by Rabenschwarz

Created on: February 11, 2007   Last Updated: April 30, 2007

Origins
The original purpose of the American bulldog was as it's name implies, baiting bulls. The American Bulldog is an import from England and was bred from English Bulldogs and several Mastiff types. At the end of World War 2 the American Bulldog was on the brink of extinction, existing only in the South and in relatively small numbers. A man known as John D. Johnson is the breed's savior. He was appalled to learn after his return from the war that the American Bulldog was ON the verge of extinction. He quickly set out on the task of obtaining the best American Bulldogs and breeding them in order to preserve the breed. Johnson is now in his eighties yet continues to breed the dogs that he has lived with since childhood. The American Bulldog has many More constructive purposes today. They are frequently used as all purpose farm dogs, flock guardians and herders, small and large game hunting, watchdogs, tracking and they participate in weight pulling contests.

Description
The American Bulldog is more closely related in appearance to the original Bulldogs than todays Bulldogs. The American Bulldog was never bred down in size and keeps it's large body and impressive appearance. This is a dog bred for speed, agility and power. It is a very muscular dog with a large head and powerful jaws. The head is very broad and square with dark, round eyes. The teeth should meet in a slight malocclusion but a scissors bite is also acceptable. The ears may be in a variety of positions such as rose petal and pendant. Some breeders may crop the ears but a majority of breeders frown upon the practice. Any color of the eyes is acceptable. The nose should be black or brown. If the nose is black than the lips should also be black. The lips should be a bit loose and resemble jowls. The chest is very large and muscular and the neck tapers just the slightest bit from head to shoulders. The front legs should be straight and powerful and the back legs should be very muscular. The tail should be low set. The coat should be short and harsh and comes in colors of brindle, brown, red, tan and white. The males are usually stockier than the females. The American Bulldog is a large dog that stands 20-28 inches tall and weighs between 60 and 120 pounds.
Temperament
The American Bulldog is a breed that should be of a relatively even temperament. They should show no fear or aggression towards humans and with enough socialization should not be aggressive towards other animals. American Bulldogs

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