American Bulldog and Pitbull are two fiercely looking yet prevalent breeds among the American expert dog owners and trainers.
Their muscled body and playful nature are responsible for their wide fame. While some dog owners might confuse these two breeds, behavioral and structural differences are easy to spot.
The differences in their lineages owe to the fact that they are two strikingly different breeds. While American bulldogs belong to the Mastiff family of dogs, American Pitbulls are from the Terrier family.
In this article, we are going to explore the key differences between these two breeds.
After going through this article, you can spot the essential dissimilarities easily. Let us start with a very concise table that holds information about all the differences.
What Are The Major Differences Between American Bulldog And Pitbull?
Features
American Bulldog American Pitbull
Origin American Bulldog is a purebred dog American Pitbull Terrier is a mixed breed of Bulldog and Terrier
Height 23-27 inches 16-22 inches
Weight 70-110 pounds 40-60 pounds
Coat Color Bulldogs have a solid color with black, brown, red, brindle patches American Pitbull's can have any color and any color pattern.
Coat Hair Soft Smooth and Shiny
Ears Rose shaped ear Pointy and High set
Muzzle Broad, and thick Broad, and deep
Behavior Towards Other Animals Less Aggressive More Aggressive to other animals
Amount Of Shedding Low Medium
Energy Level American Bulldogs have a higher energy level Energy level has lower energy
Life Expectancy 10-12 years 12-15 years
Appearance:
What Does American Bulldog Look Like?
American Bulldogs are large hunting dogs with muscular bodies. They can grow up to a large size in comparison to other dogs.
American bulldogs can weigh in the range of 70 to 110 pounds, which is higher than most pet dogs. The size of Bulldogs is something to admire.
American Bulldogs can grow up to 27 inches in length. However, the female bulldogs are relatively shorter in length, and the size is limited to 24 inches.
Apart from their sheer size, they have a muscular build, which can scare any individual. These powerful dogs have a “bully face” due to their underbite.
They have a broad chest and powerful stances, which give a scary look to them. Their tails are set low and have a wider girth at the start. Their jaws are mighty, and they have a whooping biting force of 305 pounds.
What Does American Pit Bull Look Like?
American Pitbulls are much smaller than the American Bulldogs. The size of the Pitbulls lies in the range of 16 to 22 inches.
The weight of these massive dogs is also lower than the American Bulldogs. They have a similar muscular build, strong jaws, relatively lean body, and broadhead.
Male Pitbulls can grow up to 60 pounds, and female Pitbulls can grow up to 40 pounds. Their small size is attributed to their generous athletic nature.
Pitbulls have wrinkles on their faces, and they have a very distinctive smiles. The biting force is also lower due to their scissors bite, and it is around 240 pounds.
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Colors:
American Bulldogs Colours:
The fur of the American Bulldogs is more distinguished concerning the Pitbulls. Back in the days, the purebred American Bulldogs used solid white color and red or black patches.
However, there are several colors like red, brown, white, black, with brindle patterns. The color patterns are only limited to these at the moment.
American Pitbull Terrier Colours:
Pitbulls are more vibrant in terms of color. There are no specific color patterns or colors for the Pitbull terrier breed.
The National Kennel Club accepts all the colors and patterns for this breed. However, fawn color with white matches is the most common color combination for this breed.
Temperament:
American Bulldogs Temperament:
American Bulldogs are a great companion for the family and children in the house. They are confident and social around other people.
They are people pleasers, and they like to grab everyone’s attention.
It is one of the reasons why these massive dogs are not as desirable as guard dogs. It is more likely that the Bulldogs will be making friends with the intruders than driving them away.
Bulldogs are exceptional with children, and they will be great friends to anyone in the house. However, you might need to train them from the time when they are puppies.
The training needs to be specialized as per the requirement of the Bulldogs. Their muscular build and large size require daily workout sessions.
It is one of the reasons why experts only recommend the most experienced dog owners for bulldogs.
If you do not work on the Bulldogs’ temperament since they were puppies, they cannot socialize with other animals or humans at later stages. Their look might seem intimidating at first, but they can be quite loving as a family dog if you train them well.
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American Pitbull Terrier Temperament:
Pitbulls are one of the most misunderstood dog breeds in the world. They are banned in many areas around the world because of their seemingly vicious temperament.
It could not be further from the truth. In reality, their behavior primarily depends on the capability of the dog owner.
They are incredibly playful dog breeds, and you need to undergo a short and effective exercise regime every day.
If you can make sure that the excess energy is depleted during the training period, they won’t turn to their destructive nature. It is one of the reasons why only the most experienced dog owners can own this dog.
The owners should control the temperament of the Pitbulls since they are pups. If you want your pitbull to be comfortable with the other humans in the house and kind to the other pets, you must teach them the behavior well at an early age.
You have to be extremely patient with the pups and make sure that you are vigilant during the training period.
You have to keep an eye out on the Pitbull when they are around other pets. However, with proper training and care, your pitbull can turn out to be a loving addition to your family.
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Conclusion:
We have discussed three distinctive features of the American Pitbull Terrier and American Bulldogs. Belonging from two different breeds sets, these two dogs are relatively different in terms of appearance, colors, and temperament.
However, they are bound to become exceptional family pets if you are careful when growing up. Both of these breeds need careful observation, vigorous training, and quenching their thirst for playing around through exercise.
Above that, they are relatively powerful breeds. They can overpower you if they want to. It is the reason for which experts only recommend the most experienced dog owners to own these dogs.
Due to their distinctively fierce looks, they face a lot of presumptuous hatred.
While Pitbulls are banned in many places, bulldogs often face the same jurisdiction for a similar fierce look. However, a little care and obedience can make them behave like any other pet dog.
Hi There, AJ Oren here. I am the founder of this amazing pet blog & a passionate writer who loves helping pet owners to learn more about their pets through my articles. I am also the content manager of this blog. I have experience in pet training and behavior, sheltering, and currently working for a veterinary clinic.