Ramblin with Alabama Red

Ramblin with Alabama Red

This day and time it's quite an expensive project competing at an open level. Those of you thinking about getting started need to examine your alternatives and weigh them against the cost, time, space, etc. involved.
One way to build your program is through breeding and raising your own dogs. This is the most satisfying but possibly the most expensive and most difficult. No one can deny the great feeling that comes from setting down one of your own, knowing that you raised it, schooled it and conditioned it. A winner makes you a good breeder, conditioner, feeder, and knowing that the sire and dam are on your yard makes it all the more satisfying.

But the process isn't easy. Once you get good dogs, it does not mean that you have made it. The next litter or next generation may be much less than you expect. The process can be tedious.

It also takes a good man to raise pups. Bulldogs are notorious mothers. You get a good performing bitch and breed her with enthusiasm to the best stud dog you have access to, and what happens? She has seven beautiful pups....and eats them all! That's the good news!

The bad news is that you spent two years of your time and money and the talented ones quit, and the game ones have no talent. Or, you finally get that perfect dog and then one day you find him chewing on his chain and eating his doghouse, ruining his mouth.

Raising your own pups or building your own breeding program really comes down to how much you love to fool with puppies and dogs. Is that one in a hundred or that one in a thousand shot, worth all the effort? After you get there it is! But take a look at your own situation and decide going in what is right for you.

What stud dog to use? - Unless you have a proven breeding program, this question is only one that time will answer. There are certainly dogs that are producing more consistently than others, but this doesn't guarantee quality results from your breeding. Seeking the best, simply means that he is passing on enough good traits to enough pups to make his percentages better than average.

Dealing with aggression - The American Pit Bull Terrier is not by nature or breeding aggressive to people. I have personally been on a yard with 175 dogs, with only 2 or 3 that would bite a stranger and none showing aggression to the people caring for them. Yet, I have been on yards where at least 75% of the dogs would bite a stranger.

A good dog man told me that he had sold a Champion dog that wouldn't even bark at the trash man, but that now when he visits the dog at his new home, that the dog would throw himself on the cage floor trying to get at you. So what does that mean? Possibly, that more than any other breed of dog the Pit Bull Terrier in its desire to please adopts the personality of its owner and handler. If they themselves are aggressive, the dogs may well have the same attitude. If the owner is self-assured and patient, showing his dog a lot of true love, then I think that owner will get that kind of result back. I have seen very few bulldogs that fail to respond to attention and affection .

 

Excellent post! All points hit in this one.

 

Nailed it!!

 

Very cool. I have heard many say that the dogs take on the persona of their keepers..and also that the dogs have shown folks how to gain grit

 

Great post ! Pete Colby Sr & I were going to partner up as he was going to move next door to my wife and I. We would of had about 10 acers if good sandy ground with shade trees, well water ECT. We decided not to go forward after a Pete stayed with us for a week. Reason being is simply, Pete and I both have a deep love for this Worlds Greatest Breed, because Pete & I were not evenly yoked, (we bashed heads) my Beautiful wife who is very spiritual as I am, simply noticed that Pete feels a need to carry the mantel of his Father and Grandfather's calling. We are living in a different world ( legally speaking ) social media is a quick way to get yourself in trouble. I told Pete that if we go forward the only way I'm willing to do this is by placing pups or adolescents with Camps who will give them a fair chance. (Just as F W.K spoke about) Love, Patience, nutrition, proper exercise, schooling, aftercare , medicine ECT... It takes a team to be competitive on a World level. Years of hard work, dealing with Dog thieves, The Powers that be that would love to bring down a "Colby " Fact, no one in the Colby Family has ever been convicted of a breaking the law . 120 years of raising Bulldogs, Gamecocks ECT. I can tell you why. When the powers that be started locking up great men like Floyed B. Things had to change because the laws have changed and enforcement has uncover active Dogmen, breeders too working for them right now to this very day. So the dilemma was in my face. Move to a country where we can operate or, keep a super clean breeding program at all times. Say a kennel accident happened, if we don't get the hounds involved to the vet and treated asap, that alone can put a end to a operaition here in S.C. or the USA, for that matter. I have had 33 hounds at one time on my yard years ago. 1200 in food alone
4 hours a day to take care of them. That didn't include exercise. I said all of this to say that for me at my age although I was honnerd and humbled to be asked by Pete himself I had to decline. I appreciate that good honest folks who are breeding Bulldogs. I will just have to live with my decision. A pic of my Beautiful Wife , with Mr. Peter L. Colby 2017 in our home...