The American Bulldog and the English Bulldog are relatives. It is said that the breed was originally brought to America by European immigrants. Over the course of a hundred years of breeding, the English Bulldog changed greatly, while the American Bulldog retained more of the ancestral type. This breed is strong, fierce, and makes a very good guard dog.
What is the American Bulldog?
When nineteenth-century European immigrants settled in North America, they brought their dogs with them, including bulldogs. The American Bulldog is the descendant of those dogs, and it has changed relatively little over the past two hundred years. Compared with the French Bulldog and the English Bulldog, the American Bulldog is closer to what many people consider the ideal or original bulldog form. Many schools, including Georgetown University and Yale University, have even used bulldog imagery as mascots, and the American Bulldog’s intimidating appearance and power have become symbols for many sports teams.
American Bulldog training
The goal of training an American Bulldog is not only to make it obedient, but also to build greater trust and communication between owner and pet so that a healthy interactive relationship develops. For this reason, positive-reinforcement training is recommended, but it requires the owner to invest sufficient time. Many people complain that they do not have enough time, but if there is no time, then it may not yet be the right moment to keep a pet.
Training a bulldog should begin when the puppy is two or three months old. The owner should be loving and patient, so the puppy learns that it must absolutely obey the owner’s commands. When the puppy is cooperative, the owner can stroke along the coat and offer strong praise and encouragement. Consistent verbal commands should be used when teaching actions.
The American Bulldog is not the kind of naturally people-friendly dog that a Golden Retriever is. Its intelligence is often described as lower, and training can be more difficult, making some complex commands hard to teach. However, it is naturally a very good guard dog: loyal to its owner, wary of strangers, and equipped with powerful muscles and a fierce expression. For guarding a home or yard, the American Bulldog is certainly a strong candidate.