American Neo Bull

The American Neo Bull is a hybrid breed made by crossing American Bulldogs and Neopolitan Mastiffs. The breed can also be called American Bandogge Mastiff, which is a term that refers to the offspring of any type of Bulldog bred with any type of Mastiff. The American Neo Bull originates in the 1980s, where two different breeders crossed different Mastiffs and Bulldogs together throughout several generations. They were bred to retain the wrinkle look and gentle attitude of the Mastiff, and attempts were made to breed out known health conditions. Today, an American Neo Bull can be 50% American Bulldog and 50% Neopolitan Mastiff, but often, those percentages will vary depending on the breeding program they have come from. The American Bulldog was brought over to the United States during the colonial period from Great Britain, where it was used to bait bears, bulls, and buffaloes. It survived throughout the ages on southern farms, where it caught pigs and cattle. Modern American Bulldogs are descended from these farm dogs of Alabama and Georgia. By the 1980s, popularity of these dogs grew as they became known as great family and guard dogs, although they are still not recognized by the AKC. The Neopolitan Mastiffs descend from the great Molossus breed, a dog used by the Romans for battle and arena combat. Later, Romans used the Neopolitan Mastiff to guard their homes and farms, a job they are still used for by modern Italians. Neopolitan Mastiffs were recognized by the AKC in 2004 as part of the working group.