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American Bulldog Shepherd |
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He is not recognized by the F.C.I. |
Origin |
U.S.A. <> Germany -> U.S.A. | |
Translation |
Francis Vandersteen |
A brief presentation of the American Bulldog Shepherd |
| Little is known about the American Bulldog Shepherd due to the recent history and popularity of this hybrid. The American Bulldog Shepherd is a cross between the American Bulldog and the German Shepherd and is considered a medium-sized dog, if a little larger than average. With two moderate-to-strong shedding parents contributing to its genetic makeup, you can expect this hybrid to be a big shedder too. The American Bulldog Shepherd combines the best qualities of both parent breeds to produce a loyal, affectionate and protective hybrid. |
History of the American Bulldog Shepherd |
| The American Bulldog Shepherd is a modern hybrid whose breeding and history are poorly documented. Considered a working-class hybrid, the American Bulldog Shepherd serves as a guard and watchdog, as well as a family companion. The American Bulldog Shepherd was developed in the United States and is made up of two popular breeds, the American Bulldog and the German Shepherd. The German Shepherd brings excellent guarding and surveillance qualities to the breed, as well as great intelligence and a certain distance from strangers. The American Bulldog parent further enhances the loyalty of this hybrid, adding a big, soft heart to the breed as well as extra strength and stamina. Currently, only the Dog Registry of America recognizes this dog, which is said to have more German Shepherd qualities than American Bulldog. You only have to look at this magnificent dog to see the lineage of the German Shepherd. The American Bulldog adds a gentle, affectionate nature that might otherwise be reserved for a German Shepherd, making this hybrid an excellent family dog. The German Shepherd's parental line has a high guarding instinct, while the American Bulldog can be aggressive towards other dogs and animals. Every American Bulldog Shepherd is unique, but all need early and appropriate socialization with family, people, places and other animals to help them overcome some of their instinctive behaviors. With proper exercise, socialization and mental stimulation, this hybrid breed has great potential at home as a protective and affectionate family dog. |
A little of the American Bulldog |
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| The American Bulldog was developed as a general-purpose farm dog in the southern United States, with a specialty in catching pigs and cattle. The breed is a direct descendant of the old English Bulldog, now extinct, and is widely regarded as the modern breed in appearance, temperament and use closest to its ancestor. The American Bulldog was almost extinct by the middle of the 20th century, but was revived by the efforts of two breeders, John D. Johnson and Alan Scott, who subsequently developed two distinct lines that were named for them. In recent years, the American Bulldog has experienced a massive increase in popularity and is one of the fastest-growing breeds in the USA. Many have classified this breed as a type of Pit Bull, a member of a group of dogs collectively known as Bully Breeds, but this is totally inaccurate and regarded with great distaste by the vast majority of lovers of both American Bulldog and American Pit Bull Terrier. The two varieties of American Bulldog are sometimes referred to as the Southern White, Old Southern Whites and American Pit Bulldogs. The Scott type is also known as the Standard or Performance type, and the Johnson type is also called the Bully or Classic type. | ||
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| Presentation of the American Bulldog | ||
A little of the German Shepherd Dog |
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| According to official documents, the German Shepherd Club, an affiliate of the VDH (Verein für das deutsche Hundewesen) with headquarters in Augsburg, is recognized as the founding association and responsible for the breed standard. It was at its first general meeting in Frankfurt a.M. on September 20, 1899 that the breed standard was drafted, based on proposals by A.Meyer and M.v.Stephanitz. This first text was completed at the VIth members' meeting on July 28, 1901, at the 23rd members' meeting on September 17, 1909 in Cologne, at the meeting of the board of directors and advisory committee in Wiesbaden on September 5, 1930, and following the meeting of the breeding commission and board of directors on March 25, 1961. The text was further revised within the framework of the WUSV (Weltunion der Vereine für deutsche Schäferhunde/World Union of German Shepherd Societies) and adopted at the WUSV meeting on August 30, 1976. | ||
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| Standard of the German Shepherd Dog |
Appearance of the American Bulldog Shepherd |
| The American Bulldog Shepherd is a cross between the American Bulldog and the German Shepherd, but takes most of its appearance from the German Shepherd, including its coat. The American Bulldog has a short, smooth coat, while the German Shepherd has a medium to long double coat. The coat of the American Bulldog Shepherd will be like that of the German Shepherd, and is often resistant to water and snow. American Bulldog Shepherds are medium-sized and can weigh up to 40 kg, with long, powerful legs. The American Bulldog is slightly longer than it is tall, and its tail is longer and thicker than the American Bulldog's, but it often lacks the German Shepherd's toupee. The heavy bone structure is well muscled, giving an impression of agility and strength. The expression of the American Bulldog Shepherd is intelligent, lively and curious, although this hybrid can be more aloof with people. The American Bulldog Shepherd's eyes are medium-sized and almond-shaped. This hybrid's eyes come in all shades of brown and harmonize with the coat color. |
Temperament of the American Bulldog Shepherd |
| While their hard-working nature is important to consider when thinking about lifestyle and necessary activity levels, we hope this won't distract you from the American Bulldog Shepherd's many other winning personality traits. They are surprisingly complex creatures, thanks in part to their high IQs. German Shepherds crossed with American Bulldogs are also thoughtful, big-hearted and protective. It's not every day you meet a dog capable of protecting you from intruders and giving you the best cuddles of your life. To get a better idea of the character traits you might encounter in an American Bulldog Shepherd cross, you can take a closer look at the two parent breeds. |
Needs and activities of the American Bulldog Shepherd |
| The American Bulldog Shepherd is a loyal, affectionate breed with a strong protective and guarding instinct. The German Shepherd parent adds distance to this hybrid, and the American Bulldog Shepherd will be cautious of strangers but not shy. However, with family members, the American Bulldog Shepherd is affectionate and gentle. Early socialization with other animals will help the American Bulldog Shepherd adapt to family life with other dogs and animals, and this breed will protect its entire family, including the cat. Training an American Bulldog Shepherd is easy, but requires a confident, firm master who will not raise his voice or show anger. It's equally important that owners show no shyness towards their American Bulldog Shepherd. The American Bulldog Shepherd must be certain that his master is the pack leader, otherwise he may feel the need to play this role himself. The American Bulldog Shepherd is an active dog that needs daily exercise to expend its energy. This hybrid adapts very well to task-oriented training and exercise, and thrives when it feels it has a job to do. |
Maintenance of the American Bulldog Shepherd |
| The American Bulldog Shepherd is a hybrid of two dogs known for shedding. The German Shepherd sheds much more due to its double coat, and can shed twice a year. As the American Bulldog Shepherd closely resembles the German Shepherd, you'll need a brush adapted to a thicker, longer coat, and weekly brushing is recommended. Brushing your American Bulldog Shepherd's coat will also help keep it clean and limit odors, while giving you the opportunity to bond with your dog. In addition to weekly brushing, your American Bulldog Shepherd's teeth need to be cleaned. Daily cleaning is suggested, but two or three times a week will also suffice. Cleaning teeth helps prevent tartar build-up and reduces the amount of bacteria in the mouth. While grooming your American Bulldog Shepherd, check its ears and use a veterinarian-approved cleaning solution to remove any dirt, wax or debris to prevent ear infections. |
English (United Kingdom)