The American Bulldog

The American Bulldog is a stocky, muscular mastiff-type breed, and one of several breeds that grew from the original Old English Bulldog. Their coat is short, smooth and generally white, although color patterns including black, brown and brindle are not uncommon. They can be divided between Johnson-type and Scott-type, with the shape of the muzzle being the most distinct difference between the two, although the majority of American Bulldogs today are a mix of both. Between the modern British Bulldog and the American Bulldog, the American breed is the larger of the two, and most closely resembles the original Old English breed.

Like many breeds of dog, the Bulldog nearly vanished after the Second World War. American breeders by the name of Alan Scott and John Johnson, among several others, sought to rebuild the breed. Keeping a close eye on preserving the breed’s original loyalty and working ability, the resulting breed became the American Bulldog that we know today.

Due to the bulky, muscular appearance of the dog, they are frequently portrayed in television and movies as a fearsome and intimidating breed, often in roles as a guard dog. However, the true temperament of the American Bulldog is actually much friendlier. Due to their history as a working dog being focused largely on hunting, their prey drive is especially strong. Even today, they are commonly used to hunt wild boar. Unfortunately, breeds with a high prey drive often do not make good guard dogs or protection dogs. Other working breeds with a naturally high defensive drive such as the Belgian Malinois or German Shepherd are much better suited for work as a Protection Dogs .