American Bulldog

In early England, blood sports were very popular with both the working class and royalty. The old English bulldogs were developed for blood sports, fighting bulls and bears, and later, other dogs. After blood sports were made illegal, the dogs were used for a variety of purposes. In the U.S., they accompanied settlers across the unknown frontiers as guardians, hunters, and at times, even herding dogs.

This breed should convey a sense of power. Standing between 20 and 26 inches tall and
weighing 60 to 120 pounds, with the females smaller than the males, this is an all-purpose working dog. The head should show its bulldog heritage, broad with a slightly shortened muzzle.

Grooming and Health Concern
The coat is short, harsh, and white with patches of brindle, brown, red, or tan.
Grooming this breed is easy; use a curry comb or soft bristled brush twice a week to brush out the dead hairs.

Health concerns include hip dysplasia and allergies.

Character and Training
The Bulldog is quite active. Long, brisk walks are good, as are a few games of catch and fetch, but he also needs a job to do where he can burn some calories—either pulling a wagon or running on the agility course.

The breed needs early and ongoing socialization. Because they are still used as guardians of people, livestock, and property, these dogs are aggressive toward strangers and socialization can temper this reaction. Training should begin early, too, and continue into adulthood—not just for this physically powerful breed to learn self control but also to give the dogs a job to do.

This breed also thrives in dog sports, including carting and weight pulling. The American Bulldog requires an active owner who is a leader and is dog savvy. He is affectionate, loyal, and good with older children. (He can be too rough for young kids.) He will be a willing playmate for lots of childhood adventures. The breed can be dog-aggressive.