American Bulldog

Not to be confused with American Bully.

For other bulldogs, see Bulldog (disambiguation).

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Dog breed

American Bulldog

American Bulldog

Other names| Southern White
White English
Old Southern White Bulldog
Hill Bulldog
Country Bulldog
English White Bulldog
Origin| United States
| Traits

Height|  Males|  50–65 cm (20–26 in)
|  Females|  51–61 cm (20–24 in)
Weight|  Males|  34–52 kg (75–115 lb);
Bully type: 36.2–56.7 kg (80–125 lb);
|  Females|  27–41 kg (60–90 lb)[1]
Coat|  Short, harsh
Color|  All white or white with patches of red or varying degrees of brown, brindle, or fawn.
Litter size|  7–16 puppies
Life span|  10–15 years
| Kennel club standards

UKC|  standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The American bulldog is a large, muscular breed of mastiff-type dog.[2] Their ancestors were brought to the British North American colonies where they worked on small farms and ranches.

## History[edit]

Old English Bulldog by Philip Reinagle, 1790

Dog breeds defined to any standard only came into being with the rise of kennel clubs and breed registries. This happened in the United States in 1884.[3] Before this, no records were kept and instead of breeds, there were informal landrace strains that initially depended on where a dog's parent or master originated.

Dogs resembling bulldogs in England were first mentioned by the ancient Romans as "pugnaces Britanniae."[4] The vocabulary used to describe dogs has changed over time, but these are believed to be the ancestors of the alaunt and the later bulldog.[5][6] Dogs had been used since the 13th century in bull-baiting, But the first known mention of bulldogs by name is not found until a seventeenth century letter requesting them to be sent from London to St. Sebastian, Spain.[7] Different strains of English bulldogs were develooped for cattle-droving, bull-baiting, as farm dogs, and butcher's dogs.[8][9] They found their way to the north American British colonies as working dogs where smaller farm and ranch owners used them for many tasks, including farm guardians, stock dogs, and catch dogs. Cynographia Britannica defined the physical and behavior characteristics of the bulldog in print in 1800.[10] In 1835, bull-baiting was banned in the United Kingdom and breeders there minimized the aggressive, athletic traits of the breed. This ban was not in effect in the United States so no need was seen for a decline in the population of the old-type bulldog.

Breeding decisions for the majority of these American dogs were based on temperament and work abilities in farm dogs instead of bloodline. Eventually several separate dog strains of the bulldog-type were kept by ranchers as utilitarian dogs working to kill predatory wildlife that threatened farm property. Following World War II, this type of dog was on the verge of extinction. The few surviving dogs were kept primarily on farms in the southeastern US. John D. Johnson and Alan Scott are widely regarded as rescuing the landrace from extinction. Johnson scoured the backroads of the South looking for the best specimens to revive it. During this time the young Alan Scott became interested in Johnson's dogs and began to work with him on his revitalization project.[11][12][13] At some point, Scott began breeding bulldogs from working Southern farms with Johnson's lines, creating what is now known as the Standard or Scott type American Bulldog. At another point, Johnson began crossing his original lines with an English bulldog from the northern UK that had maintained its pre-ban genetic athletic vigor, creating the Bully type American Bulldog, also known as the Johnson type or the Classic type. On January 1, 1999, the United Kennel Club first recognized the American Bulldog as a breed.[14] In November 2019, the breed was added to the American Kennel Club (AKC) Foundation Stock Service (FSS).[15]

The American Bully is an entirely separate breed evolved from the American Pitbull Terrier mixed with the American Bulldog, English Bulldog and Olde English Bulldogge. The United Kennel Club recognized it as such on July 15, 2013.[16]

## Appearance[edit]

An American Bulldog; the typical mandibular prognathism is evident

The American Bulldog is a stocky, well-built, strong-looking dog, with a large head and a muscular build. The shoulders and chest tend to be the most muscular parts of the American Bulldog. Its coat is short and generally smooth, requiring little maintenance except a bath every few weeks. The breed is a light to moderate shedder. Colors, while historically predominantly white with patches of red, black, or brindle, have grown in recent years to include many color patterns, including black, red, brown, fawn, and all shades of brindle. Black pigmentation on the nose and eye rims is traditionally preferred, with only some pink allowed. Eye color is usually brown, but heterochromia also occurs, although this is also considered a cosmetic fault. American Bulldogs are known to drool more than other breeds of dogs. The Bully type is generally a larger, heavier dog with a shorter muzzle, but the muzzle should never be so short that it causes difficulty with breathing. Standard types are generally more athletic with longer muzzles and a more square head. Many modern American Bulldogs are a combination of the two types, usually termed "hybrid". In general, American Bulldogs weigh between 27 and 54 kg (60 to 120 lb) and are 52 to 70 cm (20 to 28 in) at the withers, but have been known to greatly exceed these dimensions, especially in the "out of standard" nonworking stock.

## Health[edit]

A six-week-old male American Bulldog puppy

Bulldogs in general are excessively inbred. A 2016 study of 25 dog breeds found that bulldogs come from some of the oldest landraces and were not produced by mixing any. The same study cited evidence that the entire landrace and later breeds descend from just 68 original dogs.[4] This lack of genetic diversity is reflected in current breeds.

American Bulldogs generally live from 10 to 16 years. Certain American Bulldog bloodlines are prone to specific health problems that are not common to the entire breed while others problems, such as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL),[17] Ichthyosis, disorders of the kidney and thyroid, ascending cruciate ligament tears, hip dysplasia, cherry eye, elbow dysplasia, entropion, ectropion, and bone cancer are more common to the general population. DNA testing can help screen breeding animals for NCL (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis)[17] and Ichthyosis. A Penn Hip (Pennsylvania Hip Improvement project) or OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) screening is recommended for all potential breeding animals. Some American Bulldogs are prone to allergies. The breed standard regarding the shape of the breed’s face emphasizes and enforces a skull malformation called brachycephaly.

## In popular culture[edit]

* In Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010), Jangers, Tyler Labine's character's dog, is played by an American Bulldog named Weezer.[18]
* An American Bulldog features prominently as the titular character's companion in the 2013 film Joe.[19]
* The company logo for Zynga featured an American Bulldog, and was named after Mark Pincus’ dog "Zinga".[20]
* Chance, from the feature film Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)[21] and Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996).[22]

## Gallery[edit]

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

## See also[edit]

* Dogs portal
* List of dog breeds
* American Bulldog Association
* American Bully
* Bulldog type
* Molossus

## References[edit]

1. ^ Maggitti, Phil (October 1, 2018). Bulldogs. Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 9780764196539. Retrieved October 1, 2018 - via Google Books.
2. ^ "American Bulldog Dog Breed Information". American Kennel Club. 2020-01-13. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
3. ^ "History of UKC". The United Kennel Club. 2019. Archived from the original on March 24, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
4. ^ a b Robitzski, Dan (September 25, 2017). "The (de-)evolution of the bulldog". ScienceLine. Archived from the original on November 29, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
5. ^ Wynn, W. B. (January 16, 2007). "The History of the Mastiff Gathered from Sculpture, Pottery, Carvings, Paintings and Engravings. Melton Mobray". The Internet Archive. London: William Loxley Marketplace. p. 45. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
6. ^ Wynn, W. B. The History of the Mastiff Gathered from Sculpture, Pottery, Carvings, Paintings and Engravings. Melton Mobray: William Loxley Marketplace. p. 43. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
7. ^ Jesse, George E. (1866). "Researches into the History of the British Dog. Vol. II". The Internet Archive. London: Robert Hardwicke. p. 306.
8. ^ Merret, Christopher (1666). "Pinax Rerum Naturalium Britannicarum, continens Vegetabilia, Animalia, et Fossilia". The Internet Archive. p. 169.
9. ^ Silver, Carly (October 4, 2023). "Bulldog History: A Wrinkle in Time". The American Kennel Club. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
10. ^ Sydenham, Edwards (1800). "Cynographia Britannica: consisting of coloured engravings of the various breeds of dogs existing in Great Britain, drawn from the life, with observations on their properties and uses". The Internet Archive. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
11. ^ DK (October 17, 2013). The Dog Encyclopedia: The Definitive Visual Guide. Dorling Kindersley Limited. ISBN 9781409350026 - via Google Books.
12. ^ Harris, David (July 24, 2012). The Bully Breeds. i5 Publishing. ISBN 9781621870326 - via Google Books.
13. ^ Manfield, Mark (February 1, 2017). American Bulldog Bible And the American Bulldog: Your Perfect American Bulldog Guide Covers American Bulldog Puppies, Mini Bulldogs, American Bulldog Training, Johnson Bulldog, And More!. DYM Worldwide Publishers. ISBN 9781911355458 - via Google Books.
14. ^ "Breed Standards : American Bulldog". United Kennel Club (UKC). 1999-01-01. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
15. ^ "FSS News & Updates – American Kennel Club". American Kennel Club. November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
16. ^ "American Bully". The United Kennel Club. July 19, 2019. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
17. ^ a b "NCL description for American Bulldogs". Caninegeneticdiseases.net.
18. ^ Brady, Erin (June 17, 2022). "Great Horror Movies Where The Dog Doesn't Die". Slashfilm. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
19. ^ Pevere, Geoff (May 2, 2014). "Nicolas Cage is 'frightening and heartbreaking' in Joe". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 11 Nov 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
20. ^ Shambora, Jessica (December 2, 2009). "Zynga suddenly is everywhere. What gives?". Fortune.cnn.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
21. ^ "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)". Humane Hollywood (part of American Humane). 2023. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
22. ^ "Homeward Bound II: Lost In San Francisco (1996)". Humane Hollywood (part of American Humane). Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to American Bulldog.

* American Bulldog Association
* The Bulldog Information Lybrary: American Bulldog Types and Bloodlines

* v
* t
* e

Dogs originating in the United States

Extant|

* Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog
* Alaskan husky
* Alaskan Klee Kai
* Alaskan Malamute
* American Bulldog
* American Bully
* American Cocker Spaniel
* American English Coonhound
* American Eskimo Dog
* American Foxhound
* American Hairless Terrier
* American Leopard Hound
* American Pit Bull Terrier
* American Staffordshire Terrier
* American Staghound
* American Water Spaniel
* Australian Shepherd
* Black and Tan Coonhound
* Black Mouth Cur
* Blue Lacy
* Bluetick Coonhound
* Boston Terrier
* Boykin Spaniel
* Carolina Dog
* Catahoula Leopard Dog
* Chesapeake Bay Retriever
* Chinook
* English Shepherd
* Feist
* Mackenzie River husky
* Majestic Tree Hound
* McNab
* Miniature American Shepherd
* Mountain Cur
* Mountain Feist
* Olde English Bulldogge
* Plott Hound
* Rat Terrier
* Redbone Coonhound
* Silken Windhound
* Stephens Stock
* Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
* Toy Fox Terrier
* Toy Manchester Terrier
* Treeing Cur
* Treeing Feist
* Treeing Tennessee Brindle
* Treeing Walker Coonhound
* Trigg Hound
* White Shepherd

Extinct|

* Hare Indian Dog
* Hawaiian Poi Dog
* Salish Wool Dog

Types: Coonhounds, Curs, Feists

* v
* t
* e

Mastiffs

Extant breeds|

* Alano Español
* Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog
* American Bulldog
* Boerboel
* Boxer
* Broholmer
* Bulldog
* Bullmastiff
* Bully Kutta
* Campeiro Bulldog
* Cane Corso
* Cão Fila de São Miguel
* Chongqing dog
* Cimarrón Uruguayo
* Continental Bulldog
* Dogo Argentino
* Dogo Guatmalteco
* Dogue Brasileiro
* Dogue de Bordeaux
* English Mastiff
* Fila Brasileiro
* French Bulldog
* Great Dane
* Kurdish Mastiff
* Neapolitan Mastiff
* Olde English Bulldogge
* Perro de Presa Canario
* Perro de Presa Mallorquin
* Rottweiler
* Saint Louis Vincent Mastiff
* Serrano Bulldog
* Tosa

Extinct breeds|

* Alaunt
* Bullenbeisser
* Cordoba fighting dog
* Dogo Cubano
* Fila da Terceira
* Molossus
* Old English Bulldog
* Toy Bulldog

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