History of American Bulldog

The American Bulldog is a domestic dog and belongs to a subspecies called, Canis lupus familiaris. It is bold, fearless, intelligent and obedient, and can assess a situation on its own, without waiting for the master's command.

There are two different types of American Bulldogs; the Johnson Type and Scott type, named after their breeders John D. Johnson and Allen Scott respectively. The modern American Bulldog is a combination of both these types. Generally, the female American Bulldog weighs about 60 - 100 pounds and measures about 20 - 25 inches, whereas the male weighs about 75 - 125 pounds and measures about 22 - 27 inches. A female bulldog can litter between 6 to 16 puppies.

History
The American Bulldog descended from ancient Mastiffs, brought to Europe by nomads in 1066, during the reign of Caesar. Due to its incredible courage and fighting ability, it was used to fight or bring down belligerent and threatening preys like wild bears, big cats, etc. A very tough strain of Mastiff called Alaunts came in after the arrival of the Normans around 400 AD. The breeding of the mastiffs to the Alaunts' produced the English Bulldog. Its 'lock jaw grip' ability enabled it to chase, catch and hang onto the nose, throat or cheek of any large animal and not let them go, no matter how hard the animal struggled.

During 17th and 18th centuries, English Bulldog was commonly used as a guardian and butcher dog on farms to hold livestock. It was also being used in blood sports like bull-baiting, for gambling and entertainment purposes. In 1835, bull-baiting was banned in the United States, and the bulldog was conceived as a loving and submissive pet. By the end of World War II, this breed was almost extinct until, John D. Johnson and his father decided to revive the breed. With Alan Scott and several other breeders, they began to breed American Bulldogs and maintained their health and working abilities. Later, Johnson and Scott separated and bred two different versions of the American Bulldog. On January 1, 1999, the American Bulldog was recognized by the United Kennel Club.

Appearance
The American Bulldog is well-built, stocky and hard-working with powerful jaws. Its muzzle is square and box-shaped, and ears are uncropped or rose-shaped. It has a short and smooth coat, that is stiff to touch. The Bulldog has a white coat or any color pattern including black, red, brown and all shades of brindle. It has a pigmentation (especially black) on the nose and the eye color is brown. American Bulldogs can be droolers, if they are looser jowled or lipped.

Temperament
American Bulldogs are friendly, loving and strongly bond with their master and family. If trained properly, they get along well with kids and other pets. They are high energy dogs; so the owner should have a large backyard and plenty of exercise regimes for the dog. American Bulldogs can also live within a home or an apartment, if given proper attention, stimulation and exercise. They are versatile, fast-learners and independent but, sometimes can be willful and dominant. If they get awry during training, breeding or socializing, they can be furious and harmful.

Types
There are mainly five types of American Bulldogs:

• The Johnson type: This type is commonly known as the Classic or Bully type. These bulldogs are more aggressive and have pendulous lips, an undershot jaw, facial wrinkles and a shorter muzzle. Johnson's famous American Bulldog, the Incredible Mean Machine had 30% characteristics of an English Bulldog, and forms the foundation for most of the modern American Bulldog.
• The Scott type: This type is also known as Standard or Performance type. Bulldogs belonging to this type are large, coarse, leggy and used to catch wild hogs and cattle. They have an athletic look and a long muzzle.
• The Painter/Margentina type: They were developed in late 70s by Joe Painter, Margentina and Tappe, and are mainly used in dog fighting. They are small in size and weigh about 25 - 35 kg.
• The Old Southern Whites type: These are the original country bulldogs. They served as a raw material for Johnson, Scott, etc, and helped them to develop advanced breeds of the American Bulldog.
• The Hybrid type: These are mainly American Bulldogs whose bloodline is a mixture of Johnson and Scott type. Some of the successful breeders of this type are Kyle Symmes, Matt Boyd, Grey Souza, etc.

American Bulldogs can be your best companion, all they need is care and attention. If properly groomed and trained, these dogs can be the best working dogs or a lovable and protective family pet.