hi to all. I'm a first time poster but do have the 8 weeks to 9 months dvd and the basic obdeience dvd and have been reading all of Ed's articles and the boards. I have a few questions about raising my new American Bulldog.

First off, i got him at 8 weeks old and he is now 11 weeks. Crate training has gone great with him. However i do have a few questions that i havent be able to answer. He is intented to be a family pet, no protection work or anything like that. Weight pulling seems to popular for this dogs, but i dont think its for me. Maybe advanced obediance or something. Either way, he's just suppossed to be a family dog.

Is it ok to have the pup off leash in my fenced back yard if I am back there with him? trying to do yard work or whatever?
Also, he loves ging outside and grabbing a branch lay down under a tree and just chew on it, likes to chew grass, lick dirt, whatever is in front of him. It feels like i'm always taking everything from him, and he seems more interested in those things than a bone or anything else. Should i just allow him to be a puppy outside? We of course do play with our ball on a rope, and he will chase it, and even afer i let him have it, he takes it away, and chews on sticks.

Also, he is very mouthy of course. Redirection works most times but when he latches onto my shorts, or the curtains, he really goes at it and will not let go and go after something else. So i have to grab his scruff, and shake or just pull him off and give a firm no, and THEN give him another toy. If he is being extremelly obnoxious, I will coax him into the crate with a treat and let him calm down.

On walks, is very easily distracted, and at times will not come if he's working on somethign good. Most times he will with a gentle pop, then a treat or praise. Others, i almost have to flip him over backwards to get him to come, followed by a treat or praise of course. Am i being to hard on him for this? it is very frustrating, and VERY difficult to keep my calm.

Thanks to all, sorry for the long post! This is a great site and has been invaluable in these first few weeks with my first puppy!

I just posted my opinion on some of the things you just asked in this thread...:
here

Thanks mike. i think i may be expecting a bit much...He does the sit, down, crate excercises with food just fine, actually thats when he is the best because he is so calm. I guess i will let him chew sticks in the backyard, and roll around in the sand and let him be a puppy, and only scold him when he starts biting and won't come.

What about Ed's article on teaching the meaning of the word "no". I thought i read somewhere that he no longer thought it neccesary to shake him till he screams but to grab his face and stare in his eyes and say 'No'. Am i making this up? or did i read that?
thanks to all!

I can't find where - but Ed did explain that he was referring to a particularly HARD group of pups.

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I can't find where - but Ed did explain that he was referring to a particularly HARD group of pups.

Here`s the link to the article theory of corrections