EngAm Bulldog
Hybrid Breed Description
The EngAm Bulldog is a cross between the American Bulldog and the English Bulldog. Because each hybrid inherits a unique combination of traits from both parents, we recommend thoroughly researching both breeds before choosing an EngAm Bulldog. Pay special attention to temperament, health issues, and care requirements, as your dog may express characteristics from either parent breed.
American Bulldog
The American Bulldog is a stocky, heavily built, medium-to-large breed displaying impressive musculature and athletic capability. Males typically stand between twenty-two and twenty-eight inches tall at the withers and weigh between seventy and one hundred twenty pounds, while females are slightly smaller, ranging from twenty to twenty-six inches in height and weighing between sixty and one hundred pounds. The breed exhibits a powerful, compact frame with a deep, broad chest, muscular shoulders and forearms, and a broad back that conveys strength and endurance. Despite their substantial build, American Bulldogs maintain surprising agility and athleticism. Two distinct types characterize the breed: the Johnson type, also known as the Bully or Classic type, features a larger, heavier build with a shorter muzzle more reminiscent of the English Bulldog; while the Scott type, called the Standard or Performance type, displays a more athletic build with a longer muzzle and more square head. Many modern American Bulldogs represent a combination of these two types. The head is large and broad with powerful jaws and a strong bite force. The ears are medium-sized and may be drop, semi-prick, or rose-shaped, preferably left natural rather than cropped. Eyes are typically brown, though blue eyes occasionally occur. The breed sports a short, smooth coat requiring minimal maintenance beyond occasional bathing and weekly brushing. The coat is predominantly white, often featuring patches or markings in black, red, brown, fawn, tan, or brindle patterns, creating unique color combinations for each individual dog. The tail is thick at the base and tapers to a point, typically carried in an alert position. Black pigmentation on the nose and eye rims is traditionally preferred, with only some pink coloring accepted. American Bulldogs are known to drool more than many other breeds, a characteristic owners should anticipate and manage.
Key Characteristics
The American Bulldog possesses a temperament characterized by unwavering loyalty, courage, and surprising sensitivity that makes them excellent family companions when properly trained and socialized. These dogs form incredibly strong bonds with their families and demonstrate remarkable devotion to their human companions, often following them throughout the home and seeking constant interaction. They are naturally protective of their families and property, making them effective watchdogs who will alert owners to anything unusual, though this protective instinct requires careful management through early socialization to prevent overguarding or aggression toward strangers. Intelligent and trainable, American Bulldogs possess a strong desire to please their owners but also exhibit an independent, sometimes stubborn streak that can challenge inexperienced handlers. They require consistent, firm, yet positive reinforcement-based training from an early age, with clear establishment of household rules and boundaries. Without proper guidance and leadership, they may attempt to assert dominance or test their owners' resolve. Early socialization proves absolutely critical for this breed, exposing puppies to various people, animals, situations, and environments to develop confidence and appropriate social behaviors. With proper training, they excel in obedience and can learn complex commands and tasks. Despite their powerful, intimidating appearance, American Bulldogs are gentle giants with their families, displaying affectionate and even clownish behavior that endears them to their loved ones. They are excellent with children when raised with them, showing patience and playfulness, though supervision remains important due to their size and strength. They require substantial daily exercise and mental stimulation, needing one to two hours of physical activity to prevent boredom and destructive behaviors like chewing or digging. American Bulldogs do not handle isolation well and may develop separation anxiety or behavioral problems if left alone for extended periods. They thrive in active households where they can participate in family activities and receive the attention, exercise, and companionship they require for emotional wellbeing.
The American Bulldog is considered one of the healthiest bulldog breeds with an average lifespan of ten to twelve years, though some individuals may live up to sixteen years with proper care. However, like all breeds, they are predisposed to certain genetic health conditions that prospective owners should understand and monitor. Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia represent the most common orthopedic concerns, occurring when the hip or elbow joints fail to develop properly, causing arthritis, pain, and mobility issues. Studies suggest that ten to twenty percent of American Bulldogs may be affected by hip dysplasia, with responsible breeders screening their dogs through X-rays before breeding. Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, abbreviated as NCL, is a progressive neurological disease that affects some American Bulldogs, typically showing symptoms between one and two years of age. This inherited disorder causes behavioral changes, loss of coordination, vision impairment, and progressive neurological decline. Genetic testing can identify carriers of this condition. The breed also shows predisposition to certain dermatological conditions including allergic skin disease, ichthyosis (causing dry, flaky skin), and juvenile-onset demodicosis (a type of mange). Skin allergies can cause itching, redness, hot spots, and secondary infections, requiring management through diet, medications, and regular skin care. Brachycephalic airway syndrome affects some American Bulldogs, particularly those with shorter muzzles, causing breathing difficulties, snoring, and exercise intolerance. While not as severely affected as English Bulldogs, owners should monitor for respiratory distress, especially during hot weather or intense exercise. The breed can be prone to obesity, which exacerbates joint problems and other health issues, making weight management crucial through proper diet and regular exercise. Other conditions that may occur include hypothyroidism, heart disease, and certain cancers. Regular veterinary checkups, maintaining healthy weight, providing appropriate exercise, and working with reputable breeders who screen for genetic conditions all contribute to maximizing the American Bulldog's health and longevity.
English Bulldog
The English Bulldog is a medium-sized, thick-set breed with a distinctive appearance characterized by a massive head, broad shoulders, and stocky limbs. Males typically stand fourteen to fifteen inches tall and weigh approximately fifty pounds, while females are slightly smaller at twelve to fourteen inches and around forty pounds. The breed's most recognizable feature is its broad, square head with extremely short muzzle, creating the characteristic flat face and undershot jaw that defines the brachycephalic structure. The skull is large and broad with pronounced cheek muscles and deeply set, wide-apart eyes that convey a gentle expression. The body is compact and low-slung, with a thick, arched neck, broad shoulders, and a deep, wide chest that contributes to the breed's characteristic rolling gait. The front legs are short, very stout, and straight, bowing slightly outward at the elbows, while the hind legs are longer and more muscular. The breed's loose, wrinkled skin creates deep folds, particularly around the head, neck, and shoulders. The tail is naturally short, either straight or screwed, and set low on the body. These distinctive proportions give English Bulldogs their unique, somewhat awkward but endearing appearance. The coat is short, fine-textured, smooth, and glossy, lying flat against the body and requiring minimal grooming. English Bulldogs come in various colors including red, fawn, brindle, white, or pied (combination of white with any other color). The breed's facial features include a large, broad nose with wide nostrils, pronounced rope wrinkle above the nose, and heavily jowled cheeks. The rose ears are small, thin, and set high on the head. Despite their somewhat intimidating appearance with their massive head and powerful jaw, English Bulldogs are known for their gentle, friendly demeanor.
Key Characteristics
The English Bulldog possesses a calm, dignified temperament that belies their somewhat fierce appearance, making them gentle, patient companions ideally suited to family life. These dogs are renowned for their affectionate, docile nature and their particular fondness for human companionship, often forming strong attachments to all family members. They display remarkable patience with children, tolerating the unpredictable behaviors of youngsters with admirable composure, though their low energy level means they prefer gentler play over rough housing. English Bulldogs thrive on attention and physical closeness, happily spending hours lounging beside or on their favorite people. Despite their muscular build and historical connection to bull-baiting, modern English Bulldogs are peaceful, friendly dogs who get along well with other pets and generally greet strangers with welcoming curiosity rather than suspicion. They are not prone to excessive barking or aggressive behaviors, though they can be quite protective of their families when they perceive genuine threats. Their laid-back, somewhat lazy temperament makes them excellent apartment dogs who require relatively little exercise compared to more active breeds, though regular short walks help maintain healthy weight and provide mental stimulation. English Bulldogs are intelligent but notoriously stubborn, which can make training challenging for inexperienced owners. They require patient, consistent training using positive reinforcement methods, as harsh corrections can cause them to shut down entirely. Food motivation often works well with this food-loving breed. While they can learn commands and tricks, they approach training at their own pace and may simply refuse to comply if they're not in the mood. Socialization from puppyhood helps ensure they develop into well-adjusted adults. English Bulldogs cannot tolerate heat or humidity well due to their brachycephalic structure and should always be kept in climate-controlled environments. Their sensitive nature means they do not do well with extended periods of isolation and may develop separation anxiety if left alone too frequently.
The English Bulldog is predisposed to numerous serious health conditions primarily resulting from their extreme brachycephalic conformation, and they have one of the shortest average lifespans among all breeds at eight to ten years. Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome represents the most significant health concern, causing chronic breathing difficulties due to narrowed nostrils, elongated soft palate, and collapsed trachea. This condition leads to constant respiratory distress, inability to regulate body temperature, exercise intolerance, snoring, and increased risk of heatstroke. Many English Bulldogs require surgical intervention to improve breathing, and owners must vigilantly manage their environment to prevent overheating. Orthopedic problems plague the breed due to their disproportionate body structure. Hip dysplasia affects a significant percentage of English Bulldogs, causing pain, arthritis, and mobility issues as they age. Patellar luxation, where the kneecap slips out of place, is also common. The breed's compressed spine makes them susceptible to intervertebral disc disease, which can cause severe pain and paralysis. Many English Bulldogs develop arthritis relatively early in life due to the constant stress on their joints from their unnatural body proportions. Skin problems are endemic to the breed, with the deep wrinkles and folds creating ideal environments for bacterial and yeast infections if not cleaned and dried daily. Cherry eye, where the tear gland prolapses, requires surgical correction and commonly affects both eyes. Entropion, where eyelids roll inward causing corneal irritation, also necessitates surgery. English Bulldogs have extremely high rates of allergies causing itchy skin, ear infections, and digestive upset. The breed cannot breed naturally or give birth naturally in the vast majority of cases, requiring artificial insemination and cesarean sections. Heart disease, including pulmonary stenosis and ventricular septal defects, affects many English Bulldogs. Cancer rates are elevated in the breed. The extensive list of health problems, combined with expensive veterinary care requirements and shortened lifespan, make English Bulldogs one of the most medically compromised dog breeds.
Important to Remember
Each hybrid dog is unique and may inherit any combination of traits from either parent breed. The information above represents the characteristics of the purebred parent breeds. Your EngAm Bulldog may favor one parent over the other or display a blend of both. We strongly encourage you to read the complete breed profiles for both the American Bulldog and English Bulldog to fully understand the range of possible temperaments, health concerns, and care requirements.