APPEARANCE
The American bulldog is a stocky, well built, strong-looking dog, with a large head and a muscular build. Its coat is short and generally smooth. The breed is a light to moderate shedder; however, they should be brushed on a regular basis. Colours, while historically predominantly white with patches of red, black, or brindle, have grown in recent years to include many colour patterns including black, red, brown, fawn, and all shades of brindle. The colour conformation is quite varied, but solid black or any degree of merle is considered a cosmetic fault, and a blue colour is a disqualification by the NKC Breed Standard. Black pigmentation on the nose and eye rims is preferred, with only some pink allowed. Eye colour is usually brown, but heterochromia also occurs, although considered a cosmetic fault. American Bulldogs can be droolers - this varies and is more prevalent in the Bully type, which is generally a larger, heavier dog with a shorter muzzle. Standard or Performance types are generally more athletic with longer muzzles and a more square head. It is important to note that many modern American Bulldogs are a combination of the two types usually termed "hybrid." In general, American Bulldogs weigh between 27 to 54 kg (60 to 120 lb) and are 52 to 70 cm (20 to 28 in) at the withers, but have been known to greatly exceed these dimensions, especially in the "out of standard," nonworking stock.
TEMPERAMENT
American Bulldogs are typically confident, social, and active dogs that are at ease with their families. It is not uncommon for an American Bulldog to require a high level of attention due to their highly emotional personality. They bond strongly with their owners. They are capable of jumping in excess of seven feet vertical due to the dense muscle build of the breed. Young American Bulldogs may be slightly aloof with strangers, but as they mature the breed's normal confidence should assert itself. This breed tolerates children and can do very well with them, provided they are socialized early and understand their limits. The more exposure to good training practices, other dogs, and people, the more likely the success at being controlled both inside and outside of their environment. Early training and socialization both in the home and outside of the home is essential for this breed. One way to help accomplish this goal can be done in the simplest of ways: walking them regularly at local parks. While the goal of the breed was originally to produce a working farm utility dog that could catch and hold wild boar and cattle, kill vermin, and guard an owner's property, when properly trained, exercised and socialized, this breed can become a great family pet.
HEALTH
American Bulldogs generally live from 10 to 16 years, and tend to be strong, physically active, and often healthy. Some health problems in American bulldogs are often found within certain genetic lines, and are not common to the entire breed, while others, such as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), Ichthyosis, disorders of the kidney and thyroid, ACL tears, hip dysplasia, cherry eye, elbow dysplasia, entropion, ectropion, and bone cancer are more common to the general population of American Bulldogs. There are DNA tests available to help breeders screen breeding animals for NCL (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis) and Ichthyosis. It is highly recommended to spend time to research your breeder information, including your American Bulldog's family history. A Penn Hip (Pennsylvania Hip Improvement project) or OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) screening is recommended for all potential breeding animals. Some breeds of American Bulldog are prone to allergies. Symptoms like a runny nose or a rash are examples of signs of allergies. Some vets recommend dog owners to give 25 mg of Benadryl per day; in most cases it helps
Height
Males: 55-70cm (22-28 inches)
Females: 52-65cm (20-26 inches)
Weight
Males: 32-54kg (70-120 pounds)
Females: 27-45kg (60-100 pounds)
DISPOSITION
Alert, outgoing and friendly with a self-assured attitude. Some aloofness with strangers and assertiveness toward other dogs is not considered a fault.
Disqualifications: viciousness or extreme shyness
SIZE
The height and weight should be balanced and proportional to the type.
Bully type
Males - 23 to 25 inches at the withers and weigh between 36 - 54kg (80 to 120lbs).
Females - 22 to 24 inches at the withers and weigh between 27 - 40 kg (60 to 90lbs).
The weight should be proportional to size
Standard type
Males - 24 to 27 inches at the withers and weigh between 34 - 49kg (75 to 110 lbs).
Females - 23 to 26 inches at the withers and weigh between 27- 40kg (60 to 90 lbs).
The weight should be proportional to size.
HEAD
Medium in length and broad across skull with pronounced muscular cheeks.
Bully type
Large and round with a definitive stop preferred.
Standard type
Sleek, box or wedge shaped preferred.
EYES
Medium in size and wide set. Dark brown preferred but other colours acceptable. The haw should not be visible. Full pigmented eye rims preferred.
Cosmetic faults: Pink eye rims, eyes that do not match in colour.
Disqualifications: crossed eyes, divergent strabismus (wall-eyed)
MUZZLE / BITE
: Medium length (2 to 4 in.), square and broad with a strong wide underjaw. Lips should be full but not pendulous - 42 to 44 teeth. American Bulldogs are a working breed and should not be penalized for broken or lost teeth.
Serious faults: pendulous lips, less than 42 teeth
Disqualifications: wry mouth
Bully type
Definite undershot, 1/4 inch preferred. The bite can vary from reverse scissor to 1/2 inch undershot.
Cosmetic faults: uneven incisors.
Serious faults: a muzzle under 2 inches or over 4 inches, more than 1/2 inch undershot
Disqualifications: scissors bite, even bite
Standard type
Tight undershot (reverse scissors) preferred but up to 1/4 inch undershot acceptable.
Cosmetic fault: uneven incisors, even bite, scissor bite
Serious faults: a muzzle under 2 inches or longer than 4 inches, more than 1/4 inch undershot.
NOSE
Black or Liver but black is preferred. On black/liver nosed dogs the lips should be full pigmented with some pink allowed. The nares should be large and open.
Cosmetic faults: a pink nose
Serious faults: pinched nares
EARS
Cropped or uncropped, with uncropped being preferred. Drop, semi-prick, and rose ears are preferred. The ears should be uniform, medium in size, and sit high on the head.
Serious faults: bat ears
Disqualifications: unilateral or bilateral deafness
Drop ears
When the ear is pulled down toward the eye, the ear should not extend past the outside corner of the eye. The tip is slightly rounded and hangs alongside the cheek.
Semi-prick
Ears carried erect with just the tips leaning forward. When the ear is pulled down toward the eye, the ear should not extend past the outside corner of the eye.
Rose ears
Should be small and set high on the head.
NECK
Muscular, medium in length, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to head, with a slight dewlap allowed.
Cosmetic fault: excessive dewlap
Serious faults: necks that is short, long or thin
Bully Type
should be thicker than the Standard Type (slightly smaller than the head).
Standard Type
Should be longer than the Bully Type.
SHOULDERS
Very muscular with wide sloping blades, shoulders set so elbows are not angled out. The shoulders should be well laid back and forms, with the upper arm, an apparent 90 degree angle.
Serious faults: shoulders that are too steep without a lay back
CHEST, BACK & LOIN
The chest should be deep and moderately wide without being excessively wide as to throw the shoulders out. The back should be of medium length, strong and broad. Loins should be slightly tucked which corresponds to a slight roach in the back which slopes to the stern.
Serious faults: sway back, narrow or shallow chest, lack of tuck up excessive roach
Bully Type
Shorter back that is proportional to height with a slight roach.
Standard Type
Slightly longer backed then the Bully Type. A flat topline preferred but a slight roach acceptable.
HINDQUATERS
Very broad and well-muscled and in proportion to the shoulders.
Serious faults: narrow hips, cow hocked, sickled hocked, twisted hocked, well let down hocks, under angulation, over angulation
LEGS
Strong and straight with heavy bone. Front legs should not set too close together or too far apart. Rear legs should have a visible angulation of the stifle joint.
Serious faults: in at the elbows, excessively bowlegged, fiddle-chested
FEET
Of moderate size, toes of medium length, well arched and close together, not splayed. Pasterns should be strong, straight and upright.
Serious faults: hare foot, paper foot, splayed foot, crooked toes
TAIL
Set low, thick at the root, tapering to a point to the top of the hock. Tail should not curl over back. The natural tail is preferred but a docked tail is acceptable.
Serious faults: screw tails, kinked tails, a tail that comes to a complete curl
COAT
Short, close, stiff to the touch, not long and/or fuzzy with no feathering.
COLOUR
All white, pied, or up to 85% colour (brindle, red/fawn, black), if there is colour on the head it should appear to be colour on a white head.
Disqualifications: less than 15% white, blue, black and tan, tri-colour, merle, full black mask
MOVEMENT
The gait is balanced and smooth, powerful and unhindered suggesting agility with easy, ground covering strides, showing strong driving action in the hind quarters with corresponding reach in front. As speed increases the feet move toward the centre line of the body to maintain balance. Ideally the dog should single-track. The top line remains firm and level, parallel to the line of motion. Head and tail carriage should reflect that of a proud, confident and alert animal.
Movement faults: Any suggestion of clumsiness, tossing and/or rolling of the body, crossing or interference of front or rear legs, short or stilted steps, twisting joints, pacing, paddling, or weaving. Similar movement faults are to be penalized according to the degree to which they interfere with the ability of the dog to work.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
- Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism
- Viciousness or extreme shyness
- Crossed Eyes
- Divergent Strabismus (Wall-Eyed)
- Wry mouth
- An even or scissors bite in Bully Type
- Unilateral or bilateral deafness
- Less than 15% white
- Blue colour
- Black and tan
- Tri-colour
- Merle
- Full black mask
Fault Degrees
A cosmetic fault is one of a minor nature. A fault not specified as cosmetic has to do with structure as it relates to a working dog. In a show or other evaluation, the dog is to be penalized in direct proportion to the degree of the fault. Any fault, which is extreme, should be considered a serious fault and should be penalized appropriately. We have not included a line drawing of a Bully type or Standard type American Bulldog because the drawing could not take into account the variations acceptable in the working American Bulldog. Attributes, other than cosmetic, listed in the standard all relate to working qualities which include but are not limited to agility, endurance, leverage, biting power and heat tolerance.
American Bulldogs in popular culture
* Spike and Tyke from the Tom and Jerry franchise.
* Chance from the feature film, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. Suregrips Rattler (Chance) was only in the first Homeward Bound movie.
* The Deftones' video "Bloody Cape" featured a model walking an American Bulldog down the street. The American Bulldog was actually played by two separate dogs from the Norcal's American Bulldog Kennel. The names of the dogs were Big Trouble and Tory Hesta.
* In the 2001 film Kevin of the North one of Kevin Manley's sled dogs is an American Bulldog named Snowflake.
* Cheaper by the Dozen
* Nedd ("Nasty Evil Dead Dog") in The Number 23
* In "Return to Me" 2000 "Mel", David Duchovny’s character’s dog, was played by an American Bulldog named Peetey.
* In "Tucker and Dale vs Evil" 2010, "Jangers", Tyler Labine's character’s dog, starred an American Bulldog named Weezer.
* Although the original Petey from Hal Roach's Our Gang was an American Pit Bull, in the 1994 film remake, The Little Rascals, Petey was played by an American Bulldog.
* An American Bulldog features prominently as the titular character's companion in the 2013 film Joe.
The American bulldog is a stocky, well built, strong-looking dog, with a large head and a muscular build. Its coat is short and generally smooth. The breed is a light to moderate shedder; however, they should be brushed on a regular basis. Colours, while historically predominantly white with patches of red, black, or brindle, have grown in recent years to include many colour patterns including black, red, brown, fawn, and all shades of brindle. The colour conformation is quite varied, but solid black or any degree of merle is considered a cosmetic fault, and a blue colour is a disqualification by the NKC Breed Standard. Black pigmentation on the nose and eye rims is preferred, with only some pink allowed. Eye colour is usually brown, but heterochromia also occurs, although considered a cosmetic fault. American Bulldogs can be droolers - this varies and is more prevalent in the Bully type, which is generally a larger, heavier dog with a shorter muzzle. Standard or Performance types are generally more athletic with longer muzzles and a more square head. It is important to note that many modern American Bulldogs are a combination of the two types usually termed "hybrid." In general, American Bulldogs weigh between 27 to 54 kg (60 to 120 lb) and are 52 to 70 cm (20 to 28 in) at the withers, but have been known to greatly exceed these dimensions, especially in the "out of standard," nonworking stock.
TEMPERAMENT
American Bulldogs are typically confident, social, and active dogs that are at ease with their families. It is not uncommon for an American Bulldog to require a high level of attention due to their highly emotional personality. They bond strongly with their owners. They are capable of jumping in excess of seven feet vertical due to the dense muscle build of the breed. Young American Bulldogs may be slightly aloof with strangers, but as they mature the breed's normal confidence should assert itself. This breed tolerates children and can do very well with them, provided they are socialized early and understand their limits. The more exposure to good training practices, other dogs, and people, the more likely the success at being controlled both inside and outside of their environment. Early training and socialization both in the home and outside of the home is essential for this breed. One way to help accomplish this goal can be done in the simplest of ways: walking them regularly at local parks. While the goal of the breed was originally to produce a working farm utility dog that could catch and hold wild boar and cattle, kill vermin, and guard an owner's property, when properly trained, exercised and socialized, this breed can become a great family pet.
HEALTH
American Bulldogs generally live from 10 to 16 years, and tend to be strong, physically active, and often healthy. Some health problems in American bulldogs are often found within certain genetic lines, and are not common to the entire breed, while others, such as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), Ichthyosis, disorders of the kidney and thyroid, ACL tears, hip dysplasia, cherry eye, elbow dysplasia, entropion, ectropion, and bone cancer are more common to the general population of American Bulldogs. There are DNA tests available to help breeders screen breeding animals for NCL (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis) and Ichthyosis. It is highly recommended to spend time to research your breeder information, including your American Bulldog's family history. A Penn Hip (Pennsylvania Hip Improvement project) or OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) screening is recommended for all potential breeding animals. Some breeds of American Bulldog are prone to allergies. Symptoms like a runny nose or a rash are examples of signs of allergies. Some vets recommend dog owners to give 25 mg of Benadryl per day; in most cases it helps
Height
Males: 55-70cm (22-28 inches)
Females: 52-65cm (20-26 inches)
Weight
Males: 32-54kg (70-120 pounds)
Females: 27-45kg (60-100 pounds)
DISPOSITION
Alert, outgoing and friendly with a self-assured attitude. Some aloofness with strangers and assertiveness toward other dogs is not considered a fault.
Disqualifications: viciousness or extreme shyness
SIZE
The height and weight should be balanced and proportional to the type.
Bully type
Males - 23 to 25 inches at the withers and weigh between 36 - 54kg (80 to 120lbs).
Females - 22 to 24 inches at the withers and weigh between 27 - 40 kg (60 to 90lbs).
The weight should be proportional to size
Standard type
Males - 24 to 27 inches at the withers and weigh between 34 - 49kg (75 to 110 lbs).
Females - 23 to 26 inches at the withers and weigh between 27- 40kg (60 to 90 lbs).
The weight should be proportional to size.
HEAD
Medium in length and broad across skull with pronounced muscular cheeks.
Bully type
Large and round with a definitive stop preferred.
Standard type
Sleek, box or wedge shaped preferred.
EYES
Medium in size and wide set. Dark brown preferred but other colours acceptable. The haw should not be visible. Full pigmented eye rims preferred.
Cosmetic faults: Pink eye rims, eyes that do not match in colour.
Disqualifications: crossed eyes, divergent strabismus (wall-eyed)
MUZZLE / BITE
: Medium length (2 to 4 in.), square and broad with a strong wide underjaw. Lips should be full but not pendulous - 42 to 44 teeth. American Bulldogs are a working breed and should not be penalized for broken or lost teeth.
Serious faults: pendulous lips, less than 42 teeth
Disqualifications: wry mouth
Bully type
Definite undershot, 1/4 inch preferred. The bite can vary from reverse scissor to 1/2 inch undershot.
Cosmetic faults: uneven incisors.
Serious faults: a muzzle under 2 inches or over 4 inches, more than 1/2 inch undershot
Disqualifications: scissors bite, even bite
Standard type
Tight undershot (reverse scissors) preferred but up to 1/4 inch undershot acceptable.
Cosmetic fault: uneven incisors, even bite, scissor bite
Serious faults: a muzzle under 2 inches or longer than 4 inches, more than 1/4 inch undershot.
NOSE
Black or Liver but black is preferred. On black/liver nosed dogs the lips should be full pigmented with some pink allowed. The nares should be large and open.
Cosmetic faults: a pink nose
Serious faults: pinched nares
EARS
Cropped or uncropped, with uncropped being preferred. Drop, semi-prick, and rose ears are preferred. The ears should be uniform, medium in size, and sit high on the head.
Serious faults: bat ears
Disqualifications: unilateral or bilateral deafness
Drop ears
When the ear is pulled down toward the eye, the ear should not extend past the outside corner of the eye. The tip is slightly rounded and hangs alongside the cheek.
Semi-prick
Ears carried erect with just the tips leaning forward. When the ear is pulled down toward the eye, the ear should not extend past the outside corner of the eye.
Rose ears
Should be small and set high on the head.
NECK
Muscular, medium in length, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to head, with a slight dewlap allowed.
Cosmetic fault: excessive dewlap
Serious faults: necks that is short, long or thin
Bully Type
should be thicker than the Standard Type (slightly smaller than the head).
Standard Type
Should be longer than the Bully Type.
SHOULDERS
Very muscular with wide sloping blades, shoulders set so elbows are not angled out. The shoulders should be well laid back and forms, with the upper arm, an apparent 90 degree angle.
Serious faults: shoulders that are too steep without a lay back
CHEST, BACK & LOIN
The chest should be deep and moderately wide without being excessively wide as to throw the shoulders out. The back should be of medium length, strong and broad. Loins should be slightly tucked which corresponds to a slight roach in the back which slopes to the stern.
Serious faults: sway back, narrow or shallow chest, lack of tuck up excessive roach
Bully Type
Shorter back that is proportional to height with a slight roach.
Standard Type
Slightly longer backed then the Bully Type. A flat topline preferred but a slight roach acceptable.
HINDQUATERS
Very broad and well-muscled and in proportion to the shoulders.
Serious faults: narrow hips, cow hocked, sickled hocked, twisted hocked, well let down hocks, under angulation, over angulation
LEGS
Strong and straight with heavy bone. Front legs should not set too close together or too far apart. Rear legs should have a visible angulation of the stifle joint.
Serious faults: in at the elbows, excessively bowlegged, fiddle-chested
FEET
Of moderate size, toes of medium length, well arched and close together, not splayed. Pasterns should be strong, straight and upright.
Serious faults: hare foot, paper foot, splayed foot, crooked toes
TAIL
Set low, thick at the root, tapering to a point to the top of the hock. Tail should not curl over back. The natural tail is preferred but a docked tail is acceptable.
Serious faults: screw tails, kinked tails, a tail that comes to a complete curl
COAT
Short, close, stiff to the touch, not long and/or fuzzy with no feathering.
COLOUR
All white, pied, or up to 85% colour (brindle, red/fawn, black), if there is colour on the head it should appear to be colour on a white head.
Disqualifications: less than 15% white, blue, black and tan, tri-colour, merle, full black mask
MOVEMENT
The gait is balanced and smooth, powerful and unhindered suggesting agility with easy, ground covering strides, showing strong driving action in the hind quarters with corresponding reach in front. As speed increases the feet move toward the centre line of the body to maintain balance. Ideally the dog should single-track. The top line remains firm and level, parallel to the line of motion. Head and tail carriage should reflect that of a proud, confident and alert animal.
Movement faults: Any suggestion of clumsiness, tossing and/or rolling of the body, crossing or interference of front or rear legs, short or stilted steps, twisting joints, pacing, paddling, or weaving. Similar movement faults are to be penalized according to the degree to which they interfere with the ability of the dog to work.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
- Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism
- Viciousness or extreme shyness
- Crossed Eyes
- Divergent Strabismus (Wall-Eyed)
- Wry mouth
- An even or scissors bite in Bully Type
- Unilateral or bilateral deafness
- Less than 15% white
- Blue colour
- Black and tan
- Tri-colour
- Merle
- Full black mask
Fault Degrees
A cosmetic fault is one of a minor nature. A fault not specified as cosmetic has to do with structure as it relates to a working dog. In a show or other evaluation, the dog is to be penalized in direct proportion to the degree of the fault. Any fault, which is extreme, should be considered a serious fault and should be penalized appropriately. We have not included a line drawing of a Bully type or Standard type American Bulldog because the drawing could not take into account the variations acceptable in the working American Bulldog. Attributes, other than cosmetic, listed in the standard all relate to working qualities which include but are not limited to agility, endurance, leverage, biting power and heat tolerance.
American Bulldogs in popular culture
* Spike and Tyke from the Tom and Jerry franchise.
* Chance from the feature film, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. Suregrips Rattler (Chance) was only in the first Homeward Bound movie.
* The Deftones' video "Bloody Cape" featured a model walking an American Bulldog down the street. The American Bulldog was actually played by two separate dogs from the Norcal's American Bulldog Kennel. The names of the dogs were Big Trouble and Tory Hesta.
* In the 2001 film Kevin of the North one of Kevin Manley's sled dogs is an American Bulldog named Snowflake.
* Cheaper by the Dozen
* Nedd ("Nasty Evil Dead Dog") in The Number 23
* In "Return to Me" 2000 "Mel", David Duchovny’s character’s dog, was played by an American Bulldog named Peetey.
* In "Tucker and Dale vs Evil" 2010, "Jangers", Tyler Labine's character’s dog, starred an American Bulldog named Weezer.
* Although the original Petey from Hal Roach's Our Gang was an American Pit Bull, in the 1994 film remake, The Little Rascals, Petey was played by an American Bulldog.
* An American Bulldog features prominently as the titular character's companion in the 2013 film Joe.