BULLBREEDS

American Bulldog


Three of the main theories regarding the American Bulldog’s origins are as follows:
1)
The AB is the "original" English Bulldog which has survived unchanged in remote rural communities, just as it was when it was still a working breed rather than the deformed fancy breed we know as the English Bulldog today.
2)
The AB is a "made-up" breed concocted from a mixture of other breeds.
3)
A combination of theories (1) and (2): Basically, the "original" English Bulldog was an ancestor of today’s American Bulldog but he has been much modified through the years by selective breeding and judicious outcrosses. We should remember at this point that many of the bullbreeds we know today are ultimately descended from the "original" English Bulldog: this includes Bullmastiffs, Staffordshires, English Bull Terriers and American Pit Bull Terriers among others. All of these were selectively bred to create very different dogs, each suited to his individual purpose. To me it seems highly plausible that the American Bulldog came into being in a similar way to some of these other bullbreeds. The advocates of the first theory believe the AB is the pure embodiment of the original English Bulldog as it looked when the early settlers from the British Isles and Europe came to America in the 17th and 18th centuries. This idea was popularized by a couple of breeders, probably as a marketing ploy to help sell dogs to well-off city people and gullible Yankees. Others have eagerly swallowed the story, enabling its passage from myth to modern legend to widely-perceived truth. Records do exist which show that many bulldogs and bull terriers were exported to America and many contemporary British paintings and sculptures show bulldogs which look similar to American Bulldogs, and many people point to these as evidence to support this belief. Compare the pictures below: An engraving from 1803 and Alan Scott with his dog "Apache", there are undoubtedly many similarities. The white colouring predominant in today’s ABs was also the base colour of most of the English bulldogs of times long gone by, which could suggest a very strong link. But I do feel it is highly unlikely that the original English bulldog could possibly have survived unchanged in America for hundreds of years; through the generations he would have been interbred and shaped by his environment and the needs of his masters. This theory does have a certain romantic attraction to it however, so it is easy to understand it’s continuing popularity. The advocates of the second theory believe the American Bulldog was created from a blend of various types of dog. Well the fact is that every breed of dog was actually created by selective breeding in this way. What we need to do is consider what the foundation dogs of this sort of breeding program were likely to be, which brings me to the third theory option. The third theory (and the one which makes most sense to me) is that the American Bulldog is descended from a selectively-bred blend of bulldogs and bull terriers. Immigrants from the British Isles , Spain and Northern Europe brought their prized bulldogs and bull terriers with them on their voyage to the New World, where they would certainly have proved their worth in many ways. The centuries of selective breeding that lay behind those dogs which enabled them to excel and please their masters at animal baitings and other so-called "sporting" events could now be turned to more constructive uses as well. The dogs provided welcome protection in a sometimes hostile land and also were invaluable to the livestock farmer whose cattle and pigs roamed unfenced over wide areas; this made the livestock hard for the farmer to catch when required, and so the "catch dog" came in to being. The selective breeding that had created a dog with the strength, tenacity, courage and longing to seize a bull at a baiting or engage in some other form of animal combat now made him the free-range livestock farmer’s best friend. In his new role the bulldog could seize a cow or pig and and hold him firm until his handlers joined him to tie or slaughter the animal. In addition those same abilities made him a most formidable tool for hunting wild game, a scenario the American Bulldog continues to excel in today in parts of the United States. His major role however was as a general watchdog and companion more than anything else, which continues to be the breed's forte. Pedigrees or other records were not kept, these were not show dogs so there was no need. Natural selection governed the development of the bulldog in America in those times, and as working dogs in a harsh world, poor performing dogs either died in action or would be culled by their owners. Breedings would be decided purely on a dog’s abilities: If you had a good bitch and wanted a litter and you knew someone who had a good proven dog then a tie might be arranged to create another generation of working bulldogs, some of which may have been sold to provide a little extra cash in those tough times. Many breeding experiments would undoubtedly have been tried over the many decades that have elapsed since those first bulldogs and bull terriers landed in America, some successful and some probably less so. For example, some hound blood was likely crossed in to help enhance the breed's hunting/tracking/baying abilities. Higher proportions of terrier blood would have added tenacity and quickness to some strains too. An extra dose of modern "sour-mug" English Bulldog blood has apparently been added by at least one well known breeder in fairly recent history to increase the "bulliness" of his lines. My gut-feeling and personally held belief is that if one could somehow roll back the decades and observe the evolution of the American Bulldog one would find it to be a breed largely composed of various lines of bull terrier-type dogs selectively bred for size and temperament and interbred with bulldogs, with roots tracing back all over Britain, Ireland and Europe, with some hound blood added along the way. A couple of mystery ingredients have probably been added too at some points back in the past. I believe this old recipe holds true for all lines/types of American Bulldog with only the proportions of ingredients varying. However the American Bulldog is now certainly far enough away from its "root-breeds" to unquestionably be regarded a true breed in its own right, and a fine and versatile breed it is too.


Breed Name: Bull Mastiff
Description: The Bullmastiff shows great strength, endurance and alertness. They are a natural guardian of the home and will not back down from a fight. To strangers they are rather standoffish, but they are loving toward their owner. Bullmastiffs are normally very gentle, cheerful and calm. They make a devoted, gentle companion. They are also known as the "gamekeeper's dog" because they were bred to accompany gamekeepers for the ability to track and overpower a poacher.
Height: 25 - 27 inches
Weight: 90 - 130 lbs.

Colors: Shades of brindle, fawn or red. Slight white marking on the chest is permissible, black muzzle.
Coat: Short, smooth, dense
Temperament: Loving, courageous, loyal; Tolerates children; Should be socialized with other animals at an early age
Care and Exercise: Minimal brushing of his coat. A good rubdown with a rubber brush or massage glove will remove old dead hairs. Nails should be kept short. Diet and daily exercise need to be balanced to prevent obesity. Daily walks or lost of running space is ideal.
Health Issues: Hip dysplasia, gastric torsion and cancer.
History/Origin: Developed in the late nineteenth century by crossing the Mastiff with the Bulldog. He was breed to combine power, speed and a keen sense of smell with the courage and aggression of a bulldog. In 1924 he was standardized and was officially recognized in England.
Category: WorkingRegistries: UCA, AKC, UKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI (Group 2), KC (GB)Living Environment: Outdoor


Breed Name:
Bull Terrier
Description:
The Bull Terrier is a loyal, affectionate, loving, and humerous dog. It is strong-willed and, therefore, is not the ideal choice of dog for a first-time dog owner. The ideal owners would be a family that loves horseplay, racing, and games like frisbee. The Bull Terrier has the potential to become a first-class companion dog, but in the wrong hands it can turn out to be a horrid disaster. Height:
20 - 22 inches
Weight:
52 - 62 lbs.

Colors:
Solid white, fawn, brindle, black, red
Coat:
Short and dense
Temperament:
Courageous; good with children when socialized; compatibility with other pets is questionable
Care and Exercise:
Brush coat with a firm bristle brush and bathe only when necessary. Rubbing of the coat will keep it shiny and clean. Needs plenty of exercise, keep on a leash when in public. Puppies need early socialization to prevent them from becoming dominant.
Health Issues:
Hereditary zinc deficiency. Some puppies are born deaf.
History/Origin:
At one time a ferocious fighter, the Bull Terrier was bred aoround 1830 by crossing the English Bulldog with the now extinct White English Terrier. The aim was to get a lighter, more agile fighting dog. They were successful, but by now the breed has become a polite and obedient dog, with an irresistible sense of humor.
Category:
TerrierRegistries: UCA, AKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI (Group 3), KC (GB), UKCLiving
Environment:
Either Indoor or Outdoor