American Bulldogs (again)

[SisMorphine]

Well their website tells you their LINES but it doesn't tell you ABOUT their lines

[Gguevara]

I see

[Gguevara]

Okay so, I'm going to keep looking up breeders and stuff on my own. Thanks for all the help it pointed me in the right direction and I have a few breeders' sites bookmarked already haha.

Does anyone know how well ABs handle the cold? Like I said when I was first looking into Dobes and GSDs, I like to be outside a lot and it gets pretty cold here. so it's a huge factor in what breed I choose.
I read somewhere, can't remember where because I just google things like a mad man, that while they lack a thick coat, ABs have very thick skin and can tolerate colder weather than a GSD can. Would you say this is true? I'm doubting it but, if you were to rate both breeds 1-10 in cold tolerance what would it be? Just to help put things into perspective for me.

[Amstaffer]

Originally Posted by Gguevara

Okay so, I'm going to keep looking up breeders and stuff on my own. Thanks for all the help it pointed me in the right direction and I have a few breeders' sites bookmarked already haha.

Does anyone know how well ABs handle the cold? Like I said when I was first looking into Dobes and GSDs, I like to be outside a lot and it gets pretty cold here. so it's a huge factor in what breed I choose.
I read somewhere, can't remember where because I just google things like a mad man, that while they lack a thick coat, ABs have very thick skin and can tolerate colder weather than a GSD can. Would you say this is true? I'm doubting it but, if you were to rate both breeds 1-10 in cold tolerance what would it be? Just to help put things into perspective for me.

I would say GSDs can tolerate cold a lot better than ABs. ABs are short singled coated dogs. When they are young they use their "Tenacity" to overcome the cold for a while working or playing outside but I wouldn't recommend them for a winter sport dog. However there is a company called K9coat that I recently stumbled across who make full body coats that look promising. I am ordering one for Sal (Amstaffs are very similar in coat to ABs) and give you more feedback on the Arctic Fleece Body Suit.

Gino from TK ABs can give you more info on ABs working in the cold

1-10 scale?

1 Italian Greyhound to 10 Alaskan Mal

Hmmmmm I guess I would say the AB would be 4.8 to 5.5
and GSDs would be 7.0 to 8.8

That would be my guess

[SisMorphine]

One of my good friends who breeds ABBBs lives in a very cold climate and has outdoor kennels. He has no problems with his dogs, but they also have the option of going in and out of their heated dog houses, and are rotated through his house. Of my own two adults, Teeny LOVES cold weather, adores it when it snows out and just wants to burrow in it and have fun, Blue thinks that cold weather is for fools.

I have jackets for my dogs and it seems to help when it's really cold out. NOT something I would leave on a dog if they were left unattended, but for walks and turn outs to the backyard they're perfect.

I'd say a GSD is better suited for the cold because of the double coat, but I have met some GSDs who are even worse about cold weather than my ABBBs simply because of how they were raised.

Have you joined the bulldog forum I PMed to you? Like I said, LOADS of AB owners on there, many in CA, and even more are working their dogs so they could give you lots of specifics.

[Pops2]

a lot of heat & cold tolerance is conditioning, diet and acclimation. the main reason most house dogs have a hard time is limited exposure to temperature extremes, too much weight & not enough fat in the diet.

[Gguevara]

I would say GSDs can tolerate cold a lot better than ABs. ABs are short singled coated dogs. When they are young they use their "Tenacity" to overcome the cold for a while working or playing outside but I wouldn't recommend them for a winter sport dog. However there is a company called K9coat that I recently stumbled across who make full body coats that look promising. I am ordering one for Sal (Amstaffs are very similar in coat to ABs) and give you more feedback on the Arctic Fleece Body Suit.

Gino from TK ABs can give you more info on ABs working in the cold

1-10 scale?

1 Italian Greyhound to 10 Alaskan Mal

Hmmmmm I guess I would say the AB would be 4.8 to 5.5
and GSDs would be 7.0 to 8.8

That would be my guess

Thanks, that's the sort of answer I was looking for. I never saw a full body suit like those ones, some feedback on them would be appreciated!

Blue thinks that cold weather is for fools.

hahaha, guess I'm a fool then =p

Have you joined the bulldog forum I PMed to you? Like I said, LOADS of AB owners on there, many in CA, and even more are working their dogs so they could give you lots of specifics.

Haven't joined it, just been sorta lurking for now. Went through the WHOLE list of breeders they have on the AB breeders page lol.

a lot of heat & cold tolerance is conditioning, diet and acclimation. the main reason most house dogs have a hard time is limited exposure to temperature extremes, too much weight & not enough fat in the diet.

Hey Pops2, I was just looking for something in general but, thanks for the tip.

[SisMorphine]

Originally Posted by Gguevara

Haven't joined it, just been sorta lurking for now. Went through the WHOLE list of breeders they have on the AB breeders page lol.

Hopefully their list of AB breeders is better than their list of Alapaha breeders. LOL!

[Gguevara]

Originally Posted by SisMorphine

Hopefully their list of AB breeders is better than their list of Alapaha breeders. LOL!

I found some really good looking ones. I've noticed all the dogs I like have Templar/Twister/Hamilton in their pedigrees so I have a better idea of what exactly I'm looking for now.

[Benchmark]

"Closest breeder I could find is in Virginia, 12 hours away =(. Still looking though"

Hi Im Sandi, owner of the kennel mentioned above. Thanks for all the kind words about the dogs. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

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Have a Great Day!

Sandi