American Bulldog. Abe Fishman

in the company of the dog’s master. An American Bulldog should never appear threatening to any friend who has come to the home. When called upon to defend, however, he should do so with authority and be prepared to die in defense of his human family.

       An American Bulldog with another breed known for an impressive-looking head and strength—the Dogue de Bordeaux.

      If we are going to strive to preserve the pure American Bulldog, however, it is also important that we understand the character that defines it. Any breed displays both a typical look and a typical character, and it is a combination of the two that should be selected in the show ring and for any breeding program. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the desirable character of the true American Bulldog.

       While we’ve emphasized the American Bulldog’s working ability, we should also mention that he has a silly side and likes to goof off with friends.

      The true American Bulldog is among the most reliable working dogs ever developed. Remember the job that the working American Bulldog was produced to do. It was essentially a “catch dog,” sent out to attack, grab and hold highly dangerous free-range livestock, such as the Arkansas razorback boar. Once the dog had caught the livestock, the dog’s job was to hold that livestock while it was either killed or, more commonly, tied by the dog’s owner. Bearing in mind that the razorback boar is such a lethal animal, the rancher’s life literally depended upon both the ability and the reliability of his catch dog.

      The true American Bulldog is certainly a reliable dog. It is also a steady dog and a loyal dog. The working Bulldog had to have the tenacity to catch and fight for his life while always recognizing that he was part of a team that consisted of the dog and his human companion. This is a dog with both the physical ability and the energy to work hard and quickly, but he is also a dog that knows when to relax and lie quietly by the fire.

      The American Bulldog should be a fun-loving dog that enjoys time in the yard and walks with his master. In fact, this is a breed that exudes happiness very clearly, and those who own a good representative of this breed will quickly come to know the meaning of the expression “a Bulldog smile.” In brief, in the breed’s true form, this is a dog you will enjoy owning and one you will remember fondly for the rest of your life. It is the quintessential pet, friend and home protector.

       MALE OR FEMALE?

      An important consideration is the sex of your American Bulldog puppy. For a family companion, an American Bulldog bitch is the best choice, considering the female’s inbred concern for all young creatures and her accompanying tolerance and patience. Regardless of which sex you choose, a pet male should be neutered and a pet female should be spayed.

       HEALTH PROBLEMS SPECIFIC TO THE AMERICAN BULLDOG

      As we know, cross-breeding between American Bulldogs and other breeds has been very common since the late 1970s. As such, when we consider the health problems that occur and that occur with a high degree of frequency in this breed, we must consider that depending upon the genetic lines of each particular dog, health considerations may vary. The following are health problems that affect the breed as a whole. Not every health problem listed here will occur in every American Bulldog line, but it is important that your dog’s veterinarian realizes that all of these problems exist within the modern genetic stock that defines this breed.

      The defects that can occur in the American Bulldog are enlarged hearts, kidney and thyroid disorders, undersized lungs, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, entropion, ectropion, bone cancer, deafness and blindness. Some also can suffer from skin problems like allergies and mange. Needless to say, well-established working stock will produce healthier dogs. Breeders should have their dogs tested and certified by both the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF); ask to see this documentation on your pup’s parents.

       This pose is just for show, but the American Bulldog is certainly capable of giving his bull-and-terrier friends a lift!

       KEEPING YOUR AMERICAN BULLDOG FIT

      If this were a book about the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, an appropriate exercise program for your dog would be an easy one to prescribe. Contrarily, if this were a book about the Mastiff or the St. Bernard, a different kind of exercise program would also be easy to recommend. But we aren’t talking about Staffordshire Bull Terriers or Mastiffs or St. Bernards or Greyhounds or any other breed here. We are talking about the American Bulldog. The range in type we will see in the two standards, to be discussed later, and in my description of this breed in its proper form make outlining a healthy exercise program for the average dog of this breed impossible.

      This does not mean that adequate exercise will not benefit your American Bulldog, however. Exercise certainly will benefit your American Bulldog, and a program of regular exercise should definitely be implemented by the time the dog is nine months old. This simply means that due to the variation of physical type within this breed, brought on by cross-breeding to other breeds of very different types in recent years, you will have to evaluate your dog’s type before a program of exercise is implemented. After all, the kind of exercise program that will benefit a fully grown, 85-pound, hardworking stock dog could very well kill a 130-pound dog of the Johnson line, for example.

       American Bulldogs are very agile. How many other dogs can jump this high?

      Again, the extreme range in type between the stock dog, the later Scott-line dogs, the old Painter-line dogs and the Johnson-line dogs is too great to view one form of exercise as being “right” for the breed. As such, it would be irresponsible of me to recommend a single exercise program as being adequate for all American Bulldogs. With this breed, you will have to evaluate the individual dog you want to keep fit and devise a program based upon what you know your dog to be. An exercise program for an adult dog may be as simple as a regular three-mile walk, three or four times a week on cool days. For working stock dogs, the program may be more strenuous, possibly including outdoor running or even weight pulling.

       OWNER CONSIDERATIONS

      The American Bulldog is a handsome and athletic companion dog. There is no doubt that this is a pure-bred dog that will continue to attract many admirers. Nonetheless, the American Bulldog is a breed that requires a special kind of owner. One of the most striking attributes of the American Bulldog is his agility. For a dog this size, no dog can compare to the American Bulldog for agility. Such athleticism and energy calls for an owner who has plenty of time to spend with his dog, training, conditioning and just horsing around. The owner himself must be fit and active to keep up with his American Bulldog. This is not to say that the breed doesn’t enjoy quiet time, but exercise is a must to keep this fellow trim, fit and mentally and physically balanced. If you are looking for a dog to sleep all day and get all of his exercise indoors or ambling about the yard, this is the wrong breed for you.

      Generally speaking, the American Bulldog can be taught fairly easily. This Bulldog is not as stubborn as his Union Jack-clad counterpart. The American Bulldog enjoys spending time with his owner, so training time is a favorite time for this dog. New owners must comprehend that acquiring a dog is tantamount to settling down with a partner. The American Bulldog can live to be well over ten years of age. New owners must be able to predict that their lifestyle over the coming decade can accommodate an American Bulldog.

      Fortunately, this breed is among the most versatile dogs