Читать книгу American Bulldog - Abe Fishman - Страница 10

As we know, the American Bulldog was very likely developed for use as a farm dog. The responsibilities of a farm dog were varied. They included catch work (catching and holding mature livestock for slaughter) and the protection of livestock from free-roaming dogs and packs of wild dogs. The American Bulldog in its working form is still used for this kind of work today. Given the popularity of the breed among pet owners presently, the percentage of American Bulldogs actually employed for farm and catch work is quite small indeed.

We have alluded to the fact that some American Bulldogs, such as those of the “Painter Line,” were used as fighting dogs in the past. It was not only the modern cross-bred American Bulldog that was used as a fighting dog, however. There are many old-time stories from people who knew the American Bulldog breed during the 1940s and 1950s that tell of serious organized dog fights in which American Bulldogs, rather than Pit Bulls, were matched.

The bottom line is that today’s American Bulldog has much to offer a family who will raise him right, devote time and effort to train and socialize him properly and give him the attention he needs. This breed is a wonderful companion, but the American Bulldog must know who’s the boss—you!