As an athletic dog, the American Bulldog has a very beautiful yet intimidating appearance. They have a very complex personality with a mix of happiness, protectiveness of their owners and high energy. The American Kennel Club hasn't yet recognized the breed, but it is fast gaining popularity as both a family pet and as a working dog.

Originally the breed was originally used in the 17th and 18th century to catch livestock, guard homes and in the sport of bull baiting. Then for the purposes of gambling and as a working dog the Bulldog was brought to the United States. The sport of bull baiting was then outlawed in the United Kingdom in 1835 and then the breed became the popular family pet now seen in the English Bulldog. The American Bulldog has undergone less change. The breed wasn't very popular during World War II and also became extinct. However, through preservation efforts the breed managed to remain and is now a popular family pet, a competitive athlete and a strong working dog.

The dog is very muscular with an overall stocky appearance. The dog can have an expression on their face ranging from goofy and fun loving to stark intimidation. White, fawn and brindle are the most common coat colors for this breed. When full grown the breed will typically weight between sixty and one hundred twenty-five pounds with a height of twenty to twenty-eight inches tall at the shoulders. There are two variations on this breed. The classic variation is larger than the standard, which has a shorter muzzle. There are also mixes of these two variations.

The American Bulldog is like all other Bulldogs in the sense that they make a devoted family pet, especially with children. Throughout the years the breed has become very well known for their acts of heroism, although these same good protective traits also make them aggressive towards other animals and strangers. Make sure you have a lot of time to devote to the dog if you are going to get an American Bulldog.

In order to have a well-behaved American Bulldog you need to train and socialize them from an early age. They can even become friendly with other animals as long as you thoroughly train them from an early age and are very selective about when to use their guardian instincts. They have a very low maintenance coat, which means you only need to brush and bathe them as needed. However, they will slobber a lot because of their large and droopy jowls.

Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are two bone conditions that can affect the breed. Some eye conditions to be aware of include prolapse of the third eyelid, retinal dysplasia and Enropion, which the eyelid rolls inward. At birth the American Bulldog can be deaf or it can develop when they age. The breed also has problems with a congenital defect known as Patent Ductus Arteriosis, which causes the blood vessels of the lungs to remain open after birth and this results in extra amounts of blood flowing into the lungs. Take proper care of your American Bulldog and avoid common health problems so that they can live a happy eight to fifteen years as your loyal family pet.