American Bulldog

American Bulldogs have been around since the 17th century. They are largely believed to be the descendants of the Old English Bulldog and came to the American South with working-class immigrant settlers from West Midlands in England before the Industrial Revolution. Farmers and ranchers prized the dogs for their ability to hunt feral pigs, which were a nearly predator-less nuisance at the time, "catch" or help control their cattle, and provide overall protection for their property and family. Prior to 1835, when blood sports were outlawed in England and eventually the US, they were also used in the brutal sports of bull and bear baiting, where the animals were pitted against each other. Since the breed was used purely as a utility dog, there was no attempt to control bloodlines or document ancestry, and those who owned and bred them did so based upon the best working characteristics they could find. By the end of World War II, the American Bulldog, simply called "bulldogs" at the time after their primary work purpose, was nearly extinct until a war veteran named John D. Johnson returned home and attempted to revitalize the breed. After combing the rural farms and back roads of the South in search of the best candidates, he caught the attention of a young man named Alan Scott, who took interest in the dogs and began breeding his own catch-dog finds with Johnson's line, eventually developing what is known as the Standard American Bulldog. Johnson himself eventually interbred his line with the English Bulldog, creating the Classic or Bully type. Today, many of these dogs are a cross between the two and are still used as utility dogs for hunting and "catching" as well as sport and protection. They have also quickly risen in the ranks of family dogs because of their surprisingly gentle nature, intelligence and loyalty.