American Bulldog
| Recommended for | Active families |
| Breed Classification | AKC Foundation Stock Service |
| Other names | White English Southern Bulldog (historical) |
| Lifespan | 8-12 years |
| Size | Medium to large |
| Temperament | Loyal, friendly, gentle |
| Intelligence | Average |
| Tendency to bark | Low |
| Maintenance Level | Medium |
| Health Risk | Higher than average probability of developing health issues during its lifetime, hence the cost to insure is above average. |
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Explore the Top 5 health issues claimed for American Bulldogs, including highest claims paid and how much pet insurance could help you save on eligible vet bills.
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American Bulldog personality and temperament
American Bulldogs are generally affectionate, loyal and strongly bonded to their families. Their history as working and guarding dogs means they can also be confident, protective and initially reserved around unfamiliar people. Early socialisation and consistent training are particularly important for this powerful breed.
Known for their quirky, clownish behaviour when happy and excited, American Bulldogs are alert, outgoing, and confident. They thrive on praise and treats, with rules and structure to follow. Being too hard or too strict on this breed can hamper their willingness to learn and to please.
Being guarding dogs, American Bulldogs are naturally protective of their family and property and may be suspicious of strangers and strange dogs. They are family-loving dogs that have been known to perform heroic acts in order to protect its loved ones. They do not do well being left home alone for long hours, are not well-suited for apartment life and prefer a large, fenced-in yard to roam around.
American Bulldogs with kids and other pets
Well-socialised and trained American Bulldogs can be affectionate family dogs and may be good with children. Because of their size, strength and energetic play style, interactions with young children should always be supervised. Children should also be taught how to properly interact with and treat a large-sized dog.
They can also live successfully with other pets when appropriately socialised, although introductions should be managed carefully and play with smaller animals should be supervised.
American Bulldog training and exercise
American Bulldogs were bred as working dogs and so they require a decent amount of exercise. They are extremely energetic and, despite being relatively inactive and mellow indoors, they need substantial physical and mental activity, such as long long walks, hiking, swimming, scent work, obedience training, agility and games such as fetch and tug.
With their high energy level, American Bulldogs need to be active and have a job to do. They do well at many dog sports, or with almost any work you can give them. If they don’t get enough exercise each day they may become anxious and highly strung. The breed does not do well being left alone in a backyard, which can lead to a variety of behaviour problems.
American Bulldogs can be strong-willed, so early socialisation and consistent training are important. They generally respond best to patient, positive reinforcement-based training, with clear rules and routines established from puppyhood.
| Energy level | High |
| Exercise requirements | High |
Common health issues for American Bulldogs
What do American Bulldog owners claim for the most?
- Hip dysplasia is a common condition among larger dog breeds where the thigh bone does not fit properly together with the hip joint, causing pain, lameness, and arthritis later in life. X-rays may be performed to confirm if the dog is affected, but dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred.
- Elbow dysplasia refers to the abnormal development of the elbow joint early in the dog’s life, and is commonly found among larger dog breeds. It can lead to pain, joint laxity and lameness. Medication may be required to control pain, and in some cases surgery may be needed.
- Eye problems: American Bulldogs may be prone to “cherry eye” (a non-painful condition which causes prolapse of the third eyelid), entropion (which causes the eye to roll inwardly, irritating the eyeball and leading to more serious issues), and retinal dysplasia, an abnormal development of the retina that can cause retinal folds and, in more severe cases, retinal detachment and vision impairment.
- Demodectic mange(demodicosis) occurs when Demodex mites multiply excessively in the skin, often in young dogs or dogs with compromised immune function. Localised cases may resolve without treatment, but generalised demodicosis can be serious and requires veterinary care.
- Neural Ceroid Lipofuscinosis is a rare disease which can affect American Bulldogs. It causes severe neurological impairment and affected dogs often struggle to live past the age of 2. There is no treatment or cure, but a DNA test is available to detect carriers and infected dogs.
- Ichthyosis is an inherited skin disorder that can affect American Bulldogs, causing abnormal scaling, flaking and irritation of the skin. Severity varies between dogs, and while there is no cure, symptoms can often be managed with appropriate skin care and veterinary treatment. DNA testing is available to help breeders identify affected dogs and carriers.
- Some American Bulldogs, particularly heavier Bully-type dogs with shorter muzzles, may be more susceptible to breathing difficulty and heat intolerance. Care should be taken during strenuous exercise and hot weather.
- Other issues: American Bulldogs may also be prone to allergies, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a congenital heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot (a congenital heart defect), hypothyroidism and epilepsy.
Not all conditions are covered by Pet Insurance. For details of Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance cover, refer to the Product Disclosure Statement.
How to choose the right insurance for your American Bulldog
When comparing cover for your American Bulldog, look for:
Check that the policy covers conditions American Bulldogs can be prone to, including common health issues.
No exclusions for hereditary or congenital conditions⑅.
Options to adjust your annual benefit limit, reimbursement rate and excess.
Bow Wow Meow's Nose-to-Tail Cover offers flexible options for your American Bulldog, with cover for accidental injuries, illnesses and hereditary conditions⑅. Get a quick quote for cover that suits your American Bulldog and your budget.
American Bulldog feeding and nutrition
The American Bulldog should be fed a premium, high-quality dog food appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior), size and activity level. American Bulldog puppies should be fed a complete and balanced food formulated for the growth of large-breed puppies. Because excessive calorie and calcium intake can contribute to developmental problems in growing large breeds, avoid adding calcium or other supplements unless recommended by your vet. Ask your vet when to transition your puppy to adult food, as timing varies with growth and individual needs.
American Bulldogs may become overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level and don’t overindulge in the treats department. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your American Bulldog’s weight or diet.
American Bulldog care and grooming
Grooming an American Bulldog is a relatively easy task. They do not need to be bathed often, only as needed when they become dirty. Regular brushing with a firm bristle brush will help keep their coat clean and shiny.
Seasonal shedding will occur in the breed. They are light to moderate shedders, but do not shed heavily because they do not have a thick undercoat.
Be warned – American Bulldogs do tend to drool and need to be wiped as needed to prevent slobber all over the house.
Size, appearance and coat of American Bulldogs
The American Bulldog is medium to large sized, stocky and powerfully built. American Bulldogs are bigger, faster and more agile than their British Bulldog counterparts. They have short, coarse fur which in the past was mostly white, but now comes in a variety of patterns and colours.
As there are a few types of American Bulldog, they can vary quite widely in appearance. In general, they have a broad, square-shaped head with a broad, strong jaw, while their small- to medium-sized ears are set high and may be drop, semi-prick or rose shaped. Their muscular build and strong legs enable them to jump very high.
| Weight range | Males 30-59 kg; females 27-41 kg |
| Height range | Males 56–69 cm tall; females 51–64 cm |
| Colours | White, white combined with black, brindle, brown or tan |
| Coat length | Short |
Breed history of American Bulldogs
The American Bulldog is a descendant of the English Bulldog. It is believed that the bulldog was in America as early as the 18th century. Many came to the United States in the 1700s and 1800s, with immigrants who brought their working bulldogs with them.
Historically, American Bulldogs were bred to be a utility dog used for working the farm. Small farmers and ranchers used this all-around working dog for many tasks including farm guardians, stock dogs, and catch dogs. The breed largely survived, particularly in the southern states, because of its ability to bring down and catch feral cattle and pigs.
The breed almost died out during WWI and WWII, with the only surviving dogs kept on farms primarily in the southeastern United States. The two men who are recognized as the pioneers of bringing the breed back from possible extinction are John D. Johnson and Alan Scott.
Post WWII, Johnson gathered the best examples of the breed he could find and began a breeding program which led to the “Classic” type of American Bulldog. Scott joined Johnson’s efforts in reviving the breed and began breeding the Johnson Bulldog bloodline with other non-Johnson Bulldogs to develop what is now known as the “Standard” type of American Bulldog.
Many of today’s American Bulldogs are a combination of the Classic and Standard types, resulting in a third type referred to as “Hybrid”. Many of the American Bulldogs in Australia today are this hybrid type.
Explore related breeds
American Bulldog facts!
- The American Bulldog was originally known as the “American Pit Bulldog”. However, its name was changed to avoid confusion with the American Pit Bull Terrier.
- The dog “Mel” in the movie Return to Me was played by an American Bulldog named Peetey.
- One of the main characters in the movie Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey was played by an American Bulldog named Rattler, and was voiced by Michael J. Fox.
- There are two types of American Bulldogs: bully and standard. Standard-type American Bulldogs tend to be leaner and more athletic, while Bully-type dogs are generally heavier-boned with larger heads and shorter muzzles.
MORE INFORMATION:
The True American Bulldog Original Club of Australia: http://americanbulldogclub.com.au/
