For dog lovers, all breeds of dogs are equally adorable, but when it comes to choosing one for adoption, people get confused. American bulldog and pitbull are two such breeds that look pretty similar, and their similarities do not end there. So when a buyer needs to buy an American bulldog or a dog breeder who is seeking a pure breed must know the difference between these two dog kinds.
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The misconceptions: about Pitbulls vs American bulldogs
Pitbulls are often referred to as one whole lot of dogs that are seen as aggressive and were involved in bullfighting. But there can be other different breeds listed under this category like American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, or American Pitbull terriers. But these are all different breeds and they should be known by their different breed names, to clear the confusion.
The Physical Appearance
The look of the American bulldog and pitbull are pretty similar and it is hard to differentiate between these two breeds. However their face structure, body structure, or color of the coat can match, but the characteristics, origin, and history are much different than each other.
The American Bulldog is a sturdy dog with a moderately heavy and muscular body. They have a strong jaw and a big head which makes them look handsome.
They grow up to 27 inches when male and female ones grow up to 24 inches. They are found mostly in a white or off-white coat with patches of red, black, and brown. They are strongly built with a broad chest and athletic look. They have brown eyes and thick tails. Their coat consists of soft and short fur.
Pitbulls come with the mixed look of bulldogs and terriers. So the strong jawline and big skull also are present in this breed of dog. The weight of the Pitbulls stays from 23 to 27 kgs depending upon the gender. However, they are short in height when compared to bulldogs. But when you compare these two breeds in the context of athletic nature and energy, Pitbulls will win. The color of their coat also varies from red to grey to even blue, which makes them look exquisite. Black Pitbulls are also found.
Both the breed of dog lives up to 15 years.
The difference of origin
American bulldogs are also known as English bulldogs. They were earlier used for hunting and guarding. Also, another use of this breed was bull-baiting, from where they have got their name.
They were going to be extinct but got saved by the effort of Dr. John D. these dogs were also used by the American immigrants to work on their farms. Cattle managing or hunting were the possible jobs done these the American bulldogs. Their eyes look mostly lined with black which makes them look impressive.
Pitbull terriers were originated by breeding the English bulldogs and English terriers. These dogs were also used for bull-baiting. But these blood-shedding games were later banished. They do not have the tendency to bite the human as their origin did not allow them to bite their masters during the bull baiting. Thus they are safe for keeping at home and they are also easily mixed with another breed of dogs.
The difference in temperament
Regarding temperament, there are many similarities between these two breeds. they are loving and affectionate towards human those are around them and also they are of kid-loving nature. though leaving a dog alone with a kid or senior is never advised, yet you can keep an eye and let the dog supervise the young and old members of your family.
When it comes to the nature of the American bulldog is much strong. They are confident and fearless dogs with a high range of social activities. Like many other breeds of dogs, they are fiercely loyal to their owners. However, they do not show much emotion or response when they are at the puppy stage. But it changes its nature when it grows up.
They are friendly to children so you can keep them at home if you have kids. They act much protectively towards the kids around them. They are also pretty friendly with other pets if you have some at home. They do not tend to become aggressive while seeing other small or weak creatures around them.
Pitbulls are very friendly in nature and they can be tamed easily. They love to please their owners and thus you will face little difficulty while managing the Pitbulls. They are pretty courageous and can be a good guard dogs with seniors or kids at home. They are very sporty and love to play. Also, they are enthusiastic about workouts. Daily exercise is needed by this breed of dog to stay healthy and fit.
Pitbulls are often seen to have acted aggressively with some creatures, like cats. Also, they can become attacking towards some small dogs like Chihuahua and Pomeranians. They take these small creatures to be their prey and thus they feel like predators around them. But that does not mean that the Pitbulls cannot be kept with other pets. With a little amount of training, they can get along with small creatures as well.
How to train these two breeds?
When it comes to training, both Pitbulls and American bulldogs act responsively and responsibly, but the owners need to tackle them smartly. Both these dogs are intelligent and thus not easily can be dominated. They act stubborn at times.
The method of their training should be much similar, and the owner needs to be firm and strong-willed. They can be trained to do many works and also can be involved in various sports. But if the owner treats these dogs leniently then both these dogs can become aggressive and moody.
How to exercise Pitbulls as well as American bulldogs?
This is again a point of similarity for the American bulldogs as well as Pitbulls. These dogs were originally used for work and thus you need to exercise them in a good amount to keep them physically fit and mentally calm.
You can take them for morning walks or jogging, which will be a sufficient workout for the dogs. At least 30 minutes of walking or running is required to keep them in good shape.
If you have the backyard then make these dogs exercise for an hour but make sure that the place is fenced. Or else they can go outside and attack any small creature or the neighbor’s pet.
Pitbulls are good with the exercising schedule and in fact, once habituated, they insist to go out in fresh air. However American bulldogs can get overheated if you are taking them out in the hot sun. so they should be kept exercising in shaded places like the covered area of your garden.
What are the ailments of Pitbulls and American bulldogs?
Again in this category, these dogs are similar. The bone structural problems like hip dysplasia make them walk with difficulty. Also, there is a disease called hypothyroidism which happens due to the ill-functioning of hormones. It troubles the growth pattern of the dogs and thus they can become dwarf or disfigure. Dental problems are also common for the dogs of these two breeds.
American bulldogs often suffer from some bronchial problem which causes them the difficulty of breathing. When they become senior they usually face this ailment.
Pitbulls are often found to suffer from various kinds of allergies. So feeding them should be done with ultimate caution. Other than different food items, they can get allergic to pollens, dust, or cold.
Both these breeds shed a little bit throughout the year. You need to be brushing them once a week and use good quality dog shampoo to keep things under control.
Which of these two breeds bark more?
Usually, both American bulldogs and Pitbulls do not bite a lot. They are both calm-natured dogs that seldom bark and that too, for specific reasons, though boredom or sudden excitement caused them to bark sometimes.
However, the Pitbulls owners claim that their dogs often respond to their conversation and that can be treated as talking. Many vocal sounds do they omit to express different emotions. So if you are searching for a companion who can understand your emotions and sometimes will do verbal communication then Pitbulls will be a great choice.
Which one can be a better guard dog?
As both these dogs are courageous and strong, people love to seek their help when they need a good guard dog at home. American bulldogs have larger frames and they seem to have more potential as a guard. But in reality, they are very friendly and sociable to random humans, so not a good choice to be a guard dog.
When it comes to Pitbulls, they are not as friendly as the above-mentioned ones, but not as protective as the regular guard dogs. They may not attack the stranger if they see someone entering the house with an affectionate look towards them. So they are not just enough able to protect the valuables of your house. But their looks are rather impressive and those unknown to their nature can stay out of your property due to the dog’s presence.
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