The American Bulldog has a very beautiful yet intimidating appearance as an athletic dog. Their personality is a complex mix of happiness, protectiveness of their owners and high energy. The American Kennel Club, despite their growing popularity as a working dog and family pet, doesn't yet recognize the breed.



Back in the 17th and 18th centuries the Bulldog was primarily used to catch livestock, guard homes and in the sport of bull baiting. Then the Bulldog was brought to the United States for use as a working dog and for gambling purposes. The United Kingdom then outlawed the sport of bull baiting in 1835 and as a result became more popular as a family pet that has now become today's English Bulldog.

However through the years the American Bulldog has experienced less change. During World War II, the American Bulldog wasn't very popular and actually almost became extinct. But through preservation efforts the breed remained to become a beloved family pet, a competitive athlete and a strong working dog today.

The American Bulldog has an overall stocky appearance and a very muscular build. Their facial expressions can range from stark intimidation to goofy and fun loving. The common coat colors for the breed include white, fawn and brindle. They will typically stand between twenty to twenty-eight inches at the shoulder when full grown and weigh between sixty and one hundred twenty-five pounds. The breed has two variations as well. The classic is the larger of the two with the standard being the one with a shorter muzzle. Breeders have also mixed these two variations.

The American Bulldog is a devoted family pet and great with children as with all other Bulldogs. In fact, throughout the years the breed has become known for their acts of heroism. However, this same protect nature makes them aggressive to strangers and other animals. If you are going to choose an American Bulldog you need to make sure you have a lot of time to devote to the dog.

In order to have a well-behaved American Bulldog you need to train and socialize them from a young age. The American Bulldog can even become friendly to other animals if you train them thoroughly at an early age and are selective about when you choose to use their guarding instincts. Because of their low maintenance coat brushing and bathing only needs to be done on an as needed basis. However, they do tend to slobber a lot because of their large and droopy jowls.

Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are two bone conditions that can affect the breed. Some eye conditions to be aware of include prolapse of the third eyelid, retinal dysplasia and Enropion, which the eyelid rolls inward. At birth the American Bulldog can be deaf or it can develop when they age.

The breed also has problems with a congenital defect known as Patent Ductus Arteriosis, which causes the blood vessels of the lungs to remain open after birth and this results in extra amounts of blood flowing into the lungs. Take proper care of your American Bulldog and avoid common health problems so that they can live a happy eight to fifteen years as your loyal family pet.