From their upbringing as farm dogs to their current lives as companions, there are plenty of American bulldog fun facts to explore. Let’s take a look at the average American bulldog’s personality and enjoy some dog breed facts about this hardworking canine.
A History of the American Bulldog
While many dog breeds have origins in selective breeding, American bulldogs have a more rugged start. They descended from the English bulldog, but when immigrant farmers brought them to America in the 1800s, their working traits became more prevalent with each generation of breeding. They are athletic dogs, known for their strength, agility, endurance, and a friendly, can-do attitude. Their utility made them indispensable for a hardworking farmer or rancher. Their tasks including guarding the livestock and the farm and catching wild animals. They were particularly well-known for their ability to catch feral pigs.
In addition to their labor, they brought companionship to the farm as well.
During World War I and II, the American bulldog almost died out. John D. Johnson and Alan Scott worked together to save the breed. Thanks to them, we still have this amazing dog breed today.
American Bulldog Information and Facts
Here’s a quick look at some American bulldog facts and questions you may have about the breed:
- How big does an American bulldog get? A big American bulldog can make his way up to 100 pounds! They’re generally much larger than English bulldogs, but you can get purebred American bulldogs as small as 60 pounds.
- What is the average American bulldog lifespan? A healthy American bulldog can live 10-12 years. As a brachycephalic (flat-faced) breed, make sure they don’t overheat by exercising too rigorously in the sun.
- Do American bulldogs shed and drool a lot? Nope! While they of course shed a little, their fine hair doesn’t fall out too often. And they aren’t notorious droolers, either!
Are American Bulldogs Good Dogs?
So here’s the main question; are American bulldogs good dogs?
And the answer is of course!
The important question you need to answer for yourself: “is an American bulldog a good dog for me?” As a working dog, they need physical exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy. If you keep them cooped up and don’t play with them often, they might act out. They can’t help it! They just have too much energy and don’t know what to do with it. So if you’re going to bring home this bulldog breed, you’ll need to set aside time for long walks and lots of playtime.
But if you put in the work, you’ll have a big American bulldog companion for life.
