Breeds / Large
Australasian Bosdog puppies
Loyal and notably steady, with a fierce look that does not match the character underneath. Outgoing and openly affectionate with its own people, though some individuals will not tolerate pushy behaviour from other dogs.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin Australia
- Adult weight 26 to 35 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 57 to 77 lb
- Adult height 44 to 50 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short smooth
- Typical lifespan 9 to 12 years
- Good with children Usually good
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
Where these come from:
- dogsnz.org.nz for adult weight and height, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings and coat type
- dogsnsw.org.au for life expectancy, country of origin and health notes
About the Australasian Bosdog
The Australasian Bosdog is a thickset, short faced companion breed developed in Australia from the early 1990s, when breeders blended the British Bulldog with several other breeds to produce a dog that could cope with a hot climate. Dogs Australia and Dogs New Zealand both list it in the Non Sporting group. The result is a powerful, medium sized dog of roughly 44 to 50 centimetres that reads as formidable and turns out to be stable, predictable and affectionate at home.
Living with one is straightforward. The smooth coat wants little more than a weekly going over and a bath when it gets grubby. Exercise needs are genuine but modest, so a decent daily walk and some play will cover them. What the breed does need is company, because it was bred to sit with the family rather than to work alone. New owners read the broad head and heavy front as a guard dog brief and underestimate how much socialisation a powerfully built dog needs around other dogs.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Australasian Bosdog 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 is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its 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 dysplasia, which responsible breeders screen breeding stock for by x-ray before mating
- Elbow dysplasia, found by scoring x-rays of the front limbs in breeding animals
- Eye conditions, picked up by an examination from a veterinary ophthalmologist
- Heat and exercise intolerance linked to the short muzzle, judged by watching how quickly the dog recovers its breathing after work on a warm day
- Exaggeration of the short face or heavy build, which the breed standard asks breeders and judges to avoid because it harms health and soundness
From Australasian Bosdog breed information at https://www.dogsnsw.org.au/breeds/browse-all-breeds/australasian-bosdog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Australasian Bosdog 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 Australasian Bosdog.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 26 to 35 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other large breeds
Previous: Aussiedoodle · Next: Australian Cattle Dog
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.