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The American Bulldog, often known as the AmBull, is a large, verging on huge in some instances, muscular and robust dog. This is a type rather than a breed, and so appearances can vary. All however, should be well-built, long-legged mastiff types with broad heads and chests, well-muscled but never fat.
All colours are possible, often white with coloured patches, all shades of tan and chocolate, black and tan, brindle and solid white. Occasionally, broken or rough coated dogs appear though these almost certainly have some influence from wire coated terrier types somewhere in their ancestry.
Whatever their exact genetic make-up, a good American Bulldog should be friendly to a fault, enthusiastic and eager to please, easy to train and happy to settle and relax when necessary. Unfortunately, it is these traits plus their size and imposing look, that leads them often to appeal to the wrong people, under whose care they can be a danger to themselves and others.
These dogs are brachycephalic (referring to breeds with a short nose and the appearance of a squashed face) – some types of American Bulldog more than others. Problems associated with this condition include:
- Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome: a condition in brachycephalic breeds in which breathing is obstructed that can lead to a reduced ability to exercise or even severe respiratory distress.
- Skin inflammation/infection: brachycephalic breeds have a short nose and a normal amount of facial tissue. This means there is often excess skin around their face which leads to skin folds. The skin inside these folds can become sore and can be prone to developing infections.
- Eye ulcers: these ulcers are painful erosions on the surface of the eye. They are more common in brachycephalic breeds due to their conformation because their eyes tend to be more bulbous.
The breed can also be prone to:
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
As such puppies should be purchased from responsible breeders who test their breeding stock and prioritise both health and temperament.
While weights and heights vary, the AmBull should stand around 50 – 70cm and weigh between 27-54kg. They should be lean and muscular rather than soft and overweight (as is sadly so often the case), and be broad headed and broad shouldered giving an overall impression of a ‘massive’ dog rather than tall dog. They should however have a good length of both neck and leg and not look ‘squat’. Coats are smooth and hard, easy to keep clean and tidy but liable to shed lots of short hair that will stick to clothing, furniture and carpets.
Well trained and socialised, the American Bulldog should be friendly, will enjoy training and games, and should be easy going with the whole family. Their large size and bouncy nature, particularly as puppies does mean they are inclined to be clumsy, and if left untrained their size can really become a problem, as they can do harm even without meaning to. Quick to learn but surprisingly sensitive despite their huge physique, American Bulldogs can be easy to train, however quick learners will also learn the wrong things as fast as they learn the right things – and once a lesson is learned, it is not easily forgotten!
AmBulls should be excellent with people, however with other dogs they are far less easy going and so socialisation is vital and even then, caution should be exercised.
| Family-friendly: | 2/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 4/5 |
| Easy to train: | 2/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 1/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 2/5 |
| Energy level: | 4/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 2/5 |
| Shedding: | 5/5 |
The American Bulldog is a type, not recognised as a pedigree type by any of the well-respected and long-standing canine organisations (such as the Kennel Club, American Kennel Club or Federation Cynologique Internationale). As such, the appearance of dogs described as American Bulldogs will vary quite a bit, and ‘pedigree’ documents provided will only give family history and may not be accurate.
Despite this, the American Bulldog can trace their ancestry to England, and the working, cattle driving, farm guarding and unfortunately, bull-baiting mastiff types of the early 18thC and possibly even earlier. Despite the variances between examples of the type, they bear a strong resemblance to both the existing Continental Bulldog, and the now extinct 17thC Old English Bulldog.
Large, muscular, heavy set with a broad head, such dogs were imported by working-class immigrants to the US, and were appreciated then as they are now, for their eager to please nature and despite their size, an ability to thrive on a less than ideal diet. Dogs of a less robust nature simply would not have survived the hardships met by early immigrants!
American Bulldog owners need to understand how to safely manage the size and potential of their dog. Despite their size they are sensitive and they can be fast learners, their desire to please can easily lead to them learning the wrong things if handled incorrectly. Owners should have a large, secure home and garden, and they are really not suitable for families with small children, vulnerable family members or those physically unable to manage such a big powerful dog.
Being very active and playful, American bulldogs need frequent activity ranging from training exercises to games and scent work activities, that use their brains as well as their bodies to keep them content and happy. A mixture of walking, training and off lead running in secure locations is necessary on a daily basis. AmBulls do not cope well if left by themselves, and will need patient training to manage an occasional few hours alone.
Big dogs need big living quarters, big beds, big sofas, a big car to transport and American Bulldogs in particular need very secure gardens or yards with fencing that keeps out trespassers, and keeps in a heavy, athletic and muscular dog. Not idea for the urban areas particularly where gardens/yards back on to footpaths or pavements as this dogs background is in guarding, and constant pedestrian traffic past their fence will leave them stressed and frustrated.
Providing a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids will prove highly beneficial to the health and wellbeing of American bulldogs. They do best on protein-based dog foods to enable them to keep up with their active lifestyles. With a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, American bulldogs can live up to 12 years.
Fortunately, due to their very short and smooth coats, American bulldogs only need bathing whenever they’re dirty. However, brushing them regularly is recommended to help control shedding and to keep their coats healthy.
As with all dogs, particularly the very large or heavy breeds, early and careful socialisation and habituation is vital. They must be managed carefully and sensitively, taught not to run up to strangers or other dogs, and taught to associate the presence of strangers and other dogs with good things coming from their owner. Even then, they should never be totally relied upon around unknown dogs. Methods that involve force and fear will result in a large animal who fears people, and fear often leads to dangerously aggressive behaviour. Using positive reinforcement and fun games will prove useful in training sessions.
An American Bulldog with a perfect temperament and excellent socialisation and training may suit the experienced owner with dog-aware teenagers. Puppies should be sourced incredibly carefully from breeders with temperament and health in mind. While they can be devoted to their families, their size and strength means they are not recommended for small homes, those with frail or vulnerable family members or small children, and not recommended for multi-dog homes.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and to be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together, and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
Is the American bulldog a pit bull?
No, the American bulldog breed is descended from mastiffs while pit bulls come from terriers. Pit bulls are also recognised as their own breed. The American bulldog was welcomed by the American Kennel Club into its Foundation Stock Service in 2019.
Are American bulldogs aggressive?
Without proper training and socialisation, American bulldogs can be aggressive at times, especially when they feel threatened or when they’re trying to protect their owners.
What breeds of dogs make up an American bulldog?
As a descendant of the English bulldog, the American bulldog breed comes from a mix of Asiatic mastiffs and pugs.
Do American bulldogs like to cuddle?
American bulldogs are known to be very affectionate and want to be close to their owners, so they love snuggling as much as they love food and exercising.
Has the American bulldog breed been banned in the UK?
Following the Government announcement on the 15th of September, the American bulldog breed is not banned. However, a related breed called the American XL Bully is currently in the process of being banned in the UK. This is likely to happen before the end of 2023. If you own an American XL Bully dog, keep an eye on future Government news and keep checking for the official announcement of the transition period. This is when owners need to come forward. Failure to do so will be considered a criminal offence. Find out more on the Government’s site and in our guide to illegal dog breeds in the UK.
