American Bulldog puppies should have a reverse scissors bite, but a moderate underbite, scissors, or even bite are acceptable. A variety of ear types are acceptable including cropped, rose, half-pricked and forward flap. Their eyes are most often brown but can come in any color. They sometimes have split eyes, where one eye is brown and the other eye is blue. The nose is black, red, brown or grizzle. The lips should be full but not too loose. The front legs are heavy-boned, strong and straight. The hindquarters should be very broad and thick with well-defined muscles. The tail is low-set, begins thick at the base, and tapers to a point.
Males are characteristically stockier and heavier boned than the more refined females. The head is large with strong jaws. Agile and light on his feet, the chest is wide and moderately deep, giving the sense of athletic ability and power.
The American Bulldog’s coat is smooth and short and comes in all shades of brindle including red brindle, varying degrees of white, red, brown, tan, fawn and piebald.
Disposition
The American Bulldog is loyal, reliable, brave and determined. Not a hostile dog. Alert and self-confident, this breed genuinely loves children. It is known for its acts of heroism toward its master. It has strong protective instincts and needs a firm, confident, consistent pack leader. Well-socialize and obedience train them at an early age, to prevent them from becoming reserved with strangers.
Without that strong-minded pack leader who can tell the dog what is expected of it, it may be aggressive with other dogs. They need to be around people and know their place in their pack to be truly happy. This breed tends to drool and slobber. Without enough daily mental and physical exercise they will become high strung and may become hard to handle.
Living Conditions
American Bulldog puppies will do okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised. They are relatively inactive indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard.
Grooming
The short, harsh coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe only when necessary. This breed is an average shedder.
American Bulldog Origin
The original American Bulldogs were not only used in the sport of bull-baiting but also by small farmers and ranchers who used them as all-around working dogs for many tasks including as guards and for hunting bear, wild boar, raccoon, and squirrel. The American version of the Bulldog has longer legs, is faster and has better agility than the English show dog.
The dog’s stamina, protectiveness, intelligence, and working abilities make him a prized worker for farmers since they can be trained to drive cattle and guard stock from predators. Some of the American Bulldog’s talents are hunting, watchdog, tracking, weight pulling and guarding.
Thanks to the efforts of John D. Johnson of Summerville, Georgia, the American Bulldog exists today. After Johnson returned from WWII he was disappointed to find that, like the English Mastiff, it was almost completely extinct. He decided to gather the best specimens he could find from all across the rural South in an effort to bring the American Bulldog back from the brink of extinction. Johnson has been breeding these dogs longer than anyone else in the world, and his father bred them before him. He is the sole reason they exist today. If it were not for his efforts they would be extinct.
Clubs, Registries & Associations
(Based on breed recognition. See store for details on a particular puppy.)
- All American Bulldog Club
- The American Bulldog Club of Canada
- American Canine Registry
- American Bulldog Association
- The American Canine Association Inc.
- American Pet Registry, Inc.
- American Rare Breed Association
- Animal Research Foundation
- Backwoods Bulldog Club
- Continental Kennel Club
- Dog Registry of America, Inc.
- John D. Johnson Bulldog registry
- National American Bulldog Association
- North American Purebred Registry
- National Kennel Club
- United Kennel Club
Additional Information
Group: Mastiff
Average Weight: 60-120 lbs.
Personality Traits: Alert, self-confident, protective
Country of Origin: United States
Coat: Short
Check out the American Bulldog puppies for sale we currently have in our stores. If there are none here, please contact us and we’ll be in touch.
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This article has been reviewed by Animal Kingdom’s expert team to ensure accuracy and reliable pet care guidance.
