American Bulldog

Origin: United States
Alternative names: Old Country Bulldog
Height at the withers: 53-66 cm
Weight: 30-58 kg

The American Bulldog is a breed of dog from the United States. This breed is not recognized by the FCI. American Bulldogs are probably descended from English Bulldogs. It is believed to also contain the blood of Boxers, Dogo Argentinos and Pointers.

The American Bulldog is a typical representative of the bulldog family, up to 66 cm tall and weighing 58 kg.

There are several breeds or types of this breed: lighter working lines (e.g. SCOTT standard type) and the heavy exhibition type (Johnson-Billy/Classic type) as well as the hybrid type, which is a mixture of standard and bully. At the show, the hybrid type is judged into one of the two main type classes based on where the particular hybrid dog rears phenotypically. The SCOTT lines are usually slimmer and have a longer muzzle, since they were also used to hunt wild boar. The coat of the dogs is typical for bulldogs, short and close-fitting, in the colors white/brown or white/reddish-brown brindle.

The American Bulldog comes closest to the old Bullenbeisser type and is used as a companion dog. These dogs are still used today in the United States to hunt wild boar. In German-speaking countries, this breed is used as a family and companion dog. Due to its imposing appearance, especially the more distinctive bull type, it is well suited as a non-aggressive guard.

This dog is considered to be a very people-friendly. When rearing, care must be taken to ensure that the bulldog has sufficient contact with other animals, especially those of the same sex, but also with all other animals, in order to ensure good socialization. Because of their sensitive but stubborn nature and tremendous physical strength, this dog is not a dog for everyone. An American Bulldog cannot be raised with pressure and violence, but almost anything can be mastered with empathy, praise and treats. In terms of spirit, he is a very calm, well-balanced dog who always exudes sovereignty and goes his own way with determination. Especially in the first 18 months, it is important to attach importance to bonding, socialization and a lot of playful obedience training in order to lay the foundation for a regulated coexistence. The standard type can bring along athleticism and drive, whereas the bully type rarely tends to hunt and stray. The American Bulldog gets along with children and is a family dog, other pets are rarely a problem if you get used to them carefully. A certain clumsiness is always present in adult bulldogs and puppies and should be taken into account in sports activities such as agility.

Except for the problems that some white dog breeds have in common (allergies and hearing loss), the American Bulldog is still a relatively healthy dog ​​today, since the focus has always been on function and less on exaggerating certain characteristics in breeding. As with all heavy dog ​​breeds, care should be taken during rearing to ensure that the dogs are kept at the lowest weight limit in order to prevent various rearing-related bone problems. A balanced, low-energy feeding is mainly indicated.

In some countries in Germany, the American Bulldog is one of the list dogs, which are colloquially referred to as "fighting dogs". In these federal states, the husbandry is subject to strict requirements. In Bavaria, for example, the American Bulldog is one of the “category 2” dogs. This means that dogs that are sexually mature must take a character test in which it is checked whether the dog has been well socialized and whether it shows any increased aggressiveness.