American Bulldog: breed overview

The American Bulldog is frequently thought of when one is thinking of a faithful friend. These dogs are well-known for their strength and affection, and many dog lovers adore their lively personalities and rich histories. They have a hard exterior and a heart full of love for their families because they were originally bred to work on farms.

These athletic, muscular dogs have a striking physique that draws attention. However, despite their size, they are renowned for being kind giants. American Bulldogs make excellent family pets when they receive the proper training and socialization, as they get along well with both children and other animals.

They are a pleasure to be around because of their playful nature, and they enjoy company. When American Bulldogs are with their loved ones, they are happiest, whether they are playing fetch in the yard or cuddling on the couch. They do, however, need to exercise frequently to maintain their health and control their energy levels.

Prospective owners can determine whether the American Bulldog breed is a good fit for their lifestyle by being aware of the characteristics and requirements of the breed. There are many factors to take into account, including their temperament and grooming needs. Let’s explore more closely at what makes American Bulldogs so special and well-liked.

Description and history of the breed

It’s obvious that this dog is a great protector from the moment you meet him. His job is to protect his owner and keep an eye on the property. American bulldogs also have an excellent sense of smell, which enables them to hunt small wild game and work as police dogs.

Respect is evoked by the American bulldog’s appearance. A proud, powerful, and formidable dog inspires compassion and admiration. Ambul has an incredibly muscular and well-built physique. This initially hostile bulldog is eager to give selfless love and affection to its owner. However, it’s best for strangers to keep their distance.

Respect is evoked by the American bulldog’s appearance.

Ambul is a very well-built dog with a fair amount of strength. This breed’s males are bigger and appear more sophisticated than its bitches.

Table: American Bulldog height to weight ratio

males	females
Height, cm	58.5 – 68.5	53.5 – 63.5
Weight, kg	34 – 52	27 – 38

These dogs typically have large, square-shaped heads that are slightly flat on top. The nostrils are open and the muzzle is fairly broad. The Ambules has a powerful, well-defined lower jaw. The lips are black with possibly pink specks, and the teeth are big and even. The ears are positioned high on the head and have the shape of a "rose."

These dogs have black lips with possibly pink specks on them.

American Bulldogs have very muscular, compact bodies. Although the chest is medium in size, the back is incredibly strong and powerful. The paws are fairly large, and the back is also fairly broad. This breed has a strong, kink-free tail that tapers toward the end.

First impressions of American Bulldogs are that they are bulky and awkward. However, these dogs’ true speed and agility are astounding.

The Ambul’s coat is typically white with spots that can be black, brown, brindle, or fawn. At least 50% of the color should be white, if possible.

The Ambul’s coat is typically white with different colored spots.

The Ambul has the old country bulldog as one of its names. Because settlers in the New World brought their devoted bulldog companions with them to protect them and assist them in working on farms and ranches, the breed got its name. Naturally, no one kept an eye on the breed’s purity back then, and farmers bred dogs according to their own judgment.

American Bulldog: a visual history

Therefore, American citizens bred these dogs for several centuries without the assistance of breeders and cynologists. Till the 1910s, this persisted. Then, bulldogs’ strength caught the attention of fighting dog collectors. However, breeders have not yet agreed upon what the ancient rural bulldogs’ ancestry is. And all because of the existence of distinct local varieties, which arose as a result of the breeding centers’ initial isolation from one another.

The majority of respectable breeders tend to think that American bulldogs are descended from Old English canines. Settlers brought them to America. It should be noted that authors Ernest Setton-Thompson and Jack London discuss these dogs in their works.

The character of American bulldogs

These animals may seem intimidating, but they are actually very amiable with people. Ambuli are amiable, well-mannered, four-legged creatures that love interacting with kids.

An Ambuli with good manners gets along well with kids

However, they will bravely rush to protect the owner in the event of even the slightest danger. These courageous canines are prepared to defend the people they care about.

You could never refer to them as "simple." Ambuli are obstinate and irrational. They enjoy subduing other canines. Their primary goal is to always be in charge. An American Bulldog can be challenging to force to do anything he does not want to. As a result, the owner needs to be steadfast and uncompromising in his goals.

Ambuls’ benefits and drawbacks

Ambuls should be introduced to strangers cautiously, letting them know that their owner is not in any danger because they have a strong guard dog instinct. Representatives of this breed typically have trouble getting along with other pets of the same sex. They enjoy catching cats and have a tendency to chase after moving animals.

The American Bulldog frequently pursues moving objects.

Varieties and standards of the breed

Because the American Bulldog breed’s original breeding regions were isolated from one another, breeders now recognize four distinct variations of the breed.

• classic Ambul. These dogs are distinguished by their large weight. Large individuals can reach 60 kilograms. Classic American Bulldog is a purebred representative of the breed. They are also referred to as the Johnson type, named after the breeder. The ancestors of this type are the best representatives of the breed, who managed to preserve the original qualities;

A traditional embodiment of the American Bulldog breed

• Scott type bulldogs. These are working representatives of the breed. To breed them, dogs of the classic and working varieties were crossed. These dogs are distinguished by their medium size, remarkable strength, endurance and a powerful jaw;

The Scott breed of American Bulldog

• Williamson type dogs were bred by crossing representatives of large aggressive and fast dogs with hardy and powerful dogs of the classic variety;
• Painter type ambuls were obtained as a result of mixing the blood of Scott type dogs and representatives of the classic type. These are the calmest and most balanced pets, devoted to their owners. But, like other relatives, they are characterized by strength and power. True, these dogs are light in weight.

Cynologists have established particular requirements for this breed. They fit all Ambuli varieties. These powerful canines are classified as "Unrecognized breeds" in group 11 of the FCI.

The following proportions must be met by every representative: The elongation index of an elongated body falls between roughly 103 and 108%. The ratio of the body’s oblique length to its height at the withers, or the format index, shouldn’t be higher than 8%. The depth of the chest serves as another indicator. It should be half the indicator at the withers, ideally. The length of the head and neck should be about equal. The maximum size of the muzzle should be 7 centimeters, or roughly 25–35% of the size of the head. A muzzle that falls between 5 and 6.25 cm is thought to be the perfect fit.

An American bulldog’s muzzle makes up 25–35 percent of its head size.

American Bulldogs have short hair that is 2.54 centimeters, or one inch, long. A soft or hard coat is acceptable, but one that is curly or feathery is not. Additionally, there are appropriate ranges for the dog’s height and weight. A dog is thought to be ideal if it weighs 55 kg and is 64 centimeters tall.

Unacceptable defects in the exterior of the Ambules

This breed’s representatives exhibit bravery and courage. Thus, extreme timidity and cowardice rank among the biggest flaws that Ambules find unacceptable. Furthermore, these bulldogs shouldn’t be aggressive toward people or other animals. A severe disadvantage and further indication of a deviation is a narrow head and muzzle. Any asymmetry of the visual organs, including strabismus, as well as overly protruding eyes, are considered serious defects in the Ambules breed.

The dog needs to have a straight face. Any variations in the visual organs are regarded as a breed defect.

Since the animals’ backs must meet a certain standard, other defects include slouching, a sunken or hunched lower back, a narrow pelvis and flat chest, weak muscles, and narrow hips. These dogs ought to have powerful, agile, and well-coordinated movements. It is forbidden to deviate from this standard or exhibit "confusion in gait." Low weight (less than 35 kg for males and less than 27 kg for females) and tail kinks are also unacceptable.

Secrets of education and training tips

You shouldn’t assume that using an Ambul will be straightforward and easy. Teaching and molding these canines requires arduous and meticulous labor. It will take a lot of time to train your pet to obey and follow instructions.

Bringing an American Bulldog into Training

• Since American bulldog puppies love to gnaw and bite everything that comes their way, you need to make them understand from the first months of life that gnawing shoes, furniture, and also grabbing the legs of family members is not allowed. To do this, when the dog has a desire to bite something forbidden, you need to distract it with toys, thereby making it clear that it is okay to chew on toys, but not on the owner"s hands and feet. In addition, if the puppy does bite the owner, you need to show him that it hurts by loudly shouting: "no" or "no";
• since the Ambul is a fairly large breed, you should not miss the time to teach him to walk next to him. Otherwise, the dog will simply "drag" the owner around with him everywhere.

"Next to him" is the first command a four-legged pet should learn!

• To teach the pet to walk next to the owner, you need to change the trajectory of movement as often as possible during a walk. This will show the dog that it is not he who determines the path, but the owner. For exemplary behavior, the puppy should be rewarded with treats, and for violation of discipline – pull the leash and loudly shout a command;
• It is best to teach an American bulldog not to be overly happy when meeting people who come to the house. After all, a large dog can simply knock down someone who weighs less than it. From childhood, attempts to jump on a person in a fit of joy must be stopped with a loud and powerful word "No"!. And a person who comes into the house should try to ignore the loving dog at first;
• since Ambuli are very inquisitive, they enjoy rummaging through the trash and picking up everything inedible from the ground. You will also have to get rid of this habit. To do this, you will need to teach the dog the command "No"!. At the moment when the puppy is determined to eat something forbidden, you can easily slap him on the rump with a twig, pour water on him or throw something light at him, accompanying the actions with the necessary command. The puppy should be scared and throw the inedible object, but the dog should not be hurt. Rather, the effect of surprise works here;

For a big dog, prohibitory commands are crucial.

• from the first months of life, it is necessary to introduce the Ambul to dogs of different breeds. This is necessary for the socialization of the four-legged and the suppression of possible aggression.

When raising such dogs, the most important rule to remember is that indulgences are not acceptable, as seasoned breeders advise! Because it will be difficult to influence the Ambul’s future actions if it acts arbitrarily even once.

Video – The origin and character of American bulldogs

One of the owner’s primary guidelines for his dog is that it is not allowed in the bedroom. However, the puppy wants to be nearer to the person because he was either scared of a thunderstorm or just missed it. Here, you must resist giving in to weakness; if you do, the Ambul will continuously cast you in a depressing light, manipulate you, or even break into your bedroom without permission. It is crucial to maintain your resolve and not waver from the decision for this reason.

When training an American Bulldog, persistence is key.

Rules of keeping

Ambuli enjoy living in large apartments as well as private homes. However, in the second scenario, it is crucial to remember that the American Bulldog is a working dog and must be kept active all the time. For this reason, it’s crucial to give your pet frequent, lengthy walks. Additionally, leaving the Ambul to itself for an hour while you go outside and sit on a bench won’t cut it. It’s crucial to take the pet for several kilometers on walks and to play with it on playgrounds. in order for the dog to run and follow its instincts.

It’s crucial to give the pet frequent, extended walks.

When American Bulldogs assist their owners, they are happy. However, it’s crucial that the dog can perform the task and doesn’t overwork itself. The dog needs to be active for at least an hour a day in order to feel well.

Regarding outside care, it isn’t at all taxing. A dog needs to be bathed no more frequently than once per month. Additionally, brush the fur occasionally.

A dog must be bathed no more than once per month.

• bedding;
• a bowl for feeding and drinking on a stand;
• collar with a leash;
• a muzzle;
• hygiene products – shampoo for bathing and a brush for combing out the fur;
• food and treats for training;
• toys.

Undoubtedly, the puppy will require a bed.

What to feed an American bulldog?

The diet of the pet should also receive special consideration. It is advised that dogs of this breed consume a varied diet. Adults only require two meals a day, whereas puppies require three meals.

You should feed your puppy the same food that the breeder fed him the first time after you purchase him. It is advised to choose food over time based on your dog’s requirements and preferences.

Purchasing premium dry food is advised as the primary diet. You can use wet food in its place if needed. Natural goods can be consumed in addition to other foods or as supplements.

With mom, it’s safer.

It is important to understand that only premium food can meet a dog’s requirement for vital nutrients and trace elements.

Premium or holistic class industrial feeds should be of the highest caliber.

You can introduce porridge made from different cereals as a supplemental food into your pet’s diet since its early years. Offal is something you should start feeding the baby after it turns 3.5 months old. Fermented dairy products also make a great feed option. Any meat is acceptable, excluding pork.

However, it is forbidden to eat sweet or salty food from the owner’s table. But in addition to going against the feeding schedule.

There is no eating from the owner’s table.

Breed	American Bulldog
Origin	United States
Size	Medium to large
Weight	60-120 lbs
Temperament	Friendly, loyal, protective
Exercise Needs	High
Grooming	Low maintenance
Life Expectancy	10-15 years
Best For	Active families

A fascinating breed, the American Bulldog is renowned for its power, devotion, and good humor. These dogs make excellent family pets because they are not only strong but also have large hearts and a strong sense of protection. People who might only see their tough exterior are frequently surprised by their affectionate demeanor. They can flourish in a caring home if given the right training and socialization.

The adaptability of American Bulldogs is one of their best qualities. This breed can serve as a good companion for running, a playmate for your children, or a watchdog over your house. Since they are vivacious and enjoy being active, regular exercise is essential. Keeping them active helps them stay in shape and improves the relationship you have with your dog.

It"s important to remember that owning an American Bulldog comes with responsibilities. They require consistent training and socialization from an early age. This helps them become well-adjusted adults who are comfortable around other pets and people. With patience and love, you can help them grow into confident companions.

If you’re thinking about bringing an American Bulldog into your home, be ready for a devoted companion who will never leave your side. They are an excellent addition to any home because of their special combination of intelligence, affection, and strength. Just keep in mind that, similar to other breeds, they flourish in homes where they feel safe and cherished. Your American Bulldog can bring you joy for many years to come if you give him the proper care.

The American Bulldog is a devoted and watchful breed distinguished by its robust appearance and kind nature. These dogs, who were initially bred for farm labor, are not only strong but also amiable and loving toward their families. This article helps prospective owners understand what makes the American Bulldog a wonderful companion by examining the breed’s history, temperament, care requirements, and suitability for various lifestyles.

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