The largest bulldog breeds (Canis lupus familiaris) were used to fight and move livestock throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Powerful, sometimes vicious, yet super sweet, these dogs have captured the hearts of countless canine lovers in the United States. Two former presidents, Calvin Coolidge and Warren Harding, both kept bulldogs as pets. Continue reading to learn about the six largest bulldog breeds.
6. Australian Bulldog
Australian bulldogs live for 10 to 12 years.
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Also known as the Aussie bulldog, the Australian bulldog was developed in the 90s in Queensland. This breed stands 16 to 20 inches at the shoulder. Males weigh 62 to 77 pounds, and females weigh 51 to 62 pounds. They are known for their broad heads, strong jaws, and wrinkled faces. Their short, smooth coats come in white, brindle, red, and fawn.
5. Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog
This loyal and devoted breed, the Alapaha blue blood bulldog, lives 11 to 13 years.
The Alapaha blue blood bulldog is a large bulldog that stands 18 to 24 inches at the shoulder and weighs 55 to 90 pounds. They were initially bred in Southern Georgia in the 1800s to herd domestic animals like cattle. For several generations, these dogs were only bred in Rebecca, Georgia, by the Lane family. In the early 21st century, there were an estimated 120 to 150 Alapaha blue blood bulldogs, but current population numbers are not well-documented.
4. American Bulldog
The average lifespan of an American bulldog is 10-15 years, and most of them are healthy throughout their lives.
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The ancestors of American bulldogs first came to the United States in the 1800s alongside British immigrants. American bulldogs measure 20 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh 60 to 100 pounds. They were used by Southerners to hunt feral pigs. Additionally, their owners used them as guard dogs and stock dogs on their farms and ranches. Despite the breed’s large size and usefulness, few people cared for them, and they almost went extinct after the Second World War. However, war veteran and breeder John D. Jonson worked tirelessly to revive the breed in collaboration with Alan Scott, another passionate breeder.
3. Dogue de Bordeaux
The dogue de Bordeaux is incredibly large and may pose a challenge for owners without adequate space in their cars and houses.
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Also known as the Bordeaux bulldog or Bordeaux mastiff, the dogue de Bordeaux is a French breed that was first bred as early as the 14th century. Typically, the dog boasts a short coat with a rich dark-red fawn or light fawn shade. Males stand 23 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weigh at least 110 pounds; adult females measure 23 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh approximately 99 pounds.
2. Red-Tiger Bulldog
Red-tiger bulldogs crave confident and consistent owners.
The red-tiger bulldog is a new breed developed by Rev. Scott L. Amos, Sr. in 1991. These dogs measure up to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh up to 115 pounds. They boast a unique genetic color composition of reddish-brown or red brindles that have never occurred before in the bulldog family. Red-tiger bulldogs have round or almond-shaped eyes that can be hazel, yellow, blue, or green. Individuals with heterochromia are considered desirable, but those with asymmetrical eyes are not.
1. Bullmastiff
Bullmastiffs are incredibly friendly, even to strangers, and rarely bark.
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The bullmastiff is powerful and protective, with short brindle, fawn, or red coats. Males measure 25 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weigh 110 to 130 pounds. Females measure 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh 100 to 120 pounds. English gamekeepers are thought to have cross-bred the now-extinct muscular old English bulldog with the English mastiff to develop the bullmastiff in the 19th century. At the time, gamekeepers needed guard dogs to protect their land from poachers. Today, the bullmastiff is less aggressive and, instead of guarding estates, serves as a companion.
