Originally the breed was originally used in the 17th and 18th century to catch livestock, guard homes and in the sport of bull baiting. Then for the purposes of gambling and as a working dog the Bulldog was brought to the United States. The sport of bull baiting was then outlawed in the United Kingdom in 1835 and then the breed became the popular family pet now seen in the 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 like all other Bulldogs in the sense that they make a devoted family pet, especially with children. Throughout the years the breed has become very well known for their acts of heroism, although these same good protective traits also make them aggressive towards other animals and strangers. Make sure you have a lot of time to devote to the dog if you are going to get an American Bulldog.
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.
Patent Ductus Arteriosis is a congenital birth defect in which the blood vessel doesn't close after birth and extra amounts of blood flows into the lungs. By taking proper care of your American Bulldog and avoiding common health problems you can expect your dog to live a happy eight to fifteen years.
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