Bulldog vs American Bulldog

Bulldogs (also known as English Bulldogs) are known for their affectionate nature, outgoing personality, bold attitude and devotion to their humans, making them great companions and family dogs.

They bond with almost any kind of person, young or old, boisterous or quiet. When you take your Bulldog for walks, others can’t help but stop to pet them—and your pup will be happy to oblige, charming everyone from your usually grumpy older neighbor to the toddlers at the playground and everyone in between (postal workers included!). Bulldogs are truly social creatures. But their favorite social interaction of all is curling up next to you on the couch. In fact, you’ll find that snoozing in a comfy spot is their most favorite thing to do.

When they’re not cuddling, Bulldogs will get your attention with their—perhaps unintentional—sense of humor. Some pet parents have experienced the “relocation” of belongings like slippers, books and hats, just to get attention. They will pout and sulk if they feel rebuffed, making some hilarious faces in the process. Once you give them the attention they crave, Bulldogs immediately slip into silliness and roll all over the floor with excitement and paw at you for more. It’s no surprise that Bulldog pet parents say their dogs make them laugh every day.

But Bulldogs can be resolute, too. They’re not the kind of dog who changes their mind easily. When it comes to training, you’ll want to makes sure you have high-value treats to encourage these strong-willed dogs to learn things like “sit,” “stay” and “leave it.” Although, Bulldogs usually don’t have a problem with returning to you when called because they simply love their humans so much.

The American Bulldog’s temperament is rather infectious, in part because they take their playtime seriously. Agile and alert, your American Bulldog will follow your cues, whether you’re training them to sit or you’re ready to throw the ball—again and again.

Their personalities are easy to love; they have a confident demeanor and are known for their almost clown-like antics when excited, making them an excellent family companion. They do well with kids and babies; even with their powerful bite force, American Bulldogs aren’t likely to bite. This breed is quite family-oriented but may be distant with strangers at first.

The breed’s intelligence is well-regarded—and “capable” is their middle name. With consistent training and established rules and boundaries, this powerful pup can learn with the best of them. As a working breed, they were known for their wild pig and cattle catching abilities, making them indispensable on southern ranches in the US.