Realistically, there’s only one way to take care of your new American Bully puppy, and that’s the right way. This means a good diet, plenty of exercise, and time spent playing and bonding. Doing so will help you quickly become friends with your new dog, and will ensure they grow up happy and healthy.
However, the right way to look after a dog means different things to different people. The following aren’t necessarily ways to look after your American Bully Puppy, but they are tips that’ll enhance the way your dog grows up, and will make it much stronger and healthier than the average dog. If you do all of these, you’ll have a great specimen of an American Bully on your hands.
1. Make sure you give it a good diet
American Bullys are incredibly muscly dogs, and this means they need a very high protein diet. It’s crucial to start this kind of diet when they’re young because this is when they begin forming their adult muscle structure.
Their main food should also be high in fat, and the best option is a dry kibble made especially for American Bullys, which you can supplement with wet food. When looking for a kibble, make sure the first three ingredients on the list are meat. It should also have a protein content of 30% and a fat content of 20% at the absolute minimum.
While they’re puppies, it’s best to get as much food into them as possible. You should feed your American Bully Puppy three times a day, or leave food down for them all day. This will change as they get older though, and after about 12 months they should be on an adult diet.
2. Keep up with their healthcare
Overall, the American Bully is a healthy breed, but this doesn’t mean you should neglect caring for your American Bully Puppy. At the absolute minimum they should be treated for fleas and worms, and you should ensure they have all the relevant vaccinations while they’re still a puppy.
You can start worming your American Bully puppy at about 4 months, which is when they should be treated for heartworm and tapeworm. This treatment should be repeated as often as the manufacturer recommends, which will probably be once every month or so. You can also ask your vet to check your dog for worms if you’re unsure.
Flea treatment can be started about the same time, and should be done monthly in spring and summer, and then once every three months in fall and winter. While fleas aren’t a major health concern, they can lead to blood conditions and are incredibly irritating if they infest your house.
It’s also recommended to give American Bully puppies calcium supplements so they can develop strong bones. Vitamin supplements are a good idea while they’re young too, particularly around the time they get their vaccinations.
Vaccinations are usually started around 5 weeks of age, and some need to be done before the dog can go outside. In total, your American Bully puppy will have five, done at three-week intervals. They’re given a 7-way shot that covers them for all common conditions.
However, you should also ensure they get a rabies vaccine at 6 months, and this will last for 3 years. Rabies is a dangerous and deadly condition, and it’s the last thing you want if you’re hoping for a happy and healthy dog.
3. Exercise is key to proper development
Exercise is important for any dog, but it’s particularly necessary when they’re puppies. American Bully puppies should get daily exercise, once they’ve had their vaccinations of course.
About 30 minutes of exercise a day is the minimum you can really get away with, simply because the American Bully is an energetic breed. If you can get out for two or three walks a day that would be even better. Just make sure you watch out for sings of overheating, as American Bullys are quite susceptible to this.
Your dog will probably want to play fetch, and starting this while they’re a puppy is a great way to build up trust and obedience. Make sure you buy toys that are large enough to not be swallowed, and think ahead for when they’re adults too. You should also look for very hardy toys because American Bullys love to chew.
Swimming is a great exercise for American Bullys, as it stops them from getting hot but means they can burn off plenty of energy. If you want a strong and muscly adult, teach them to swim while they’re a puppy. You might need to get an inflatable harness or buoyancy aid, but once they know what they’re doing they’ll love it.
4. Obedience training makes all the difference
One of the best ways to care for your American Bully puppy is to teach it obedience training. This should be started as early as possible, which will probably be around 8 weeks. Starting this early will teach them how to behave around other dogs, and is an ideal way of preventing antisocial behaviors from developing.
The American Bully is quite an intelligent breed, and can learn a wide range of commands. Because of the breed’s loyalty, you shouldn’t need to use treats while training, as praise should be enough. Take your puppy to a training class so it can interact with other dogs and people. This will get it ready for later life, and it ensure it grows up to be a friendly and sociable adult.