The American Bulldog Lab mix dog, also very often referred to as the American Bullador dog, is a cross breed that comes to life after one American Bulldog parent is cross bred with one Labrador Retriever parent.
Even though this cross breed is not officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) because it’s not a purebred dog, it is officially recognized as a designer dog breed by the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC) and the Dog Registry of America (DRA).
Physical Appearance
With this specific cross breed, it’s hard to tell which of its two parents it’s going to take after more. Sometimes, the American Bullador takes a bit more after its Labrador Retriever parent in terms of physical appearance, while other times it takes a bit more after its American Bulldog parent in terms of how it looks on the outside.
With that being said, there are a few details about its physical appearance that are very commonly observed among different American Bulladors, which we will be making note of in this section. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Size, Height & Weight
The American Bullador is considered to fall under the categories of medium to large sized dogs, and definitely not small sized dogs, as it tends to weigh anywhere from 50 lbs to 100 lbs heavy and stand at a height of anywhere between 20 to 25 inches tall.
Coat Color
The following is a list of some of the most common coat colors that the American Bullador is known to be available in.
– Black
– Brown
– Chocolate
– Light brown
– Tan
– Yellow
– Fiery red
Temperament
Training
Training this dog is relatively easy for the most part of it, because of the sweet side it takes from its Labrador parent.
However, sometimes it can take a more aggressive and stubborn side from its American Bulldog parent, in which case it will prove to be a bit difficult to train (especially for first time dog owners without much prior experience).
If your American Bullador takes more after its Labrador Retriever parent in terms of personality then you should make very good use of a playful, cheerful attitude in training that incorporates toys and fun ideas.
On the other hand, if your American Bullador takes more after its American Bulldog parent in terms of personality then besides positive reinforcement techniques used in training, you should also adopt a firm and assertive attitude during training so that they don’t become overly confident and stubborn when around you and stop being responsive to what you ask from them.
Exercise & Physical Activity
Despite being a large dog of such size, it doesn’t really require that much exercise throughout the day to stay happy.
Sure, the American Bullador is an active dog, but not to an extent where you have to go out of your way on a daily basis and exercise them for long periods of time.
Assuming you have a backyard where they can roam around and spent the majority of their time in, then you’re probably looking at an hour long walk a day to get the job done.
This is, of course, due to the fact that this dog tends to take its exercise needs and energy levels from its American Bulldog parent most of the times.
In the few cases that it does take its exercise needs and energy levels from its Labrador Retriever parent, it will need higher physical activity levels on a daily basis since Labrador Retrievers are known to be much more physically active dogs than American Bulldogs.
Also, because this dog tends to take much of its playful attitude from its Labrador Retriever parent, it’s also best if you have easily accessible toys around the house that they can play with whenever they feel like it.
Watchdog Ability
Even though the American Bullador isn’t much of a barker, it does serve as a good watchdog because of how protective it is towards the people it loves and holds dear to its heart.
When something suspicious is going around your house or property and they sense it, they will bark to alert you of the danger so you can see what’s going on yourself, no doubt about that.
They just don’t tend to make any unnecessary noise such as barking if there’s no real reason for them do be doing it.
Add to that the fact that it has a bravehearted personality to it, these are all the characteristics you want in a watchdog that’s job is to keep you, your family members and your property out of harm’s way.
This is where this dog takes more after its Bulldog parent rather than its Labrador Retriever parent, as the American Bulldog is notorious for having all of these protective and territorial characteristics.
Living Conditions
Indoors VS Outdoors
Seeing that this dog is a medium to large sized dog, it doesn’t fit in very well with that “apartment life”. A dog this size needs to be out in the open most of the times to stay happy, so it won’t do too well if you have it live in an apartment.
Living in a property that has a backyard this dog can remain free in for the majority of the day is best.
Climate
Because of the fact that this cross breed has a fairly dense coat on its skin, it’s best that you have it live in a moderate temperature climate because that’s where it thrives most.
If you have it live in an area where temperatures tend to get too high, the risk of it overheating is very high.
So, the American Bullador does best in moderate climates, as well as climates where it tends to get a little bit cold (not too much though), considering the fact that it has a dense coat on it to protect it.
Family Dog?
For those of you looking for a family dog to add to the household, especially if you’ve got kids around the house, this dog is an excellent option for you to consider.
This is true because of the fact that this dog takes much of its sweet personality from its Labrador Retriever parent, which means it’s super friendly around young children who have similar energy levels and playful, cheerful attitudes just like it has.
However, you should be aware that this dog sometimes takes a little bit after its Bulldog parent and the tendency for a little bit of aggression is there, but this shouldn’t be of much worry to you as there’s nothing about this that can’t be solved by proper training and socialization from a young age.
Such socialization from a young age, especially when given the opportunity to interact with young kids ever since they’re still young and little puppies, will make sure that they grow up with the knowledge of exactly how to safely play with others while avoiding any foul play.
Of course, and just as the case is when it comes to every large sized dog out there, it’s always best that you monitor any playtime they get with young children.
Proper socialization from a young age is also advised so that they grow up to properly interact and play with other household pets you may have around at the time, such as other dogs or cats.
All in all, this is a very suitable dog for a family with kids under the right circumstances.
Health
Assuming that you’re able to provide the American Bullador with all it needs to live a healthy and happy life, it’s expected to live up to anywhere between 11 to 16 years of age.
One thing you have to be very careful about, though, is the huge tendency this dog has to get overweight (and sometimes even obese) really fast.
Some American Bulladors take after their Bulldog’s parent lazy side that likes to do nothing all day long but hang around, eat a lot and get minimal physical activity done.
This is a recipe for disaster, especially if you’re following a free-feed method where you give them unlimited access to dog food they can eat whenever they want and for whatever quantity they want.
Care
Grooming
Because this dog has a coat that minimally sheds, you won’t have to worry about having to adhere to a strict grooming schedule.
Brushing its coat around 1 to 2 times a week (3 times a week at the very most) is more than enough to keep it in good condition.
So, if you’re anything like me and look for a dog that requires minimal maintenance in brushing and avoiding having to clean up hair that falls all over the house flooring and furniture, then this dog is an excellent option for you to consider adding to your household.
As far as bath time is concerned, you don’t have to give them baths that regularly, so that’s also one less thing you have to worry about on a regular basis.
Giving this dog a bath is only necessary once they get their coat dirty or start to smell bad.
