American Bulldog: breed description, character and content

The American Bulldog is a dog that embodies many qualities: composure, calmness, courage, loyalty. Such pets will be an excellent acquisition for both home security and simple friendship. However, before buying a puppy, you should carefully study all the features of this breed, its pros and cons, as well as the necessary conditions for keeping such a dog.

American Bulldogs or Ambuli are the descendants of the oldest Molossian dogs, popular in ancient Egypt and Greece. Further mentions of them date back to the Middle Ages, where dogs were assigned an unenviable role - to participate in battles with bulls. It is no secret that the Middle Ages were not distinguished by purity of morals and kind-heartedness, therefore both bulls and dogs died en masse. Only very rich people could afford to buy bulldogs, because one dog was worth a fortune.

However, the Middle Ages passed and the popularity of ambulances rapidly declined. Cattle-baiting was banned, and the notoriety of dogs has not gone away. Animals literally turned out to be of no use to anyone, the authorities forbade the owners to let them off the chain while on a walk. Of course, the owners of the dogs did not like such prohibitions, and they began breeding work, bringing out toy bulldogs, which became the ancestors of modern French baby dogs. On this, the excitement subsided, and ambuli again found themselves under the threat of extinction.

Perhaps the world would never have known about such dogs if the British had not decided to colonize the lands of America. Taking with them all their property, including dogs, the citizens of England moved to new places.At first it was difficult, because the climate of America at that time was not distinguished by softness and warmth. I had to literally survive, and here the dogs showed their true qualities. They guarded houses, grazed herds of cows and sheep, got into the plow instead of horses, helped the owners to hunt and brought game. The English would have had a hard time without these dogs.

Ambuli were brought to their first exhibition at the end of the 20th century, and there they were finally seen by the entire world community. Many visitors were amazed at the appearance of the dogs, admiration caused a strong, like a lump of muscles, body, dense teeth, ready to grab any prey, strong paws. The breeders paid attention to the dog and the breed began to spread quickly, finally acquiring its modern name. In addition, ambuli began to be bred to work in police stations.

This wonderful dog arrived in Russia just in the turmoil of the 90s. Then there were not too many of them, it was considered very "status" to have such a pet. Now the number of American Bulldogs is steadily increasing, and more and more people want to acquire these powerful and terrifying, but such loyal dogs.

The American Bulldog is a rather large and massive dog. It should be noted right away that there is a description of two breed standards, and to a person who is unfamiliar with bulldogs in general, it will seem that these are completely different dogs. In fact, everything is a little different.

Johnson's type is classic bulldogs out of the picture. They are powerful, strong, stocky. They resemble a square in shape, the legs of such dogs are short. But dogs like Scott are called standard. This is, one might say, a "lightweight version", such dogs are light, mobile, active, they do not evoke the impression of special power. They look more like pit bulls than bulldogs.

Now let's move on to describing American Bulldogs in accordance with the approved FCI standard.

• The height of an adult dog is 55-70 cm for a male and 52-65 cm for a bitch. Male weight - from 30 to 54 kg, bitches - from 26 to 45.
• The head is large, the skull is round and wide. The dog's forehead is high.
• The muzzle of Johnson type dogs is more square, the feet are clearly visible. Scott's dogs have a wedge-shaped muzzle, the feet are poorly expressed. Both breeds have folds and a large black or brown nose. The lips are also black, in close contact with the teeth.
• The ears are small, set high, and can either stand or hang. As a rule, they are in the shape of a triangle, but the standard allows several other variations. Such a dog cannot be cropped.
• The eyes are small and round, far apart. Shades are varied: from honey to dark brown.
• The ambul's teeth are strong, and the jaws are wide, and the lower one protrudes forward. When the dog's mouth is closed, the teeth should not be visible.
• The dog's neck is very strong and muscular. The developed scruff is clearly visible.
• The body is slightly elongated, strong, the neck is equal in girth to the head. The tail has a wide base and a narrow tip.
• The front feet are very strong, with tightly clenched toes at the ends. The limbs are set wide. The hind legs look narrower, but the distance between them is greater than between the front legs.
• The coat is short and close to the body. As for the color, the most common are brindle, white, black, white-red colors. The standard permits both marbled and blue dogs, but must have white spots.

Of course, defects are also developed by the standard, which can cause difficulties if you decide to send a dog to a show:

• tail in the form of a corkscrew, adjacent to the back;
• gray spots on the nose or its completely gray tint;
• bulging eyes with heavy lids;
• general weakness, poorly developed muscles;
• narrow muzzle;
• green, yellow, or blue eyes;
• eyelids with no pigmentation;
• different eye color;
• long wool;
• scissor bite;
• inappropriate behavior: fear or, conversely, aggression;
• uneven teeth;
• lack of vision or hearing.

The American Bulldog is a dog that can brighten up a lonely evening, and entertain the owner for a walk, and get robbers off a private plot. The dog will always protect its owner, no matter what it takes. However, there are some pitfalls here. If the dog sees at least once that his owner is weak and cannot cope with the situation, in the dog's eyes, is elementary, then he will quickly take a leadership position, and it will not be easy to displace him.

Despite the rather scary appearance, the dogs are very friendly and sociable. They will be happy to stay with the owner, run around in the yard, welcoming their neighbors. A properly educated dog will not be dangerous, it can be left with older children. But before that, children should still be told about the rules of behavior with a dog. For example, if a child constantly drags the dog by the ears or tail, pokes a finger at it or raises his voice, the dog may become angry.

Ambul is ideal for security. Its advantage lies in the fact that the dog will not break into hysterical meaningless barking, seeing a passer-by in the distance. This dog always takes a wait-and-see attitude, carefully observing an unwanted guest. If a person gets too close or begins to tease the dog, the bulldog growls exponentially, frightening. When such a trick turns out to be useless, the dog may pounce, but will not inflict severe injuries. As a rule, the sight of a huge dog and a couple of moments during which the hapless thief is on the ground are enough for anyone to have enough common sense to leave as soon as possible.

The advantage, and at the same time the problem of the ambul, is his remarkable intellect. The owner should not underestimate the pet: even a three-month-old baby can easily figure out how to turn the door handle, get his food out of a loosely closed cabinet, or get into a room with forbidden but so interesting indoor plants. Sometimes the pranks of dogs can reach a large scale: not finding something to do with himself, the dog may well begin to tear off the wallpaper, gnaw on the sofa, and scratch the parquet floor.

To prevent this from happening, the dog must be physically loaded. You will have long walks in parks and forests, active games with a ball and a stick, leisurely jogging and cycling in which the dog will catch up with you. There is also a positive quality in this: the dog does not show impatience during a walk, so it will not pull the leash, forcing the owner to endlessly shout out commands to stop.

There is another very important behavioral point to consider before you buy a dog. Ambul is an animal that should be the only one in the house. Taking him as a friend for another dog or cat is a bad idea. The dog will not tolerate competition and will remember its glorious past, where her whole life consisted of sleeping, eating and fighting bulls. Poorly educated ambulias are especially dangerous: if they do not like something, they are quite capable of driving and killing their "roommate."

An American Bulldog is a dog that you take not for a week, but for at least 10 years, so choosing a puppy must be approached with all responsibility. You should buy babies exclusively in nurseries - yes, it is more expensive, but you will definitely be sure of the health and mental stability of the baby. It is imperative to require pedigrees and certificates of vaccinations, because from the pedigrees you can learn a lot about the condition of the parents of the little ambul. As a rule, at the time of examination, the puppies lie next to their mother. The mother should not grin, growl or throw herself at people - this is a sign of mental imbalance.

You cannot buy puppies that are too small or too grown up, the optimal age for babies is 1.5-3 months. At this time, the bulldogs are already sufficiently socialized and can be weaned from their mother. Examine your favorite specimen. The puppy's coat should be smooth, shiny, without bald spots, there should be no scratches and wounds or suppurations on the body. Ears and eyes must also be clean, nose - wet. The behavior of the "dog child" plays an important role: if the puppy huddled in a corner and growls from there, it is better not to buy it.

As for the price of small bulldogs, it will not be too high. An ordinary puppy costs about $ 120, and babies with a pedigree, which are not planned to be bred and sent to exhibitions, - about 350. Litter from titled parents will cost the future owner $ 850.

Despite the fact that American Bulldogs almost do not require special and careful care from their owners, they necessarily expect love and care from them. The dog should be taken to a family where the emotional background is calm and no loud scandals are expected every night. Once in a tense environment, the dog will begin to suffer, it will have neuroses, illness, lack of appetite, the animal can run wild and become aggressive.

It is best to buy a bulldog for a private home. In the yard, you can equip a spacious aviary where the pet can sleep and rest, as well as hide from the weather. There must be thick rags or mattresses on the ground so that the dog does not lie on a bare surface. You should not put an ambulia on a chain - this dog is already quite calm and will not annoy the people around with running or barking barking.

Those owners who live in the apartment should immediately show the dog his place. It is unacceptable to allow the dog to lie on sofas, armchairs, jump on the table, window sills. The dog must clearly learn from the first day that this is his place, and here he can rest and sleep. Not far from the dog bed, you can place several toys, with the help of which the dog will take his leisure time in the absence of the owner.

You should take ambul puppies for a walk as often as possible. Thus, the dog will be able to go to the toilet, and also spend at least a little of the accumulated energy. It is advisable for bulldog babies to spread a disposable diaper or rag in the house so that the puppy can relieve himself if he doesn’t endure to the street.

In addition to the conditions for keeping the dog, there are several mandatory rules of care that must also be followed.

• The pet's coat should be brushed once a week. To do this, you will need to buy a special brush for smooth-haired dogs at the pet store.The dog sheds several times a year, at this time combing out should be carried out more often, otherwise the wool "tumbleweeds" will fly all over the room.
• You need to bathe your dogs once or twice a year, and use only special shampoos for animals. After bathing, the dog needs to be wiped off with a towel and dried. More frequent bathing is not recommended as even the best quality shampoos will wash the protective layer off the coat. However, if the dog is all smeared with mud, breaking the rule is allowed. The paws are wiped after each walk.
• Your dog's ears should be checked regularly for contamination. If you see dirt or wax inside the ear, it needs to be cleaned. To do this, you need to use an ear stick dipped in hydrogen peroxide. Veterinary pharmacies also sell special products for cleaning dog ears.
• Examination of the eyes is equally important. Any nitrous oxide must be removed immediately. You can rinse your eyes with a weak cooled tea or a decoction of chamomile. But if the matter was not limited to simple nitrous oxide and you notice pus, redness or incomprehensible spots, you should immediately go to the veterinarian.
• American Bulldog teeth need regular brushing. To do this, you will need a dog's toothpaste and brush, which are also available at any pet store.
• As for the claws, dogs in the city grind them off naturally by running on hard surfaces such as asphalt. Ambuli, which live in a courtyard with soft soil, do not have such an opportunity. Therefore, they will have to trim their nails themselves, using a special nail clipper for large dogs. Sharp tips will need to be additionally sanded with a nail file.
• The face of the American Bulldog has folds that should be looked after. All folds will need to be wiped at least several times a week with a cotton swab dipped in an antiseptic; it is important and timely to remove saliva from the pet's lips.

Bulldogs that are properly cared for can live for many years - on average, 12-15. This period can be increased if you provide the dog with constant physical activity, quality nutrition, vitamins and simple human care. Ambuli hardly get sick, they are strong and hardy. However, there are diseases that can shorten the lifespan of your pet.

The most common bulldogs suffer from:

• eye diseases;
• problems with joints, especially hip;
• allergies and rashes;
• cardiovascular diseases and heart disease;
• epilepsy;
• deafness.

There are two ways to feed the American Bulldog: prepared foods or organic foods.

Ready-made food is ideal for owners who cannot afford to stand by the stove and make a varied menu for the dog every day. In addition, such a food is balanced and already contains all the vitamins, which means that you do not need to purchase additional mineral complexes. The disadvantage of dry food is its price, because a good composition cannot be cheap. Experts recommend buying premium or super premium feed for bulldogs.

Feeding natural food, of course, is more varied, but you will have to regularly make up the menu and supplement it with all the substances necessary for the dog. Consider what must be included in the pet's diet.

• Low-fat meat: beef, turkey, chicken. Meat should be the main product. From time to time, it is replaced with by-products, such as kidneys or heart.
• In addition to meat, cereals must be present in the dog's diet. The best choice would be oatmeal or barley porridge, sometimes you can give the dog buckwheat.
• For vegetables, boiled potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, carrots and beets are suitable for the dog, and apples for fruits. Any such product must be scalded with boiling water before serving.
• Dogs also need eggs - they are given boiled 1-2 times a week. Plus, most dogs love omelettes.
• They are very fond of American Bulldogs and fermented milk products. You should pamper your pet with cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, kefir, unsweetened yoghurts. Milk should not be given.

Ambul puppies are fed 6 times a day, and the portions should be small. After two months of age, the number of feedings is reduced to 4-5. Babies from 4 to 6 months are fed 4 times a day, and puppies in the age range from 6 to 18 months - 3. Adult dogs are transferred to two meals a day. It should be remembered that you cannot overfeed the dogs, you will have to constantly monitor the calorie content of the diet. Meat should be the main product, but it is forbidden to feed it only.

It should also be borne in mind that there are products that are strictly prohibited to ambulances:

• fatty and fried food from your table - no matter how greedy eyes the pet looks at a crispy chicken leg, you cannot be inferior in this regard;
• smoked meats, pickled and salted foods;
• onions and garlic, food with spices;
• pork meat in any form;
• sausage, small sausages and sausages;
• large and small tubular bones;
• sweets, cookies, other sweets;
• raw fish and eggs;
• ground meat;
• fresh white bread;
• legumes.

You need to start training and educating the animal on the day it appeared in your home. The owner must establish the rules and boundaries of what is permitted immediately, otherwise problems cannot be avoided. There are some specific rules that will help beginners on such a difficult path.

• The dog should not be allowed to bite. If the dog, dissatisfied with something, even slightly bit the owner, punishment should follow immediately. The dog is taken by the scruff of the neck and lifted. Then, in a strict tone, the guilty dog ​​should be scolded. In this case, it is forbidden to shout and beat the dog. When the dog shows humility, he should be released. If the animal bit you during the hygiene procedures, continue them, and then, if successful, reward the puppy with a treat.
• Don't let your dog guide you while you walk. The tremendous strength of an adult dog pulling the leash will, at best, lead to the owner rushing after him without disassembling the road, and at worst - to falls and injuries. Any attempt to pull on the leash must be stopped by a command and a sharp jerk. Ambul must understand that it is he who is obliged to adjust to your rhythm, and not you - to his.
• The dog cannot put its paws or jump on people, including you. Of course, the sight of a happy crumbs, waiting for the owner to go home and jumping to a height impossible for his growth, will touch you. But when the dog grows up, his jumps will no longer seem so pleasant. A full-length dog will be able to put its front paws on the shoulders of an adult man, but imagine what would happen if a fragile girl or a child was in his place.All jumps should be stopped by pulling the dog's collar and scolding in a stern tone. A dog who has learned a lesson should be treated to a treat.
• Do not allow your dog to grab anything off the floor or the ground. The animal must eat in a certain place, from its feeder. If the ambul is trying to eat a bone or anything else on the street, pull the leash and say no. When the dog is at home, he may not react to the command. Take a light object and throw it at the cheeky. For example, you can use a plastic bottle. In this case, the command should be repeated.
• Don't let your dog get into conflicts with other animals. In general, the dog is not aggressive, but the lack of upbringing can make itself felt. An ill-bred dog is quite capable of setting off in pursuit and even gnawing at its abuser. This cannot be allowed, so control the pet's behavior. It is good if the dog will communicate with non-conflicting relatives or individuals of the opposite sex. You should not provoke the dog: if the bulldog notices that you have thrown a stick to another dog, revenge will follow immediately.

As for training, experts advise entrusting it to professionals. The American Bulldog is a wayward animal and it is not suitable for everyone; a strong-minded person is needed here, for whom this pet will not be the first. In addition, an incorrectly educated dog of this size can do a lot of mischief, because if he shows aggression towards a person or another animal, he will never open his fangs himself.

If you nevertheless decide to train the pet yourself, then remember that there should not be any violence against the dog. You can not raise your voice, even if the dog is maddened, and she will do this with her disobedience and stubbornness. It is forbidden to beat and even spank the pet, otherwise the ambul's trust will be lost for a long time. Classes with the dog should be regular and carried out every day. You should start with 5-10 minutes, weekly increasing the training time. Initially, the dog is taught simple commands such as "sit", "lie down", "fu", "come to me", "place".

It should be noted that the general training course should not be carried out in a closed environment. The pet should be in the fresh air, socialize, learn to execute commands in different places. This will help the ambul to get rid of unnecessary aggression, instill the skills of communication with people and other pets. After the completion of the OKD, specialists can offer you courses in the protection and guard service, if this is consistent with the purposes for which you bought the dog.

The American Bulldog is a very popular dog today, and it evokes certain feelings for every owner.

Among the advantages of the breed, the owners noted loyalty and affection for their owner. The dog is ready to follow his beloved family member everywhere and everywhere, and will also be able to protect an adult and a child in case of danger. The American Bulldog is athletic and energetic, he will tirelessly cover long distances, chase a ball and a stick, and run after a bicycle. A well-mannered and obedient dog can be left with children, even entrusted to them to walk it. The dog will gladly take part in any games.

Ambul is independent, he is able to make decisions and act according to the situation. Many owners like this as they know they can rely on their companion and four-legged friend. In addition, the owners note the high intelligence of the dogs, which, however, should be developed with "smart" games and interactive toys.

Among the disadvantages, dog breeders noted difficulties in training. Dogs are stubborn, they often do not like something, sometimes they refuse to follow commands at all. It is important to educate the dog correctly and socialize in time, and many do not have enough time for this. In addition, with his stubbornness, the dog provokes the owner to breakdowns, which turns into even greater problems.A beginner cannot cope with such a breed. Also, the owners note that the dog is constantly saliva flowing, which is also not always convenient. Buyers of puppies are also unhappy with the fact that they will not have the opportunity to have a second dog or cat.

To summarize, we can say that the American Bulldog is not a dog for everyone. Her loyalty and tranquility deserve respect, and her protective qualities will allow the property to always be safe.

For the nature and content of the American Bulldog, see the following video.