American Bulldog Experience

[TroyF]

Curious to hear what experiences people have had with them. My experience with the breed are very limited. One friend had two at different times. His first was unhealthy and sent back to the breeder and the second was so aggressive that he spent six uncomfortable months trying to locate the right person to adopt. Both dogs came from the same breeder somewhere in Texas. Friend flew down to meet the breeder and pick up the dog. Other than that not much.


Another quick question while I'm at it here. Would any of you with experience with bull breeds adopt one without much history on the dog?

 

[Brattina88]

I foster dogs of all kinds and all sizes. I feel that I am so lucky to have fostered American Bulldogs. In the past 11 years I've fostered 2. My first experaince was a huge male that was very dog aggressive. I knew nothing about him when I agreed to foster, and it worked out because I didn't have my own dog that lived with me full time. He never did get along with dogs, but I successsfully taught him to focus on me when I asked, regardless of another dog passing. I later found out that he was used to "wrestle" other dogs to toughen them up. Whatever that means.
My second was a self-foster. She was from my local dog pound, and she's one of those that I wish I would've kept. She was pregnant when I got her, and the vet told me that she might not live through delivery so I felt my only option was to spay/abort. My Cocker Spaniel used to take her down and they would play for a long time. She was a quick learner, showed no agression whatsoever.
I met my friend through this dog. She also had and American Bulldog, she'd raised hers since 8wks. Very cool mellow dog. That dog would let anyone she knew do anything to her, was protective and would switch to friendly mode once her owner said "Puppy!" Very coold dogs
So, in conclusion (lol) Yes, I would adopt one w/o knowing any history, but only if I had the time and energy to reverse anything negative they could've learned up until the time they came to me.

 

[Amstaffer]

I have never owned one myself but I have been around several and have one live near me. The ones I met were a lot like Amstaffs in personality. Very human friendly and dominant with other dogs. The ones I was around most were fine with my dogs. At the time I had male rotts and the American Bulldogs were females so they got along fine.

They were extremely extremely human friendly. They were very trusting of everyone they met.

My friend got her first female about 6 months after I got my first Male Rott. My Rott didn't quite make his 11 birthday. Her first American Bulldog made it to 15 which is unreal for a 90lbs dog (at least in my experience). Her other female lived to almost 14. So from that limited experience and from what I have read, they seem to be healthier than your average big dog. This however was before they became popular (mid 80s) and the quality of breeding was went down for the breed.

Several years ago Athena had a "boyfriend" (Platonic, she is fixed) at the dog park that was a American Bulldog that she met once in awhile. He was a very silly big brute. He was young, about 1.5yrs old and neutered. He greeted me every time like I was his former owner and he never was aggressive to any dog at the park even after a run in with a guy and his Dalmation.

The only one I have met that scares be alittle is one a guy has that is about 4 blocks away from me. He is fine with me and other people who walk by but he jumped on top of my friends APBT and put him down and growled a lot. Never bit but God it was scary....The AB (named "Stats") is a 130lbs of solid muscle, poor Elwood APBT didn't know what hit him. Lucky Elwood submitted right away. The guy who owns Stats is an idiot and often lets his dog roam. I am always afraid he'll round the corner and meet Sal or Athena. So far he has never wandered more than half block from his house.

 

[JR0579]

Maybe this will help

Check out this link ,,,, hopefully will help
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanbulldog.htm

 

[sonny]

There's different types of American bulldogs ,The Alan Scott type is like a big pitbull very friendly with people but dog aggressive. the Johnson line tends to be more like a guard dog type can be human aggressive and dog aggressive .They tend to have a face like a English bulldog, and the hybrid that's like a mix of both lines..... .Awesome dogs!

 

[TroyF]

The more websites I look at the more I start to wonder how many are fighting these guys.

I looked at a site yesterday with a johnson/allen cross that was 150lbs and the owner claimed still athletic. Imagine running from that .

 

[sonny]

Nah ,they can be somewhat game, I'm sure some idiots would fight them or anything for that matter. The Scott line was pitted from what I read some success, but nothing compares to the APBT in a pit.. The Scott line has been crossed to the APBT.... Look up olde southern whites. (by the way I think dog fighting is a terrible thing to do and takes a cruel heartless MF) anyway the history comes with the dog and so I read on.....

The more websites I look at the more I start to wonder how many are fighting these guys.

I looked at a site yesterday with a johnson/allen cross that was 150lbs and the owner claimed still athletic. Imagine running from that .

 

[casablanca1]

I've had one encounter with this breed, and it was an extremely dog-aggressive bitch whose immediate response to seeing another dog, even far away or off it's 'territory' was to attempt to kill.

 

[PixieSticksandTricks]

My neighbor (not the designer dog breeder but on the other side of us) just recently bought and American Bulldog puppy. He already has two boxers and has asked me to come over more often so I can help him socialize the puppy. He knows we foster dogs and also we own Pixie and he doesent want his puppy to grow into a dog aggressive or people aggressive dog. I am now sure which breed it is Alan Scott type or Johnson Type I never knew there were types but I will ask him because now im curiouse.

Its a sweet puppy its name is Cody . He looks alot like the dog on this page
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanbulldog.htm
Dido only a puppy.
Built like the puppies here (very top pic)
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanbulldogphotos2.htm

I will try and get some pics

 

[sonny]

Those would be from johnsons line....

My neighbor (not the designer dog breeder but on the other side of us) just recently bought and American Bulldog puppy. He already has two boxers and has asked me to come over more often so I can help him socialize the puppy. He knows we foster dogs and also we own Pixie and he doesent want his puppy to grow into a dog aggressive or people aggressive dog. I am now sure which breed it is Alan Scott type or Johnson Type I never knew there were types but I will ask him because now im curiouse.

Its a sweet puppy its name is Cody . He looks alot like the dog on this page
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanbulldog.htm
Dido only a puppy.
Built like the puppies here (very top pic)
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanbulldogphotos2.htm

I will try and get some pics

 

[BullyLover]

I have had two. My first Jesse I lost when she was four...She was a wonderful dog. Very protective of my and got along great with children of all ages. She was very dog aggressive...except for my friends Lab...she loved that dog....and that dog alone. My second I just got last week....I have fallen madly in love with her....She has come in contact with my friends Lab and they are going to be buddies for sure. She also has met another friends weiner dog....the weiner dog is the alpha in that household...lol....she didn't like my pup being there at all....it was a short visit....Here she is at 8.5 weeks..

 

[LuvableLabs]

I know three American Bulldogs and they are all very sweet dogs. I believe it depends on the time that is put into the breeding.​

 

[BullyLover]

Don't forget about time put into training too!

 

[corsomom]

That is one cute pup!

 

[Barb04]

I just love the expression on her face!