American Bulldogs are excellent family dogs and are also kid-friendly. That said, they are suspicious of strangers and will adopt a protective stance when it comes to their family. This is a big, strong muscular breed, and as such its mere appearance makes it a good guard dog.
| Weight (pounds) Male: 75-100 Female: 80-80 | Height (inches) Male: 22-25 Female: 20-23 | Lifespan (years) 10-12 | Dog Breed Group Foundation Stock Service breed |
Characteristics Ratings
We rate 19 characteristics for each breed, divided into three categories:
Highest Rated – Characteristics for which this breed is rated 4 or 5 stars (on a 5 star scale).
Neutral Rated – Characteristics that rated 3 stars.
Lowest Rated – Characteristics that rated only 1 or 2 stars.
Highest Rated
- Good Family Dog
- Kid Friendly
- Low Shedding
- Low Drooling
- Easy to Train
- Low Amount of Barking
Neutral Rated
- Good With Other Dogs
- Protective Nature
- High Energy Level
- Good General Health
- High Intelligence
Lowest Rated
- Friendly to Strangers
- Likes to Play
- Handles Change Easily
- Suitable For Small Yards/Apartments
- Good For Novice Owners
- Tolerates Being Left Alone
- Tolerates Cold Climate
- Tolerates Hot Climate
Sadly, the American Bulldog is often mistaken for the American Staffordshire Terrier (AKA Pitbull), a breed with an unfortunate reputation. This means that they may be banned in certain communities and by certain insurance companies, even though they are a completely different breed from the Pitbull.
American Bulldogs are gentle and affectionate and love to sit on your lap. They are low maintenance from a grooming standpoint and have comical personalities that will keep you constantly entertained with their antics.
These are also intelligent dogs with a mind of their own, who will try to be the pack leader if you let them. As such, proper and early training is needed and thus they are not a good choice for first-time dog owners. Fortunately, their intelligence makes them easy to train if done skillfully and at the right age.
Also, know that their energy and inquisitiveness mean they can get bored easily. If ignored or left alone for long, they may express this boredom with barking, chewing, or other destructive behaviors that you will not appreciate.
If socialized early and trained properly, your American Bulldog will be an affectionate, loyal and devoted companion.