The American bulldog, or American bulldog, is a powerful, athletic and courageous dog that commands great respect. This dog is one of the most similar to the original 19th century bulldog. The untrained eye may confuse the American Bulldog with the Boxer, Pit Bull, or Dogo Argentino, as there are many similarities between these breeds. However, each one of them has distinctive characteristics that allow them to be differentiated, and in this tab of our site we are going to show it to you.
The breed is directly descended from the original bulldogs, now extinct, of 19th century England. After World War II, the American Bulldog was also virtually extinct, but some breeders rescued the breed. Notable among these breeders are John D. Johnson and Alan Scott, who originated the two main types of this breed. The dogs bred by Johnson are more muscular and robust, and their type is known as "bully" or classic. The dogs bred by Scott are more athletic and less robust, and their type is known as "standard". Either way, most current American bulldogs are hybrids of those two types. Currently the breed is not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), but it is recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) and the American Bulldog Registry & Archives (ABRA).
Origin of the American bulldog
The American Bulldog shares much of its history with other bulldogs and similar breeds. Thus, to a certain extent, it shares history with the English bulldog and the pit bull, to give just two examples.
Its origins go back to the fighting and hunting dogs that were already used in the first half of the 1st century. However, it is in its recent history that the breed is defined and the bulldog takes shape current american. In the 19th century, bulldogs were used in Britain as guardians, protectors, herdsmen (helping drive and handle livestock) and to assist butchers to kill the cattle. In that same century the cruel "sport" of fighting between dogs and bulls, in which bulldogs were used, reached its peak. In 1835, however, the British authorities ban the bloody "sport" and bulldogs gradually disappear. Over time, the crosses of these dogs with others less tall and aggressive, would give rise to the current English bulldog. Meanwhile, some English immigrants who had brought their bulldogs to North America kept the breed unchanged because it helped them greatly in controlling and hunting large and dangerous animals, such as wild pigs. These animals, almost without any change, were the ones that gave rise to the current American bulldog.
After World War II, the breed was virtually extinct in the United States. Fortunately for the American bulldog, John D. Johnson and Alan Scott, together with other lesser-known breeders, worked intensely recovering the most typical dogs they found, and thus forming a group of founders to recover the breed. It is thanks to these people that the American bulldog survives today. Johnson developed a stockier, stronger variety of the American bulldog, which is known as the "bully" or "classic." Instead, Scott developed a lighter, more athletic variety known as "standard." These are the two main strains used to recover the American bulldog, but today it is very difficult to find them in their pure state. Most American bulldogs today are hybrids between the two varieties.
Today, this imposing and powerful race is rare but no longer at risk of extinction. Although not widely known, today's American bulldogs stand out as multipurpose working dogs, performing guard, protection, big game hunting roles and, of course, as pets.
Physical Characteristics of the American Bulldog
The males measure between 57 and 67 centimeters at the withers, while the females measure between 53 and 65 centimeters at the withers. The standard for this breed does not indicate an ideal weight range, but it does indicate that weight should be proportional to height. Of course, dogs of the "standard" type are lighter and those of the "bully" type are heavier
The American Bulldog is a medium to large dog, very powerful, athletic and muscular. Robustly built, its body is slightly longer than it is tall. The long and wide head of this dog gives the impression of great power. The cranial vault is parallel to the upper line of the muzzle and the stop is pronounced and abrupt. The snout is broad and thick, with strong jaws and muscular cheeks. The lips are moderately thick but not pendulous and preferably black. In bully-type dogs, the length of the muzzle is between 25% and 35% of the total length of the head. In the "standard" type, the length of the muzzle ranges between 30% and 40% of the total length of the head. The bite of these dogs is very powerful, which is one of the characteristics of all bulldogs. In "standard" American Bulldogs, the reverse scissor bite is preferred, but a slight undershot bite is also acceptable. In bully-type bulldogs, a 1/4-inch undershot is preferred. In both cases, the pincer bite is accepted, but it is not desired. The wide and long nose has wide nostrils. Brown, chestnut and grayish noses are acceptable, but the preferred color for this part of the body is black. Depigmentation (pink nose) is unacceptable. The American bulldog's eyes are medium in size and set well apart from each other. Its shape can range from round to almond-shaped and any color is accepted, but dark brown or black is preferred. The preferred color for the rim of the eyelids is black. The ears of these dogs are small or medium and set high. They can be drooping, semi-erect or pink. The UKC standard accepts cropped ears, but indicates that full ears are preferred. The ABRA standard does not accept cropped ears.
The neck is muscular and strong, tapering slightly from the shoulders to the head. At its point of greatest diameter it is almost as wide as the bulldog's head. You may have a slight jowls. Both the forelimbs and hindlimbs are strong and muscular, with thick, well-developed bones. The feet are round, medium, well arched and tight. The American Bulldog's chest is deep and moderately broad. The topline slopes slightly from the withers (top point at shoulder height) to the muscular back. The loin is short, wide and slightly arched, joining the croup with a very slight slope. The tail, set low, is thick at the base and ends in a point. It reaches the hock when at rest and should never curl up. The UKC accepts docked tails, although it prefers full tails. The ABRA does not accept docked tails.
The hair is short and tight, with a texture that can range from soft to coarse. It must be less than one inch in length and any color combination is acceptable except pure black, pure blue, blackbird and tricolor. The completely black mask is also not accepted. At least 10% of the body should be white, and most American Bulldogs have the majority of their bodies white.
The trot of these dogs is fluid, powerful, well coordinated and does not show any effort. During it, the top line remains level, the legs do not shift in or out, and the feet do not cross each other. However, as the bulldog increases speed, the feet tend to converge toward the center of balance of the body.
American bulldog character
The typical American Bulldog is a determined and courageous dog, but should not be unnecessarily aggressive. Excellent guardian Due to its strong protective instinct, it can be aggressive towards strangers and other dogs when it has not been properly socialized or when it does not have good self-control. Therefore, it is very important to socialize him from puppyhood and train him in obedience so that he develops the necessary self-control.
He is also an excellent hunter, especially when it comes to hunting big game where he excels over other dog breeds. However, their strong prey drive can be a disadvantage to a pet American bulldog. That drive can cause the dog to have tendencies to "hunt" small animals like other pets and small breed dogs. One way to help control their strong impulses is to practice a dog sport such as agility or schutzhund with the dog. Since this breed is very aggressive, sports for protection dogs, such as the schutzhund, mondio ring and others, can be very useful when experienced handlers and helpers are available.
American bulldog care
These dogs need a lot of exercise, so it's better if they have a garden where they can run freely. It is true that they can live in an apartment, but for that you need a lot of time available to walk them.
Whether the American Bulldog lives in a house with a garden or in an apartment, it is best if he lives inside and goes outside to exercise. Although it is a breed of great physical strength, it does not have much protection against changing weather conditions. Similarly, you need to go for a walk at least once a day (better if more) to exercise and socialize, even if you have a garden to run in.
Caring for the coat of the American bulldog is very comfortable and easy to carry out. No more regular brushing and bathing only when necessary. Since these dogs shed regularly, brushing should be done at least three times a week, rather than to take care of the dog's coat, to take care of furniture and clothes.
American bulldog education
Before adopting an American bulldog you should know that it is recommended for people who understand the psychology of the dog and its behavior within the pack. You need a firm, calm and consistent master. For this reason, it is important that the owner of this be aware of what it means to be the leader of the pack and follow order and rules.
Despite his physical strength, and perhaps because of his strong character, the American bulldog does not respond well to traditional training. It is better to approach dog training from a different perspective, through clicker training or another variant of positive training. You will need patience for training but it is a very intelligent dog that can offer us very rewarding and good results. He will have no difficulty learning tricks and obeying as long as we apply positive training.
American Bulldog He alth
In general, the American Bulldog is a he althy dog. In fact, it is one of the breeds with fewer hereditary problems In any case, its he alth should not be neglected because it is not immune to diseases. Two of the most common clinical problems in this breed are hip dysplasia and tumors. Due to his size and weight, he can also develop other bone problems during growth, so this must be taken into account. With proper care, these dogs have a life expectancy of between eight and 16 years.
