out to him. This is definite proof that six years after the Burgos plague the export of Bulldogs {as they were just beginning to be called} from England to the sport loving Dons of Spain, which had been commenced by Philip II 75 years earlier, was still continuing. The cropped dog depicted on the old Spanish plaque of 1625 was very noticeable a big dog and very noticeable a BULLDOG, being much underhung, with a big skull and well laid back nose. Many years later in the year 1840, Bill George imported from Spain a big BULLDOG, which was called Big Headed BIlly, whilst in 1868 Mr. Marquart brought over Bonnhomme and Lisbon, and in 1873 Mr. Frank Adcock acquired Toro and Alphonse in Madrid. All these five were termed purebred Spanish Bulldogs, and they were exactly of the type depicted on the 1625 plaque. Big headed Billy was a brindle pied, Bonhomme a brindle, Torro a red carroty brindle, and Alphonse a fawn with a black mask and white markings, and all these four dogs weighted 90 lbs. I heard it stated that Lisbon and Alphonse were both noted dogs in the arena in Spain. Torro had a 22 inch skull, stood 22 inches at the shoulder, and measured 2 1/2 inches from the corner of his eye to the tip of his nose. It is clear to me that these big 90 lb Spanish dogs were reasonably short in face with proper Bulldog tails having a downward crook at the root and at the end. They were all cropped. Ball, owned by Mr. Lovell referred to as a British Bulldog Standard London around 1865 It seems to me quite clear that the Dogue de Bordeaux, which averaged 120 lbs. in weight and was 25 1/2 inches in height, 26 1/2 inches in skull circumference, and three inches in length of face. With in many cases light eyes and red noses, and in all cases only slight projection of underjaw had tails which reached in the hocks, represented the English Alant as bread in England and Bordeaux in the years 1151/1411. Whilst the Spanish Bulldog, which averaged only 90 lbs in weight. 2 1/2 inches in length of face, and which had dark eyes and a black nose and mask . Was well underhung with a moderately short crooked down tail. The Bulldogs rolling gate represented the English Bulldog as bread in the years 1556/1649, when the Bulldog was just beginning to be a different dog from the Mastiff. To the modern eyes the Dogue de Bordeaux and the Spanish Bulldog would appear to be of Mastiff type, but the Bulldog less so clearly due the fact that the English dogs which began to go out to Spain in 1556 were already much more of the Bulldog type than the English dogs that went to Bordeaux in the years 1151/1411, before the Bulldog and the mastiff had begun to emerge from the Alaunt and to take definite shapes of their own. THE SMALLER DOG APPEARS. The new system of Bull-baiting, as practiced from 1686 onwards favored an active dog of moderately low stature and size. With his nose will laid back and a protruding underjaw. The great Bulldog of 90 lbs in weight which had been in Vogue when bull-baiting was the sport of kings, was no longer wanted. Whilst the common folk who now gad the sport in hand could not afford to keep such Hugh animals. Much can happen to change a breed of a dog in fifty years and by inbreeding and breeding with a fixed purpose in view, between the years of 1686 and 1735, a dog of definite type and of an average weight of 50 to 60 lbs, was produced. The dog of 1735, was smaller in skull than the Bulldog of today 1933, longer in face, higher in shoulder, not so wide in front, lighter in bone and body, and less exaggerated in every way. The Bulldog that was gradually evolved in the years 1686/1735, though finally more than 40% lighter than his ancestors and was not only the bravest dog but actually the bravest creature on earth, not even excepting the old English Game Cock. This was an indisputable fact, which was proven time and time again. A number of Bulldogs were matched against George Wombwell's lions in Warwickshire in 1825. The dog which was produced in the years 1686/1735, was the dog for the bull, and it was during those years and not before then, that the Bulldog was taught and trained to pen the bull by the nose and never to attack him in any other place. As early as 1710 this method of attack became an inherited tendency and even today, though bull-bating was abolished 98 years ago, or around 1835... DOG FIGHTING: AND THE BULL TERRIERFrom 1735 to 1835 the Bulldog was bread on the same lines with no alterations in type. In 1835 the cruel practice of Bull-baiting was prohibited by law and the Bulldog's true occupation disappeared. He would probably have most died out but for the barbarous so called sport of dog fighting. Dog fighting commenced about 1690, in the reign of James II. Burnette in his "History of My Own Times" written about 1700, refers to dog fighting and the gardens at which these scenes were enacted. For fully 100 years the Bulldog was the only dog used in this cruel pastime, but in or about the year 1800 the devotees of the game sought to produce a quicker dog in the pit.. At this time there were many smooth coated Old English Terriers in varied colorings, but all smart, active and alert. Excellent for Killing rats or unearthing the fox. the larger types of these Terriers were crossed with the Bulldog and the product which was a dog that combined all the dash and speed of the terrier with the indomitable courage and fighting instinct of the Bulldog. These dogs were known as Bull Terriers. In the years 1800 and 1835, when the notorious Westminster Pit flourished, the young Corinthians of those days indulged freely in dog fighting. And it is probable that a certain number of pure Bulldogs were fought in the pit till at least 1840. Web masters note: This in the beginning of the PIT BULL as we know him today or American Pit Bull Terrier. I am sorry to say that many of the so called American Bulldogs today have some Terrier blood as well as Mastiff, Bull mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Louisiana Catahoula Cur, Boxier or, the modern English Bulldog. Be very cautious in buying a so-called American Bulldog. Four major guidelines, COMPARE : Breeders, Pictures, Registries and Health. The New Complete Bulldog, Champion English Bulldogs, Keep'em in the shade girls. Dog fighting, as well as bull and bear baiting, was made illegal in 1835, but it continued to be carried on secretly in quite an extensive manner until about 1880, more especially in London, Birmingham, Liverpool and several towns in the black country, notably Walsall. From 1840 till about 1855 no other dog was used in the pit but the comparatively short faced, course and bandy legged Bull Terrier. In about 1855 James Hinks, of Birmingham, produced the first of the modern white Bull Terriers, which he had obtained by crossing the Bulldog and the Terrier with the refined and graceful white English Terrier. After 1880 police supervision became much more strict, though fights were secretly staged in different towns on a number of occasions between 1880 and 1899, that being the last year I ever heard of a dog fight being held. BULLDOGS A CENTURY AGOLet us now revert to the year 1835, when bull bating, bear bating and dog fighting were abolished by law. The Bulldog was then looked upon as the associate of rogues and vagabonds and was condemned by the better class of people for keeping bad company. For five years, the Bulldog was probably only kept in existence by the fact that he still had a few admirers who stuck to him as a fighting dog. But by 1840 there were probably less Bulldogs in England than at any period during the breed existence. The bulk of Bulldogs at that time were 45 to 50 pound dogs upon the lines which they had been bred for that type and purpose had emerged about 1735, that is to say they were extremely active, powerful, game and tenacious dogs, much more leggyand much less coddley and not nearly so heavy built as our present day dogs, but nevertheless very muscular and compact, as shown in Scott's engraving of Crib and Rosa, dated 1817. At the same time there were still in existence a certain number of much bigger dogs running up to 65 pounds in weight and these were undoubtable the remanats of the days when Bulldogs were 90 pound dogs. These remnants of the old type were mostly in the hands of one or two people, notably Bill George, who in 1838 had succeeded Ben White as a keeper of baiting and fighting dogs and they were naturally more of a Mastiff type than the smaller and more popular dog. Ben White 1836 running his Bulldogs at head of Bill Gibbons Bull. Reproduction of an oil painting, Jem Burn's Cribb, around 1850. This was the position of 1840 and it was fortunate for the Bulldog that just about then, the interest in the dogs began to increase and working man fanciers began to arise who bred dogs with great care and who held small Public-House evening shows, where their dogs paraded on the sanded floors of rap rooms, the landlord usually providing the prizes, though sometimes the working men who kept these dogs, clubbed together to contribute a handsome silver collar, or something of that sort. Oil Painting by R. Marshall, Jemmy Shaw's public house, The Queen's Head Tavern, London 1855 THE PUG CROSS AND IT'S EFFECTSThe dogs which epically appealed to those good old working men fanciers were King Charles Spaniels and Bulldogs and as they always preferred a little dog, there is no doubt that they crossed some of their smaller sized Bulldog bitches with Pug dogs, in order to reduce the size of the progeny and also to produce the fawn emut color which was then much admired. The average weight of the Pug dog of those days was 20 lbs. and their ears when not shorn off and rounded close to the head, were then as often Rose as Button. By crossing the two breeds over a decade of years, lightweight Bulldogs were produced weighting between 12 and 20 lbs., It being the desire of these dog fanciers to bantamize the Bulldog and produce as attractive a pet that would cost no more to rear than their Toy Spaniels and for which they would have a ready Sale. There is no doubt that this Pug cross had a lot to do with the prevalence later on of the Fawn Emut or fallow emut Bulldog and with the prevalence of the SCREW TAIL, although less headstrong and daredevil in character. But as the Bulldog was much more the stronger character of the two it is doubtful the alliance with the Pug actually affected the courage of the progeny and as a matted of fact, the lightweight Bulldogs of the fifties, sixties and the seventies were particularly game little dogs often quite useful in the RAT PIT. In 1859 open dog shows began to be held and the commencement of the dog show era immediately created an incentive for breeding Bulldogs for show purposes. The original show dogs were of the type as follows: 1. The dog which had been specifically bred to bait the bull from 1735 "when this dog first attained a very definite type" until bull baiting was abolished in 1835 and which since 1835 had maintained it's existence by reason, first of a dog fighter and later of pot house shows. These dogs varied from 45 to 50 pounds, as a rule.2. The big dogs of more or less Mastiff type which were the remnants of the original 90 lbs. Bulldogs. By 1859 had been reduced in size to 60 lbs. These dogs received a stimulus by the importation of the Spanish Bulldog, Big-Headed Billy in 1840. Bill Georges famous White dog Dan, which weighted 65 lbs. and was sold for 100 pounds, was a grandson of Big Headed Billy.3. The little dogs of 12 to 25 pounds in weight which had been produced by inbreeding smaller sized Bulldogs and by crossing these small sized bitches with Pug dogs in the years 1835 to 1845. At the early shows, from 1859 to 1870, Classes were always provided for dogs under 20 pounds. And those cases were as a rule were well filled. The little dogs as might be expected from their breeding, were usually very short in face with noses well laid back. They were chiefly bred in London, Nottingham and Birmingham.THE SPANISH INVASIONIn the years 1868 to 1873 the fresh importation's of Spanish bulldogs by Mr. Marquart and Mr. Frank Adcock further increased to the numbers and probably also to the size of the large-sized Bulldogs, though only four or five Kennels used these imported Bulldogs at stud. These importation's greatly incensed the breeders who swore by the 50 lb. dog as specifically bred for bull-baiting as being the original British Bulldog, which in actual fact he was not and it was the outburst of horror at the dangers of the Spanish Invasion which caused the formation of the Bulldog club in 1875. It cannot be proved that any fresh crosses have been made since the 1870's, but it is said that in the middle of the 90's a small Mastiff bitch was on more than one occasions mated to a Bulldog in order to produce dogs of greater size and substance. Whether this type is true or not, it is a significant fact that since that period we have had quite a number of dogs weighing over 70 lbs. some of them decided Mastiff type, although better rearing has doubtless played it's part in increasing size and substance. The exhibition of the dog of today (1933*) is therefore the result of inter-crossing of the three distinct types which existed in 1859. The large size dog having been increased in numbers by crossing with the imported Spanish Bulldogs of the 70's and possibly further increased by the alleged Mastiff cross on a limited scale is the middle 90's. Students of the Bulldog who take the trouble to read history of his evolution will readily understand why even today, (1933*) there is no uniformity of type or size in Bulldogs, and why it is possible for two dogs to be of different type and size whilst at the same time , they are both good ones. The differences in type and size spring from the different ingredients in their origin and these differences will never entirely disappear. I hope that my reader will also agree with me that the British Bulldog, the Old English Mastiff, the Dogue de Bordeaux, and the Spanish Bulldog all sprang originally from the same British origin which is from the English Alaunt. It is a theory I have held for years, but have never seen propounded...

NCL in American Bulldogs

2007-05-07T15:16:00.000-04:00

For some time many breeders have had unexplained offspring that would have extremely odd symptoms that would include loss of moblity and co-ordination.

There did not appear to have any physical pain in the dogs but lets not forget this is a bulldog and they are without a doubt still quite stoic when it comes to pain.

The NCL itself usually would begin in the back legs and as teh disease would progress it would force the dogs back legs to widen when at rest and would eventually increase up to the front legs.

The dogs would exhibit some mucle twitching when asleep but there would be no major loss of muscle tone in the affected bulldogs.

This is a genetic disease and it is passed as a Autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Or it has be be present in both parents for an offspring to get it. That stated if only one parent has it the offspring may still be a carrier. So testing in certain poulations of American Bulldogs is necessary to ensure this is not engrained in our breed.

Tick season is here for the dogs...be warned

2007-05-07T14:58:00.000-04:00

I just pulled the first tick of the season.

It was on MY leg not on of of the dogs and thank god he was just crawling up my calf as i was standing still and felt the familiar movement of this blood sucking critter.

I have decided to add some information on how to remove Ticks from a dog or from a human.

While searching how to remove a tick from a dog i noticed something quite interesting. It appears as though there as many "expert" ways to remove a tick as there are ticks.

I have read "use rubbing alcohol" "smother with Vaseline" "fingernail polish" "twisting clockwise" "twisting counterclockwise" "hot match" "hot needle" All of these methods appear to work because many people are quite sincere about the results. I have used a tool i found in europe to remove the tick and it grabs the head and your suppsed to turn it clocwise. I knwo this works because i removed about 30 last year alone. I have decided to start svaing them all in a bottle of alcohol justto keep track and to offer them to the local health authority for testing.

I always make sure to clean the area where they latched on with a disinfecting liquid or alcohol.

American Bulldogs that are outside needto be checked every day for Ticks and other parasites and the inside dogs are checked everytime they come inside the house.

Prevetitive methods are also available and you shoudl speak with your vet for more detailed information and expert opinions.

Dod Food Rant from a great Bulldog owner and Doctor

2007-05-04T20:56:00.000-04:00

I would like to begin by pointing out your mentioning of the similarity between the DNA sequences between wolves and domesticated dogs. Since they are now classed as the same species, why would that not be true? Poodles are also in the same species as Mexican Hairless and St. Bernards. Are they very similar in appearance? It is said that approximately 95% of the genetic material is junk. It only separates the coding sequences that are used. And of the coding sequences used, many are repeated throughout nature, because they simply work. Over time, there can be mutations and things might vary, but not to a great degree. In The Biotic Message, on page 449, Walter ReMine noted that DNA is not always so important. There are two virtually identical species of fruit flies that share only 25 per cent of their DNA in common. If human and chimp DNA is 96 per cent similar, then the DNA of those fruit flies is "30 times more different than that between humans and chimpanzees." This is due to the fact that some genes are more crucial than others, acting as "switches" for certain traits. This is certainly something to keep in mind. In fact, evolutionists frequently fail to mention (except when it's convenient) that it also depends on which study you use as to what is our closest relative. If you compare eyes, it is the octopus. If you compare teeth and palates, we are more closely related to orangutans than chimps. If you compare hearts, we are closest to pigs (ever stop to wonder why they are cloning pigs for organ transplants rather than chimps?). Compare cytochrome C and our closest relatives are sunflowers!

Although dogs are classed as Carnivora, they are omnivores. Same thing with poultry, Even in nature, they will feed upon animal matter, and some are even cannibalistic.

Salivary Amylase does not have a huge impact on digestion, but more or less starts things along. The digestive tract of the canine may be shorter, but in proportion to body size, the difference is not that great. Also, what section makes up most of the difference? The large intestine. This makes some sense seeing that canines eat very little fiber. However, some species have somewhat flexible intestinal tracts, and morphology can change depending on diet, and can change again if the diet changes at another point. One example would be poultry. If fed a diet low in course feedstuffs, the gizzard (grinding stomach) will shrink, while the proventriculus will expand. If fed a diet with a lot of course material, the opposite is true.

The pH of the human stomach s closer to 2, as may be the pH of the canine stomach. Maybe you saw references to the proximal duodenum?

Actually, dogs do not have much of a problem digesting grains, as long as they are processed. Now, if you fed an intact kernel of corn to a dog, and it swallowed it whole, it might not get anything out of it. But if the fibrous cell walls are disrupted, the dog is able to get use out of it. Oh the wonders of modern feed milling technology. Also, the moist heat from extrusion is able to make more of the starch available, which is useful since you feel a dog is not able to break down starches well. See how easy commercial dog food makers make things for dogs? May complex carbohydrates pass through, but only in 'cheap' dog food, that contain a lot of fiber. Much of the starch is utilized. Carbohydrates are not really broken down in the stomach, but rather the small intestine. Proteins are broken down to some extent in the stomach, and lipids coalesce, but it is not a primary site for carbohydrate breakdown. You state 'dogs have a very difficult time digesting and utilizing protein from carbohydrates'. Actually, carbohydrates are a different class of nutrient than protein, so I would assume that to be very true. Though, animals can use ammonium molecules to add to the sugar molecules and make proteins if need be. If properly balanced (based on the amino acid profile), there is no difference between an animal protein and a plant protein based diet. Some companies may not balance things well, but that is not necessarily a shortcoming of the feedstuff itself. If the protein is a poorer quality, how does it become a stressor to the kidneys? If it is of poor quality, it would not be absorbed, and it can only pass through the kidneys if it is absorbed. I agree carbohydrates are not absolutely necessary in a canine diet, but they can be used as a quick energy source. The trick is just not to feed an excess, as this leads to deposition of adipose tissue. Cooking animal protein (or plant protein for that matter) does change many of the amino acids chains, BUT, this I for the better. It opens up the chains, making the amino acids more accessible to the proper enzymes in the stomach and intestines. The acidity of the stomach accomplishes the same thing, so it is not necessary, but it is not a bad thing. Sure, raw meat contains amino acids needed for good tissue health, immunity and good coat and skin for omnivores, but so do plant proteins. If commercial dog food contains as much indigestible complex carbohydrates as you say, its passage through the digestive tract should be more rapid than that of raw meat. Fiber tends to shorten gut passage time, while high fat tends to slow things down.

You stated that raw food contains bacteria that aid in digestion? How is this so if as you state, the stomach acid kills all microbes? Are you meaning lactobacilli that attach to the upper part of the stomach (esophageal region) and guard against bad bacteria? Also, digestive enzymes are inactivated by stomach acid, so their only action is pre-ingestion. And as you pointed out, cooking helps open up these protein chains, so it helps out digestive enzymes of the stomach as well as those coming from the pancreas. I am not sure any nutritionists call bacteria or enzymes nutrients. If they are added to the diet, they are referred to as non-nutritive feed additives. Maybe the bacteria build stronger immune systems by triggering an immune response, but that may be a bad thing in a dog unable to handle it. True, dogs began to develop coat, skin and allergy conditions. Could this also be correlated to a boom in the number of animals allowed to breed, and the fact that lesser animals make it into the gene pool? Yes, nutrition helps, but is not the cause of everything. If dog's' teeth are not meant for chewing, then why is it a good thing to CHEW bones to clean teeth? I once had a dog that had strong jaws and clean teeth, and he liked to chew rocks and eat cow manure. Maybe I should market that?

True, some fats used in processed foods can easily go rancid. But, these are essential, and the dogs requires them to function. If you only fed saturated fatty acids, the dog would not be able to synthesize these on their own. I am sure since you feel ethoxiquin, BHA and BHT are bad, you do not buy any processed meats for yourself? Actually, many of the quality kibbles include Omega-3 fatty acids. These are among the fatty acids you referred to as easily going rancid earlier.

Fat in itself is not crucial to omnivores. They can be synthesized in the body. That is, all except the essential fatty acids. And why rely on fats to produce glucose, when feeding feedstuffs like corn or rice supply it in a readily available form?

I notice you refer to Ian Billinghurst as both a Doctor and a DVM. He is Australian, so he has a B. V. Sc., not a DVM, and as you can see, it is not a doctorate. Also, he is possibly the worst source of nutritional information out there. His reasoning in wrong in many places in his books, and some things just can't happen the way he explains. Even if you just look at the dogs on the covers of his books, one knowledgeable in nutrition can point out several nutritional deficiencies just from the photos.

Dr. Andrew Bateman

Breeding Your Dog

2007-04-11T14:48:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to make a few things clear about breeding dogs because there are a few misconceptions about breeding american bulldogs . True ethical breeding requires time, money, education, and experience, and often yields little or no financial profit, if you doubt this i can give you my wifes email address...lol.

As well there is a huge pet overpopulation problem, I believe that no dog should be bred unless there's a dam good reason to do so.
Here are some of the reasons NOT TO BREED:

*extra money- no ethical breeder makes living from it ho wthe hell do you think you will. If you can tell me i would be greatly interested as it is a bad business venture for me and i know business quite well. If i were to spend the same amount of time working for walkmart as a greeter i would be driving a brand new corvete.
You have Vet bills, food bills, equipment costs, heat, dog shows, training, education, advertising, building costs, gas, insurance, time and "extras's leave little money left over if any at all.

I want my children to witness the miracle of birth- What a load of crap....buy your kids a video and save the unwanted puppies you will create from being killed in a shelter.

Last year 3-4 million dogs and cats were killed and the vast majority of breeders have just one litter without thought of genetics,where the animals will be sold and what type of screening you will do for the prospective owners. Adopt a animal if you want a pet for the kids.

I breed because i want to better my breed. I wish to leave it better than I found it and pass on my kennel name with the positive attributes i engrane into the breed as a whole.

If you want to breed then do it right or don't bother. It is like walking on a beach and seeing a guy who has worked all weekend on a sand sculpture and then knocking it down. Why not watch him build it, ask him questions, show respect for his talents, then ask if he will teach you, if he will educate you so you can help building that same work of art?

Maybe it is my own personal rant but i hope you read this and understand that taking a life is just as bad as creating one that's not wanted and will have to be taken at a later date because your irresponsible.

Crate Training

2007-04-11T14:27:00.000-04:00

Crate Training by Rob:

Crate training is the best way to teach your puppy good behavior, plus it gives him or her the chance to "get away" for a break when they feel tired.

This is not the only plus to crate training. It alsow will save your house from being torn appart while your away or unable to watch the puppy say while your asleep.

It will also expedite the potty training and gives you the added bonus of security while your away shopping or travelling with him or her.

Basic rules for crate training should begin with the crate itself. The crate should be big enough for the puppy to stand up and turn around without problems. The latch should be non accessable from the inside as some puppies are quite clever and made of stainless steel front gate and plastic on the rest. Ensure the crate has many vent holes on all sides excluding the botton so that it will keep waste accidents inside and the air still able to flow through.

The location of your crate can vary but understand that the dog is a social animal and shoudl not be locked in a room by itself for many hours. It is okay to keep him or her in another room for "quite time" and a place for the pup to get away from the family noise and stress. The crate is not a form of punishment and shoud never be treated as one.

It is best to keep the pups toys and treats in the crate with the door open so that they are comfortable going in and out without fear.

The first time you lock the carte with him in it would be when he is ready for a rest on his terms, normally after a long play and he has been outside for his potty break.

the pup will whine and cry at first but when they settle down go into the room and open the crate.

Do not yell at the dog or show anything aggressive to him while inthe crate as this will give him fear of the crate. The crate should be positive at all times.

You should increase the amount of time slowly so that the puppy will relax and be quiet in the crate before he is released and he gets a reward .

Pet Food Information and Numbers

2007-04-09T21:34:00.000-04:00

Pet-food recall update

On March 16, pet-food manufacturer Menu Foods announced a recall of millions of cans and foil pouches of wet dog and cat food. For up-to-the-minute details on the recall, contact Menu Foods at 1-866-895-2708, 1-866-463-6738 or visit the company’s web site You can also contact the companies below with specific concerns:
Alpo – 1-800-778-7462 (www.purina.com)
Authority – 1-866-738-7375 (www.petsmart.com)
Award – 1-866-738-7375 (www.petsmart.com)
Eukanuba – 1-800-882-1591 (www.eukanuba.com)
Grreat Choice – 1-866-738-7375 (www.petsmart.com)
Hills/Science Diet – 1-800-445-5777 (www.hillspet.com)
Iams – 1-800-882-1591 (www.iams.com)
Jerky Treats 1-800-949-3799 (www.delmonte.com)
Menu Foods – 1-866-463-6738 (www.menufoods.com)
Mighty Dog – 1-800-778-7462 (www.purina.com)
Mixables – 1-303-768-8400 (www.varietypetfoods.com)
Nutro – 1-800-833-5330 (www.nutroproducts.com)
Sophisticat – 1-866-738-7375 (www.petsmart.com)

American Bulldog Rant setting them Straight

2007-04-04T11:52:00.000-04:00

I would like to begin by pointing out your mentioning of the similarity between the DNA sequences between wolves and domesticated dogs. Since they are now classed as the same species, why would that not be true? Poodles are also in the same species as Mexican Hairless and St. Bernards. Are they very similar in appearance? It is said that approximately 95% of the genetic material is junk. It only separates the coding sequences that are used. And of the coding sequences used, many are repeated throughout nature, because they simply work. Over time, there can be mutations and things might vary, but not to a great degree. In The Biotic Message, on page 449, Walter ReMine noted that DNA is not always so important. There are two virtually identical species of fruit flies that share only 25 per cent of their DNA in common. If human and chimp DNA is 96 per cent similar, then the DNA of those fruit flies is "30 times more different than that between humans and chimpanzees." This is due to the fact that some genes are more crucial than others, acting as "switches" for certain traits. This is certainly something to keep in mind. In fact, evolutionists frequently fail to mention (except when it's convenient) that it also depends on which study you use as to what is our closest relative. If you compare eyes, it is the octopus. If you compare teeth and palates, we are more closely related to orangutans than chimps. If you compare hearts, we are closest to pigs (ever stop to wonder why they are cloning pigs for organ transplants rather than chimps?). Compare cytochrome C and our closest relatives are sunflowers!Although dogs are classed as Carnivora, they are omnivores. Same thing with poultry, Even in nature, they will feed upon animal matter, and some are even cannibalistic.Salivary Amylase does not have a huge impact on digestion, but more or less starts things along. The digestive tract of the canine may be shorter, but in proportion to body size, the difference is not that great. Also, what section makes up most of the difference? The large intestine. This makes some sense seeing that canines eat very little fiber. However, some species have somewhat flexible intestinal tracts, and morphology can change depending on diet, and can change again if the diet changes at another point. One example would be poultry. If fed a diet low in course feedstuffs, the gizzard (grinding stomach) will shrink, while the proventriculus will expand. If fed a diet with a lot of course material, the opposite is true. The pH of the human stomach s closer to 2, as may be the pH of the canine stomach. Maybe you saw references to the proximal duodenum? Actually, dogs do not have much of a problem digesting grains, as long as they are processed. Now, if you fed an intact kernel of corn to a dog, and it swallowed it whole, it might not get anything out of it. But if the fibrous cell walls are disrupted, the dog is able to get use out of it. Oh the wonders of modern feed milling technology. Also, the moist heat from extrusion is able to make more of the starch available, which is useful since you feel a dog is not able to break down starches well. See how easy commercial dog food makers make things for dogs? May complex carbohydrates pass through, but only in 'cheap' dog food, that contain a lot of fiber. Much of the starch is utilized. Carbohydrates are not really broken down in the stomach, but rather the small intestine. Proteins are broken down to some extent in the stomach, and lipids coalesce, but it is not a primary site for carbohydrate breakdown. You state 'dogs have a very difficult time digesting and utilizing protein from carbohydrates'. Actually, carbohydrates are a different class of nutrient than protein, so I would assume that to be very true. Though, animals can use ammonium molecules to add to the sugar molecules and make proteins if need be. If properly balanced (based on the amino acid profile), there is no difference between an animal protein and a plant protein based diet. Some companies may not balance things well, but that is not necessarily a shortcoming of the feedstuff itself. If the protein is a poorer quality, how does it become a stressor to the kidneys? If it is of poor quality, it would not be absorbed, and it can only pass through the kidneys if it is absorbed. I agree carbohydrates are not absolutely necessary in a canine diet, but they can be used as a quick energy source. The trick is just not to feed an excess, as this leads to deposition of adipose tissue. Cooking animal protein (or plant protein for that matter) does change many of the amino acids chains, BUT, this I for the better. It opens up the chains, making the amino acids more accessible to the proper enzymes in the stomach and intestines. The acidity of the stomach accomplishes the same thing, so it is not necessary, but it is not a bad thing. Sure, raw meat contains amino acids needed for good tissue health, immunity and good coat and skin for omnivores, but so do plant proteins. If commercial dog food contains as much indigestible complex carbohydrates as you say, its passage through the digestive tract should be more rapid than that of raw meat. Fiber tends to shorten gut passage time, while high fat tends to slow things down.You stated that raw food contains bacteria that aid in digestion? How is this so if as you state, the stomach acid kills all microbes? Are you meaning lactobacilli that attach to the upper part of the stomach (esophageal region) and guard against bad bacteria? Also, digestive enzymes are inactivated by stomach acid, so their only action is pre-ingestion. And as you pointed out, cooking helps open up these protein chains, so it helps out digestive enzymes of the stomach as well as those coming from the pancreas. I am not sure any nutritionists call bacteria or enzymes nutrients. If they are added to the diet, they are referred to as non-nutritive feed additives. Maybe the bacteria build stronger immune systems by triggering an immune response, but that may be a bad thing in a dog unable to handle it. True, dogs began to develop coat, skin and allergy conditions. Could this also be correlated to a boom in the number of animals allowed to breed, and the fact that lesser animals make it into the gene pool? Yes, nutrition helps, but is not the cause of everything. If dog's' teeth are not meant for chewing, then why is it a good thing to CHEW bones to clean teeth? I once had a dog that had strong jaws and clean teeth, and he liked to chew rocks and eat cow manure. Maybe I should market that? True, some fats used in processed foods can easily go rancid. But, these are essential, and the dogs requires them to function. If you only fed saturated fatty acids, the dog would not be able to synthesize these on their own. I am sure since you feel ethoxiquin, BHA and BHT are bad, you do not buy any processed meats for yourself? Actually, many of the quality kibbles include Omega-3 fatty acids. These are among the fatty acids you referred to as easily going rancid earlier.Fat in itself is not crucial to omnivores. They can be synthesized in the body. That is, all except the essential fatty acids. And why rely on fats to produce glucose, when feeding feedstuffs like corn or rice supply it in a readily available form? I notice you refer to Ian Billinghurst as both a Doctor and a DVM. He is Australian, so he has a B. V. Sc., not a DVM, and as you can see, it is not a doctorate. Also, he is possibly the worst source of nutritional information out there. His reasoning in wrong in many places in his books, and some things just can't happen the way he explains. Even if you just look at the dogs on the covers of his books, one knowledgeable in nutrition can point out several nutritional deficiencies just from the photos.Dr. Andrew Bateman

More dog food recalls

2007-04-04T11:37:00.000-04:00

(CBS/AP) For owner Elizabeth Krottinger, it’s been a difficult week: All five of her dogs have been sickened.
"I’ve just been one big stress ball," she told CBS News.
Menu Foods, a Canadian company based out side Toronto that produces pet food, said Saturday it was recalling dog food sold throughout North America under 50 brands and cat food sold under 40 brands including Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba. The food was distributed by major retailers such as WalMart, Kroger and Safeway.
An unknown number of cats and dogs had suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, the company said.
Two other companies Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. said Saturday that as a precaution they were voluntarily recalling some products made by Menu Foods.
Many stores that sold the affected brands frantically pulled packages off shelves.
Silviene Grzybowski’s cat, Smokey, hadn’t been eating for days.
"The vet told us to buy her her favorite food, but I’m going to call the vet right now," Grzybowski said.
"Acute renal (kidney) failure is a serious disease, and if not caught quickly will be fatal, says CBS News The Early Show veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner. "Watch out for a change in urination (usually less urine output), vomiting, diarrhea, depression, listlessness, loss of appetite.
"If you fed your pet one of these brands and you see any signs, take them to the veterinarian right away. You can treat acute renal failure, but it has to be caught early," Turner adds.
Ron Finegold of Boynton Beach, Fla., said he noticed about a week or so ago that his family’s three–year–old cat — who was regularly fed a variety of Iams cat food — had stopped eating and did not appear well. He quickly took the animal to the veterinarian, who determined she was in renal failure.
He said he heard about the recall on the radio Friday night. He checked his trash, and found out he had given the cat some of the affected food.
"That’s when I realized (the illness) had to be related," Finegold said. "She won’t be eating that stuff anymore."
A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates was available from the Menu Foods Web site. The company also designated a phone number that pet owners can call for information (866) 8952708.
Menu Foods’ chief executive and president Paul Henderson told the Associated Press on Friday that the company was still trying to figure out what happened.
He said that the company had received an undisclosed number of owner complaints that dogs and cats were vomiting and suffering kidney failure after eating its products. He estimated that the recall would cost the company, which is mostly owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund, an estimated $26 million to $34 million.
The recall involves all the cuts and gravy wet–style dog and cat food produced at Menu’s Emporia, Kan., facility between Dec. 3, 2006, and March 6, 2007, reports Turner. "What makes this recall so scary is it involves so many brands: 50 dog foods and 40 cat foods." The company said it makes pet food for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top–branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.
Sarah Tuite, a company spokeswoman, has said the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, which has since been dropped for another source. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.
Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Julie Zawisza said it is still too early to determine what could have affected the food. Zawisza added that even if wheat gluten is the source "it doesn’t necessarily mean the wheat gluten per se. It could be another substance associated with the wheat gluten."
The recall covers the company’s cuts and gravy style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches from Dec. 3 to March 6.
"We think dry food is just fine, it’s safe. If your pet is used to a wet food, you can soak it in chicken broth and they should eat it," advises Turner.
In Omaha, Neb., Susan Balvanz said she sometimes feeds her five cats packets of sliced meat and gravy sold by Nutro Products, one of the brands affected.
"I’ve done so much research on pet food. It didn’t surprise me but it scared me all the same," said Balvanz.
She said her nine–year–old cat, Boots, was especially fond of the food but seemed to have lost its appetite in the last few days.
At the Missouri Valley Veterinary Clinic in Bismarck, N.D., veterinarian Jacob Carlson has been referring worried pet owners to the Menu Foods Web site.
"We’ve had a lot of calls," Carlson said, although none of his patients were sick.
Recalled brandsCat Food
Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Best Choice
Companion
Compliments
Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba
Fine Feline Cat
Food Lion
Foodtown
Giant Companion
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy–Vee
Iams
Laura Lynn
Li’l Red
Loving Meals
Meijer’s Main Choice
Nutriplan
Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
Nutro Natural Choice
Paws
Pet Pride
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority
Save–A–Lot
Schnucks
Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans
Sophistacat
Special Kitty Canada
Special Kitty US
Springfield Prize
Sprout
Total Pet
Wegmans
Western Family
White Rose
Winn Dixie
Dog Food
Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Award
Best Choice
Big Bet
Big Red
Bloom
Bruiser
Cadillac
Companion
Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba
Food Lion
Giant Companion
Great Choice
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy–Vee
Iams
Laura Lynn
Loving Meals
Meijers Main Choice
Mighty Dog Pouch
Mixables
Nutriplan
Nutro Max
Nutro Natural Choice
Nutro Ultra
Nutro
Ol’Roy Canada
Ol’Roy US
Paws
Pet Essentials
Pet Pride – Good n Meaty
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority
Publix
Roche Bros
Save–A–Lot
Schnucks
Shep Dog
Springsfield Prize
Sprout
Stater Bros
Total Pet
Western Family
White Rose
Winn Dixie
Your Pet

2007-04-04T11:30:00.000-04:00

On March 23rd 2007 Judge Herman released her decision in the constitutional challenge of Ontario's breed specific ban.

She struck down portions of the law while upholding others.

Specifically, Judge Herman ruled in favour of the applicant on two key points. Agreeing that the ban captured dogs beyond the three purebred breeds that could be defined, she ruled that the terms "pit bull terriers" and "pit bull includes" were unconstitutionally vague. [In a very sad irony, this tightening excludes the dogs the Attorney General intended to ban.]

She also ruled that the portion of the law that required owners to prove their dogs were not "pit bulls" and that allowed the government to submit a certificate as proof that a dog was a "pit bull" contravened s 11(d) of the Charter that could not be justified under section 1.
She also ruled, however, that "... while the dangerousness of pit bulls is inconclusive and conflicting, the legislature had a "reasonable apprehension of harm" and that "... in the face of conflicting evidence, it was open to the legislature to choose to target all pit bulls."

Judge Herman has not stated what the "remedies" will be in response to her ruling. Both parties, Clayton Ruby and the Attorney General, need to go before her to argue what should be done to correct the unconstitutional parts of the law.

"Mr Bryant has got to try to convince her that she should rewrite the legislation in accordance with her judgement and sustain it in rewritten form," Clayton Ruby explained on a CFRB interview on March 26, 2007. "Realizing that she shouldn't do that, that she should send it back to the legislature and let them do it if they want to. At the moment ... the legislation is up in limbo."

Owners of affected dogs in the province should proceed with caution as there has been much confusion about the meaning of this ruling and it is difficult to say what individual animal control offices will do.

The full text of Judge Herman's ruling can be found online:http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/2007/2007canlii9230/2007canlii9230.html

Dog Food Rating

2007-03-18T09:57:00.000-04:00

I am presently feeding a costco brand named Kirkland chicken.

I would not say it is the best food but at a price of 20 dollars it beats the hell out of the 40-60 dollar brands.

The dogs seem to do well on it.

Below is the rating article and you can judge your food compaired to major and other brands.

Keep in mind that saying 100% chicken meal on the bag is normally ground up parts of the chicken that have little food value.

How to grade your dog's food:

Start with a grade of 100:

1) For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points
2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal or fat) reference, subtract 10 points
3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points
4) For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source, subtract 5 points
5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. "ground brown rice", "brewerâ€™s rice", "rice flour" are all the same grain), subtract 5 points
6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points
8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points
9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points
10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points
11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points
12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isnâ€™t allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points
14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isnâ€™t allergic to beef), subtract 1 point 15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point

Extra Credit:
1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5 points
3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points
5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points
7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points
8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points
9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points
10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point
12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein source, but "chicken" and "" as 2 different sources), add 1 point
13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point
14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free, add 1 point

94-100+ = A
86-93 = B
78-85 = C
70-77 = D
<70 = F

Here are some foods that have already been scored.
If you don't see your dog's food here, ask and someone will score it for you. Dog Food scores:

Alpo Prime Cuts / Score 81 C
Artemis Large/Medium Breed Puppy / Score 114 A+
Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Authority Harvest Baked Less Active / Score 93 B
Beowulf Back to Basics / Score 101 A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
Blackwood 3000 Lamb and Rice / Score 83 C
Blue Buffalo Chicken and Rice / Score 106 A+
Burns Chicken and Brown Rice / Score 107 A+
Canidae / Score 112 A+
Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+
Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A
Diamond Performance / Score 85 C
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Venison and Brown Rice / Score 106 A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+
EaglePack Holistic / Score 102 A+
Eukanuba Adult / Score 81 C
Eukanuba Puppy / Score 79 C
Flint River Senior / Score 101 A+
Foundations / Score 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 B
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D
Innova Dog / Score 114 A+
Innova Evo / Score 114 A+
Innova Large Breed Puppy / Score 122 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Member’s Mark Chicken and Rice / Score 84 C
Merrick Wilderness Blend / Score 127 A+
Nature’s Recipe / Score 100 A
Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin Venison and Rice / Score 116 A+
Nature’s Variety Raw Instinct / Score 122 A+
Nutra Nuggets Super Premium Lamb Meal and Rice / Score 81 C
Nutrience Junior Medium Breed Puppy / Score 101 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Max Adult / Score 93 B
Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice / Score 98 A
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Wheat Free / Score 86 B
Nutro Natural Choice Senior / Score 95 A
Nutro Ultra Adult / Score 104 A+
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
Premium Edge Chicken, Rice and Vegetables Adult Dry / Score 109 A+
Pro Nature Puppy / Score 80 C
Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach / Score 94 A
Purina Benful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Purina One Large Breed Puppy / Score 62 F
Royal Canin Boxer / Score 103 A+
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A
Solid Gold / Score 99 A
Summit / Score 99 A
Timberwolf Organics Wild & Natural Dry / Score 120 A+
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A

Working American bulldog list

2007-03-11T10:20:00.000-04:00

I have been looking for lists of activeties that your american bulldog can be involved with and below you will see a list of them:

Agility
Bikejoring
Canicross
Carting
Dog hiking
Earthdog trials
Field trials
Flyball
Disc dog
Musical freestyle
Mushing
Obedience training
Protection sports (including Schutzhund and Ring sports)
Pulka
Rally obedience
Scootering
Sled dog racing
Skijoring
Sheepdog trials
Sighthound racing, including Greyhound racing, coursing, and lure coursing
Tracking trials (see also Tracking (dog))
Weight pulling