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American Bullador (American Bulldog & Labrador Mix): Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

bullador

Height: 15–25 inches
Weight: 55–100 pounds
Lifespan: 11–15 years
Colors: Tan, white, black, white, golden, cream
Suitable for: Large active families with big backyards. Active people with a lot of time to spend with them.
Temperament: Protective and affectionate. Loyal, energetic, and intelligent. Even-tempered, yet stubborn. Gentle and playful.

If you are looking for a loyal and friendly watchdog, the American Bullador might be the right breed for you. Designed from the offspring of the American Bulldog and Labrador Retriever, this puppy comes from two of the most popular American canine breeds. Not only are they great companions, but they also make excellent watchdogs that are even-tempered and intelligent.

When choosing a new pet for your home, it is important to get all of the information so that you can make a good decision not only for yourself but also for the pup in question. In the American Bulladors case, this breed has many interesting contradictions that make it a unique pet. Below, we will discuss all the details of this breed’s temperament, care, puppy years, and much more.

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American Bullador Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Before we get into the American Bullador puppy years, it is important to note that designer breeds can be hard to predict as far as their temperament and personality. What we do know is that this hybrid came into existence sometime in the 1900s to create healthier offspring of their purebred parents.

Typically, when a breeder decides to create a new hybrid, it is generally to eliminate any health defects that pure breeds may suffer from. Although the jury may still be out on whether or not this works, it is true to say that your puppy can take after either parent in the personality department.

As far as the puppy years, these adorable little tykes are energetic, playful, and frisky. They will get into plenty of mischief and should be trained as early as possible. On the other hand, they will quickly adapt to your family, and even as youngsters, they are even-tempered and make great companions.

3 Little-Known Facts About the American Bullador

1. Dog House Candidate

The American Bullador loves being outdoors. If you have a large fenced-in yard that is secure, this pup will be more than happy to spend the majority of their time outside. Providing them with a doghouse and other entertainment will only add to their outdoor glee. Just keep in mind that we do not recommend leaving these pups outdoors overnight.


2. Appearance

When mixing two purebreds to create another breed, it can be difficult to determine which parent the puppy will take after. In the Bullador’s case, they typically either look like a tall Bulldog or a small Labrador. What is cuter than that?


3. WaterProof

The American Bullador has a waterproof fur coat courtesy of their Labrador Retriever ancestors. This allows water to roll off their thick fur without it saturating them down to the skin.

Parent Breeds of the American Bullador
Image Credit: (L) Mary Swift, Shutterstock | (R) Jumpstory

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Temperament & Intelligence of the American Bullador 🧠

The American Bullador is a loyal, beautiful, and even-tempered pup. They are very intelligent with a calm demeanor. They make great companions and watchdogs, and they have a lot of energy to spend running around with you and your family. This breed comes from working-class purebred parents, so their daily life should be full of activity and tasks.

You may have noticed that this dog has a couple of contradictions within their nature that make them interesting. The first anomaly is their love of the outdoors. As we mentioned, this breed enjoys outdoor time, yet on the other hand, they do not like extended periods alone. It is important to check on your dog often and play with them if you are going to be leaving them in the backyard. Also, make sure that you never leave them by themselves overnight.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

The Bullador makes a great family pet. They are good with children, however, they need to be socialized early in life. Due to their Bulldog ancestors, they can have a touch of aggression. It is equally important that you teach your kids how to interact with your dog safely.

When a child plays rough or yells loudly, your protective pup can go on the alert thinking that something is wrong. In that case, they can tend to be aggressive, as mentioned. Typically, this does not happen often, but you should be aware if you have small children.

Other than that, this is a dog that will enjoy spending time with the family. They like the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This pooch will do well with families that are very active and have time to spend with them outdoors. Even better, if you can provide your Bullador with tasks such as running after a ball or other fun activities, they will be even more content.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Another interesting contradiction about this breed is that they are typically good with other animals when you bring them out to a dog park. They enjoy meeting new friends, running around with other dogs, and generally being social. When it comes to being in their yard, however, they are more opt to distrust strangers.

Whether it be another furry face or a two-legged friend, your Bullador is going to be slightly distrustful and standoffish. This breed makes a great watchdog and is very alert, therefore, it is important to train them early so they do not overreact to visitors. Even with appropriate socialization skills, they are still likely to bark at a new face.

As far as other pets in the home, this again has a lot to do with their early socialization and training. On the Labrador side, they are very calm and obedient. The Bulldog is a bit pricklier. There usually is not an issue, but you want to ensure that they are familiar with other animals before you bring a smaller pet, such as a cat, into your home.

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Things to Know When Owning an American Bullador:

If you like what you’ve heard so far, the American Bullador is fast becoming the best contender for your new family pet. Now, however, you want to take a look at some of the other aspects of their care to ensure that this dog will be within your means to take care of properly.

When taking on any pet, you become responsible for their overall well-being. This includes their diet, training, health, grooming, and happiness. Ensuring that you will be able to not only financially but physically take care of this animal is important. Take a look at the other care requirements for the American Bullador below.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

As far as diet requirements, the most important thing to note about the American Bullador is that they are an active pooch with a healthy appetite. They will most likely be able to eat between three to four cups of food per day that you can spread out morning and night.

For the most part, this dog has few food sensitivities or allergies that you need to watch out for. Of course, each dog is different, and it is important that you speak with your vet about the best diet for their health, age, and lifestyle.

Most medium to large-sized dogs that are moderate to highly active require a diet that is high in protein. Nutritious meals that offer lean protein, healthy fats, and natural fiber are the best. It keeps their energy level high, their digestive system running smoothly, and their metabolism working properly.

You also want to ensure that your dog is getting the other vitamins, minerals, and supplements that they need. These things can include antioxidants for their immune system, fur, and skin health, probiotics for their gut health, and various other vitamins to support their teeth, bones, cognitive function, and many other areas of their well-being.

You also want to keep in mind other food that you give to your pet such as treats. These little snacks should be just as nutritious as their normal meals. Look for options that are organic with little added sugar.

Exercise 🐕

The American Bullador requires a lot of exercise. They are very energetic and without an outlet for their excess energy, they can become bored and destructive. That being said, you want to take your pup on at least two 30-minute walks per day. They will also enjoy going on bike rides, hikes, and jogs with you.

As we have already mentioned, this pup enjoys a lot of outdoor time and should be given this opportunity daily. They will have fun with toys and other entertainment. It will allow them to get out of all the restlessness they may have.

Again, although they don’t suffer from a lot of separation anxiety, they do not like long extended periods alone. Make sure to go out and check on your pet several times while also stopping to throw a ball around for a few minutes to keep them engaged.

Training 🦮

The difficulty of training this particular breed can have a lot to do with which parent they take after. For example, Labradors are very intelligent, even-tempered, and ready to please. Bulldogs are also very intelligent but tend to have a more stubborn streak. In fact, the Lab also has some stubbornness, and if you happen to get a pup that is closer to the Bulldog in nature, training can be difficult.

In general, this breed does well with a lot of positive reinforcement. The earlier you start training, the better. Just keep in mind that a lot of patience will be needed. You want to keep their training sessions short and rewarding. If they become bored or feel that they are being punished, they will be less likely to follow your commands.

Obedience, potty training, and socialization are the four major training points that you want to cover when they are puppies. This type of dog also looks for a leader, so you must train them with a firm yet fair hand. Anger and aggression on your part will only have the opposite effect of what you are looking for, yet consistency with an added treat or two will give you great results. At the end of the day, this is a pup that is eager for your approval, so they will pick up quickly on what makes you happy.

Grooming ✂️

Grooming your American Bullador is on the average side. They tend to have dense, short fur with low shedding. They should be brushed weekly with a bristle brush to get rid of as much of the excess fur as possible. During the shedding season, you may want to brush them daily as their thick fur can catch the loose hair making an even bigger mess.

You will also want to clean your Bulladors ears weekly with a cotton swab and ear wash. You want to check them for excess wax and mites, as well. Teeth brushing should be done as often as possible. Doing it daily is recommended, but we understand it is not always possible. It is important to keep tartar and plaque build-up to a minimum, however. This breed does well with dental treats which can cut down on daily cleanings.

You will also need to take care of their nails, which are thick and grow quickly. For the most part, you will have to trim them down every 2–3 weeks. However, if your pup gets a lot of outdoor exercise, they can be filed naturally.

As far as baths, this can be done on an as-needed basis. Remember, your pup has a waterproof coat. This means that if you saturate the undercoat and skin beneath, it can take a long time to dry out. Try to keep shampoos to a minimum in the colder months, especially if they spend a lot of time outside.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Once again, the health issues have a lot to do with their genes and ancestors. For the most part, hybrids tend to be healthier than their purebred parents, yet there is nothing to say that they will not develop some of the more common ailments of the parent breed. Take a look below at some of the more serious and minor conditions the American Bullador may face in their lifetime.

Pros
  • Weight gain
  • Ear infections
Cons
  • Hip
  • Elbow dysplasia

As you can see, this particular hybrid is not prone to a lot of illnesses. That being said, you should always get your pet regular check-ups with your vet and reach out when anything does not seem right.

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Male vs Female

With little documentation regarding this designer hybrid, it is difficult to discern whether there are any major differences between a male or female. A lot of it comes down to their early handling, socialization, health, age, and general lifestyle.

If we look at the parent breeds, the female Labrador can be a bit more stubborn than the male. On the other hand, the American Bulldog males can be a bit more aggressive than the females. Again, this is all subject to the individual dog, so there is no way to determine whether your male or female will have these personality quirks.

Regardless of the breed, one thing that can have an impact on your pet’s temperament is whether they have been fixed. If you are not planning to breed your pet, it is recommended that you have them spayed or neutered. In females, it can reduce the risk of different cancers and extend their lifespan. In males, it can reduce the urge to find a mate, which can have your dog trying to escape at every given opportunity.

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Final Thoughts

This hybrid designer breed will provide your family with a loyal, playful, intelligent companion that will watch over you and your home. They are happy, affectionate, and very active. Although every dog is different, this pup requires a lot of exercise and a lot of love, but they will provide you with so much more.

Although this breed is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club, it is noted by the Dog Registry of America and the American Canine Hybrid Club indicating that this is a mixed breed that is here to stay. If you are interested in adopting one of these pups, be sure to do all of your research before you bring a pet into your home. Regardless of breed, each dog deserves a chance at a happy life which they will look to you to provide.

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Featured Image: ID 90806234 © William Wise | Dreamstime.com

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