American Bulldog Vs Pitbull: Similarity & Differences (2023)

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If you’re looking for a strong, strong companion that will keep you active, the American bulldog or pit bull is a great choice.

If you don’t know the breeds, these puppies can look alike.

Large breeds with a fighting history, such as the American Bulldog and Pitbull Terrier, have many commonalities. Both breeds have similar characteristics and can be stubborn, stubborn, and dominant. Dominant breeds such as American Bulldogs and Pit Bulls are well-behaved and great family members in the right hands.

Let’s talk about the American Bulldog vs Pitbull and some of their similarities and differences.

By comparing these two breeds, including their history, behavior, and training requirements, you can make the right choice and end up with a dog that fits your lifestyle perfectly.

American Bulldog Vs Pitbull

Breed Histories

The American Bulldog and the Pitbull were both developed in America from dogs originally used in England for bullfighting before it was banned in 1835, but that’s where the similarities in their history end.

American Bulldog

The American Bulldog (AB) can have its origins in the English Bulldog. Working-class immigrants brought their old English Bulldogs to the United States in the 1800s to assist with many duties, including farm guards, herding dogs, and hunting dogs.

The original purpose of this breed was to protect people and property and be a useful aid to the smallholders and ranchers in handling (catching) large animals such as cattle and pigs.

Towards the End of the World During World War II, the breed was nearly extinct. Still, some dedicated breeders, particularly in the Southern states, decided to keep the breed alive as companion dogs rather than farm dogs.

The breed was not called a bulldog because of a particular appearance, but because they were. Part of the English sport known as bull-baiting, in which a bull was tied to a stake in the ground, and dogs were encouraged to try to bite the bull’s nose.

American Pitbull Terrier

The pit bull can be traced back to the cruel and violent sport of bull-baiting. In the UK in the 1800s, English bulldogs were crossed with terriers to create strong, tenacious, and aggressive dogs for the sport, with one or two dogs tormenting a bull (or sometimes a bear) until the bull collapsed from its wounds.

Once bullfighting was banned, they were used in dog fighting, which was much easier to store and do in secret than bullfighting baiting.

Immigrants brought pit bulls to America in the late 1800s, where their courage and strength were valuable assets to border residents and farmers alike.

Many of the traits that made them ideal fighters were also ideal because they are all-around working dogs in the new world.

Renamed the American Pit Bull Terrier, they became a national mascot during World War I and II because of their courage and loyalty, traits that soldiers on the battlefield can identify with.

Their aggressive reputation stems from their long history of blood sports such as bull-baiting and dogfighting. While it is true that they can be trained to be aggressive towards those violent activities, with proper training, they can be gentle, loving companions.

Dogfighting was banned in the United States in 1976 with the passing of the Animal Welfare Act. It is now a felony in all 50 states. But when the practice was pushed underground, people began looking for pit bulls and training specifically for illegal activities.

Pit bulls have been associated with criminals. The national media contributed with sensational stories, such as Time magazine’s 1987 article entitled “ The Pit Bull: Friend and Killer ” and the article from Sports Illustrated of the same year. Entitled “ Beware of This Dog.”

These and other stories played out the animal’s aggressive reputation and contributed to a culture of fear surrounding the animal (source).

While this reputation follows the pit bull today, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that they are instinctively more aggressive than other dog breeds. As with all dogs, it’s all in how they are trained.

Pitbull Vs Bulldog: Temperament & Personality

American Bulldogs

The American Bulldog has a confident, courageous, and fearless personality. These dogs are socially active and are also very loyal to their owners. A bulldog in puppyhood does not respond well to new people. But as it gets old, it becomes more mature and confident. As a result, these dogs really come to love children. In general, the Bulldogs have a friendly disposition and make a relatively good family dog.

American Pitbulls

Pitbull loves to please others. This dog breed is endearing and more emotional to humans compared to other breeds. These dogs are also known for their courage and strength, making them a favorite among dog lovers for guarding purposes. These dogs are sporty and lively and need daily exercise or walking to maintain their fitness. These dogs do not attack humans either but are violent towards other dogs and wild animals.

Bulldog Vs Pit Bull: Appearance

The easiest way to distinguish between an American Bulldog and a Pit Bull is to contrast their appearance. Let’s take a look!

In general, the American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, stocky build dog with a short coat, smooth, well-defined muscles, and an athletic-looking body. Males can grow to be between 18 and 21 inches tall at the shoulder and 35 to 60 pounds. Females can be 17 to 20 inches in length and 30 and 50 pounds.

The American Bulldog, on the other hand, is much larger. Males can grow to between 22 and 25 inches and weigh 75 to 100 pounds. Females are usually 20-23 inches in size and weigh between 60 and 80 pounds.

American Bulldogs have facial wrinkles and sometimes an underbite, a wider chest, and less defined muscles than American Pit Bull Terrier. At first glance, it is easy to see why the American Bulldog could be mistaken for a Pit Bull. Still, you can easily identify an American Bulldog by its distinctive “ bully ” face and demeanor.

While both have a strong, stocky, and muscular appearance, the American Bulldog has distinctive cheek muscles and a wider chest than the APBT.

The American Bulldog has several distinguishing features, including a large and broad head, a broad muzzle, prominent cheek muscles, a large and broad nose, and powerful jaws. However, the Pit Bull has a leaner body, more defined muscles, and a wider skull than the American Bulldog.

Training & Exercise Comparison

Both American Bulldogs and Pitbulls are intelligent but stubborn. They need an owner who is comfortable with their training.

In the right hands, both American Bulldogs and Pits can be trained for many types of work or dog sports. In the wrong hands, however, these dogs can be antisocial at best and aggressive at worst.

These dogs are not ideal for novice dog owners or dog owners who don’t like to spend a lot of time training their dogs.

Both breeds were bred to work all day long, and both breeds have a lot of energy.

They need at least an hour of exercise every day, preferably in a large fenced-in backyard. They can be jogging buddies, but American Bulldogs can overheat, especially if they have a short muzzle.

American Bulldog Vs Pitbull: Health Problems

Health Problems That American Bulldogs and American Pit Bull Terriers Share:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Hypothyroidism
• Demodectic Mange
• Thyroid Disorders

Health Problems Specific to Americans Bulldogs:

According to PetMD, American bulldogs are prone to the following health problems:

• Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (a nervous system disorder with swelling and/or changes in some cells of the retina)
• Kidney problems
• Cherry eye
• Bone Cancer

Because of their facial wrinkles, AB can also be prone to skin problems due to a combination of friction, heat, and moisture. You can use a Squishface Wrinkle Paste to clean and protect your dog’s wrinkles, tear stains, and tail pouches.

Health Problems Specific to American Pit Bull Terriers:

The American Pit Bull Terrier can develop several health problems, including:

• Heart disease (i.e., valve malformations and irregularities in the heart rhythm )
• Diabetes
• Aortic stenosis
• Cataracts (Use Zesty Paws Eye Supplement for Pitties eye health)
• Susceptible to allergies
• Degenerative myelopathy
• Kneecap dislocation

Like other breeds, the American Bulldog and the APBT have the potential to develop genetic health problems.

American Bulldog vs. Pitbull: Intelligence

American Bulldogs and Pitbulls are intelligent breeds, and the more mental stimulation these dogs receive during the early years, the more intelligent they will be as adult dogs.

Because of these variations within each breed, the intelligence level should be tested on individual dogs to make a reasonable estimate.

While a dog’s intellect is a product of genetics and environmental factors, American Bulldog or Pitbull Terrier owners can help their puppies develop their intelligence through puppy brain-stimulating activities, interactive dog games, and even during games to offer.

American Bulldogs and Pitbull Terriers enjoy being challenged mentally and physically. There are many creative ways to make your dog smarter by teaching your pet new commands or even recognizing his or her toy by name.

Grooming Needs

The grooming needs for American Bulldogs and Pitbulls are the same. Both dog breeds have short hair and a light to moderate shave.

Both breeds benefit from being brushed once a week with a rubber brush to distribute their natural oils and remove loose hair. Washing them occasionally with a shampoo made for dogs will keep them clean and shiny.

Pitbull Vs Bulldog: Price Difference

• American Bulldog: The price of American Bulldogs is usually higher than the Pitbull Terrier. A Bulldog puppy costs an average of USD 800.
• American Pitbull: The price of American Pitbull is lower than that of the American Bulldog because of the related crossbreeds. A Pitbull Terrier puppy costs an average of $500.

American Bulldog vs. American Pitbull: Lifespan

American Bulldogs and American Pitbulls live to 15 years, although American Bulldogs live on average 10 to 15 years, while Pit Bulls live to 8 to 15 years. Both breeds are relatively healthy with few health problems, which contributes to a longer lifespan.

Pitbull Vs. Bulldog FAQs

Final Thoughts

Since the American bulldog and pitbull have common ancestors, it makes sense that they are similar in appearance and temperament.

I think we managed to sort out and clear up all the confusion about the American Bulldog vs. PitBull. Debate.

However, there are some important differences between the two. The American bulldog is bigger than the pit bull but not quite as agile. Both dogs can be quite affectionate and loving, but the American bulldog is less likely to be overprotective of its owner.

Although many would argue that the pit bull is no more aggressive than the American bulldog (and science would back up that claim), their reputation is also very different.

There is a lot to consider when choosing between these two races. If you’re a novice dog owner, the American bulldog is probably a safer bet because they don’t require as much training and socialization as the pit bull.

However, if you have space for a pit bull to run and exercise, and you have the patience to train and socialize them properly, the pit bull can be a wonderful, loving companion.

Both breeds are great additions to the family. You are guaranteed to come home with a dog that everyone loves and loves!