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       An American Bulldog can be a great friend to children who know how to treat a dog properly. Introductions and interactions should always be supervised.

      Since the American Bulldog will grow into a protective, dominant guardian, it’s important for the owner to be aware of the challenges of puppyhood. Adolescence promises that your Bulldog will begin to show his dominant instincts. Never permit a puppy to “bully” you about, since this sets a very dangerous precedent as the dog matures. Aggression toward people can never be tolerated, so be ready to show your American Bulldog who’s boss right from the start. Since some fighting-dog blood may be pulsing through your puppy’s veins, be ready to handle the puppy that growls at every other dog. While you can never totally change “the ways of the scorpion,” you can channel the pup’s instincts into acceptable behavior. Introductions to other dogs must become a part of your puppy’s socialization process. Just as you will want to expose the puppy to all kinds of people in a variety of environments, you will want to introduce your Bulldog pup to other pups and adult dogs. Assuring the American Bulldog pup that other dogs are not “the enemy” will pay off grandly in the later months and years. How you raise your puppy determines how he will react to other people, dogs and animals, so make sure to nurture your pup into a wonderful ambassador for the breed.

       Although the American Bulldog is not AKC-recognized, other national organizations register and offer conformation showing for the breed.

       FITNESS FOR LIFE

      Walking is a basic necessity for every dog, whether he’s strong and tall like the American Bulldog or petite and delicate like the Toy Poodle. Owners of American Bulldogs can be sure that this breed loves the quality time on the road, and walking and running are ideal ways of conditioning your American Bulldog. Don’t encourage running with young puppies, since the breed matures slowly and excessive exercise when their bones and ligaments are growing may cause long-term damage. Once the American Bulldog reaches a year to 18 months old, the owner can concentrate on conditioning the dog. Many owners jog, hike and cycle with their dogs. Some owners even use treadmills and while these devices are often associated with dogfighters, they can also be responsibly used for exercise.

      

       VARIATIONS IN BREED STANDARDS

      A breed standard, by definition, describes what the “ideal” example of a particular breed looks and acts like. This written description is devised by fanciers of the breed, usually a parent club, and is submitted to the national kennel club for approval. Since there is such confusion in the American Bulldog breed, we will examine how the dissension among breeders has affected the writing of the breed standard. I began this book by saying that the American Bulldog breed is vastly misunderstood. In order to demonstrate just how misunderstood this breed is in its homeland of the United States, I am going to present to you two current breed standards that supposedly describe the same American Bulldog breed. The NABA (National American Bulldog Association) standard is more of a working-dog standard. The other, the UKC (United Kennel Club) standard is more of an “attempt to appease everyone” standard.

       Despite variations in the different breed standards, the American Bulldog has an unmistakable look all its own.

       A TRUE DESCRIPTION

      Should you find yourself suspicious of the fact that the description of the American Bulldog breed the author has provided differs from one standard you’ve seen or another, simply take note of the fact that each standard differs from the other as well. Trust whichever standard or description provides you with the image of the breed that you can find in photographs that predate 1975. The best standard will be the one that most accurately describes what this breed has always been and not what this breed has been turned into more recently. Also, in reading the two standards on the next few pages, take careful note of fundamental differences between them, such as coat color, bite, size, etc.

       NABA STANDARD FOR THE AMERICAN BULLDOG

      Head: Medium length, box-like when viewed from the front. Rectangular when viewed from the side. Skull flat and widest at the ears. Prominent cheeks with little to no wrinkles. Head should be prominent, but not overly so. Should look powerful and quick.

      Muzzle: Square, wide and deep. Large jaws, should display great strength. Bite should be scissors to one-quarter-inch undershot. Muzzle should be 35% to 42% of the total length of the head. Should have a noticeable stop at the forehead. Muzzle should be wider at the base and taper slightly to the nose.

      Eyes: Round to almond shaped, any color except blue.

      Nose: Wide open nostrils, black.

      Neck: Muscular, slightly arched. Tapering from shoulder to head.

      Shoulders: Very muscular, side sloping shoulder blades.

      Back: Medium in length, sloping from rump to withers. Slightly arched at loins, which should be slightly tucked.

      Hips: Very muscular, pronounced muscularity.

      Stifles: Should be well angled.

       The breed originally had a working scissors bite, although an undershot bite is not uncommon today and even acceptable in breed standards.

      Chest: Deep brisket, wide but not too wide.

      Coat color: Any color except flat black or any blue.

      Weight: Not important as long as structure is sound. Any weight between 85 lb. to 105 lb. for males, 65 lb. to 90 lb. for females.

      Height: 19 to 27 inches.

      Working dogs will not be penalized for broken teeth, cropped ears or docked tails.

       The breed is known for its wide head, conveying a look of power.

       UKC STANDARD FOR THE AMERICAN BULLDOG

       HISTORY

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