A Scott Type Bulldog

The bulldog has a fearsome reputation, and indeed its origins reflect this. It is thought that bulldogs, or at least a breed ancestral to bulldogs, were first introduced into Britain by the Roman conquerors, around A.D. 50. This ancestral breed was a type of war dog used in battle. Later the bulldog's ancestors were adapted for agricultural use, where they would catch on to a bull's nose and hold on so it could be more easily handled and subdued. Scott type American bulldogs, follow closely to the British type of bulldog, which predominated before British bulldogs were crossed with the pug, to create the English bulldog.

  1. History

    • The Scott type of American bulldog was first bred by Allan Scott during the 1970s. He originally called it the American pit bull, but then changed its name to avoid confusion with the American pit bull terrier. Before this, American bulldogs were known by a variety of regional names. Originally the Scott type and the Johnson type bred by John D Johnson shared very similar characteristics, but as the century progressed they began to diverge, and as such are considered two different breeds, with the Scott type being closer to the original bulldogs which emigrated from Britain.

    Description

    • Scott type bulldogs are short-coated muscular animals, which display impressive strength and endurance, as well as agility. Well bred Scott types should possess a box- or wedge-shaped head, a medium-length muzzle of 2 to 4 inches, and preferably a black nose. They have fairly compact form, with a wide, deep chest, and a broad, short back.

    Size

    • Standard Scott's American bulldogs are generally smaller than Johnson types, yet they are considered more athletic. Males are generally larger than females. A healthy and well-bred standard male should weigh between 90 to 115 lbs. and measure 23 inches to 27 inches at the wither. Ideally, a female standard should weigh between 80 and 105 lbs. and measure 22 inches to 26 inches at the wither.

    Temperament

    • Ideally, a Scott type American bulldog should be confident and outgoing, but always alert. However, indifference or aloofness toward strangers is not considered a major fault. Standards can often be assertive towards other dogs, and this is not considered a fault unless the behavior is uncontrollable. The general faults registered with Scott type bulldogs is that they can sometimes be overly aggressive or excessively shy. Both these aspects can be countered to some degree by the attention of the owner.