American Bulldog

History

The working class that immigrated to the U.S. from England took the original Bulldogs to the South. They were mainly used on ranches and by small farmers. It seemed that the bulldogs survived because the settlers used them to deal with the vermin that was attracted by feral pigs. With the change in American tastes and lifestyles after World War II, bulldogs became almost extinct, but some breeders, including Mr. John D. Johnson and Alan Scott, got together to resurrect the breed. What is currently known as the Standard American Bulldog is the result of the infusion from the Scott and Johnson lines. Thanks to their efforts, the breed was brought back to what is now appreciated by many owners and breeders alike. In 1999, the United Kennel Club recognized the American Bulldog.

Description

American Bulldogs have very distinct features starting with the sturdy, powerful and muscular body and a strong looking face highlighted by a powerful jaw. Those with looser lips or jaws are sometimes found to be droolers. Colors are varied: they can be solid white or they can have spot color patterns that may include red, black, fawn, and brown. On the nose and around the eye rims, pigmentation of black is common, but sometimes pink is evident. Medium sized ears are set up high and can be semi-pricked, rose shaped or dropped with the natural ears being preferred. The coat is close and short, but it is usually stiff to touch. The American Bulldog’s back is muscular and broad and their topline declines downwards. The dog’s broad loin is short and arched into a sloping croup with the flank tucked up firmly.

Temperament

With early socialization, the American Bulldogs are friendly, protective, gentle and fearless dogs. They tend to be very affectionate towards children and their owners, making them protective dogs when they sense danger. To ensure that the dogs do not become excessively protective, it is advisable that socialization is done when they are puppies using a variety of situations and people. This can be achieved by taking walks to the park where they will be around other people and dogs. They are highly energized dogs and do well in environments where they are able to have regular exercise. It has been noted that bulldogs get aggressive when they are around other dogs, especially if they are of the same sex. An interesting fact is that some of American Bulldogs are able to jump to almost 6 feet.

Health and Care

The grooming that is required of the American Bulldogs is very minimal and just needs brushing when the dog’s coat is shedding. Use a firm bristle brush or a rubber mitt regularly to get rid of dead hairs. Bulldogs enjoy jogging, long walks and activities that require them to be agile. If the American Bulldog receives its daily exercise, it is very unlikely that the dog will be uneasy when indoors. They tend to be strong and physically active but can have problems such as hip dysplasia, enlarged hearts, kidney disorders, bone cancer, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis and entropion. The health problems are mainly found within genetic lines and cannot be generalized to the whole breed.

Pets4You offers listings of American Bulldog breeders with puppies for sale.