FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Gr. Ch. Sloan's Turbo BST, CDII, OFA, PennHip...
the grandsire to all our Toro pups and one of the greatest contributors to the breed!

FAQ Table of Contents
· What are the differences between the Scott and Johnson type American Bulldogs? What is the Standard type?
· How are American Bulldogs with children?
· Will my American Bulldog protect me without formal protection training?
· I jog, will my American Bulldog be able to keep up with me?
· What other activities can I participate in with my American Bulldog?
· What is the energy level of this breed?
· What are the biggest problems in the American Bulldog breed?
· What is the shedding cycle of the American Bulldog?  How much hair are we talking here?
· Will my American Bulldog get along with other dogs?
· What are the most important things I should do with my new puppy?
· People have told me only Shepherds can do Schutzhund well.  Is that true?
· Why is Schutzhund important?
· You don't have any puppies right now.  How do I find another reputable American Bulldog breeder?
· I don't want a show dog and I have no interest in breeding. Why shouldn't I just buy an inexpensive AB from the newspaper?
· What is the price difference Topline charges between pet dogs and breeding dogs?
· I want to be a breeder, what should I do?
· If I have questions about training my new Topline puppy, will you charge me for help?
· What other assistance will I get from you with my Topline pup?
· Why are there so many nutritional stipulations in the Topline warranty?
· If I buy a Topline puppy, will you put my puppies photo up on your website too?

What are the differences between the Scott and Johnson type American Bulldogs?  What is the standard type?
The American Bulldog started out as a southern farm dog, used to herd cattle and hunt boar.  The dog had a square head and muscular, athletic body.  Twenty-five years ago or so, John D. Johnson and Alan Scott decided that this wonderful working breed should be recognized as a breed and that ABs should be registerable as pure-breed dogs.  Mr. Scott and Mr. Johnson set about getting the job done!  They were successfully able to petition the Animal Research Foundation (ARF) to recognize these dogs.  The biggest problem was making sure that the genetic pool was wide enough that these dogs would not be inbred.  To expand the genetic pool of the AB, a certain amount of outcrossing was done.  Alan Scott mainly crossed with Pit-Bulls and John D. Johnson crossed with English Bulldogs and Mastiffs.  Over the years, these two line developed into very distinct types, with Scott-type dogs of today, still showing similar traits to the Pit-Bull.  Scott type dogs are compact and muscular, very athletic with a tendency to have long muzzles.  Scott type dogs also have a tendency to dog aggression and make excellent hunting dogs, but lack somewhat in their ability to do man-work.   Johnson-type often give a very English-Bulldoggy type appearance.   They have a tendency to be too large for any real work, however, they do have a work ethic and can perform for short periods of time when the weather is not too warm.  Johnson type dogs are less drivey than their Scott or Standard counterparts, possibly due to the fact that a great many Johnson-type breeders keep their dogs in overweight condition. Over the years, many breeders have decided that the dog should really resemble the original southern AB.  These breeders bred the two types together and re-created a more functional, bulldoggy-looking American Bulldog....the Standard or Hybred type!!  That is what we breed here.  A large, athletic dog with moderate muzzle length and the terrific stamina and working ability that was necessary for the original Southern American Bulldog!   The Standard-type, to us, is the best of both worlds!!

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How are American Bulldogs with children?
Wonderful with proper training and socialization, your American Bulldog will be your childs best friend and your most trustworthy babysitter!  It is important to teach your AB puppy that the children are not littermates and they must respect them in their human "alpha" position!  A solid regimen of obedience and daily socialization will set your puppy on the right path!

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Will my American Bulldog protect me without formal protection training?
Yes and no.  American Bulldogs have natural protective instincts and will certainly put on a big display to intimidate any intruders.  However, you may not be able to rely on the dog to actually bite to protect you.  Especially if you have taught it from a pup that biting people is bad!  Formal protection training gives the dog guidelines in biting and teaches the dog that in which scenarios it is good to bite.  Formal training also gives you control of the dog's bite, which is absolutely important as illustrated by the following true story:
A woman calls a breeder and requests a male puppy that will grow up to protect her from her crazy ex-husband who is harrassing her and scaring her almost daily.  The breeder provides the woman with a six-month old male who bonds with her immediately.  When the pup is nine months old, a man breaks into their home.  The woman screams and the man grabs her and is squeezing her tight!  The pup attacks and puts the man in the hospital where he receives numerous stitches.  WOW!!  Isn't that great?!!  Maybe, maybe not!!  The woman is NOT happy about her puppy's actions!  In fact, she calls the breeder and complains, stating that he sold her a vicious animal!  You see, the story was just told to you from the puppy's point of view!  Here is the story from the woman's point of view:  "I was standing in my living room when my Uncle Charlie, whom I havn't seen in about a year flings open my front door and comes charging in to put me in a huge bear hug!  I screamed with delight and we hugged!  Next thing I know my pup is attacking him!  Poor Uncle Charlie had to go to the hospital and says he'll never come to my house again!"  From the Breeder's point of view:  "This woman asked for a protection dog and that is what she got.  Despite my having told her the necessity of proper protection training, she went to two or three classes, taught the dog how to bite and never came back!!  This dog perceived a threat on his owner and in his point of view was saving her life!!  He was taught the game without any of the rules, so she had no way to call the dog off her Uncle!  I took the dog back and his protection training was finished.  He now lives with a lovely family and understands that his job is to protect them and to trust them when they tell him that protection is not necessary!"  So, you can see that if you want your dog to protect you, it is not really smart to teach them half the rules!!  You can either teach your dog that biting is bad, or you can teach him that sometimes biting is good and all the rules that go along with it.  It is up to you!

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I jog, will my American Bulldog be able to keep up with me?
The American Bulldog is a working breed; as such, stamina is very important.  Yes, your American Bulldog should be able to keep up with you when you jog.  This can be an invaluable source of both exercise and bonding time for you and your dog!!  Make sure that you do not "force" exercise your dog, i.e. push him past his limits.   Start with a 20 minute jog and work your way up to your final goal!  Make sure you check his pads for signs of chafing and keep his nails trim.  Your American Bulldog will love being your jogging partner and will look forward to this time spent together!  Who knows?  Maybe you'll even work your way up to putting an AD (endurance title involving a 12 mile run) on your buddy!

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What other activities can I participate in with my American Bulldog?
American Bulldogs are among the most versatile of breeds!  They participate in agility, weight pulling, dog-carting, and many varieties of protection work and sports.  American Bulldogs love to swim, hike, jog, herd cattle and hunt boar.  American Bulldogs have marched in parades, participated in obedience trials, raised money in dog-walk-a-thons and make incredible Therapy Dogs (click here to read my article on Therapy Dogs).  The possibilities are endless for you and your American Bulldog!  If you have a story of something interesting you do with your American Bulldog, I'd love to hear it and maybe even write an article about it!

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What is the energy level of this breed?
American Bulldogs are a working breed and therefore have a great deal of energy.  Topline puppies are especially energetic and will give their new families a run for their money!!  What is nice about the breed though, is that as they mature, they settle in to a "work when it's time to work, play when it's time to play and relax when it's time to relax" mentality.  What more could you ask?  American Bulldogs do well as both farm dogs and apartment dogs as long as proper exercise is offered on a daily basis.  You must be careful with ABs in that they love to eat.  It will be easy for your dog to put on weight and this can cause a "couch potato" syndrome....something that is unhealthy both physically and mentally for your AB!

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What are the biggest problems in the American Bulldog breed?
If you asked me this question five or seven years ago, I'd have most emphatically answered HIP DYSPLASIA.  However, due to peer pressure and the hard work of several persuasive members of the AB community, I feel that, while still a huge problem in the breed, dysplasia is no longer the biggest problem.  Over the past several years, I've had the priviledge to judge American Bulldog shows all over the country.  With much dismay, I have found some pretty good looking dogs in the show rings with some pretty awful temperament!  Many of these dogs have championships or are on the verge of having championships.  This says to me that our conformation judges are not taking the temperament portion of our standard seriously and I feel that is a crime against our breed!  I have seen the gamut of bad temperament from dogs cowering at the thought of interacting with a stranger to dogs attempting to bite me for just touching them!  This is a big, powerful breed and it is simply appalling to me that this type of poor temperament is being overlooked by breeders.  A beautiful dog is not worthy of being bred if it is going to attack and maim someone one day.  I would hate to see our American Bulldogs become thought of as vicious and that is exactly what will happen if this problem is not contained.  This is supposed to be an extremely people friendly, confident breed.  If you see a pup that looks scared in it's own backyard or antisocial, walk--no run away...do NOT buy that pup!  The third most prevelant problem in the breed is the instance of skin allergies.  There are a plethora of skin problems in the breed and they must be weeded out by breeders.  Again, people have a tendency to overlook these problems if the dog is beautiful otherwise.  There is even one Grand Champion I know of that has such bad skin problems that he spent his whole show career being powdered with white powder before the start of every class!  He may have the other judges fooled, but not me...I know for a fact that this dog has a chronic skin condition...AND he is being bred on a regular basis!  What a shame.  After hips, temperament and skin disorders, there are eye problems such as ectropian and entropian...these are mostly seen in the Johnson type AB.  All of these problems can be avoided with healthy breeding practices.

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What is the shedding cycle of the American Bulldog?  How much hair are we talking here?
An American Bulldog kept as a housepet will have mild shedding year round.  A kennel dog will have a good deal of shedding in the springtime, but no tumbleweed or clumps of loose fur like you have in long-haired dogs.  If you brush your dog daily, you won't have much of a problem at all.  If your "brushing" is limited to hair removal via patting and rubbing (like my dogs) then you will have to wear white every day, a small sacrifice!  :)

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Will my American Bulldog get along with other dogs?
Remember that your American Bulldog is a working breed.  As such, dominance is a major part of their temperament.  I never recommend having two male or two female American Bulldogs co-habitating.  I have never seen that equation work once the dogs reach sexual maturity.  One of each sex usually do well together if there are strict rules and guidelines.  Never feed them in the same room, never expect them to share toys.  Never play with them together, always play individually.  Never give them special treats in the same room.  American Bulldogs generally get along well with members of the same sex of NON-WORKING Breed dogs that are neutered or spayed.  Dog aggression to strange dogs is usually not a problem as long as you don't allow them to be challenged by that other dog.  American Bulldogs want to be the boss among canines at all costs.  My dogs are very neutral to other dogs as long as they are not challenging their authority!  One thing that can cause extreme dog-aggression in ABs is allowing them to have a bad experience with other dogs.  That is why we don't like our pups going to dog parks.  You are trusting your AB's entire future interactions with other dogs to strangers and their sense of responsibility.  One dog attack on a pup can cause a lifetime of problems.

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What are the most important things I should do with my new puppy?
There are many things that are important for you to do with your new pup.  Proper nutrition and veterinary care is imperative in the development of a growing pup.  Additionally, providing your pup with a solid obedience program will be most valuable in establishing your alpha position in the family.  One of the most important things you must do with your new puppy is socialize, socialize, socialize!!  Get that puppy out and show him what the world is like!  Taking your puppy to shopping centers (and not leaving the pup in the car), the post office, nursing homes and playgrounds will ensure that your pup understands the world.  Making certain that the pup only has positive experiences while you are socializing him will make him a happy, confident dog!

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People have told me only Shepherds can do Schutzhund well.  Is that true?
No and it is a very narrow-minded statement for someone to make!  There are a multitude of breeds that excel in Schutzhund and the American Bulldog is beginning to make a name for itself as a Schutzhund competitor.  To read our article comparing a sample of breeds, including the AB, in Schutzhund, please click here:  American Bulldogs vs. Traditional Working Breeds, A comparison.

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Why is Schutzhund important?
Schutzhund is a tool that helps the breeder test the dog for stability of temperament, soundness of structure and working ability.  We have written an article on the subject of Schutzhund's importance as a breeder's tool.  Please click here to read: Why Schutzhund?

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You don't have any puppies right now.  How do I find another reputable American Bulldog breeder?
This is an excellent question and one we get asked all the time.  Unfortunately, in a breed that has a high price-tag, a lot of backyard-breeders get involved to strike it rich!  Sadly, those breeders are the only ones that really do make a lot of money from breeding.  When you are dealing with a big, strong, powerful and dominant working breed, and one that suffers from some pretty serious health issues, it is imperative to find a good breeder.  In our article, "How to Select a Breeder" we explain in detail the things to look for when looking for a good breeder.  Keep in mind that a good puppy is worth waiting for.  Most reputable breeders have a waiting list of four months to a year.  Click here:  How to Select a Breeder

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I don't want a show dog and I have no interest in breeding.  Why shouldn't I just buy an inexpensive AB from the newspaper?
If after reading all of these FAQs and the many articles we've written on the subject (How to Select a Breeder, Balanced Breeding, Why Schutzhund) you can still ask me that question with sincerity, then I have no answer for you.  I wish you the best of luck.

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What is the price difference Topline charges between pet dogs and breeding dogs?
Topline puppies are all sold as pet dogs with the pet warranty as outlined in our warranty section of this website.  This helps keep our pups affordable for the pet owner who wants a top-quality puppy but may not care about working or showing or breeding dogs.  We feel that every dog we produce has show and work potential....after all, it is a major goal of our breeding program to only produce dogs that will excel in all venues.  If you want to breed or show your Topline pup and want a more comprehensive warranty, for an additional charge you can purchase that show or breeders warranty.   Please see Topline Warranty page for more information!

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What other assistance will I get from you with my Topline pup?
On the first page of our website it says, "When you purchase a puppy from Topline, it is not just the end of a transaction, it is the beginning of a relationship!"  What this means is that you become a part of the Topline family.  We want our pups to do well and as responsible breeders, it is our job to ensure that they thrive and succeed at anything their families wish for them.  With that in mind, Topline is here to assist you in any way we can.  We have helped members of our extended Topline family in everything from finding a Schutzhund club to train with to finding a good stud dog to breed to.  We are here to answer your questions in training, showing, breeding, health related matters, nutrition and anything else that we can help you with.  If we don't know the answer, we will help you find it.  I guess you could say we are "hands-on breeders".

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Why are there so many nutritional stipulations in the Topline warranty?
We do everything we can to discourage our puppy customers from feeding cheap, supermarket-type dog food.  That is like raising a child on nothing but corn pops and candy-apples!  Nutrition is key to the proper physical development of your pup.  Poor nutrition can lead to skin disorders, hip and elbow problems and lack of bone and muscle development.  On the other hand, proper nutrition can be a deterrent to all these problems.  We insist that our pups are raised with every advantage in life, hence our rather stringent warranty conditions!
 

If I buy a Topline puppy, will you put my puppies photo up on your website too?
You Betcha!!

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