Activities For American Bulldog Shepherds
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Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
Wow, try saying American Bulldog Shepherd five times without slipping up! Despite their lengthy names, American Bulldog Shepherds tend not to be as big as their German Shepherd parents. These dogs tend to be either small or medium sized at most, but they have big personalities to match. American Bulldog Shepherds typically look drastically different from one another, causing many people to confuse them for other dog breeds that they resemble. Funnily enough, American Bulldog Shepherds most often do not physically resemble either of their parents all that much, but they usually love trying out the same kinds of activities their parents do.
Lure Coursing
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Moderate
Hard
1 hr
Items needed
Coursing Lure
Activity description
We figured we'd mix things up a bit for this guide by listing the hardest activity first; this change isn't entirely arbitrary, as we figured listing it this early in the guide would give you more time to think about ways you and your dog can train for it. But what is "it" exactly? Well, the simple definition is that lure coursing is a more animal-friendly alternative to a sport that's been popular in Europe for centuries. The idea is that your dog will be prompted to chase after a lure that's attached to a sturdy piece of rope. To even have a chance at catching the lure, your dog's speed, agility, and endurance will have to be in tip-top shape.
Step
1
Warm up your pup
This activity is going to involve a lot of running and turning on a dime, so it might not be too bad of an idea to help your dog get warmed up before they give lure coursing a try. Go for a light and short jog around the coursing grounds, stretch your dog's legs, try anything you can think of to get your dog's body ready.
Step
2
Set up the match
Lure coursing is a fairly intricate activity that usually requires quite a few others to pull off; you may need someone to manipulate the lure and you may need to get in contact with someone who has a wide field you can use for this activity as well. See who you can get to help you set up a lure coursing match, and consider even asking other dog caretakers to let their dogs participate as well for a more authentic experience.
Step
3
Cheer on from the stands
Now you won't be able to directly participate in this activity with your dog; once the match starts, your dog will need to be able to focus on the lure without any distractions. To that end, we encourage you to help your dog indirectly by supporting them during the match. And when all is said and done, act encouraging towards them no matter how the match turned out.
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Treasure Hunting
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Cheap
Normal
30 min
Items needed
Dog Toys
Bits of Food
Shovel or Spade
Activity description
Sifting through the Earth to find buried treasures, what's not to like about that? Our version of a dog-friendly treasure hunt involves you placing a treat a number of times in clever places before sending your American Bulldog Shepherd after them. This activity is really pretty easy to set up, and you can try it out just about anywhere; dog parks, beaches, backyards, and sand dunes are all great places to go out for a treasure hunt with your pup. We said that this activity may take about 30 minutes to complete, but some dogs will find the treasure even faster than that!
Step
1
Burying the booty
Depending on the area where you try this activity, you may need to use a shovel or a small spade to bury the treasures under terrain like mud, grass, or sand. Either way, take some time to look for interesting places where you can hide your dog's treasures. You'll be helping them find the booty to a fault during the actual activity, but if your dog can intuitively find the treasures, all the better.
Step
2
The hunt is on
With all of the treasure squared away, it's time to let the games begin. Gently and subtly guide your dog to the areas where you've buried the treasure while trying to let your American Bulldog Shepherd find the items with as little overt help as possible. Your dog's confidence will soar through the roof if they're able to (seemingly) find treasures on their own.
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Hula Hoop Fun
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Cheap
Easy
25 min
Items needed
Hula Hoop
Activity description
Ending on a lighthearted note, we'd like to suggest that you let your dog have some time to play with a hula hoop; there are quite a few videos that have gone viral which show dogs attempting to use a hula hoop in the same way that their human companions do. The adorable dogs never quite get it right, but they end up having tons of fun (and burning a bit of fat) in the process. There really isn't much you'll need to do either once you've handed the hula hoop over to your dog - just sit back, make sure they don't hurt themselves, and enjoy the show!
Step
1
Getting the right hoop
It might not seem like a big deal which hula hoop you get for this activity, but you will want to find a sturdy hoop that won't break too easily. While humans play with hula hoops using their hands and hips, dogs tend to end up relying on their teeth. So look for a hula hoop that won't break easily under a bit of stress and that also isn't coated with any strong chemicals.
Step
2
Time for a luau
Like we mentioned earlier, this activity really doesn't have a lot of startup to it; the most you'll probably need to do is clear the area so that your dog won't accidentally bump into anything while playing with their new toy (dogs tend to get really, really carried away with hula hoops.) Dissuade your dog from chewing on the hoop too much by manually showing them how to play with it, but otherwise just offer your pup praise.
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More Fun Ideas...
Fetch Racing
The next time you head out to play a game of fetch with your dog, try this out; toss the fetching stick or fetching ball a pretty good distance away from your starting point, ask your dog to fetch it, and then jog over to the item alongside your dog. Though this activity's called fetch racing, it doesn't really matter who makes it first; so long as you and your dog are having fun and bonding, that's all that matters.
Dock Diving
This activity is great for days where you and your dog need to find creative ways to beat the heat while also staying active. Dock diving refers to the practice of encouraging your pup to dive into a pool, lake, or similarly deep body of water. The idea is for them to gradually dive into the water from greater distances and higher heights until they reach their limit.
Dog Puzzles
Looking for another activity to try out with your dog indoors? Dog puzzles are creative little inventions that will encourage your dog to use their brains in order to solve them. You can find dog puzzles that are specifically catered to your American Bulldog Shepherd's age range as well as their size and breed, though that last category isn't something you need to worry about too much while you're caring for a hybrid dog.
Conclusion
For any prospective dog owners looking for a pet who'll stand out (by virtue of both their appearance and their personality), an American Bulldog Shepherd might just be the answer to your prayers. As we've demonstrated through the sheer range of activities these dogs can enjoy, American Bulldog Shepherds are pretty dang versatile and down for just about anything you'd like to try out with them. We're huge proponents of safe and well thought out experimentation at Wag! By all means, adopt an American Bulldog Shepherd and try to figure out what the particular dog you're caring for is into.