The American Bulldog developed as a farmer’s catch-dog (catching animals such as hogs and bulls) who doubled as a home protection dog. This is a true American breed, first developed in the Alabama/Georgia areas. Large and powerful, and with very strong-wills, they are not for the faint of heart. Prospective owners must be prepared to socialize early and train regularly in order to bring out the good citizen in each dog. When raised correctly they are exceptionally loyal, friendly to those they know, and almost eerily smart. The American Bulldog does have a clownish side which they will pull out when exceptionally happy.
When well-bred and raised, the American Bulldog should never be an aggressive dog. Any protective reactions should be purely based on an actual threat. This is not a skittish breed, nor is he known for snapping because someone accidentally stepped on his tail. The breed is powerful, brave and quite capable of doing damage if necessary but should have a good head on his shoulders to stop him from needlessly hurting someone. This makes him a great blend of reliable companion and take-charge protection dog – again, provided the dog has been raised the right way.
American Bulldogs are intelligent creatures but tend to have assertive personalities. They must be given obedience training and taught household rules from a young age. Firm boundaries are paramount! Even owners who want the dog as a guard dog should still train in obedience (actually, this makes obedience even more important!). Specialized protection training is not normally needed as they have such high protective instincts naturally. This said, someone wanting to get into one of the protection sports can do so but only provided they find a trainer who is very familiar working with the unique qualities of this breed. 
The American Bulldogs does tend to be dog-aggressive and can be very difficult to live with multiple dogs – particularly two the of the same sex. This is an extremely fearless and driven dog (with a high pain tolerance, to boot) that can get in some very bad fights. It is therefore recommended to only have in single-dog households unless extremely experienced and possibly willing to keep the dogs apart from each other forever.
The American Bulldog, despite his bulky build, is actually a very athletic animal with plenty of endurance. An impressive jumping ability combined with brute strength and surprising agility, he is still as able to do many varied tasks today as he was in day’s past as a utility farm dog. This is in stark contrast to today’s (English) Bulldog of which he is descended from. Because of this, he does require extensive exercise to remain fit and happy. Hiking, jogging and games which are both mentally as well as physically stimulating are required. Without enough exercise, this high-energy dog will invariably develop behavior problems.
American Bulldogs are easily groomed with only minimal maintenance needed. While regular grooming is still important, the majority of their care should be more focused on training and exercise. Health-wise, make sure to limit intensive exercise in puppies until the growth plates close to minimize injury and long-term problems. The breed is prone to both Hip and Elbow Dysplasia so it is a good idea to take these precautions. They are also prone to allergies and a small handful of other afflictions such as Canine Multifocal Retinopathy, Hyperuricosuria and Ichthyosis. Make sure to research breeders and the dogs they use in order to find a healthy puppy, but remember that there is no guarantee that any puppy or dog will be free of all health issues (this goes for all purebreds and mixed breeds).
