I just got an American Bulldog pup one week ago. When I got him he was six weeks old, and that was exactly one week ago. I've since read that six weeks is too early. The initial plan was to go pick up the pup at eight weeks but breeder ended up coming into my town for a Schutzhund training event saving me a 7 hour round trip and a decent gas bill.

From my limited experience and answers to many questions I asked, I gathered that the breeder seems to run a good operation. Of course I could be wrong but the pictures of his kennel on his website show a very clean and nice looking facility. At the time I picked him up, I wasn't aware of Ed's comment that "Any breeder who would let a dog go at six weeks is an idiot." Too late now.

My question is this, what complications can I expect from getting him so early? So far, he seems very calm. I've tried to follow Ed's crate training article instructions and so far so good. He only cried the first couple nights until I moved him out of his airline crate into a new one like Ed recommends. He has calm nerves, in fact early on I was worried he might be deaf he was so calm. He is not deaf, and he has a lot of energy when playing with the ball on the string. As could be expected his bladder has incredibly short fuse.

Really he only has a couple of issues so far:

1. He's not real comfortable walking on a leash.
He just plants his butt on the floor and makes me drag him. I've tried treats and hotdogs and those work okay, but he doesn't get to fired up about them. Today I was determined to walk him out of house on his leash and he refused to come, so I drug him across my slippery wood floors. As I was dragging him he left a nice streak of pee. Any ideas on what to do when he decides to plant his butt?

2. Just today, he started peeing in his crate frequently. He had been doing pretty good but today I caught him sitting in his pee a couple of times. Just now at dinner, I watched him eat and drink for about five minutes and then he lifted his head for two seconds, looked towards the front of the crate, let out a small whimper and then peed. I immediately took him outside. I'm not sure if it would have anything to do with the fact that just today I switched him over from a towel on the floor of his crate to a cow mat. Also, it may be because I've over corrected him. I have a feeling this is the cause. I just read today that I shouldn't correct a young puppy over anything but failing to come and I've corrected him over biting at my children's feet and some other small misbehaviors. Nothing major but I wonder if it's been to much because once today when I picked him up to take him outside he peed on me which is new. Thoughts?

I've already ordered "Your Puppy Eight Weeks to Eight Months" and I've read through many of the articles on the site several times now. I have no intentions of training him for protection work, but I realize with a dog of this size and strength I need to be a responsible owner by training him properly. Any feedback would be welcomed.

Determination can be your worst enemy sometimes! Patience is key with young pups! It sounds like you either have a submissive/fearful pup or you have caused your pup to already fear/distrust you (by over correction).

The peeing on the floor and peeing on you is his way of telling you that's he's confused, scared of you, and trying to please you.

To get your pup to come to you from a couple feet away, bend down "be more interesting than dirt," clap your hands, make kissy noises, use a higher pitched voice. When he comes, give him a treat, toy or praise. If he doesn't come to you, walk away from him, still clapping, patting the ground, making kissy noises, whatever it is thats gets him interested. If still no luck, reel him in by his leash, but don't drag him yet, it will only scare him more (thus the pee).

As far as his small misbehaviors that he has been corrected for: you need to prevent these situations from happening, and redirect the behavior if it does. For chewing on your children's toes, keep him on a leash so he can't get to the their toes. And if he does, simply give him a better, more appropriate toy to play with.

Until you get your DVD in, remember to be patient, encouraging, cheerful and CONSISTENT! Good Luck!

I forgot to also write:
If the urinating is too frequent, a visit to the vet is in order!

He should be able to hold it about 2 hours (most the time) and he will go potty right after eating - which you must anticipate.

QUOTING ANNE: Until you get your DVD in, remember to be patient, encouraging, cheerful and CONSISTENT! Good Luck! END

Excellent words there. He's just a baby, and I get the same "take" as Anne: that he's frightened, confused, and not yet able to figure out how to please you.

The DVD you ordered will be an enormous help, and I'd keep it simple and upbeat until you get it, praising/rewarding him as often as possible (setting him up for praise, even ---- by asking for something you know he understands, whether it's "sit" or "come" or whatever), and I'd take him out to pee at least every two hours (and, as Anne said, right after meals) until you get a sense of his needs.

Good luck! That's a breed I grew up with (well, we had English bulldogs), and I love that breed............which is really why I jumped in here: Will be be seeing a photo of your pup in the "Member Photos & Short Bio" section? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />