American Bandogge -- American Bulldog X Mastiff

		American Bandogge
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			U.S.A. <> Great Britain -> U.S.A.
This breed is also known as			Bandogge Américain Mastiff Swinford Bandogge Pit Bullmastiff

A brief presentation of the American Bandogge

This hybrid dog breed was created by combining an American Bulldog and a Mastiff. The result is a large, muscular dog that, although it may appear intimidating, can in fact be a gentle and loyal companion, provided it receives proper training and socialization. These dogs are intelligent and will be easy to train, but they need an experienced master who knows how to communicate with dogs and show them that they are the masters. These dogs are considered giants and have a moderate activity level. It's therefore important that they get some exercise, otherwise they risk becoming lazy or destructive. Their shedding level is moderate but they are easy to groom, although they are known to drool and have a doggy smell.

History of the American Bandogge

The American Bandogge is a cross between an American Bulldog and a Mastiff, of which there are several varieties. They were originally bred by Swinford, who was a veterinarian in the 1960s, with the aim of creating the best possible dog for protection.
It is generally believed that the first of these designer breeds were made with 50% American Pitbull Terrier and 50% Molesse.
Today, however, there are several other combinations that are recognized as an American Bandogge. An American Pitbull Terrier crossed with an English Mastiff is another combination sometimes used. There is a similar hybrid breed called the Pit Bullmastiff, which is the combination of a Pitbull Terrier and a Bullmastiff.
The American Bulldog and Mastiff have been officially recognized as the breeds used to create the American Bandogge within the American Canine Hybrid Club. However, in the Designer Dogs Kennel Club, the resulting dog is known as the American Masti-Bull. The most common and successful way to breed these dogs is to use an American Pit Bull Terrier male and cross him with a Neapolitan Mastiff female. The Bandogge part of this dog's name comes from the term Bandog, which was used by the Saxons in Old English. This word means chain, and became part of the name of these dogs because they were usually tied or chained during the day and released at night to fulfill their duties as guard dogs.

	A little of the American Bulldog
	The American Bulldog is the closest relative of the English Bulldog in the USA, having arrived in the 1800s with immigrants to the country who brought their dogs with them. In the Americas, this line of Bulldog was popular as a working dog for farmers and ranchers in the Deep South. During the war, the breed almost disappeared, the surviving dogs being kept on farms mainly in the southeast, where they protected the farm and worked as cattle and herding dogs. John D. Johnson of Summerville, Georgia, was the main person responsible for preventing the breed's extinction by collecting and breeding the best examples of the breed he could find.

	Presentation of the American Bulldog
	A little of the Mastiff
	Mastiffs are impressive dogs, renowned for their giant skulls and ability to weigh over 100 kg. Mastiffs are descended from an ancient type of dog called Molossers, large, muscular Asian working dogs. They were employed by men to guard their property and work alongside their livestock, toiling to earn a living. Some dogs would inevitably have been used for fighting, both in warfare and in the dog fights of ancient times. Inevitably, over time, Mastiff descendants became less popular with the advent of technology, which rendered them obsolete as working animals, and the ban on dog fighting, which meant they could no longer be used for barbaric purposes. By the 1800s, the number of breeds was low, but a number of breed enthusiasts worked hard to maintain the lineage and ensured they only chose the best specimens to breed.

	Standard of the Mastiff

Appearance of the American Bandogge

These dogs, with their short, rough, thick coats, are very muscular and rectangular in shape, with fine, tapering tails. Their bodies are well proportioned, with triangular ears and protruding lips. The American Bandogge has large eyes that can be dark or similar to the color of its coat. It has the compact body typical of a Mastiff and a structure similar to that of a large Pit Bull. The head is broad and square, with a strong chest and broad shoulders. They will have a strong, robust, muscular neck and impressively strong jaws. These hybrid dogs come in many colors, including brindle, blue or navy, fawn, red and black, and all can be mixed with white. Breeding all-white dogs is generally not recommended. Their noses can be black or red. As with most dog breeds, males are slightly larger and heavier than females.

Temperament of the American Bandogge

The American Bandogge is an extremely intelligent dog. It is confident and very docile. Like all Mastiffs, they need masters capable of remaining dominant over dogs. They are generally not recommended for new dog owners, as they need someone who really understands canine instinct and knows how to communicate correctly what you expect from them. Although they are not bred as fighting dogs, if they find themselves with a passive owner who doesn't know how to communicate that aggression is not acceptable, they can become aggressive dogs. Some people, mainly on the East Coast, still use this dog as a fighting dog. Fortunately, more and more people are breeding these dogs for protection rather than fighting. As a protection dog, they are on the whole excellent. They have a lot of energy and are very docile. The only drawback to their temperament for protection work is their reluctance to perform the barking part of the bark and hold exercise. Since they come from a fighting line, most dogs in this line don't bark as a warning; this task is generally difficult. The American Bandogge is an attention-loving breed that thrives on leadership. If you're not this dog's 100% pack leader and/or don't provide sufficient mental and physical exercise, he'll be very upset when left alone and will be difficult to control. Although they are happy to receive attention and readily accept anything you give them, they absolutely need a master who is authoritative towards them. They prefer to be with their masters and live to please and protect them, loving their family and protecting their domain. Bandogues can get along with other animals if raised with them, including kittens, cats and other dogs, but they can be aggressive with animals they haven't been socialized with. They will protect themselves and their family to the end. Confident and very obedient, they are excellent with children. Bandogues seem to have a sense of when to be gentle. They are excellent family members, but also an intruder's worst nightmare. They are said to be silent peacekeepers. This breed can drool and salivate.

Needs and activities of the American Bandogge

This breed is known for being highly intelligent and confident, but also quite docile. However, it will need masters who can clearly show that they are the leaders and can remain dominant. If not matched with the right master, these dogs can become aggressive towards other dogs. For this reason, they are not recommended for new dog owners, as they will need someone who knows how to communicate. Unfortunately, in some parts of the East Coast, these dogs are used for fighting. But there are more people who use these dogs for protection, which they excel at. They can be difficult to control and can become upset when left alone for long periods, unless they receive sufficient exercise, both physical and mental, and have a master who directs them properly. The American Bandogge will live happily with other pets if it has been raised and properly socialized with them, but it won't get on as well with animals it doesn't know. As these dogs are obedient, loving and protective of their family, they get on very well with children. Because of their gentle but protective nature, they are ideal as family and guard dogs.

Maintenance of the American Bandogge

These dogs can live well in apartments, but only if they get enough exercise. With enough activity, both mental and physical, the American Bandogge will not become destructive or lazy. They are quite active when indoors, so don't necessarily need a large garden, although they will certainly appreciate one if it's available. This breed will enjoy accompanying its owner on daily walks. They shed moderately, but are easy to groom. Use a rubber brush to remove loose or dirty hair two or three times a week. This breed can be dominant, but with a confident and experienced master, it can be very obedient and easy to train. Feed your dog twice a day and make sure his water is fresh and always available, as he drools a lot. These dogs are like any others in that they need regular brushing of their teeth and trimming of their nails. For dental care, it's best to do it every day, but once or twice a week is enough at the very least. As for nail trimming, once or twice a month is often sufficient.