Ghosties Kennel has been an American Bulldog breeder in business since 2003. Our kennel is located in Seymour Tennessee. Our American Bulldogs are NKC registered and while we breed for temperament, we additionally give them “Superdog Training” to set them a “paw” above the rest. With the temperament and socialization the NKC American Bulldog puppies receive we are able to provide the prospective owner with a well balanced puppy that will be a lifetime companion pet. The American Bulldog originally came from a line of Bulldogs that were used in England as working dogs that not only drove and caught cattle but also guarded their masters’ property. The breeds strength, courage, and familiarity with livestock led to its’ popularity in the brutal sport of bull baiting. When this sport was outlawed in England, the original type of Bulldog almost disappeared and was replaced with the shorter, stockier, less athletic dog we now know as the “English Bulldog”. The working class immigrants that settled in the southern United States brought the dogs with them where they were used for many tasks and thereby preserved the breed as we know it today.   At the end of World War II the breed was almost extinct and would have passed into obscurity had it not been for a returning veteran, John D. Johnson, who along with Alan Scott and a handful of other American Bulldog breeders decided to resurrect the breed. While maintaining careful records and maintaining the breed’s health and working capabilities they began to carefully and selectively breed the American Bulldog. As a result the two main types of American Bulldogs today are the “Johnson” and the “Scott”. The Johnson type American Bulldog is the stockier of the two and is also referred to as the “Bully” class, while the Scott type American Bulldog is referred to as the Standard/Performance class.

The American Bulldog is a well balanced, short-coated, muscular and athletic animal. American Bulldogs display great strength, endurance, and agility. Males are characteristically larger, heavier boned and more masculine than the females. The male American Bulldog should be 23 to 27 inches at the withers and the female American Bulldog should be 21 to 25 inches at the withers. The male American Bulldogs weight can range from 80-125 lbs. with the female American Bulldogs weight being 60- 90 lbs. We remove the dewclaws on all our American Bulldog puppies as they can be prone to splitting on the adult dogs which can cause accompanying discomfort. The tail is not docked on the American Bulldog and normally the ears are left uncropped.   The American Bulldog is still a relatively new breed and to some extent is still classified as a “rare breed” which is the major reason that they cannot be registered with the American Kennel Club. There are however many American Bulldog clubs in the United States and Canada that are designed and geared specifically towards the American Bulldog and focus on their conformation and working abilities such as weight pulling contests where the  champion American Bulldog has pulled a sled weight of 9,975 lbs

American Bulldog Puppy Training begins with the breeder instilling the basics and continues with the new owner from the first day the American Bulldog puppy is brought into his new home. Puppies are born without any bad habits and do not know what is good or bad behavior. All he understands is that nipping digging and chewing are great fun. As the new puppy’s owner and pack leader, it is your job to teach him proper manners and this is the time to accomplish that, before he develops bad habits. Consistency is needed when training an American Bulldog and it is important that all family members understand the need to be consistent. If for example, a family member allows the puppy to cuddle with them on the couch and then another family member later criticizes the puppy for being on the couch, it creates confusion as to what is acceptable. Also keep in mind that the tone of your voice when giving commands should display inner confidence as it will play a great part in achieving your American Bulldogs respect. An indoor kennel or crate such as a Midwest life stages dog crate can also be a great asset, as it can be a source of stress relief for both the American Bulldog and the owner. If you have to go out for several hours and your dog is in a crate you don’t have to worry about coming home to a soiled floor or torn up floors or furniture. By appropriately using the crate you will gain mental control over your American Bulldog and establish the pecking order as you are saying to him “If I want to go out I will do so and I will walk you at my convenience”. The crate also provides someplace that is private for him and will become his “sanctuary”. It is the one place that he will never be told to “Get off”, as well as a place to escape to should he feel threatened or annoyed. When you bring your new American Bulldog puppy home, it is suggested that the kennel be in the bedroom with you if possible. Although it is not always the case, be prepared for several sleepless nights as the American Bulldog puppy may whine and cry during this phase of training. When he does, you can gently remind him that you are there or if possible put the kennel next to your bed and just put your hand on it to reassure him that he is not alone. Then after several good nights, you can start moving him farther from your room day by day, if so desired, until you finally have him in the room that you want. Above all, do not give in as you are setting the pattern for the future and you definitely want him to know that you make the decisions, not him.

Potty Training The next training is usually the “potty” training and a good place to start is to remember to take him out after each feeding and after every awakening. Another good time to take him out is just before placing him in the kennel for the night. When you do take him out be prepared to spend time watching him while using words like “potty or pooh” or something of your own choice. When they finally take care of business be genuinely excited and praise them for being such a “Good boy or girl”. This will quickly establish the message that you are pleased when they do their duty outside. One final caution here is that if your indoor crate is too large for the puppy, he may relieve himself in it. If you have a Midwest life stages crate, it comes with a divider to shorten the inside length of the crate or otherwise you can place cardboard boxes in the rear of the crate to reduce the amount of space that he has to relieve himself.