The American Bulldog and Pitbull (American Pit Bull Terrier) are both medium-sized dogs that are active and compact. They both make great companions for all kinds of dog enthusiasts. While they may share some similarities, they also differ significantly. If you are thinking of getting one of these two, you may find it challenging to decide which one is better for you.
In this article, we’ll compare both breeds head to head in terms of many aspects. This way, you can narrow down your options and make it easier for you to decide which dog suits your preference.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Contents
- 1 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull General Information
- 2 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Lifespan
- 3 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Appearance and Size
- 4 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Diet
- 5 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Grooming
- 6 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Shedding
- 7 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Temperament
- 8 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Intelligence
- 9 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Environment and Family
- 10 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Training
- 11 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Exercise
- 12 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Barking
- 13 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Health
- 14 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Price
- 15 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull FAQ
- 16 American Bulldog vs. Pitbull – What breed is right for you?
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull General Information
| American Bulldog | Pitbull | |
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 10-16 Years | 12-14 Years |
| Weight | 60-120 Pounds | 30-90 Pounds |
| Height | 20-28 Inches | 17-20 Inches |
| Intelligence | Below Average | Average |
| Friendliness | Good | Very Good |
| Living Environment | Indoor/Outdoor | Indoor/Outdoor |
| Barks | ||
| Energy | High | Medium-High |
| Required Exercise | Medium | Medium-High |
| Aggression | Below Average | Average |
| Coat | Low-Medium | Low |
| Shedding | Medium | High |
| Grooming | Low-Medium | Low |
Read also our other comparisons:
Now, let’s get into it more.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Lifespan
When it comes to lifespan, both an American Bulldog and a Pit Bull are the same. Both dog breeds live on an average span of 10-16 years. Still, the American Bulldog have a life span of 12-14 years, which is pretty much the same.
Of course, the lifespan of your pet depends on many factors. Among these are the overall health, care, lifestyle, diet, and other things.
The lifespan of your pet will depend on how well you take care of it. As long as you care and give it the necessary attention and needs, you’ll have a great companion for many years.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Appearance and Size
Both dogs don’t differ much in their appearance. However, they differ a bit when it comes to size.
The American Bulldog is the larger one, standing between 22 to 27 inches tall. Moreover, this dog may weight 60 up to 120 pounds.
On the other hand, the Pitbull or the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) stands only 17 to 21 inches tall. Moreover, it weighs lighter, having a mass of only 30 to 60 pounds.
Another set of differences between these two breeds is their colour appearance. The American Bullies come in white colours with black, red, brown, or brindle patches.
Moreover, they usually have that black eyeliner. On the other hand, Pitbulls can have any colour.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Diet
Both breeds are so active and muscular. Thus, their dietary requirements centre on protein. Moreover, they need fatty acids for good health and a bit of carb to prevent weight gain.
For this reason, these two dogs may eat more protein sources such as chicken, beef, lamb, and fish.
Giving a variety of food helps in offering your different pet kinds of nutrition.
American Bulldog can eat an average of four cups of food per day. On the other hand, Pitbulls may need less food since they are a bit smaller. You can offer this breed a maximum of 3 cups per day.
Aside from kibble, the natural foods mentioned above are ideal for these dogs.
The only thing you need to keep in mind is to feed such in moderation. Moreover, it would be best to consult a vet whenever you introduce a new food.
This way, you can be confident your pet gets the proper food and food amount it needs every day.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Grooming
When it comes to grooming, both breeds have similar needs. They don’t have long coats that need extreme maintenance.
Due to their short hair, they don’t shed that much. Thus, you don’t need to worry about constant grooming with either of the two.
For this reason, a brushing session once a week would suffice for these dogs. It will be enough to distribute its natural oils. Further, it would also help remove loose hair and keep their coats shiny.
It would also be best to bath them at least once every three to four weeks. It will help them stay clean and shiny.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Shedding
As I said, neither of the two pets would give you shedding issues. Due to their short coat, they don’t shed that much.
For this reason, if you aren’t fond of dealing with shedding, you can’t go wrong in choosing either of the two.
While they don’t shed that much, it doesn’t mean you won’t have any obligation to groom them. Both dogs still need weekly brushing and at least a monthly bath to keep them clean.
Such grooming sessions would suffice for both dogs. Thus, you’ll hardly ever have to mind doing it.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Temperament
The American Bulldog and Pitbull share similar temperaments. Both dogs love people, and they won’t do well if you leave them alone for a prolonged period.
You can also trust your kids with these dogs, and they would love playing with them. Nevertheless, it would be best to always keep both your pet and your kid under your watch as they play.
This way, you can be confident that both your pet and your kid is safe. If there’s a difference between these two, that would be their temperament towards other animals.
For instance, Pitbulls can show aggression towards cats, other dogs, and other small animals that may seem as their prey. The reason for this attitude comes from their lineage associated with dogfighting.
On the other hand, American Bulldogs may also show aggression, but they would find it easier to socialise than the Pitbulls.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Intelligence
The American Bulldog and the Pitbull or American Pit Bull Terrier are intelligent dog breeds. Of course, the level of intelligence may still vary in every pet.
For this reason, intelligence depends on their origin as well as their training. Not all American Bullies are intelligent, and the same thing applies to the Pitbulls.
For this reason, you may want to get your pet’s intelligence tested if you wish to know more about it.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Environment and Family
Both the American Bulldogs and Pitbulls share similar preferences when it comes to the living environment.
They are quite active dogs. Thus, they need more playtime, and they enjoy a bit of running.
Although they can stay indoors, they aren’t the type you can keep inside all the time. These dogs may need a small yard where they can roam around.
If you don’t have a large space, then daily walks outside would suffice for these dogs.
Although both breeds aren’t precisely the type you can cuddle, they are still they pretty much enjoy loving attention. Moreover, it’s not a good idea to leave them alone for long periods.
Both pets can also play well with kids and adults. However, they would need constant supervision since anything can happen with them if left alone.
Thus, always make sure that your pet and kid have someone watching them as they play together.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Training
As I said earlier, both the American Bulldog and American Pit Bull Terrier are quite intelligent. Thus, they can learn and follow basic commands you may offer.
However, they can be a bit stubborn. For this reason, you’ll have to prepare yourself for a lot of patience and consistent training.
Since they tend to do things independently, they need someone who can train them with firmness and consistency.
If you’re someone who’s not familiar with training such kinds of dogs, it would be best to leave it to the experts.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Exercise
Both the American Bulldog and Pitbull have plenty of energy, and they are extremely active dogs. Thus, they may need to use all the power the whole day.
For their training, they would need at least an hour of exercise every day. If you plan on getting either of these pets, you may need a larger space for them to play and train.
These dogs can even be jogging companions. Of course, it would be best not to overdo the running. The American Bulldogs which have short muzzles are prone to overheating. Thus, exercising should only be in moderation.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Barking
When it comes to barking, the American Pit Bull Terriers are louder than the American Bulldogs.
The Pitbulls bark often while the American Bullies don’t bark that much. For this reason, if you have a big concern with noise, then your best option would be the American Bulldog.
However, if you don’t mind the constant barking and don’t have any neighbours to disturb, a Pitbull would work for you.
It would be best to keep in mind that barking is trainable. Thus, if you want to teach your dog to stop, the first thing to do is teach it to bark whenever you want. As soon as you do, it would be a lot easier to command it to stop.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Health
Both dog breeds have the same health problems and complications. Thus, if you plan on getting either of the two, it would be best to prepare for such difficulties.
For instance, both these dogs are prone to health issues like:
- Hypothyroidism
- Hip or elbow dysplasia
- Demodectic mange
The American Bulldogs are prone to breathing problems as well as cataracts. On the other hand, Pitbulls are prone to allergies. In particular, they usually get skin allergies.
Before getting these dogs, it would be best to consult a vet and ask for recommendations and advice. This way, you’ll orient yourself in dealing with these dogs, especially on the health aspect.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull Price
The prices for both American Bulldogs and American Pit Bull Terriers don’t differ much. Still, it may cost you more to buy the former.
American Bullies have a price range of $1200-$1500 per puppy. On the other hand, an American Pit Bull Terrier puppy would cost an average of $500-$1000.
Of course, it will always depend on many factors. For instance, getting these pups from breeders may cost more than a local pet store.
Moreover, both breeds may have rare types. Such varieties would cost more than the average as well.
Still, the typical dogs of these two breeds don’t differ that much.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull FAQ
Here are some of the frequently asked questions regarding American Bulldogs and American Pit Bull Terriers or Pitbulls. Take a look and see if you can find something handy and useful.
What is an American Bulldog mixed with Pitbull?
An American Bulldog mixed with a Pitbull would result in a hybrid which we call a Bullypit.
A Bullypit is a medium-sized dog towering between 20-25 inches tall. It can weigh an average of 70-120 pounds, and it shares both parents’ qualities.
The average lifespan of a Bullypit is 10-13 years.
Lastly, these crossbreds would cost around $250-$2000.
If you’re still feeling torn on choosing between these two, a hybrid of both may be ideal for you.
Is an American bulldog the same thing as a pit bull?
The short answer is no. The American Bulldog and the Pitbull are two different breeds.
At a glance, both dogs may be a bit similar, but they are different.
Both breeds are descendants of the Old English Bulldog. However, the American Pit Bull Terrier is a cross of such with the Terrier.
Can an American bulldog beat a pitbull?
When it comes to a fight, the Pitbull has the upper hand.
American Pit Bull Terriers have average aggression than the American Bullies with a below-average level.
Moreover, the Pitbulls have a high tendency when it comes to fighting than the American Bulldogs.
If the two dogs would fight, the cause would likely be the Pitbull. However, it doesn’t mean the American Bulldog would back out.
American Bulldog vs. Pitbull – What breed is right for you?
Choosing between an American Bulldog and an American Pit Bull Terrier can be a difficult decision. Since both breeds have their unique and adorable qualities, it is indeed something you need to think through.
Of course, choosing the breed depends on your preference. Thus, my advice is to list down your preferences before comparing both species. This way, you’ll narrow down the choices.
American Bulldogs are ideal pets for people who want a quieter one between the two. Moreover, they are lesser aggressive, which means they can hang out quickly if you have other pets around.
Pitbulls are ideal for dog lovers who don’t mind the loud barks and the active and aggressive temperament.
In general, both breeds make great companions for people.
If you still feel torn between the two breeds, a mix of both is your best option. The Pitbully Breed shares many features from both species. Thus, taking home such would be like taking both dogs in a single body.
