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American Bulldog
The American Bulldog is a breed of working dog developed for catching livestock and for protecting property.
Appearance : The American Bulldog is a stocky, strong-looking dog. Its coat is short and either white or white with patches. There are generally considered to be two types of American Bulldog, the Johnson type and the Scott type. These are named after the breeders who were influential in developing them, John D. Johnson and Allen Scott. The Johnson type is a larger dog with a shorter muzzle than the Scott type. However, many modern American Bulldogs are a combination of the two types. Generally speaking, American Bulldogs weigh between 27-54 kg (60-100 lbs) and are 52-70 cm (20-28 inches) at the withers. Confusion with other breeds : Often mistaken for its second cousin the American Pit Bull Terrier because of its appearance, and for its much smaller European relatives because of its name, the American Bulldog is different from any of these. The American Bulldog is massive in comparison to the French Bulldog or English Bulldog and were never bred to be lap dogs (and they can't even fit onto one.) The American Bulldog does resemble the pit bull type breeds on many points, such as being muscular dogs that can be all white or white with patches. However, the pit bull's head is in the shape of a wedge coming to a more rounded point at the muzzle, whereas an American Bulldog's is box-shaped. The American Bulldog's ears are also typically uncropped, and it is heavier. Temperament : An American Bulldog is typically friendly and assertive, but also a little wary of strangers and stubborn. They are quite fond of children but, because of their size and high energy tendencies, they should be supervised with small children. They bond strongly with their master and family but, because of strong guarding instincts and a somewhat dominant attitude, they need a firm hand; they should be socialized and obedience trained early to expose them to other dogs and people and to ensure they can be controlled around company as they get older. They need room to expend their energy and so do best in a home with a backyard. They are not always good around cats. History : In England during the 17th and 18th centuries, early bulldogs were used on farms to catch and hold escaped livestock and also as butcher's dogs; it was believed then that sending a dog out after a bull would tenderize the meat. This eventually led to the bloodsport of bull-baiting, popular with the poor and rural areas for both entertainment as a bloodsport and the potential for gambling. These practices extended not only to the British Isles but also to the colonies she accquired during this time, including what is now the United States and in particular the South; many of the settlers brought their dogs with them to help around the farm, hunt in the woods, and to gamble. In 1835, the sport of bull-baiting was outlawed in the United Kingdom and over time the English Bulldog became the more compact and complacent version known today, but the much more athletic American strain continued on much the same in the rural South even as its popularity declined in favor of other breeds. By World War Two the breed was near extinction until John Johnson and Allen Scott scoured the backroads of the South looking for the best specimens to revive the breed. Today the American Bulldog is safe from extinction and is enjoying a healthy increase in popularity both as a working dog and as a loving family pet. In the South and West they are used as "hog dogs" (dogs used in the catching of escaped pigs and/or hunting razorbacks) and are also used in tracking, driving cattle, and weight pulling.
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