All about American bandogs

Dogs of the bandog breed became widespread in our country not so long ago. These are wonderful watchmen, but you need to know more about them in order to be able to lead their fighting nature.

Bandogs were bred in America. Among the numerous breeds, they belong to the young, since they began to breed dogs only in the 70s of the last century. The first to pay attention to animals was a veterinarian named Swinford, which is why these dogs are also known under a different name - "Swinford's bandogs."

The animal was the result of the selection of the Staffordshire Terrier and Pit Bull Terrier, and it is from the latter that he has fighting qualities. If you carry out a genetic analysis, it becomes clear that the bandogs have much more hybrid in their blood. List of breeds whose DNA contains an animal:

• Neapolitan Mastiff;
• boerboel;
• bulldog;
• fila brasileiro;
• dogue de bordeaux;
• canario press;
• bullmastiff.

When dog fighting became very popular, breeders were faced with the task of creating a dog that would have unique fighting qualities. Although the animals take part in battles, they did not become the ultimate goal of the breeders, but they were able to bring them as close as possible to it. The fact is that the bandogs, although large and powerful enough, cannot surpass the same pit bulls in strength. Sometimes the animal simply refuses to continue the fight and retreats.

"Bandog" is a name that entered the English lexicon in the 13th century. Translated, it means "chain dog". Previously, mastiffs were called that, since they were considered the best watchmen, and it was they who could most often be found on the chains in private estates.It was customary to release the animal from the chain only after sunset, when all the household members went to bed. The main task of the dogs was to protect the territory adjacent to the house.

Mastiff-like dogs sat exclusively on a chain, because the usual, though thick rope could not hold them. Even today, only a physically strong person can walk with such a dog, since it is not so easy to cope with the power of an animal.

Most large breeds are not very intelligent, which is not the case for American Bandogs. These dogs develop equally well both physically and intellectually, but only on condition that a person is engaged in an animal.

Bandogs love the owner and other family members, they get along with children, so it's easy to find a common language with them. They are wary of outsiders, but they will not rush at a person without reason.

Bandogs are prized for their ability to quickly determine a person's intentions from their movements. That is why you should not joke or annoy the dog, he will not tolerate bad attitudes and mockery towards himself and will be able to react faster than a person understands anything.

In the gameplay, the dog perfectly understands what's what, despite his height and weight, he frolics like a little one. From the outside it looks very funny. On a thief who has come to someone else's house and intends to harm the owner, or a human-aggressor, the bandog will rush immediately.

Even at the moment of the attack, the dog will not make a sound, so you should not expect a warning from him in the form of a growl. This breed is silent and is not used to barking in vain, dogs like to act immediately and for sure.

These are dominants with an independent character that can live next to a person as a wonderful pet, but on condition that the person approached the upbringing of the dog correctly. You should not start a breed for an insecure, weak dog breeder, and even more so for a woman, since none of them will be able to prove their superiority, and this is extremely important in dealing with a dog. As soon as the bandog feels his advantage, he gets out of control, which is highly undesirable., insofar as coping with the aggression of such an animal is very difficult.

Anger and ferocity are genetically inherent in the breed, which is why puppies are taught and taught that such behavior with the owner and other household members is unacceptable. Experts advise to competently socialize the dog, then it will become loyal to children and their tough games.

The bandog always treats strangers with wary and hostile... The owner will need to teach the dog to distinguish who came into the yard as a welcome guest, and who entered without permission. It takes years to train, but it is essential if you want to avoid future problems.

The bandog fulfills his duties as a guard by 10 points, but do not expect that the dog will become an excellent guard.

Very carefully you need to introduce the bandog to other dogs. Anyone will be perceived by him as a competitor. He will not tolerate invasion of his own possessions, he is loyal only to those dogs with whom he grew up and was brought up in the same space. The same applies to attitudes towards other animals, including cats. Any new pet that tries to walk around the Bandog's yard could get hurt if he doesn't know him.

When walking the dog on a chain, the owner must take into account the possible inadequate reaction of the dog to stray dogs and cats. The animal must obey the person, otherwise it will be impossible to keep it in a fit of rage. It is best to walk the bandog in a muzzle.

Males grow large, their weight can reach 63 kilograms. Bitches are an order of magnitude smaller - from 38 kg, they are also smaller at the withers. An adult male at the withers can be up to 73 centimeters.

According to the standard and the description given in it, puppies are born of different spotted colors:

• black and white;
• redheads;
• brown;
• blue tint.

The body can be described in a few words: powerful, well-developed, muscular. The dog grows strong.

The bandog's head is large, the forehead is not wide, rather of medium size. The muzzle is not narrowed towards the nose, but elongated, the nose is large, fleshy, black. The eyes on a large head appear small, slightly slanted. From the side it seems that the dog always looks at a person with caution. The color of the iris is dark brown.

The dog boasts small, erect ears. This is another of the differences between fighting breeds, as the large ears allow the opponent to catch on them with his teeth.

The rib cage is deep, wide, the neck is powerful, but not long. The limbs are also of medium size, powerful. The skeleton of the dog is well developed, the belly is pulled up to the chest.

Bandogs have short hair, it is smooth and moderately hard.

Before purchasing a dog of any breed, you should pay attention to the advantages and disadvantages of the animal. The bandogs have many advantages that speak in favor of such a pet, but there are also significant disadvantages that cannot be ignored.

The advantages of the representatives of this breed:

• such a dog will be an excellent companion for walking in the fresh air, as it loves to play and frolic;
• it is a wonderful guard and protector who quickly discerns the true intentions of a stranger and will deal a crushing blow to him;
• the dog does not bark, but prefers to act, with such a pet there will be no extraneous animals in the yard, and not every stranger will dare to jump over the fence;
• genetically, bandogs have excellent health, so they do not require much attention.

Dog breeders consider the following facts to be disadvantages:

• to teach a dog the rules of decency, you will need to hire a professional, only he will be able to explain to the dog from childhood what to do;
• bandogs have a complex and unbalanced character, they can break off the chain in a second if they see a stranger on their territory;
• this breed is not hardy enough;
• in the absence of a leader in the house, the dog becomes unbalanced and wayward.

The bandog needs not only a lot of time to train, but also a strong leader nearby. The dog will not listen to the child, so an adult man must raise him.

A person who has taken upon himself the responsibility of raising such a dog should not forget about its fighting nature. Aggression has been invested in bandogs since childhood, which is why keeping him on a chain is not worth it, it is better to start socializing the animal as early as possible. In kennels, this issue is given enough time, where every laziness is engaged in training adults, playing with dogs, offering them physical training so that they can expend energy. All the same must be ensured when raising an animal at home.

For young breeders who are just starting to get acquainted with the peculiarities of fighting breeds, bandogs are not suitable as a pet. You should not take an adult dog into your family when it is not known how it was raised, who, what methods were used in this case.

The dog knows how to endure pain, so it is extremely undesirable to apply physical pressure to him. As soon as the owner shows weakness, the dog will surely take revenge, although this quality is not inherent in his nature.In his understanding, he would rather simply prove to the opponent the right to leadership. As a result of this misunderstanding, serious problems arise with the upbringing and care of the animal. Bandogs respond perfectly to even a slight change in the intonation of the owner's voice, this is quite enough for him to understand his guilt.

The dog will have only one owner, with the rest he is ready to just get along and coexist on a common territory. You should not expect unquestioning obedience from him, it is not so easy to suppress the willful character.

Any fighting breed is good because it does not require special care, since it is quite unpretentious in content. In private houses, the dog often lives in an aviary, they do not carry out hygiene procedures with it, but it needs regular vaccination. A veterinarian examination and the necessary vaccinations will keep your dog in excellent health.

The dog can live on the street without harm to health. To do this, she will need to build a warm booth where she can hide in the cold and rain.

The bandogs feel best in private yards, since they have enough space for free movement there. They get bored in the apartment, especially if the owner is too lazy to walk the animal on time. A bored dog can start bullying. Do not be surprised if he tears a new sofa or shoes, since he has nowhere to put the accumulated energy.

These dogs are not just active, they need walks every day and preferably with physical activity. A small space that limits them in movement leads to depression, loss of control over the bandog. Such an animal becomes dangerous even for the owner, which is why it is so important that the dog has the opportunity to throw out the accumulated energy. Daily activity helps to strengthen the musculoskeletal system of the dog.

Walking the animal is carried out exclusively in a muzzle. This is a rule that is not negotiable if the owner of a fighting dog does not want to face serious problems.

Nutrition plays an important role in the maintenance of the breed. Beef must be present in the diet, since it is rich in iron, vitamins and essential trace elements. Vegetables, cereals, seafood and eggs are additional supplements in the diet.

Special attention should be paid to the quality of food. The portions are strictly regulated and the feeding times are set at the same time. If the dog has constant access to food, then the likelihood of obesity is high, and with it the life of the pet is reduced.

Meat is not the only ingredient in a healthy dog's diet.... It is advisable to cook the food yourself, but not every owner can afford to spend so much time keeping the dog, so he prefers to use ready-made dry food.

They are more beneficial because they keep the dog feeling full longer. They contain enough vitamins, minerals and other components necessary for the normal development of a fighting dog. Among the assortment offered by pet stores, it is worth giving preference to those products that come to the market from well-known manufacturers. The presence of corn in the feed indicates its poor quality.

Along with a complete diet, the dog should always have access to clean drinking water. Dry food causes a feeling of thirst, this must not be forgotten.

Bandogs love to play with bones, but giving chicken or tubular to them is strictly prohibited. The dog has a jaw strong enough to split one. An accidentally swallowed piece can stick into the esophagus, causing sepsis and premature death of the animal. Pet stores have special bones made from tendons.This is not only one of the favorite treats of any dog, but also an excellent means of preventing tartar.

Additionally, cereals should be present in the dog's diet. It is advisable to give her buckwheat and rice, but not to include semolina and corn grits in the menu. Vegetables and fruits can also be added in small amounts to minced meat, for this they are crushed. Fermented milk products are also useful: cottage cheese, kefir, but you should not combine them with vegetables. Boiled eggs and boiled vegetables with herbs are of great benefit. Offal is useful once a week.

If you take proper care of your dog, it will live much longer.

The dog's coat is coarse, short, so it is not visible during molting in the yard. As for the living conditions of the apartment, then 2 times a year the owner is required to comb out the dog and carry out wet cleaning every day until the coat changes. For brushing, pet stores sell special brushes that quickly remove dead hairs, thereby reducing shedding time. Moreover, hair care is a good prevention of skin problems.

Bathing the animal is often unnecessary. If it is kept in the yard, then you can go to the pond several times a month, where the dog can swim, or give him a shower with a hose. In an apartment, the need to take water procedures arises when the dog is very dirty. Use exclusively specialized shampoo for washing, the water should be warm. After the animal is well wiped, you can dry the hair with a hairdryer, although bandogs are not prone to colds and can cope with a little hypothermia.

The eyes and ears of the animal require special attention, as they are most often affected. When outdoors, it is necessary to clean them of dirt every week and make sure that ticks do not start in the ears and the eyes do not turn sour. Cleanliness plays a decisive role in the formation of a dog's keen sense of smell and vision.

If possible, experts advise to regularly visit a veterinarian, who will be able to see in advance the dog's problems with the musculoskeletal system and eliminate them. Long and active walks are essential for the breed.

While walking in the city it is worth avoiding areas with a large number of people, as they can annoy the dog and he will begin to behave aggressively... In large cities, there are already equipped special closed-type areas for animals. On their territory, you can use exercise machines free of charge. Such activities keep the dog in good physical shape.

At a certain period, the bandog is vaccinated. It is especially important to exclude the likelihood of infection with diseases such as:

• plague;
• enteritis;
• hepatitis;
• parainfluenza;
• rabies;
• coronavirus;
• leptospirosis;
• trichophytosis.

The first vaccinations are given in the nursery at the age of 2 months. If the dog is left with a domestic litter, then it is worth contacting a veterinarian. It is forbidden to wash, take to fresh air and overfeed the dog. Immunity will only develop within 12 days after vaccination.

The owner is required to pay maximum attention to his pet so that he can easily transfer the vaccination. Don't be surprised if your puppy has a fever, this is a normal reaction to the first vaccine. Often the dog becomes lethargic, inactive, and diarrhea appears.

Three weeks later, a second vaccination is given using the same drug. The dog tolerates the next vaccination more easily, but it still needs to be protected from other animals for 12 days. Any walks are strictly prohibited, after the specified period the quarantine is lifted.

At the age of 6 months, the bandogu is vaccinated against rabies and other diseases. The vaccination is done in a complex manner, but it is canceled if the change of teeth from milk to indigenous is still going on. After another six months, the procedure is repeated, but already against other viruses. After annually, the dog breeder must take the dog to the veterinarian so that he can repeat the vaccination, so the bandog will be protected from diseases that can kill him ahead of time.

It is impossible to vaccinate people without proper education on their own, qualified doctors are engaged in this. Before the procedure, a number of preliminary steps are required:

• external examination of the puppy;
• measurement of body temperature.

Only when everything is normal, the vaccine is administered to the animal. The injection site can be the thigh of the animal or the scruff of the neck. All procedures are entered in the veterinary passport, the date is also prescribed there so that the owner can navigate when the next vaccination date comes.

With proper care, bandogs have excellent health. All problems arise when the owner ceases to provide the dog with quality food, underfeeds or overfeeds the pet. In such cases, one has to deal with joint dysplasia, obesity, malfunctioning of internal organs, and cancers.

Raising and properly training a bandog puppy is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. The dog demonstrates his temper from a young age, so it is important to correct it correctly without causing psychological trauma. It is strictly forbidden to beat the animal, you need to be able to quickly and efficiently convey your requirements to him.

A person with a weak character will not be able to raise a representative of this breed; it is better to give the puppy to a specialist. As soon as the animal has appeared in the house, the process of its socialization begins. They explain to him what cannot be done, where his place is, who live in the house with the same rights. Particular attention is paid to the relationship with the child.

If you want to make a faithful friend and companion for a child, a bandog is not suitable for this. He will not perceive him as a leader and at some point will try to prove his own strength.

If the owner manages to organize an atmosphere of complete order and clear requirements in the house, then the dog will grow up obedient and benevolent. He will know how and when to use aggression. If you have no experience in training, you should seek advice from a dog handler, who will explain how to properly gain authority from a dog.

If punishment follows for the offense, then it should not imply physical abuse of the animal. The intellect of the bandogs is enough for them to quickly learn commands. This is one of those breeds that they love to train, since there are no problems with the right approach. You cannot buy a fighting breed and not practice it, such a negligent attitude will lead to problems in the future. When developmental disabilities appear, you can never know what the pet will be capable of.

The bandog requires constant control, an uncontrollable beast is dangerous to the life of the owner and those around him. The dog will quickly determine who is the boss in the house, and will choose only one person, he will be allowed to command and give orders. All other family members should remember this.

Showing rudeness, disrespectful attitude towards the dog, you should be prepared for the fact that he will immediately demonstrate his character. Even the owner cannot always stop such an animal in aggression. Most often, the man himself and his improper upbringing are to blame for the attacks of the bandogs, but the animal suffers from this.

Next, see the general course of training a dog of the American Bandog breed.