Pronunciation: [ Aus·tra·lian bull·dog ]
The Australian Bulldog is a very recently developed hybrid. These dogs were first known around 2004, and they continue to be a work in progress. They come from crossbreeding British Bulldogs with English Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Bullmastiffs, and Boxers.
| Type | Lifespan | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 8-12 yrs. | 17-20 in. | 50-78 lbs |
The Australian Bulldog was produced with companionship and environment in mind. In particular, these dogs were meant to live with people in Australia. They are not recognized by any worldwide kennel club, and as such, they are not categorized. They are fine for first-time dog owners, families with kids and homes with pets providing they are socialized with those other pets. They generally have fewer concerns than Bulldogs, but the concerns they have should be understood:
PROS
CONS
The Aussie Bulldog is an intelligent dog whose devotion and loyalty makes them easy to train, fun to play with and a great companion. Because they have been bred specifically to have much less possible aggression, they can be trusted around kids and most other pets. They desire companionship, affection, and a master.
These Bulldogs are intelligent enough, and basic training comes easily. They are best for typical obedience training, but not much more than that. They are also a bit headstrong and will tend to "bully" their way politely until they get what they want. They are at their best when they have a firm master whom they love.
Aussie Bulldogs will make friends with most anyone. Part of their watchdog capabilities comes from the look that Bulldogs have. They tend to be better watchdogs later in their life since they are more playful as puppies.
Bosdogs are not lazy, but they don't need a lot of exercise either. Romping and running for a while daily is great for them, but they don't need long walks or hours at a dog park.
The Aussie Bulldog is no different in appearance than the English Bulldog, but there are subtle differences. Basically, the Bosdog strong, squat and a chest-heavy. The stocky body looks to have the same dimensions as the English Bulldog but is actually a bit smaller.
The Bosdog is brachycephalic and this is somewhat obvious in the dog's sem-flattened snout. The head is broad, squared and a bit wrinkly. The eyes are deeply set, the mouth is wide and the ears are moderately sized. The shoulders are big, the legs are medium-length with fair-sized paws and the tail is thick and short. Most have black noses, but there is also the liver nose Aussie Bulldog that is very popular.
The coat style is short, thick and smooth, and it's not uncommon to be a bit wrinkly around the head and neck.
The Bosdog comes in a fair amount of colors. There is also the white Australian Bulldog and the nearly non-existent blue Aussie Bulldogs. The white Bosdog tends to be nearly all-white whereas the blues are often two or three-color dogs with blue being one.
Typically you will find these dogs in the following colors:
The Australian Bulldog is a hybrid in development and is therefore not recognized by the larger kennel clubs such as the AKC, UKC and FCI. There are not so much variations (save for the Mini, discussed below) as there are separate breeding lines that have since organized together. One line produces Nobes Aussie Bulldogs and is known as the Wingara Line. The other is the JAG line. The breeders who conceived these lines, Pip Nobes and a couple named Noel and Tina Green, have since formed the United Aussie Bulldog Association.
There are other breeders, however, who are attempting to develop an actual variety in the Miniature Australian Bulldog. The two breeds involved in making this much smaller hybrid version (of an already mixed-breed dog) are the French Bulldog and the Pug. The Mini Aussie Bulldog tends to be about 12 to 14 inches tall and around 20 to 30 pounds when mature. It is said that these smaller dogs are meant to have fewer respiratory problems and less possible aggression that may be inherited by some of the breeds used to produce the full-sized Aussie Bulldog.
The Australian Bulldog is no longer crossbred with purebred dogs, but it is still a hybrid that is intrabred to further develop toward a recognized breed. Because of this, the typical generational labels such as F1, F2, etc., are apparently not used.
The Australian Bulldog temperament is not the same as that of English and American Bulldogs. This breed greatly prefers the company of a family, is far more tolerant of noisy children playing and gets along well with non-canine pets. They are easy to train although they are best for just basic obedience training. They simply don't have much ambition in competition. They are good for active people but adapt well to laid-back lifestyles too.
The dog aggression that may be exhibited by other Bulldogs is not known in Aussie Bulldogs, although they won't back down from a fight if attacked. They love meeting new human friends, and while they can be decent watchdogs, they don't work well as guard dogs.
Below are pictures of the Australian Bulldog dog breed.
Most aspects of living with a Bosdog tend to be easy. These dogs don't bark much, they don't need more than a moderate amount of exercise, and they tend to not get separation anxiety. They are also very friendly, and they are not recommended as guard dogs. They play well with kids and with socialization, are good with other pets.
The standard-sized Aussie Bulldogs may not be suitable for apartment living, as these dogs may have a preference for wide-open, outdoor spaces. The Mini Aussie Bulldog is said to be perfect for small apartments and homes with no yards or gardens.
If you are considering adopting one of these dogs, you may already be asking, Are Australian Bulldogs hypoallergenic? These dogs are not. They do shed moderately.
The core desire for the Australian Bulldog was said to have been a Bulldog with far fewer health problems. The Bosdog tends to have less-serious respiratory problems, skin problems, and birthing difficulties. There remain some breathing concerns as well as an intolerance to heat, however, and many of the problems that were to be bred out may reappear with the Mini Aussie Bulldog variety. Because of the dog's body shape and size, there are also some typical big-dog problems that can develop:
These dogs have an average life span is still being understood. Some breeders state it is about 10 to 12 years while others claim if is 12 to 15 years, and still others avoid the argument and say it is 10 to 15 years.
The following dog breed registries and organizations recognize the Australian Bulldog as a dog breed:
