Friday, December 30, 2011
Eden X Coaltrain Babies
We owe a huge thanks to Sharon Nunley for allowing us the opportunity to match our girl, Anderson's Garden of Eden, to her stud, Nunley's Blacksnake Coaltrain. We have 3 beautiful babies from that match up that you can see posted on the puppies page of our website. Coaltrain is an exceptional bulldogge who consistently produces very nice, thick and bully pups. We expected that he would match up nicely with our girl, Eden, and we were right...he didn't dissapoint. The pups are a beautiful blend of both parent's genetics...both Eden and Coaltrain have exceptional pedigrees and they both proved just that by producing a consistent litter of beautiful bully pups. We intend to keep a female as a future prospect here at Anderson Bulldogges. We believe she will offer something really special in the future and we are excited about watching her grow. Check her out at Anderson Puppies. Her litter name is "Fiddle" and she's a beautiful sable color. Now that we have selected our keeper, the fun part begins...choosing the perfect registered name for her.
The Importance Of A Good Veterinarian
Finding a veterinarian that you trust who meets your dog's needs entirely can be difficult. As a breeder, I have a very strong need for a vet that is knowledgeable, trustworthy, dependable, helpful and understands my breed of dog. As a result, I have researched and met with many vets through the years searching for the perfect vet for me and my bulldogges. Many fell short, but I was extremely lucky to find a wonderful vet locally who meets our needs in every capacity. I highly recommend Dr. Blue Brawner at Pet Vet in Auburn, AL to anyone who lives in the area.
Here are some tips for those of you who don't live in the area and are searching for the perfect veterinarian. First of all, it's important to meet with as many vets in your area as possible and ask them questions. Ask what services they offer and if they have an after hours clinic in case of emergencies. Will they be accessible to you in a time of need? Will they provide the care that your pet may need in the future? Do they offer payment plans or is full payment due at the time of the visit? Those are important questions to have answers for before you encounter an emergency situation. It's not a bad idea to also ask friends and family who they use and recommend as a starting point in your search for a good veterinarian.
It is also important to have a veterinarian who listens to you and hears what you are telling them. I have encountered more than a few vets who failed to listen to my explanation of the Olde English Bulldogge. Nothing is more frustrating than to have your Bulldogge's veterinarian insist that they are an English Bulldog. A good veterinarian is willing to listen to you and is equally willing to learn new things when the opportunity presents itself. Veterinarians have a huge responsibility to care for a multitude of species and they can't be expected to know everything right off hand, but a good vet has the information needed at his finger tips and the resources he needs to provide the best possible care to your animals. A good vet will embrace the opportunity to become familiar with a breed they were maybe unfamiliar with prior to your visit so that they can better serve you and your dog. A good vet will listen to you when you tell them things concerning your dog's symptoms and/or behaviors.
Having a veterinarian that you trust is essential. Does your vet give you accurate information and truly have the best interest of your dog at heart? You will have to talk with veterinarians and ask plenty of questions to form an opinion for yourself on whether or not you trust a particular vet. There are those who will lie to make a buck and mislead you into unnecessary treatments to pad their wallets. It's never a bad a idea to do your own research and learn as much as you can to avoid buying into misinformation while getting to know more about your veterinarian. I can't stress enough the importance of having a veterinarian that you can trust. It's always very comforting to know that the person who holds the life of your beloved dog in his hands is someone who has integrity, is knowledgeable, capable, dependable and has you and your dog's best interest at heart. A good vet is interested in cost efficient treatments when possible. Having a vet who will offer ways to save you money while providing a high level of care for your dog is essential. Don't get me wrong...some treatments are costly and if you own a dog then you should be prepared for those costs if they should arise, but when there are less expensive alternatives that will offer proper treatment to your dog a good vet will offer those alternatives to you and work to save you money and provide your dog with a high level of care and commitment.
When you visit your veterinarian does he seem rushed and distracted? If this is a trend with your vet then I suggest finding a new one fast. We all have busy days and at times any of us can seem rushed or distracted, but this should not be the norm with your vet. It's important to have a vet who takes time to really hear what is going on with your dog, who is focused on diagnosing your dog and is thinking clearly enough to provide proper treatments if needed.
Does your vet like dogs? This may seem like a no brainer, but you will need a vet who genuinely loves dogs and understands dog behavior. Your dog will respond more positively to a vet who really likes him and handles him appropriately than to a vet who is aggravated by dogs and doesn't really care to be bothered by dog hair, drool, etc.
Another important factor to consider when choosing a veterinarian is the condition of the clinic. You will want to choose a vet whose clinic is clean, orderly and smells sanitary. In my vet's clinic there are bottles of sterilizing cleaners in every room and if an accident happens it is cleaned immediately. There is hand sanitizer available to clients at all times, the instruments are all clean and sterile and things are orderly.
Last, but not least, you will want to choose a veterinarian who hires a friendly and helpful staff. When you call is the receptionist kind, courteous and helpful? When you enter the clinic are you greeted by a friendly person who helps you in a timely manner? Are the vet techs and other staff members friendly and helpful? Fast and friendly service is something important to look for when choosing a veterinarian.
Just remember it may take time to find a vet that is a perfect fit for you and your dog. It's important to meet with various vets in your area, ask them questions and to also ask friends and family for recommendations. In the long run it is well worth the time and effort to find a vet that adequately meets you and your dog's needs. You wouldn't trust your health and well-being to just any physician...you probably researched before choosing your family care provider or you use a family doctor that has been treating other family members for years and has built a level of trust with you. The same should hold true for the health and well-being of your dog.
Here are some tips for those of you who don't live in the area and are searching for the perfect veterinarian. First of all, it's important to meet with as many vets in your area as possible and ask them questions. Ask what services they offer and if they have an after hours clinic in case of emergencies. Will they be accessible to you in a time of need? Will they provide the care that your pet may need in the future? Do they offer payment plans or is full payment due at the time of the visit? Those are important questions to have answers for before you encounter an emergency situation. It's not a bad idea to also ask friends and family who they use and recommend as a starting point in your search for a good veterinarian.
It is also important to have a veterinarian who listens to you and hears what you are telling them. I have encountered more than a few vets who failed to listen to my explanation of the Olde English Bulldogge. Nothing is more frustrating than to have your Bulldogge's veterinarian insist that they are an English Bulldog. A good veterinarian is willing to listen to you and is equally willing to learn new things when the opportunity presents itself. Veterinarians have a huge responsibility to care for a multitude of species and they can't be expected to know everything right off hand, but a good vet has the information needed at his finger tips and the resources he needs to provide the best possible care to your animals. A good vet will embrace the opportunity to become familiar with a breed they were maybe unfamiliar with prior to your visit so that they can better serve you and your dog. A good vet will listen to you when you tell them things concerning your dog's symptoms and/or behaviors.
Having a veterinarian that you trust is essential. Does your vet give you accurate information and truly have the best interest of your dog at heart? You will have to talk with veterinarians and ask plenty of questions to form an opinion for yourself on whether or not you trust a particular vet. There are those who will lie to make a buck and mislead you into unnecessary treatments to pad their wallets. It's never a bad a idea to do your own research and learn as much as you can to avoid buying into misinformation while getting to know more about your veterinarian. I can't stress enough the importance of having a veterinarian that you can trust. It's always very comforting to know that the person who holds the life of your beloved dog in his hands is someone who has integrity, is knowledgeable, capable, dependable and has you and your dog's best interest at heart. A good vet is interested in cost efficient treatments when possible. Having a vet who will offer ways to save you money while providing a high level of care for your dog is essential. Don't get me wrong...some treatments are costly and if you own a dog then you should be prepared for those costs if they should arise, but when there are less expensive alternatives that will offer proper treatment to your dog a good vet will offer those alternatives to you and work to save you money and provide your dog with a high level of care and commitment.
When you visit your veterinarian does he seem rushed and distracted? If this is a trend with your vet then I suggest finding a new one fast. We all have busy days and at times any of us can seem rushed or distracted, but this should not be the norm with your vet. It's important to have a vet who takes time to really hear what is going on with your dog, who is focused on diagnosing your dog and is thinking clearly enough to provide proper treatments if needed.
Does your vet like dogs? This may seem like a no brainer, but you will need a vet who genuinely loves dogs and understands dog behavior. Your dog will respond more positively to a vet who really likes him and handles him appropriately than to a vet who is aggravated by dogs and doesn't really care to be bothered by dog hair, drool, etc.
Another important factor to consider when choosing a veterinarian is the condition of the clinic. You will want to choose a vet whose clinic is clean, orderly and smells sanitary. In my vet's clinic there are bottles of sterilizing cleaners in every room and if an accident happens it is cleaned immediately. There is hand sanitizer available to clients at all times, the instruments are all clean and sterile and things are orderly.
Last, but not least, you will want to choose a veterinarian who hires a friendly and helpful staff. When you call is the receptionist kind, courteous and helpful? When you enter the clinic are you greeted by a friendly person who helps you in a timely manner? Are the vet techs and other staff members friendly and helpful? Fast and friendly service is something important to look for when choosing a veterinarian.
Just remember it may take time to find a vet that is a perfect fit for you and your dog. It's important to meet with various vets in your area, ask them questions and to also ask friends and family for recommendations. In the long run it is well worth the time and effort to find a vet that adequately meets you and your dog's needs. You wouldn't trust your health and well-being to just any physician...you probably researched before choosing your family care provider or you use a family doctor that has been treating other family members for years and has built a level of trust with you. The same should hold true for the health and well-being of your dog.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Looking Toward 2012
We have some exciting things coming in 2012! We have some amazing breedings planned that we feel will take things to the next level here at Anderson Bulldogges. Our boy, Luke, has given us plenty of keepers who will offer many great possibilities in our future breedings. Luke encompasses all of the qualities that we believe should represent an Olde English Bulldogge. We intend to use his blood here as we move forward to lay the ground work for generations to come. Our goals are to produce healthy, capable and beautiful Bulldogge puppies that encompass all of the qualities that we feel are essential to this breed. We will continue working to produce a beautiful, bully and consistent appearance intertwined with intelligence, function, capability and desirable personality in the bulldogges that we produce. We will also be adding a new male to our program very soon as a future prospect here at Anderson Bulldogges. We are excited about what's in store and we will be making some announcements early in the new year so stay tuned.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
House Training Your Bulldogge Puppy
If your Bulldogge puppy is going to live in the house, and we most certainly encourage this, then you will be very interested in housebreaking him. There is a school of thought that a Bulldogge must be a tough macho beast who endures the weather no matter what mother nature throws at him and to get him accustomed to this he is better off living in an outside kennel. This is pure nonsense. Having him inside with you gets him bonded with you, close to you and sharing your world. He will handle better, understand you better, and respond better to commands if he lives inside your home with you and shares your life with you. If he could also have an optional outside kennel to use at certain times especially to enjoy the good weather periods, then so much the better.
Of course many wonderful Bulldogges do live permanently in outside kennels, and if insulated for winter, shaded/cool in the summer and kept sanitary and clean, and the dogs exercised regularly, they are no worse off because of it. As a Bulldogge breeder with many dogs, we have some who are permanent house dogs and some who live outdoors and rotate their house time. We have never experienced a dog who cannot take the heat or cold as long as proper shelter for the winter and proper shade and cooling for the summer were provided. As with any living creature, Bulldogges must be acclimated to the climate in order to do well and, regardless of breed, no dog can be expected to live indoors in a comfortable temperature and then suddenly be tossed into 100 degree temps outdoors to survive for hours on end. So, if you intend to have your Bulldogge as a house dog just realize that they are acclimated to a comfortable climate inside your home, as you are, and cannot be expected to do well in extreme temperatures for extended periods of time. If you intend to have your Bulldogge as an outdoor dog they will become acclimated as the temps gradually rise or fall throughout the year and as long as you provide them with proper living conditions they shouldn't have any problems at all.
During the weaning phase of puppy rearing we set up conditions which encourage the pups to leave the nest box and do their business in a fenced play yard. This allows the puppies to begin learning to potty outside of their nest area at an early age.
Right from the moment he arrives home with you the house breaking should begin. We suggest hanging sleigh bells on the door knob and each time you take the pup out to potty you should show him the bells and ring them prior to exiting. The puppy will soon learn that ringing the bells means that he goes outside and he will begin to ring them when he wants/needs to go out. Once he learns to ring the bells you must ALWAYS take him out when he rings them so that he doesn't become confused about what the bells mean. Always take him out to potty after eating, after waking from sleep and if you notice him sniffing around or seemingly looking for a place to eliminate. When he potties outside give lots and lots of praise. Bulldogges are smart and learn fast, so with consistency and positive reinforcements he should potty train in no time at all.
This would seem to be a good time to also reiterate the desirability of crate training your house dog. We suggest the use of an open wire crate of the folding variety rather than the plastic box which limits vision and feels very confining to the dog. When purchasing a crate go ahead and get one large enough for your pup to grow into as an adult so you won't have to buy another one as he grows.
Put the dog into the crate whenever you leave him unattended. During the day leave the door open and make the inside inviting with soft bedding, toys and even treats. It won’t be long before he goes in by himself to snooze and pretty soon this will become his space and he will like it. Now you can corral him when you have guests or when you go out and give him his special place to sleep at night.
Of course many wonderful Bulldogges do live permanently in outside kennels, and if insulated for winter, shaded/cool in the summer and kept sanitary and clean, and the dogs exercised regularly, they are no worse off because of it. As a Bulldogge breeder with many dogs, we have some who are permanent house dogs and some who live outdoors and rotate their house time. We have never experienced a dog who cannot take the heat or cold as long as proper shelter for the winter and proper shade and cooling for the summer were provided. As with any living creature, Bulldogges must be acclimated to the climate in order to do well and, regardless of breed, no dog can be expected to live indoors in a comfortable temperature and then suddenly be tossed into 100 degree temps outdoors to survive for hours on end. So, if you intend to have your Bulldogge as a house dog just realize that they are acclimated to a comfortable climate inside your home, as you are, and cannot be expected to do well in extreme temperatures for extended periods of time. If you intend to have your Bulldogge as an outdoor dog they will become acclimated as the temps gradually rise or fall throughout the year and as long as you provide them with proper living conditions they shouldn't have any problems at all.
During the weaning phase of puppy rearing we set up conditions which encourage the pups to leave the nest box and do their business in a fenced play yard. This allows the puppies to begin learning to potty outside of their nest area at an early age.
Right from the moment he arrives home with you the house breaking should begin. We suggest hanging sleigh bells on the door knob and each time you take the pup out to potty you should show him the bells and ring them prior to exiting. The puppy will soon learn that ringing the bells means that he goes outside and he will begin to ring them when he wants/needs to go out. Once he learns to ring the bells you must ALWAYS take him out when he rings them so that he doesn't become confused about what the bells mean. Always take him out to potty after eating, after waking from sleep and if you notice him sniffing around or seemingly looking for a place to eliminate. When he potties outside give lots and lots of praise. Bulldogges are smart and learn fast, so with consistency and positive reinforcements he should potty train in no time at all.
This would seem to be a good time to also reiterate the desirability of crate training your house dog. We suggest the use of an open wire crate of the folding variety rather than the plastic box which limits vision and feels very confining to the dog. When purchasing a crate go ahead and get one large enough for your pup to grow into as an adult so you won't have to buy another one as he grows.
Put the dog into the crate whenever you leave him unattended. During the day leave the door open and make the inside inviting with soft bedding, toys and even treats. It won’t be long before he goes in by himself to snooze and pretty soon this will become his space and he will like it. Now you can corral him when you have guests or when you go out and give him his special place to sleep at night.
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