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By the time you have finished reading this American Bulldog owner's guide, you should have a good understanding of the American Bulldog breed. We look at what to expect from an American Bulldog, answers common questions about the breed, the best nutrition for them and give you some tips about their behaviour.
The American bulldog is an intelligent, assertive, playful and loving breed of dog. Despite their muscular, large physique, they can also be incredibly caring, devoted family dogs. Whether you already have an American bulldog, or are thinking about bringing one into your home, this handy guide will teach you everything that you need to know about this confident breed of dog.
By the time you have finished reading, you should have a good understanding of the American bulldog breed, as this guide explains what to expect from an American bulldog, answers common questions about the breed and looks at the best ways to overcome common American bulldog health problems.
American bulldogs were initially bred as utility dogs for farm work. As a descendant of the British bulldog, they are believed to have been in America as early as the 17th century, where they were sometimes used to bait bulls and bears, as well as being used to catch large animals such as cattle and hogs.
They were known under a variety of names, such as the ‘English White’, the ‘Alabama’, or the ‘Southern Bulldog’.
By the 1980s, the term ‘American bulldog’ gained widespread use, growing in popularity to become the all-round family pet and guard dog that they are known as today. In fact, all modern American Bulldogs can have their roots traced back to four strains from the Alabama and Georgia area; the Williamson, Scott, Bailey or Johnson.
Today, American bulldogs are a popular breed, known for being child-friendly, intelligent and loving companions.
A common question is “How long do American bulldogs live?” The typical American bulldog lifespan is between 10 and 14 years of age, with good health playing a key role in the lifestyle that they are able to enjoy.
American bulldogs are puppies until the age of around two years and are considered to be a senior dog from the age of seven.
Every dog has its own personality, but often, the American bulldog is intelligent, friendly and affectionate. With plenty of energy, they are also playful and outgoing.
These big, powerful dogs are not for the novice owner, with effective training playing an essential role in making sure they are safe, happy companions. They are naturally prey-driven and they can sometimes become protective over their loved ones, or even territorial.
It’s vital to build a strong relationship with American bulldogs, understanding them on an individual basis and guiding them to make better canine choices. It is also important to establish boundaries and rules through consistent training from a young age, to make sure American bulldogs are able to learn how to be a fun-loving, caring part of any family.
Due to their territorial nature, it can be beneficial to take them on a variety of different walks, preventing them from seeing any one place as ‘theirs’, which is a common trigger for aggression.
Having a variety of toys and challenges to mentally and physically stimulate this breed is important, to encourage positive behaviour and prevent boredom, which is when they are most likely to become destructive or disruptive. This also means they require plenty of space, allowing them to remain occupied through sniffing and active play.
Throughout their lives, they may display different types of behaviour, such as chewing, jumping and nibbling as puppies. They may also become more sedentary as they grow older. Click here to learn more about different types of dog behaviour.
American bulldogs are strong, muscular, medium to large-sized dogs. Their height and weight can vary based on a number of factors.
Many are fully grown by the age of 12 to 14 months old, however they can continue to grow until the age of two.
This table shows typical American bulldog height ranges.
| Age | Typical height range (at the shoulder) |
| 3 months | 12 – 16” |
| 6 months | 18 – 22” |
| 1 year | 20 – 27” |
| Adult | 20 – 27” |
While American bulldogs may be fully grown in height around the age of one, they can continue to bulk out and increase in weight after this time. A typical healthy weight range is between 27kg to 41kg in females, and 30kg to 58kg in males. This can vary depending on individual factors, including age, size and activity levels.
As American bulldogs are predisposed to obesity and thyroid problems, it is important to understand what a healthy dog should weigh, allowing you to compare and adjust their nutrition appropriately.
Click here to find out whether your American bulldog is of a healthy weight.
| Age | Male weight | Female weight |
| 3 months | 11.4 – 19.3kg | 10.4 – 14.4kg |
| 6 months | 21.2 – 35.2kg | 19.4 – 26.9kg |
| 1 year | 29 – 52.8kg | 26.2 – 38.5kg |
The American bulldog requires plenty of exercise, helping to keep them mentally and physically stimulated, which can help to avoid destructive behaviours to use up their energy, such as ruining prized possessions.
With puppies, you should look to provide low-impact movements, for example, hiding toys in the garden, or giving them puzzle toys to work out. By doing this, you can reduce the likelihood of them developing joint or bone damage while they are developing. A puppy should have their physical activity met within their individual needs. As a guide, you should walk your puppy for 5 minutes for every month of their age.
Adult American bulldogs love a game of fetch and tug-of-war, as well as nose work and agility exercises to use their energy. Walks for adult American bulldogs should be for a total or one to two hours per day, split between two or three separate outings, while encouraging a combination of types of play and movement.
Remember, as dogs get older, it’s important to make sure their exercise is fit for their needs. For example, an unwell or senior American bulldog may require far shorter walks. Base exercise on your dog’s mobility and comfort levels.
With a short haired coat, American bulldogs do not require much grooming. A brush once per week is plenty to keep their coat smooth and shiny, as well as helping to remove any of their minimal shedding.
Nail trimming should be done regularly and you should check for any foul odours coming from the ears, as this can be a sign of health issues that need addressing. Good dental hygiene is essential, as American bulldogs are prone to dental disease.
Healthy dog treats are a great way to keep dogs’ teeth clean, promoting a healthy mouth and jaw, as well as being a tasty snack.
To ensure American Bulldogs live long and healthy lives, it is important to understand what type of food and diet can help your American Bulldog thrive.
All dogs, including American Bulldogs, benefit from a healthy diet that is balanced, nutritious and species-specific. It should be adapted to changing nutritional needs throughout their entire lives.
A healthy diet will make it easier for your dog to keep up a good weight. This will also help dogs avoid issues and conditions associated with carrying around excess weight, such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia.
It can also be helpful to avoid foods that are known to cause inflammation, as American Bulldogs can be prone to suffer from conditions worsened by inflammation and intolerances, such as itchy skin.
The right raw diet is packed with all nutrition that American Bulldogs need to thrive. On top of this, a recent study has shown that a raw dog food diet can help prevent the onset or reduce the symptoms of common health issues, including hip dysplasia.
It can also be beneficial to enrich this breed’s diet with botanical anti-inflammatories, such as curcumin, black pepper, or pure filtered fish oils, helping to prevent inflammation throughout the body and promote healthy skin.
The best type of meal for an American Bulldog, or any breed for that matter, is one that contains beneficial ingredients. Dog food can sometimes be packed with unnecessary fillers which add very little nutritional value. These types of fillers can include grains, gluten or other additives.
By avoiding food with these types of fillers, American Bulldogs are able to get the right amount of nutrition from their food. This will help support them at every stage of their life.
The best food for an American bulldog puppy is one that is full of plenty of high quality nutrition to support their growth and development. Make sure to check out Bella & Duke’s range of puppy foods.
As dogs reach adulthood, proper nutrition remains vital for American Bulldogs to retain their great health. Bella & Duke’s range of adult dog food covers various different types of meals and meat options, including working dog meals.
A dog’s nutritional requirement changes as they age, and it is no different for American Bulldogs. To ensure your senior dog gets everything needed, Bella & Duke’s senior dog food has been enriched additional beneficial ingredients, including superfoods.
A common health concern for the American Bulldog is obesity. This can put additional strain on their body, making them more prone to develop other health conditions. A raw diet can be easily adapted to maintain healthy body composition and avoid any excess weight.
In addition to this, a raw diet for American bulldogs helps to maintain healthy levels of hydration, which is ideal to support this breed that is prone to developing bladder or kidney stones.
As a brachycephalic breed, the American Bulldog can be more prone to overheating that some other breeds. It is therefore important to be mindful of this as this can impact them when exercising or spells of warm weather. They are also prone to hip dysplasia, as are many other breeds. If left untreated, it can also cause arthritis. Signs of hip dysplasia include stiffness in the joint as well as changing to their gait.
American bulldog size can vary depending on whether they are male or female. Take a look at the section on height and weight in this American bulldog guide to learn more about typical weight ranges. If they are overweight or underweight, this can be controlled through increasing or decreasing their nutritional intake as required.
The best diet for American bulldogs is a natural, balanced diet that avoids fillers and unnecessary carbohydrates. If you’re looking for an American bulldog feeding guide, take a look at the ideas in this article to understand how much to feed an American bulldog and the most suitable American bulldog diet.
Every dog is an individual, but providing boundaries are set with the right approach and you have an understanding relationship with your dog, you should be able to train American bulldogs. To get a head start, read these 5 easy dog training tips from our Canine behaviourist, Caroline Spencer.
We hope you enjoyed our American Bulldog owner's guide and now feel confident to give your American Bulldog the long, happy and healthy life they deserve. We would love to meet you and your American Bulldog in our friendly online community "The pack", we can't wait to meet you.
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