Adorable, Lovable Boy: Buck, the Rottweiler/American Bulldog
Buck is a 2½-year-old, 115-pound Rottweiler/American Bulldog mix who has been a deeply loved member of our family since he was a puppy. He is neutered, healthy, up to date on vaccinations, crate trained, house trained, and has had extensive professional training throughout his life, including puppy training, private trainers, and a three-week board-and-train program.
The best way to describe Buck is that he wants to be your companion. He loves being included in whatever you're doing. He'll run beside you through a field, join you for a 1–3 mile run or hike, play outside, chew on a bone near you, or happily settle in for a long car ride. He has a huge smile and a wonderfully calm, content demeanor when he's with his people.
Buck has grown up alongside our children and has been incredibly sweet with them. Our kids are currently 7, 5, 4, and an infant, and Buck has played countless games with them and been a loving part of their childhood. One of our favorite things about him is that he will listen to our 4-year-old give him commands just as seriously as he listens to us.
Our decision to rehome Buck isn't because of an incident or because he has hurt anyone. He has never bitten a person or another animal. Rather, our family has grown to four very young children, and we simply don't have the environment or time that allows a large, energetic dog like Buck to have the life he deserves. Because he is 115 pounds and our younger children are so small, we aren't comfortable allowing unsupervised interaction between them. That means Buck ends up spending far more time in his crate than we believe is fair to him.
Buck does have some important considerations for his next home. He has a strong prey drive around cats, so he should not live with cats. He has not lived with another dog and can be reactive toward other dogs, so we believe he would thrive best as the only pet in the home. He can also be protective of his home and yard and may initially bark or become nervous around unfamiliar men, but he typically warms up quickly once introduced.
Because of his size, strength, and energy, Buck's ideal person would be someone who is comfortable with large, powerful breeds and can provide consistent structure, exercise, and companionship. We think an active single person or couple could be an especially wonderful fit. While Buck has been excellent with our own children, we would prefer a home without young children simply because of his size and strength and because we want his next home to be one where he can be fully included in everyday life without needing to be separated frequently.
Buck doesn't need someone to entertain him every minute of the day. He can be a very chill dog. What he really wants is to belong—to be near his person, go places with them, get outside regularly, play, exercise, and then relax together.
This is an emotional decision for our family because Buck has been loved deeply. We're not looking to simply find somewhere for him to go. We're looking for the right person who sees what we see in him: a big, loyal, goofy, affectionate companion who has a lot of love and life to give.
If you are experienced with large dogs, don't have other pets or young children, and are looking for a dog who genuinely wants to be your companion and do life alongside you, Buck may be an incredible fit.