Do American Bulldogs Sleep a Lot?

This large and stocky yet muscular breed of dog was originally bred to help out with work around the farm, like chasing down stray cattle, as well as hunting down bulls.

They are smart and agile, too, with the ability to jump six feet or more into the air if they want to.

But does this breed require a lot of exercise in their day to day life? Or, do American Bulldogs sleep a lot? This is what we’re going to be taking a look at in this article:

So, do American Bulldogs sleep a lot?

Yes! American Bulldogs really do sleep a lot every day. What’s more, this is completely normal behavior and nothing to worry about, up to a point.

As long as your American Bulldog has an exhausting walk or play session, allow them to fully enjoy their naps in peace so you can get on with your day.

How much sleep do American Bulldogs need?

Some owners report that they generally observe their American Bulldog sleeping for anywhere from 20 to 22 hours a day. But how much sleep does an American Bulldog really need? What is the minimum amount of sleep that an American Bulldog would need?

Well actually, the bare minimum of sleep that an American Bulldog should be getting is anywhere from 12 to 14 hours a day, though they need a lot more when they are very young.

An American Bulldog does not get all their sleep at once, though. Instead, the breed is prone to napping in many short sessions throughout the day. This may be because, as a brachycephalic breed, the American Bulldog needs to have a few shorter exercise sessions spread throughout the day, followed by a long nap to recover.

Do American Bulldogs need a lot of exercise?

As we previously said, American Bulldogs were mainly first bred to help out on farms. They would have carried out basic herding on cattle and sheep, as well as hunting down wild pigs and other prey.

So today, the American Bulldog, even when living as a pet, retains this drive to help out their family and hunt down anything that moves.

This means that an American Bulldog does require lots of exercises, to prevent them from becoming bored and restless, and to help them relax at the end of the day.

Because of this, the breed doesn’t need too much sleep, although they will need time to recover from particularly strenuous exercise sessions.

Do American Bulldogs require a lot of play?

As a loving and loyal family dog, from their time on the farm, the American Bulldog loves to play and spend time with their family! But does an American Bulldog need a lot of play? And what kind of games are best to play with this breed?

Well, yes, American Bulldogs do require a fair amount of play. Not only does play help to tire an American Bulldog out but playing also helps to boost your relationship with this loyal breed.

Bear in mind, though, that the American Bulldog is a somewhat brachycephalic breed, so prolonged play sessions might take this flat-faced breed a while to recover from.

So then, which types of games are the best for the flat-faced, yet agile and intelligent American Bulldog?

Well, tug of war is a firm, long-time favorite of dog owners everywhere, for sure. Played with a rope toy or large squeaky toy, tug of war are an excellently exhausting game and a great way for you both to play together.

You can manipulate your American Bulldog’s body while they are gripping the rope if you want to highly exert them – getting them to crouch and crawl, lie down or stand up on their hind legs. Tug of war can boost your American Bulldog’s agility and be exhilarating for you both!

Then, when you aren’t home, why not set up a spring pole? This is a spring that’s attached to a piece of rope, which hangs from a beam or branch while dangling a toy at the end. This lets your American Bulldog play tug of war by themselves, keeping them occupied when you aren’t home.

Or when you think they could do with a good run, why not let your American Bulldog chase after a toy car that moves by itself?

Just make sure the toy is more on the durable side so that your American Bulldog can’t destroy it when they catch it.

But when you want them to chill out, a puzzle toy is ideal to exhaust them intellectually, while also making your American Bulldog work for their meal

Play with them in this way and your American Bulldog will be out for the count in the evenings!

Can American Bulldogs become aggressive?

It is true that in a previous life, the American Bulldog once played a role in the cruel sport of bull-baiting. But what about today’s modern pet American Bulldogs? Can American Bulldogs become aggressive today?

Well yes, it’s true that if an American Bulldog doesn’t get any activity and becomes incredibly bored, an American Bulldog may start to get destructive, chewing up things that don’t belong to them and are dangerous to them.

And it is also true that an American Bulldog is also pretty likely to be wary of strange or unexpected people who visit the house, potentially growling at them or baring their teeth at them.

One reason why people see the American Bulldog as being aggressive is that the American Bulldog visually resembles two other dogs that are frequently seen as being aggressive – the American Pit Bull Terrier, and the Dogo Argentino.

But in general, an American Bulldog is a friendly pooch who loves nothing more than to play with you, lie around, chilling out with you, and napping all day long when you are busy!

Do American Bulldogs tire easily?

As a somewhat flat-faced, brachycephalic breed, the American Bulldog can easily end up pretty exhausted under certain conditions. So, what are some of the things that truly tire an American Bulldog out?

Well, if you walk your American Bulldog in hotter weather, don’t be surprised if they slow right down, begin panting a lot, and maybe even start pulling to go back home, even if they typically adore this walking route.

This occurs because brachycephalic breeds like the American Bulldog find it difficult to breathe well enough to quickly and properly cool down, even under normal circumstances.

So, many American Bulldogs can’t tolerate even mildly warm weather at all.

Or, maybe after your American Bulldog plays with a puzzle feeder or goes on a “sniffer”, they just collapse right there in contentment.

The intelligent American Bulldog loves to occupy themselves with games like this, so don’t be surprised or alarmed if your American Bulldog plays with a bunch of toys like this and then has to have a lie-down.

The tendency for this brachycephalic breed to easily become tired out is one of the things that makes an American Bulldog sleep a lot.

For more about American Bulldogs see my other articles below

• Do American Bulldogs Like Water?
• Do American Bulldogs Have Dew Claws?
• Do American Bulldogs Bark a Lot?
• Do American Bulldogs Need a Coat in the Winter?
• Do American Bulldogs Need a Lot of Exercise?
• Do American Bulldogs Need C-Sections?
• Do American Bulldogs Drool a Lot?