How to Identify an American Bulldog

The American Bulldog is a descendant of the English Bulldog. They were brought to America with their owners, but instead of being bred to make them smaller and more docile, they have continued in their original height, weight and nature. They are a strong muscular dog and have a courageous heart. They have been used as herders, trackers, hunters and watchdogs. Here's how you can identify this breed.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Examine the overall appearance of the dog. American Bulldogs are about 22 to 26 inches in height and weigh between 80 and 120 lbs. They are strong and muscular. Their head is large and powerful.

2. Look at some of the characteristics of the head. Their head is large and box shaped. The head is broad and flat across the head with deep furrowed eyes. The muzzle is shaped like a box and possesses very strong jaws.

3. Take note of some of the finer points of the head. Their teeth come together with a tight under bite. The jaws are strong and capable of a scissor-like bite. Their nose ends with a black or grizzle coloring. For dogs with a black nose, the lips should be black also. Any eye color is evident but on white dogs, the eyes should have a black rim.

4. Discern the color of the dog. American Bulldogs come in solid colors or mixed coats of white and black, brown, brindle, red and tan.

Tips & Warnings

• In general, most American Bulldogs are not excessively shy or timid, nor are they aggressive towards humans or other dogs. They have very strong instincts of protectiveness towards their owner and take to obedience training at a very young age.

Resources

• American Bulldog information page.
• Bulldog Breeds Page for breeders.

[Bezzalina]

on 5/4/2008 Some further point based on two Johnson American Bulldogs I own:
*The tail is long and whip-like. It is thicker at the top, like a knob, then thins out.
*The bottom teeth are tiny spaced pegs - very cute.
*The bulldogs I know are also great talkers, letting you know when they need attention, walks or food.
*They have very long, slender, but quite muscular bodies