Things to Consider

     If you are considering making an American Bulldog part of your family, chances are you have already researched the breed. While the American Bulldog is very loyal and loving it does have a protective instinct, and should be well socialized with people and other animals. This is the main reason I suggest getting a puppy, rather than a full-grown dog. When you bring home a puppy it is yours to mold. You can socialize it with people and other animals. The bond between a dog, which you have raised and loved from puppy hood, is hard to break. After having raised a dog from a puppy it will know what to expect from its owner/handler.

     People use the American Bulldog for many different things such as but not limited to: boar hunting, weight pulling, and protection. Although I hunt, the only one of these three that I support is weight pulling, although dogs should not be in any kind of weight training until they are at least one and a half years old.

     The boar hunting can be quite brutal to these dogs, and the boar. A brief description of boar hunting is; the dog corners the boar (baying) and proceeds to keep it cornered until the hunter can get there and kill the boar. The problem here is that the boar doesn't want to be cornered so it will attack the dogs and they will attack back, which can lead to serious injuries to the dog and boar. In other types of hunting where dogs are used such as deer or rabbit hunting the dog only tracks the animal, and does not engage in combat with it.

     I do not feel that protection training is needed for this breed either. The American Bulldog already has a naturally strong protective instinct and given love and affection, it will naturally protect you and your family even it means sacrificing its own life. I have seen first hand a bulldog bite a rattlesnake in order to keep his owner from stepping on  it. However, if you do insist on any kind of protection training, choose a reputable trainer that has experience with the American Bulldog. Also, be sure that the techniques used to train your dog whether an American Bulldog or any other dog are humane.

Different Types of American Bulldogs

     There are mainly two types of American Bulldogs; John D. Johnson (Johnson) or Alan Scott (Scott) type. The Johnson type is the larger more massive, bigger bone structure of the two (bully). I believe that the Johnson type is closer related to the ancestors of the first bulldogs. The ( Old Bulldog Pictures )  depict the true bulldog: stocky, straight legged, bully head, and ripped with muscle. Some of these pictures date back to the 1600's. Although this massive type of bulldog represents the breed best, any type of bulldog is a welcome addition to a family. The descision is one you must make in the best interest of yourself and your family.