American Bulldog: breed description, dog character, care and upbringing

American Bulldog (ambul) is a reliable dog, which is ideal as a guard and a true friend. Features of the animal in its character, the dog combines the best qualities - courage, composure, kindness and affection. A detailed description of the breed will be found in today's article.

Description and characteristics of the breed

Before you start an American bulldog, you need to carefully study the description of the breed. If the owners need an affectionate dog that will play with children for hours, then they will have to forget about the bulldog. This breed was originally bred for fierce fighting. Therefore, the appearance of the dog did not bother anyone.

What distinguishes the American bulldog from other fighting dogs:

• spotty color;
• large, too drooling muzzle;
• hanging ears;
• rather massive, bulky chest.

Such appearance of an animal can scare many away, but true dog breeders appreciate American bulldogs.

It is worth noting that this breed retained almost all the features of its ancestors who lived in the 18th century. The appearance of the modern dog has not changed much since that time. Differences can only be found in color.

American Bulldog can be described in 3 words: powerful, reliable, temperamental. Owners should devote a lot of time to the dog, actively engage in its upbringing, attend specialized training courses.

This breed is not suitable for people lazy, spineless. The dog must feel in its owner a leader, a leader. Only in this case, understanding and contact can be found with the American Bulldog.

The history of the origin of the American Bulldog

The ancestors of the American bulldogs were English. The first mention of this breed appeared at the end of the 17th century in England, where dog fighting with bulls was popular. The owners did not spare their pets and, without hesitation, bred them to participate in bloody battles.

As soon as fighting was banned in the 18th century, the need for bulldogs disappeared. Owners were allowed to keep dogs only on a leash. Many did not like this state of affairs, so it was decided to breed a new breed of toy bulldog. Dogs differed in size and body structure.

On this, the story of the classic bulldogs could have ended if the British had not massively begun to move to the lands of the New World. At the same time, they happily took their favorite pets with them.

At the end of the 18th century, the bulldog was introduced to the United States. This breed of dog was of interest to farmers. A bulldog could easily drive cattle, while protecting it from wolves and foxes. Dogs also became excellent watchmen for plantations on which slaves worked.

Crossbreeding a bulldog with a mastiff and a bullmastiff led to the emergence of such a breed as the American bulldog.

Life span

Dog American Bulldog is not considered a long-liver (an average of 8-10 years). Veterinarians ascertain many congenital malformations in animals.

The most common among them:

• dysplasia;
• hearing problems (quite often puppies are born completely deaf);
• food allergy;
• violation of the structure of the eyelids - because of this anomaly, the animal sees worse;
• tumors (especially in the stomach).

In addition, because of the enormous physical load on the ambulances, malfunctions in the cardiovascular system are often observed. In bitches, complications during childbirth often occur, although the average litter is quite large (5-7 puppies).

Purpose and character of the dog

Many consider American bulldogs to be a potentially dangerous breed for humans. And this is partly a true statement. Initially, the breed was considered only as fighting.

And that's why:

1. Dogs in battles with the enemy practically do not experience pain, therefore, they can fight with the enemy for a long time and persistently.
2. The animal has tremendous power.
3. An ambul can easily fight a larger animal and successfully emerge victorious.
4. The structure of the body allows the bulldog to cling to the enemy with a death grip and not open its jaws for a long time.
5. On the basis of American bulldogs, other fighting dog breeds were bred: pit bull, bull terrier.

But experienced breeders do not see potential killers in American bulldogs. With proper training, this is not an aggressive animal at all. The dog has great endurance and patience, so it will never rush to a person without receiving a special command.

Currently, American bulldogs are well established as guards. It is worth noting that a well-bred dog that has been trained by a professional gets along well with children. Many dog ​​breeds can envy their endurance and patience.

Breed standard and puppy selection

There are currently several types of American Bulldog breed.

Individuals are slightly different from each other:

• classic - the muzzle of the animal is small, shortened, but the body is large, it can be said overweight;
• standard - the muzzle is more convex, not flat, and the animal is smaller, lighter in weight;
• hybrid - obtained by crossing the classics and the standard.

The following parameters are considered to be the standard of the breed by breeders:

1. Male Height - 60-65 cm. Minimum weight - 34 kg, maximum - 52 kg.
2. Bitch. Height - 53-65 cm. Minimum weight - 27 kg, maximum - 38 kg.

The American Bulldog puppies are pretty cute and cuddly.

When choosing your pet, pay attention to the following characteristics:

1. The head should be massive, the upper part is quite flat. The muzzle is wide, square in shape. The main features are prominent cheekbones and wide, swollen nostrils.This allows the dog to breathe calmly when capturing the enemy.
2. Lips. Carefully bite. Ideally should be tight. The lower jaw of the American bulldogs is powerful, slightly advanced.
3. The ears. Medium, hanging.
4. Tail. Curved, widened from below, tapering towards the tip.
5. Paws Pretty big and massive. The dog holds balance well, runs fast.
6. Wool. Short, tough.

Puppies should be selected only in the kennel. In this case, documents confirming the pedigree of the dog should be provided.

There are nuances that need to be considered before making a purchase:

1. If the breeder positions the dog as kind and affectionate, it is better to contact another kennel. This position is rather irresponsible and fundamentally wrong. This will mean that the puppy did not receive proper education.
2. The bitch should be okay with the fact that the puppies are being examined. If the dog is not nearby, then it is aggressive, unstable and the breeder is aware of this.
3. Insist that the breeder show the genetic passport of the bitch and the dog (in pedigree animals they definitely have one). In the future, this will help eliminate the hereditary diseases that are common in the puppy.

Remember, American bulldogs are fighting dogs with a special, complex character, so buying an animal should be considered. Get ready for the fact that you have to prove who is the boss in the house.

Maintenance, care and feeding

American bulldogs do not require special maintenance. But they care about attention, affection and care on the part of man.

It is very important to properly feed the pet. After all, the active growth of the dog is observed in the first 2.5-3 years. It is during this period that the animal needs a balanced diet. The menu should include meat, fish, vegetable dishes, fiber, dairy products. Do not refuse dry food (preferably elite species). It contains essential vitamins and minerals.

Also for bulldogs, outdoor walks are important. They must be long and active. It’s good if there is a pond nearby. Dogs love to swim: it strengthens their health.

It’s easy to take care of your pet’s hair. If he gets dirty, it will be enough to wipe the body with a damp sponge. You should trim your nails 2-3 times a month, and clean your ears weekly.

During molting, the animal needs to be combed out with a special comb to remove excess hair.

Training and education of the American Bulldog

In the press you can find many terrible stories that the American bulldog cracked down on its owners. Alas, such cases do occur.

Experts assure that the matter is not in the fighting character of the dog, but in its incorrect upbringing. If you decide to have an American bulldog, be prepared for the fact that you will have to spend time on its training.

The basic principles are as follows:

1. From the very beginning you need to teach a puppy to society. He must often be on the street, get to know other animals, hear noise. Otherwise, he will perceive all these factors as danger signals.
2. Dogs are sometimes not without intelligence, they understand and remember well. But the character is quite stubborn, so it will take a lot of effort to learn the team with the pet.
3. Immediately show who is the leader in the family. Do not let the dog feel in charge.
4. Try not to make violent quarrels and conflicts in the family. A dog can defend one of the family members.
5. It is useless to beat a bulldog; it has a high pain threshold. This way you can achieve a backlash - an attack on the hosts.
6. Ideally, you need to turn to experienced dog handlers and take a training course.

If you notice that the dog is showing you even the slightest signs of aggression, you should immediately contact a specialist.

Advantages and disadvantages of the breed

This breed of dogs has a lot of advantages:

• special affection for the owner - if necessary, the dog is ready to sacrifice his life for the sake of the one who surrounded her with love and care;
• energy - this breed is suitable for people who like to play sports, enjoy morning and evening walks;
• ease of care - the dogs are smooth-haired, so you will not see fluff and shreds of wool on the carpet;
• not picky about food - they are happy to eat food and ordinary food (from the table);
• impressive appearance - walking with a bulldog, you can be sure that the hooligans will bypass you.

But there are also disadvantages:

• difficulty in training;
• alertness and aggression towards strangers;
• poor relationships with other pets;
• profuse salivation.

At first glance, it may seem that American bulldogs are aggressive animals that are not intended for communication and cohabitation with people. But this is far from the case: proper training will help to make a faithful and reliable friend out of a dog who will be ready to protect you at any time.