The following are my thoughts on American Bulldogs; it may help you decide whether this is the breed for you.  I love them, of course, but prospective owners need to be realistic about their expectation of the breed.  Research on the internet, talk to as many breeders as you can, go to dog shows and events to see the dogs in action, and meet the dogs themselves before you make a firm decision. 

Then find a reputable breeder who has the type and temperament of dogs that you want (see below), who fully guarantees their puppies in writing, and who raises and keeps their dogs in the home (not on a chain or in dirt pens outside).  I encourage you to learn as much as you can BEFORE you reserve your "dream puppy"!  

Other suggested reading to learn more about our breed: the October 2002 issue and April 2006 issue of Dog Fancy magazine (www.dogfancy.com), the November 2002 issue of Dog World magazine (www.dogworldmag.com), Lem Miller's book The American Bulldog-stories, facts and legends (www.joshuakennels.com) and Dave Putnam's book The Working American Bulldog (www.amazon.com).  

*****NEWS FLASH*****

My girl DEVON is featured as the representative of the American Bulldog breed in Liz Palika's book "The Howell Book of Dogs" a hard cover 300-breed reference book sold through Amazon.com, for sale beginning August 27, 2008 (www.amazon.com)  WOW !!!!!  

American Bulldogs are large, muscular, strikingly handsome dogs that descend from Mastiffs (Molossers) and are the "original" form of the Bulldog, bred centuries ago in England by cattle ranchers, farmers and butchers.  These strong, tough-as-nails dogs were bred to herd, catch, and take down bulls by biting them on the snout and holding on, sometimes flipping them onto the ground.  They emigrated to the southern United States from England, and were used as farm dogs, their duties include herding, controlling and catching large and small livestock, and guarding their property against intruders.   

In addition to being farm and catch dogs, American Bulldogs are also loyal house pets who bond intensely to their families.  They love being a part of the family, and have a special affinity for children.  They enjoy going for rides in the car, walks in the park, camping, hiking and visiting friends and other dogs.  They are doing very well in all areas of the show ring, competing in conformation and performance events, and showing other breeds just what they are made of! 

Like with all breeds, responsible American Bulldog breeders choose pedigrees, structures and temperaments of dogs which display the attributes that they find appealing.  Some breeders want hog-catching dogs, some want high-drive "sport" dogs to show in Schutzhund, Ring Sport, and other "bite work" type events, and others are attracted to weight-pulling.  

I love the breed for it's versatility, and my focus is to have dogs that are premier house pets, athletic companions and family guardians.  My Bulldogs are from the Performance (Standard) & Old Southern White pedigrees, which represent the most original form of the ancient Bulldogs.  My dogs have wonderful temperaments, are very outgoing and friendly, are great family pets, and can also be worked and shown in obedience, conformation, agility, herding, and Therapy Dog activities.  I do not have "sport" dogs in my breeding program; if you desire a dog to do "bite work" you should contact breeders with that type of Bulldog.  In that same vein, if you just want a sweet family pet, getting a high-drive puppy from a "sport" dog breeder could likely be a huge mistake.         

American Bulldogs should be happy, outgoing, confident dogs that get along well with children, adults, and other animals.  Although quite dominant, this breed should not be "dog-aggressive"; they should not want to start a fight, but as they are gutsy Bulldogs, won't back down from one if challenged, so need an owner who can control them properly.  They are very loyal, loving dogs who bond intensely to their families and will protect them no matter what.  They need lots of socialization (especially as puppies), and require firm, consistent, positive obedience training on an ongoing basis from the time they step a "paw" in their new home.  They are quite trainable, intelligent and biddable, but can be stubborn.  As puppies, if not given plenty to do, they can be destructive chewers and diggers, but once mature, should be very well-behaved and obedient.  They should be calm indoors and should welcome friends into your home, but as they are a guardian breed, will protect you and your property with everything they've got.  They love their "people" and need to be in the home and part of the family, and should not be kept chained outside or stuck in a pen 24 hours a day.  They have a strong prey drive, which suits them well for playtime, obedience, agility, herding, and other performance events; it also means they can chase and maul small pets if not raised with them (my dogs have been raised with other pets and are just fine).  They are extremely athletic, and enjoy an active lifestyle with their owners; they need a fair amount of exercise to stay fit, happy, healthy and strong.  They have a short, smooth, handsome coat which is easy to keep clean and requires little brushing, but they do shed short, stiff hairs on your clothing.  And sometimes they snore!        

There are health issues that can occur in the American Bulldog (like any breed or mixed breed),  the most prevelant and devastating being Canine Hip Dyslpasia (CHD) which can result in Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD).  Other issues can include elbow dysplasia, eye disease and eye problems such as entropion eyelids, skin problems such as allergies and mange (which can be a sign of other immune malfunctions), heart murmurs (usually benign), and uni-lateral and bi-lateral deafness (from doubling up on the white/piebald gene).  I have the Performance (Standard) & Old Southern White type American Bulldogs; the Bully (Johnson) type dogs (and some of the "hybrid" type) seem to be plagued with more health issues overall, such as more hip and elbow dysplasia, breathing difficulties, and entropion and ectropion eyelids.  Please contact your local veterinarian, and AVMA, PennHIP, OFA and CERF (links on this website) for more information about breed-specific health issues.  Buying from a reputable breeder who health-screens and certifies their breeding stock and warranties their puppies, gives you the highest likelihood of getting a healthy puppy.    

American Bulldogs tend to have very dominant personalities and are very physically strong (especially the males, which can be 90'-120'), so are WAY TOO MUCH DOG for some people; I would not recommend placing one with a first-time, inexperienced dog owner or someone who doesn't have the strength or attitude to properly deal with this type of dog.  American Bulldogs tend to love children, but as with any type of dog, they need to be taught manners around kids, and kids need to be taught manners around the dogs.  American Bulldogs are very different from breeds such as Golden Retrievers; they require a firm, consistent, loving owner who has a very strong, calm personality.  However, individual dogs (of any breed or mixed-breed) have individual personalities just like people do, and need to be dealt with accordingly.  Environment plays a huge role in how any type of dog turns out, and thus raising a dog with the proper care, socialization, training and love will generally turn out a pretty good dog. 

***Also- I highly recommend reading the book "Cesar's Way" by Cesar Millan ("the dog whisperer"); it is an excellent book and is filled with important information on successful dog ownership.   

American Bulldogs are large, strong, active, loyal dogs who really LOVE their families, and are a joy to work and play with.  They have comical personalities and an inquisitive nature, and once you have one, you'll see why so many folks love this breed!