Bull Terrier vs American Bulldog
Compare the Bull Terrier to the American Bulldog. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Bull Terriers and American Bulldogs.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - The Bull Terrier is an excellent choice for new/inexperienced owners. The American Bulldog is not recommended for new owners.
- Children - Both the Bull Terrier and American Bulldog are great with children.
- Grooming - Both the Bull Terrier and American Bulldog are very low maintenance and easy to groom.
- Barking - The American Bulldog has an average tendency to bark. The Bull Terrier will rarely bark.
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| Breed Name | Bull Terrier | American Bulldog |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 9-15 yrs. | 10-16 yrs. |
| Height | 18-21 in. | 20-28 in. |
| Weight | 45-65 lb | 60-120 lb |
| Intelligence | Average | Below Average |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | UK (England) | United States |
| Origin Year | 1862 AD | 1700 AD |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Medium Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Large Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 65°F to 80°F | 55°F to 80°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High | High |
| Exercise Required | Medium | Medium |
| Top Running Speed | 18 mph | 23 mph |
| Strength | High-Very High | Very High |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Low | Low-Medium |
| Shedding | Low | Medium |
| Dander | Low | Medium |
| Drool Amount | Low | Medium |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Bull Terrier | American Bulldog |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | No |
| Family/Pack | Yes | Yes |
| Independent | Yes | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | Yes | Yes |
| Average | Yes | No |
| Focused & Patient | No | No |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Average | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Average | Below Average |
| Chasing | High | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | Very Low | Below Average |
| Fighting | Average | Below Average |
| Guarding | Average | Below Average |
| Herding | Very Low | Below Average |
| Hunting | Average | Average |
| Protection | Average | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | High | Below Average |
| Sledding | Very Low | Average |
| Watch | Average | Average |
| Breed Name | Bull Terrier | American Bulldog |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 9-15 yrs. | 10-16 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Allergies | No | Yes |
| Cancer | No | Yes |
| Cherry Eye | No | Yes |
| Deafness | Yes | No |
| Ectropion | No | Yes |
| Elbow Dysplasia | No | Yes |
| Entropion | No | Yes |
| Heart Murmurs | Yes | No |
| Hereditary Nephritis | Yes | No |
| Hip Dysplasia | No | Yes |
| Lens Luxation | Yes | No |
| Spinning | Yes | No |
| Breed Name | Bull Terrier | American Bulldog |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Single Coat | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Straight | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Short | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black & Tan | Yes | No |
| Black Brindle | Yes | No |
| Black Brindle, & White | Yes | No |
| Black, Tan, & White | Yes | No |
| Brindle | Yes | Yes |
| Brindle & White | Yes | No |
| Fawn | Yes | No |
| Fawn & White | Yes | No |
| Fawn Smut | Yes | No |
| Fawn Smut & White | Yes | No |
| Red | Yes | No |
| Red & White | Yes | Yes |
| Red Smut | Yes | No |
| Red Smut & White | Yes | No |
| White | Yes | Yes |
| White & Black Brindle | Yes | No |
| Black & White | No | Yes |
| Tan & White | No | Yes |
| White & Brindle | No | Yes |