If you don’t know much about dog breeds you might get confused between pitbull and American bulldogs. Due to their similar features, you might think these two breeds are the same. There is a lot of difference between the two breeds and we are here to let you know about them.
There are differences in origin, history, characteristics, etc. People have a misconception about the term “Pit Bulls”. It is mistakenly used for dog breeds used in dogfighting rings. Pitbulls may be used to refer to Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and any dog that slightly resembles these breeds.
Let’s compare the two dog breeds and look into the details!
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The American Bulldog is loyal and companionable. Working-class immigrants brought the breed to America and developed the breed to work on farms. The popularity of this breed started to decline in the 20th century and almost went extinct by the second World War. A few breeders like Dr. John D. Johnson saved the breed from becoming extinct and bred them as family companions.
The Pitbull was produced as a result of breeding Old English Bulldogs and Old American Bulldogs. These dogs were popular for dog fighting rings and ratting. Ratting was a sport in which people used to bet to see whose dog killed the most rats in the least time. However, with time the popularity of dogfighting and ratting declined and Pitbulls became farm dogs or family companions.
APPEARANCE
Both the breeds vary in physical appearance.
The American bulldog is strong and muscular. These dogs have red, brown, black, or brindle patches on their coat. Their eyes are usually brown in color but it varies from dog to dog. They have a soft and small coat with a thick tail.
Pitbulls have a strong jaw, a lean body, and a broad skull. They have a shiny coat with different colors like blue, black, red, gray, etc.
Pitbulls muscles are much more defined as compared to an American Bulldog. You can differentiate between them by looking at their snouts and heads. Pitties have a snout equal or slightly larger than their skulls whereas Bulldogs have snouts smaller than their skulls.
SIZE
Bulldogs are sturdy and physically strong. They have an average height of 38 to 48 cm and a body length of around 31 to 40 cm. This breed has a broad chest and weighs around 60 to 120 pounds.
Male pitbulls are usually 45 to 53 cm in height whereas female pitbulls have a height of around 43 to 50 cm. This breed usually weighs 30 to 60 pounds.
LIFE SPAN
Bulldogs have a lifespan of around 10 to 15 years. There are different factors that affect the lifespan of bulldogs like their environment, their daily diets, and their exercise routines.
Pitbulls have a normal life span of 8 to 15 years. They need a sufficient amount of exercise and playing to ensure their physical health remains in good shape.
SHEDDING
Bulldogs shed their hair but it is less as compared to other dog breeds. With time, the coat matures, and therefore, bulldog puppies shed more hair. Excessive shedding can be caused due to parasites, fungal or bacterial infections, pregnancy, cancer, immune diseases, etc.
Pitbulls shed more as compared to other dog breeds. They shed hair throughout the year. Their coat is short and therefore, their hair is not very noticeable. These smooth-coated dogs with a single coat made up of short hairs will shed quite heavily once or twice a year.
GROOMING
American bulldogs don’t require a lot of effort to groom. Due to their short and smooth coat, the hair does not mat or tangle. They need brushing just once or twice a week. They need baths every couple of months unless they get really dirty. Bulldogs have a tendency to enjoy grooming sessions especially relaxing massages. Bathing a bulldog is different from bathing other dogs because they have wrinkles on their face that tend to breed bacteria. While bathing bulldogs, always remember to wash each fold.
Pitbulls require minimal grooming but their coat needs daily brushing to restore the shine. Use a circular motion technique to brush their coat and distribute natural oils evenly through the coat. Brushing removes dead hair and flaky skin cells from their coats that dulls the shine. You can also use a ribbed glove that fits over your hand to clean the loose hair.
TEMPERAMENT
American Pitbulls and Bulldogs have similarities in their temperaments.
The main difference between their personalities is how they behave around other breeds. Pitbulls are more aggressive towards other breeds or species.
Bulldogs easily get along with other animals and are easier to socialize with when they are young. Bulldogs have a confident and kind personality. This breed is friendly, docile, willful and gregarious.
Pitbulls are more emotional and touching towards people as compared to other breeds.Pitties are strong willed, clownish, obedient, loyal and courageous. This breed can be the sweetest companions to humans.
AGGRESSIVENESS
Pitties are more aggressive towards other animals than bulldogs like cats or other dogs. The pit bull needs a little more activity than the American Bulldog. However, bulldogs are more stubborn as compared to Pitties.
INTELLIGENCE
Bulldogs have a fair intelligence factor as well as working obedience. They understand new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions and obey the first command 30% of the time or better. According to The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren, bulldogs are at 136th rank.
Pitbulls have an above-average intelligence as well as working obedience. According to The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren, Pitties are at 48th rank.
TRAINABILITY
American bulldogs can be challenging to train. However, using positive methods they can be trained in an efficient manner. You can use verbal praise, treats, and gentle patting to encourage them. However, they get bored due to the same training routine. Like other puppies, early training is important for bulldogs as they tend to chew everything they find.
American Pitbulls training should start at an early stage in a calm and assertive manner as they don’t respond to harsh tones. It is best to keep training sessions short because they’ll lose interest quickly even if you use treats as a reward.
American bulldogs are stubborn as compared to Pitties and therefore, more difficult to train.
APARTMENT LIVING
Bulldogs make fine apartment pets and do not require a yard. They only need moderate exercises.
Pitbulls are apartment dogs as long as they get enough physical activity. They have high energy and tend to get frustrated if enough exercise is not provided.
FAMILY LIFE
Bulldogs are wonderful family pets and are people-oriented. They are loving towards children and seek human attention.
Pitbulls are great with children and love people. They are royal, people-oriented, and thrive as a part of the family. They are affectionate with both children and adults.
SEPARATION ANXIETY
Bulldogs face separation anxiety as they are bred as companion dogs and need to be near their owners. If a bulldog is separated, without being trained, it can lead to depression or anxiety.
Pitbulls also face severe separation anxiety that causes panic and stress. They show symptoms like digging, inappropriate and excessive barking or howling, crying, etc.
HEALTH ISSUES
Bulldogs face different health issues like overheating, major respiratory issues, severe skin allergies, eczema, acne, or hip dysplasia, etc. Their health is usually intact during their whole lifetime except in exceptional cases. They are also prone to bone cancer and thyroid deficiency. They often suffer from different skin diseases and bladder stones.
Pitbulls face skin problems, knee complications, allergies, thyroid diseases, cataracts, etc throughout their lives. However, with proper care and regular exercise your Pittie can live a long and healthy life.
Thank you for reading! We hope you found the information helpful and engaging. If you enjoyed this article, feel free to share it and let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Whether you have experience with American Bulldogs, Pit Bulls, or other breeds, we’d love to hear from you! Stay tuned for more content—there’s much more on the way!