American Bulldog puppies

About the American Bulldog

The American Bulldog descends from the working bulldogs that farmers in the southern United States kept for catching stock and guarding property, and they stayed in that job while the show Bulldog was bred into something else entirely. This is a tall, heavy, athletic dog, 51 to 64 centimetres at the shoulder, with a longer muzzle and longer legs than their English cousin and a short smooth coat. Temperament is confident and steady with the family and watchful with strangers.

This is an athlete and needs working like one: jogs, hikes, tug games and training sessions, with low impact exercise only while a puppy is still growing. Grooming is a weekly brush and a bath when they get dirty. Leaving one alone in a back garden reliably produces behaviour problems from pent up energy. With children they rate three out of five, so supervise and socialise. Choose with more than your eyes and put the training in early, because this is a powerful dog that needs boundaries from the start.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a American Bulldog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
• Ichthyosis, an inherited skin condition that makes the outer layer of skin flake and itch
• Allergic skin disease, showing as itching, fur loss, red skin and recurring infections
• Ear infections, often secondary to allergies and to wax build up
• Other inherited disease, which breeders should pre screen breeding pairs for

Your American Bulldog puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a American Bulldog.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 27.2 to 45.4 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 45.4 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other large breeds

More on the American Bulldog

Previous: Alaskan Malamute · Next: American Bully

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes
• Health notes from American Bulldog breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-bulldog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Mike5p0, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.