What You Should Know About American Bulldogs

As an athletic dog, the American Bulldog has a very beautiful yet intimidating appearance. They have a very complex personality with a mix of happiness, protectiveness of their owners and high energy. The American Kennel Club hasn't yet recognized the breed, but it is fast gaining popularity as both a family pet and as a working dog.

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. The American Bulldog has undergone less change. The breed wasn't very popular during World War II and also became extinct. However, through preservation efforts the breed managed to remain and is now a popular family pet, a competitive athlete and a strong working dog.

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 a devoted family pet and great with children as with all other Bulldogs. In fact, throughout the years the breed has become known for their acts of heroism. However, this same protect nature makes them aggressive to strangers and other animals. If you are going to choose an American Bulldog you need to make sure you have a lot of time to devote to the dog.

In order to have a well-behaved American Bulldog you need to train and socialize them from an early age. They can even become friendly with other animals as long as you thoroughly train them from an early age and are very selective about when to use their guardian instincts. They have a very low maintenance coat, which means you only need to brush and bathe them as needed. However, they will 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. The breed also has problems with a congenital defect known as Patent Ductus Arteriosis, which causes the blood vessels of the lungs to remain open after birth and this results in extra amounts of blood flowing into the lungs. Take proper care of your American Bulldog and avoid common health problems so that they can live a happy eight to fifteen years as your loyal family pet.

Bobby Callahan is a lover of the American Bulldog. The American Bulldog is just one of three different Bulldog types to learn about. Knowing Bulldog information can help you determine if they are the right pet for you.