we know, the American Bulldog was very likely developed for use as a farm dog. The responsibilities of a farm dog were varied. They included catch work (catching and holding mature livestock for slaughter) and the protection of livestock from free-roaming dogs and packs of wild dogs. The American Bulldog in its working form is still used for this kind of work today. Given the popularity of the breed among pet owners presently, the percentage of American Bulldogs actually employed for farm and catch work is quite small indeed.
We have alluded to the fact that some American Bulldogs, such as those of the “Painter Line,” were used as fighting dogs in the past. It was not only the modern cross-bred American Bulldog that was used as a fighting dog, however. There are many old-time stories from people who knew the American Bulldog breed during the 1940s and 1950s that tell of serious organized dog fights in which American Bulldogs, rather than Pit Bulls, were matched.
The bottom line is that today’s American Bulldog has much to offer a family who will raise him right, devote time and effort to train and socialize him properly and give him the attention he needs. This breed is a wonderful companion, but the American Bulldog must know who’s the boss—you!
In discussing the temperament of the American Bulldog, we must consider that the range in type within the breed today is so great and the genetic material composing this breed is so varied that the physical and temperamental characteristics of your dog will depend upon his specific ancestry. One or more of the giant breeds were crossed into some American Bulldog lines in the recent past, so common sense dictates that the lines in question will produce dogs displaying the characteristics of those giant breeds. On the other end of the spectrum, if the Pit Bull was crossed into the line from which your dog descends, chances are that your dog will display characteristics that are more like the Pit Bull. If your dog is from pure, or nearly pure, old-time working American Bulldog lines, that is another matter altogether.
SUSPICIOUS MINDS
The American Bulldog is a protective dog, but he should never be an overly hot-headed dog. He should greet strangers with only mild suspicion, when these strangers are 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
