American Bulldog

• Bathing: Plan on bathing your dog about once a month or so. However, if your American Bulldog took an unexpected roll in mud or is just a little stinkier than usual, it’s time to suds up. 
• Brushing: American Bulldogs have short coats, so weekly brushing sessions with a bristle brush are often enough to achieve smooth and shiny fur. Don’t worry too much about shedding; these pups shed lightly, so brushing will help their loose fur come off naturally. 
• Dental care: It’s ideal to brush your dog’s teeth daily. Get a pro cleaning at your vet once a year.  
• Ear and nail care: Trim their nails every couple of weeks, and clean their ears once a month (but only if needed—your vet can tell you when and how to clean).  

When it comes to training, American Bulldog puppies need a confident pup parent who uses positive reinforcement to teach various skills, such as how to walk nicely on a leash and come when called. Start training your American Bulldog puppy at 7–8 weeks of age with simple cues like sit, stay, and come. (If you adopt them when they’re older, it’s never too late to learn.)  

American Bulldogs are very smart dogs. So if it takes them a while to get the hang of things, it’s not for lack of intelligence, but more so because they can be a bit independent-minded. They learn best from pet parents who are consistent and patient with their lessons. Once you understand what works for them, training becomes easy.  

Regular socialization with other dogs and people is crucial, as is introducing them to new places (think public parks, dog parks, and hiking trails). These social interactions give your dog a chance to explore a variety of environments and situations, all of which they’ll probably come to love. 

The best food for American Bulldogs is a high-quality formula that’s AAFCO-compliant for your dog’s life stage (puppy, adult, or senior). 

Feed an American Bulldog puppy large-breed puppy food for their first 14 months to support slow but consistent growth. Skip food or supplements with calcium—which could cause the bones of these bigger dogs to develop too quickly—until your pooch is fully grown. As always, check with your vet to help you choose a complete and balanced dog food. 

Once your dog is an adult, ask your vet if you need to add supplements to support joint health.  

Treats are an essential part of positive reinforcement training, but remember that they count toward calories, too. Treats should never be more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories.  

Even though they have only a moderate energy level, American Bulldogs still need a lot of exercise. They’ll love structured walks and other low-impact activities that engage both their mind and body.  

Get out of the house two to three times a day for playtime or walks that last between 20–30 minutes. (Walks, not runs, are great—these dogs aren’t known for their speed.) Trainers often suggest skipping the dog park in favor of more structured play for this breed, but if your dog really loves seeing his friends at the dog run and is happy afterward, then go for it.  

Also try hiding treats in the house or giving your dog a puzzle toy—this will help to stimulate their mind and keep them entertained. Simple games like fetch are also great for the American Bulldog, as are lower-impact dog sports like agility training or nose work.  

If American Bulldogs don’t get enough exercise, they just might find their own way to make fun—and you (and your shoes) might not appreciate it. So, give them the fun activities they deserve.  

Both city and country homes will suit the American Bulldog if you can offer enough exercise and playtime.

Families are also a great match for this loyal, intelligent breed—but single people make great pet parents, too. What’s most important is that they have someone with the time to give them two to three walks a day and lots of regular playtime indoors (or in a yard).  

These pups don’t like to be bored, so make sure they have lots of toys; they also aren’t happy being left home alone for long periods of time. If you work long hours, they may be candidates for doggy daycare, or you could hire a dog walker to stop by to hang out and take them from a midday, neighborhood stroll.  

The American Bulldog will probably love your kids, but because they’re likely to be much bigger than them, it might feel easy for very small children to feel overwhelmed. For this reason, it’s smart to supervise playtime to make sure no one gets inadvertently knocked over.  

Proper socialization is a must for teaching these smart canines how to spend time with your entire family, and children also need to be taught how to interact gently with dogs (and not treat them like plushies, no matter how cute they are).  

As for cats, they’re probably not the best fit for American Bulldogs. That said, another dog could be a potential BFF if they’re both socialized and introduced correctly.