American Bulldog

Country: USA
Weight: 65-105 pounds
Height: 19-25 inches
Coat: Short, smooth
Color: Preferred in following order--red brindle, all other brindles; solid white, red, fawn or fallow; piebald
Other Names: Old Country Bulldog, Old English White
Group: Mastiff

The old-time bull-baiters did more than provide a day's entertainment. One of the excuses given for baiting was to tenderize the meat. Notices of a bull-baiting were considered advertising for a fresh meat sale, long before refrigeration made that commodity available. Dogs were expected to fight until the bull submitted--or their own death. When tossed, the owner would attempt to catch the dog on a leather apron or, amazingly, on a bamboo pole which the dog then slid down. No matter what the injuries--cracked ribs, injured back, ripped or gored hide--if the dog could walk, it was expected to continue its bloody battle. After the bull was called on a technical KO, and before he was killed, the young canine apprentices were allowed to rush the victim for a "taste of blood."

The American Bulldog, as opposed to today's familiar English version, is very similar to the old 17th-century bull-baiter. If that's confusing, it's because the modern English Bulldog has been changed, modified, improved, or exaggerated, depending on who's making the statement.

The original "bulldogge" was first brought to American shores in early colonial times. Here he did not undergo the "improvement" of his English cousins and has come down to the present day in his generally original form.

The American Bulldog remains higher on the leg, more agile and swifter that its English counterpart. This dog can leap eight feet into the air and "turn on a dime." He has tenacity, an iron jaw, small flap or rolled ears and, usually, a long, low tail.

The American version is now an all-around dog, used for protecting homes, with some owners hunting raccoons, squirrels, and even wild hogs and bears with their Bulldogs. They boast longetvity of up to 16 years, and these dogs are still capable of wrestling down a cantankerous bull. Farmers find all these qualities attractive for a working farm dog and companion.

Reputable breeders recount myriad tales showing the heroism of these dogs. They do not wait for a command, but assess the situation themselves and react appropriately. To protect their masters, they have fought wild dogs, bulls and even fire. It is said that "fighting off one of these dogs is like fighting an animal that possesses an alligator's head and a python's body." Yet when called off by their handler, they immediately obey. No wonder they are said to have "true grit, true devotion and true love." This breed genuinely loves children.

Other types of American or "original" Bulldogs are being bred in the USA. While some are merely dogs crossbred in an attempt to produce something that looks like the former dog, others are truly descendants of early dogs. Some of these latter are called Old Country Bulldogs or Old English Whites and are common in the southern states where they are used as boar dogs.

A small underground faction continues to illegally fight these dogs. This activity is not encouraged or promoted by the breed organization or by reputable breeders.

American Bulldogs are registered with the Game American Bulldog Club (GABC). Some recently have been placed on military bases as Marine mascots.

All the information here was acquired/adapted from "The Atlas of Dog Breeds of the World" - written by Bonnie Wilcox, DVM and Chris alkowicz.