American Bullnese Dog Breed

Below are the details and specs of the American Bullnese breed:

The American Bullnese is a small sized dog breed. An adult American Bullnese will weigh between 15-30 pounds and stand 10-14 inches tall from ground to shoulder. Their compact size makes them ideal for apartment living or for owners who travel frequently.

This breed was carefully crafted to be people loving and sweet. As such they make excellent dogs for families with children and other household pets. Due to their silly and affable demeanor they will probably not make for great guard dogs but they are wonderful entertainers.

This is a decidedly low maintenance breed. These dogs do not shed much and should not require brushing more than once a week. They do need exercise but this should be limited to a few short walks and perhaps some playtime.

The American Bullnese breed was created in 1989 by a Florida man named Robert E. Rice. Rice selected traits he loved (friendliness, short muzzle, from several existing breeds and determined to create a breed that encapsulated all of them. Despite what the name might suggest, these dogs do not descend from the American Bulldog. The exact breeds used remained a mystery until 2012, when Rice publicly disclosed that his American Bullnese was a cross of the Pekingese, the French Bulldog, the Boston Terrier, and the Pug. Apparently some Dachshund was added later to strengthen the breed.

The Bullnese is a small, stocky dog with a long body and short legs. Its frame is muscular and low to the ground. It has a square head and a strong upper body. Its muzzle is short and they always appear to be smiling; some dogs have many wrinkles, some do not. The coat is thick, short and dense and may be any color. The Bullnese's squat body and small legs give it a running hop that many owners find adorable.

Typically, the temperament of a hybrid dog varies depending on which traits the dog inherits from each of its parents. Due to Robert Rice's the careful selection of traits in his breeding program, this variation may be somewhat subdued in the American Bullnese, which is a mix of Pekingese, the French Bulldog, the Boston Terrier, the Pug, and the Dachshund. Rice was careful only to allow dogs that met his specific trait requirements into his breeding program. With that said, it is never a bad idea to familiarize yourself with the temperament of the parent breeds if you are planning on adopting an American Bullnese.

Rice was careful to select parent dogs that had a friendly demeanor, and it shows in the American Bullnese, which is considered a fantastically amiable and sweet dog. Often described as "clowns", these dogs may engage in silly, playful behavior that will be adorable and entertaining to watch. These dogs are intelligent and quick learners, but a Bullnese might stand up to a much larger dog in the family that is many times its size. The breed isn't aggressive--it just likes to have a little fun. This breed is excellent with people, including children and the elderly. They are happy to be lap-warmers and should not be difficult to train.

These dogs' long torsos and short legs may result in back trouble if they are consistently put under strain or over-exercised. On the other hand, they are liable to become obese if they are under-exercised, so a balance must be struck. The American Bullnese is considered a healthy breed, but they occasionally suffer from corneal ulcerations, hernias, and disk disease, so be attentive. The life expectancy for this breed is 12-15 years.