Riverina Bulldog Kennel
Breeding American Bulldogs
BREED INFORMATION
THE AMERICAN BULLDOG IS KNOWN FOR IT'S TRUE GRIT, TRUE DEVOTION AND TRUE LOVE! American Bulldogs are powerful, athletic short-coated amimals,strongly muscled, and well boned. They generate the impression of great strength and endurance with their sturdy, compact frames. The American Bulldog fits in the category of working dogs and is of the mastiff family. They are gentle, loving family companions, fearless enough to face an angry bull of human intruder.American Bulldogs are known for their love of children and are good with other pets, especially when raised together. They try to seek as much attention as they can and if this isn't met they can be destructive at times. Giving it enough attention is important as this keeps a 'happy' bulldog. However they can't be spoilt as it still needsto be dominated by it's master. This understanding will help it's obedience to be enhanced! The Bulldog shows a sense of loyalty and responsibility to it's family therefore making it a great guard dog! Through no fault of their own more and more AB's are being abandoned every day. Before you buy an American Bulldog, please do your research, make sure the breed is for you. People should be educated on owning an AB. The best in the breed doesn't always mean the prettiest or the youngest. To us, the best in the breed means the best tempered, all rounded dogs. This is what we aim to breed and are successfully doing so! American Bulldog Details
Height: Height- Dogs 22-28 inches (55-70 cm.) Bitches 20-26 inches (52-65 cm.)
Weight: Dogs 70-120 pounds (32-54 kg.) Bitches 60-100 pounds (27-45kg.)
Colour: combinations of solid or varying degrees of white, all shades of brindle, brown, red, or tan.
Coat: short, harsh coat
General Appearance: Large, very muscular, sturdy dog with a large, powerful head and jaws. He is very strong, but agile and light on his feet. The head is square and broad with muscular cheeks and a furrow between the rounded eyes. The strong muzzle is shaped like a box. A variety of ear types are acceptable including rose, half-pricked and pendant.
Temperament: American Bulldogs should not be excessively timid, shy or aggressive towards man and preferably not overly aggressive with other dogs.
Characteristics: Essential characteristics of the American Bulldog are those which enable it to work as a hog and cattle catching dog, and a protector of personal property. These tasks require a powerful, agile, confident dog with a large head and powerful jaws. The American Bulldog is a gentle, loving family companion who is fearless enough to face an angry bull or a human intruder; Good with children; Good with pets
Lifespan: Up to 16 years
Recommended for: Firm, Responsible people & families.
Grooming- The short, harsh coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe only when necessary. This breed is an average shedder.
Exercise- Moderate exercise is needed.
Health- A very healthy, hardy dog. Some strains have hip dysplasia. Please watch out for breeders that haven't had their stock tested.
History- Early Bulldogs were used in the bloody sport of bull bating. Some of these dogs emigrated with their masters from England to America. Eventually the English Bulldog was bred down in size and his personality was softened, but the American version remained a larger, fiercer dog. An American Bulldog should never be confused with uniquely different breeds such as the American Staffordshire Terrier or the American Pit Bull Terrier. The American Bulldog is a brave and determined, but not hostile dog. Alert and self-confident, this breed genuinely loves children. Because of its strong protective instincts, the American Bulldog should be well-socialized and obedience trained at an early age. Some may be aggressive with other dogs and reserved with strangers. They need to be around people to be truly happy. This breed tends to drool and slobber. Temperament- Typically, the American Bulldog is known as a loving family pet that is good with other pets and children as well. This breed of dog is fearlessly determined and will attack predators or any threat toward its owners. It is confident, powerful, and agile with powerful jaws and a large head that has made it quite naturally used in hunting everything from small squirrels to larger game like bears. The American Bulldog has also been trained to guard stock and drive cattle.
The American version has longer legs and more speed and agility than the English show dog. Thanks to the efforts of John D. Johnson and Allan Scott, the American Bulldog exists today.
The American Bulldog has also been used as a guard and in hunting bear, wild boar, squirrel and raccoon. They have even been trained to drive cattle and guard stock from predators. Farmers prize these dogs for their stamina, protectiveness, intelligence and working abilities. Some of the American Bulldogs talents are hunting, watchdogging, tracking, weight pulling, and guarding.
The American Bulldogs are known for their great versatility as working dogs as well. They are able to learn many different things, but they are also very independent. They are obstinate, dominant and willful. They want to be the boss in any situation. They will see if you can make them do something they do not want to do. As an owner, you must be consistent, firm and always mean what you say.
In addition, American Bulldogs need to be exposed regularly to friendly strangers because they have a natural protective instinct toward anyone they do not know. They need to know how to recognize the difference between good people and bad people. If they do not have careful socialization they can end up biting others and being suspicious of everyone.
It is important to note that there are many American Bulldogs who will not get along and tolerate another dog of the same sex. They have strong instincts and will chase fleeing animals and capture cats. When breeding, training, handling, socializing and or management of the American Bulldogs goes awry these dogs are known for being able to seriously maim or even kill other animals.
Health Problems- Though the American Bulldog is a healthy and sturdy animal it is important to be aware of the potential health issues it can be faced with. To begin, the most devastating and prevalent health concern for the American Bulldog or any other breed for that matter is Canine hip dysplasia otherwise known as CHD. CHD occurs when the femoral bone does not fit properly in the joint socket causing pain and difficulty in standing or walking. In addition, if CHD is not treated properly it can cause another disease that is known as Degenerative Joint Disease or DJD.
Some other health concerns you will want to be aware of regarding your American Bulldog follows:
Bulldogs are also susceptible to Heart murmurs, but these are usually benign as well as deafness.
When you are purchasing an American Bulldog, it is thus very important to make sure you are dealing with a reputable breeder who certifies and gives their puppies health screenings. You want to also make sure that they give you warranties for the dog or dogs that they are selling you. Make sure that the dogs also have had all their screenings for hip dysplasia, NCL, DNA and elbow dysplasia.
Grooming- the American Bulldog has a short coat that is harsh to the touch. This breed of dog sheds regularly and thus, brushing its coat regularly is a good idea. You can use either a bristle brush or a rubber mitt to groom your American Bulldog's coat. We use a new tool out that is fantastic........the furminator. Not only does it shed bags full of fur but also taking away the dead skin as well! Brushing your dog's coat outside your home on a weekly basis is a good recommendation. This will ensure that your dog has a shiny coat and also keeps hair from accumulating around the house. Furthermore, American Bulldogs do not need bathes on a regular basis. Only bathe your American Bulldog when he or she needs a bath (i.e. it has gotten muddy or has gone into the ocean and its coat is salty).
In addition to brushing your American Bulldogs coat, you will also want to trim their nails once a week to prevent overgrowth. This is a very simple process and you will only need a pair of animal nail clippers that can be found in most pet stores. Be sure to trim only the top portion of the nail.
You might also need to clean your American Bulldog's ears especially if they suffer from bacterial infections, allergies, or have a wound or injury. When you clean their ears use baby oil and a cotton ball. It is imperative that you do not clean too far into the ear as you can damage the ear canal. Be sure to only wipe gently around the outer part of the ear. If you notice your bulldog is scratching its ears or shaking its head too often, you will want to take it to the vet to check for infections.
