American Bulldog

American Bulldogs, or abbreviated for short, is a whole tangle of contradictions. Living on American lands, practically from the discovery of America, they were recently found out about them. With hot fighting blood in their veins, ambuli are loyal and good-natured family dogs. Can such opposite qualities be combined in one animal, and how did it happen that for a long time it was not known about the breed?

American Bulldog breed origin

The American Bulldog, as an independent breed, has not yet been recognized by the International Canine Federation. Although their second name is Old English Bulldogs and they originate from the most ancient Molossian dogs, which originate in Ancient Egypt and the Assyrian kingdom.

The Middle Ages in England, as indeed, in other states, did not differ in special humanity, and at that time dogs with an evil character, large size and absolute fearlessness were valued. Only such animals could participate in the bloody amusements of the time — battles with bulls.

Naturally, bull dogs, they are bulldogs, were then in demand and were worth fabulous money. But the dark ages pass, the baiting of bulls falls under the ban. Bulldogs are in disgrace, yes, in fact, lose not only their importance, but also the meaning of existence. Owners are not allowed to bring these formidable pets to the street without a chain.

But lovers of this breed did not agree with this state of affairs. They did not retreat and decided to breed a bulldog, but smaller. A new breed was born - a toy-bulldog, the progenitor of modern small bulldogs - French and English. It was during this period in England that the breeding of real bulldogs ceased.

And they could completely disappear from the face of the earth, if not for the British colonialism. People resettling in the new lands did not leave their pets, but took them with them. Thus, the Bulldogs came to America.

Of course, here both people and dogs had to be tight, in the harsh conditions of the wilderness only one law acted - survival. However, for the Old English Bulldog, a job was found here as a universal farm animal. Bulldogs proved to be successful guards of livestock and human habitation; they were used as animals of animals. And the dogs immediately proved their loyalty and unpretentiousness in care.

Possessing absolute insensitivity to pain, lack of a sense of fear, excellent endurance and instant reaction, they were able to become a support and protection for farmers in the then uninhabited places.

The history has preserved a lot of stories about how the Bulldogs successfully guarded vast plantations, participated in catching runaway slaves, grazed cattle and took part in the hunt. There was even talk that one bulldog could fight simultaneously with several wolves.

Being a working dog, the maintenance of a bulldog is unpretentious, so no one provided special conditions. At that time there was no special value in the offspring of this breed, and the owner did not particularly care about puppies. People believed that the strongest should survive. In such severe conditions of the numerous litters, where there were 8-14 puppies, only 1-2 remained alive. The reason for this was that the bitches did not care much about the offspring, trying to better fulfill the requirements of the owner.

And indeed, the most healthy and strong puppies survived. From them, and originates the breed American Bulldog in the form that we used to see it.

Description of the American Bulldog

Looking at the images of "bull" dogs, which in the Middle Ages struggled with the bulls, it definitely comes to mind that the modern ambul has taken a lot from its ancestors in appearance.

Today it is a strong, muscular dog with a harmonious physique. Modern male bulldogs have a height of 58 to 67 cm, and their weight ranges from 34 to 52 kg. Females are slightly smaller - from 53 to 64 cm and weight from 27 to 38 kg.

The main features by which an ambulla can be identified are as follows:

• The head of the American Bulldog is massive, its upper part is flat. The muzzle is distinguished by a decent width and square shape. The dog’s nose is characterized by a dark lobe and wide open nostrils. Bulldog cheeks have noticeable muscles.
• Lips have pigmented color, but small light spots are allowed as standard. The lower jaw of the bulldogs is quite pronounced, it is better if the dog has a tight bite.
• The ears are set high, they are small and in a hanging position. The sternum is wide and deep. The back of the bulldogs is straight, moderately short.
• The tail is slightly curved, it is thick at the base, gradually tapers to the tip. During periods of arousal, the dog is lying on its back, in a calm state, it is lowered to the floor.
• Paws are proportional to the body, strong. The front have a wide arrangement, the rear are a bit close. Bulldogs maintain an excellent balance while moving, so their walk is fairly free.
• Coat of representatives of this breed is short, soft to the touch.

The main color of the ampoules is a combination of white with other colors, on a white background there may be a black or brown pattern. Individuals are white-red, white-fawn, white-brindle. Much less often puppies appear with pure white coat color.

American Bulldog Character

Many ordinary people view American bulldogs exclusively as fighting breeds. There is a deal of truth in it:

• These dogs possess the characteristics of fighting dogs: they practically do not feel pain, possess remarkable strength and stubbornness.
• Previously, representatives of this breed were actively used in dog fights, as well as to fight larger animals.
• On the basis of this breed, new thoroughbred representatives for fighting were bred - an American pit bull, a Staffordshire terrier, and a bull terrier .

As can be seen, the breeders diluted with bulldog blood to add phlegmatic and calm terriers to them. Today the bulldog is calm, calmness and patience. It is very difficult to make him rush to a person without a serious reason.

More than once the bulldogs showed true nobility, not trying to kill the defeated enemy. This characteristic feature of dogs often did not suit the organizers and spectators of bloody circuses. But even in those days, there were people who did not welcome such entertainment, and as a working horse, the bulldogs were completely satisfied with them.

Later, many people were able to consider not only the fighting, but also other qualities in the ambulance. It turned out that this is not a car for bloodthirsty shows, but reliable protection. And, besides, the Bulldogs are particularly dedicated and love children very much.

The dogs of this breed are very smart, they do not bother the owner and closely monitor the situation in the house. When communicating with young children, they simply show angelic patience, enduring all sorts of executions.

Mind, strength and fearlessness, sometimes bordering on recklessness, allow the American bulldog to cope with various tasks, but at the same time they can make attempts to show their character. Often purebred dogs are stubborn and capricious. The owner of such a dog will need strength of spirit to show more confidence and perseverance.

Bulldogs are perfectly trained , and you can start classes from an early age. From the very first days of finding a new family member in the house, it is necessary to stop the kid’s attempts to dominate and in no case allow the family and other family members to bite themselves, even in a fit of gambling. For any bite, the puppy should be punished by shaking by the scruff with immediate reprimand. So you can tell the dog at the very beginning who is the owner of the house. When raising a bulldog, this is extremely important.

Possessing a natural hostility towards strangers, the bulldog will be nervous at each reception of guests in the house. If this happens quite often, it is better to teach your pet to treat guests with respect as a puppy. Later, the pet learns to distinguish good people from potentially dangerous ones.

Representatives of this breed need compulsory socialization. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting a suspicious animal biting all outsiders.

If we consider the attitude of American bulldogs to other animals, then, in most cases, they only see them as a hunting trophy. Of course, the exception is the situation when a dog from a puppy age lived side by side with another pet. In this case, the bulldog can get along with the cat.

American Bulldog Content Rules

As already noted, the American Bulldogs are easy to maintain, however, they also expect care and attention from the person.

You must take care of proper nutrition of the dog, choosing a special diet. This breed has its own peculiarity, its growth and development lasts up to 2.5-3 years, therefore during this period it is necessary to enrich the diet as much as possible.

In addition to meat, fish, cereals, dairy products and vegetables, the pet menu should include dry food , products containing fiber, vitamin supplements .

Puppies need to gradually accustom to the street, starting with four half-hour walks a day. In addition, the pet can be happy to accompany the owner during jogging, outdoor activities, hiking. Not bad to teach a bulldog to swim, it will contribute to his good physical condition.

Until the bone skeleton is completely formed, it is impossible to put adaptations with weighting compounds on the dog. For greater mental stability, it is recommended that pets be sterilized .

The grooming of an American Bulldog is quite simple. If the animal is dirty, you can remove the dirt with a damp cloth and wash the paws in a small container. Dogs do not require frequent washing . During the season of molting they need to be combed daily. Bulldog claws are clipped twice a month, eyes and ears should be cleaned regularly (read more about how to trim the dog's claws ).

If you take care of your pet according to all the rules, then the animal will live a long (up to 17 years) life.

American Bulldog Photos

Bulldog Videos

The cost of puppies American Bulldog

As in other breeds, the price here depends on many factors - whether there is a demand for this breed, the presence or absence of the pedigree, and other criteria. Today, you can buy an ambulius puppy without pedigree for 2500-5000 rubles.

A puppy with a pedigree that is not intended to participate in show exhibitions and competitions, and is not suitable for the reproduction of offspring, will cost an average of 8,000-12,000 rubles. Tribal and exhibition American Bulldogs are valued much higher, their price starts from 20,000 rubles and this is far from the limit.

Given the popularity of American bulldogs in the modern world, many unscrupulous vendors are trying to sell puppies that have some similarities with this breed. You need to be careful when buying and it is better to purchase a pet from large breeders and clubs.