Even though this gorgeous athlete is not the most popular dog breed in the U.S., considering its violent history and often misperceived nature, the American Bulldog price is still pretty high.
This beautiful and, at times, intimidating dog breed, was near extinction in World War II. However, the breed was practically saved by John D. Johnson, a war veteran, who preserved the breed to this day.
If you’re a Bulldog enthusiast, there are several things you might want to take into consideration before buying this puppy. For starters, expect to add health exams, vaccination, deworming, and several other puppy supplies to the overall price.
American Bulldog puppies require careful maintenance, as they require a lot of work, exercise, and training. Still, this working dog can be a wonderful human companion, as it shows loyalty, affection, and protective traits towards its family.
The American Bulldog Price
The American Bulldog price at reputable breeders revolves anywhere between $1500 and $3500, which is quite expensive. Still, bear in mind that the price includes several things, such as the first shot, deworming, puppy papers, health exams, a health warranty, a microchip, and the first pack of food.
Let’s take a look at the initial price for the puppy!
| Initial price | |
|---|---|
| Puppy price | $1500-$3500 |
| First vet exam | $60-$100 |
| Vaccine | $50-$70 |
| Deworming | $30 |
| Spaying/Neutering | $70-$140 |
| Litter Box | $10-$30 |
| Food/water bowl | $10-$20 |
| Microchip | $40-$50 |
| Poop bags | $40-$50 |
| First pack of food | $10-$20 |
| A collar and a leash | $20-$30 |
| Bed | $30-$50 |
| Toys | $20 |
| Brush | $10 |
| Total | $3010 ($510 without the puppy price) |
As we can see from the chart above, you can expect to spend around $500 on the first basis, aside from the initial price of the puppy. Bear in mind that these numbers are estimated, and the price of the items was taken as an average price on the market.
Now, let’s see what monthly costs look like!
| Monthly costs | |
|---|---|
| Food | $50-$100 |
| Snacks | $30-$40 |
| Healthcare | $0-$150 |
| Toys | $0-$20 |
| Dog shampoos | $10-$30 |
| Poop bags | $40 |
| Pet Insurance (optional) | $10-$50 |
| Total | $285 |
The average American Bulldog price on a monthly basis revolves around $250 and $300. If you’re willing to buy pet insurance, dog shampoo, poop bags, and high-quality foods, then this is a pretty reasonable amount of money to spend on the puppy.
Bear in mind that the American Bulldog breed is not the healthiest puppy, which is why you need to be prepared for additional costs in case your puppy faces a major health problem, such as joint dysplasia, allergies, a cherry eye, or an injury.
In that case, taking out pet insurance would be a good choice!
Furthermore, there are numerous American Bulldog puppies for sale in the United States, but purchasing this canine from unreliable backyard breeders would be a mistake. This breed has the label of an aggressive dog breed, which is why considering a quality breeder is always the best option.
This descendant of an English Bulldog is a puppy that requires socialization and obedience training at an early stage of life, which is exactly what you get from a reputable breeder.
Even though the breed is still not fully recognized by the AKC, this dog breed has a unique nature and a kind temperament that requires proper nurturing.
The Puppy Price Explained
Spending anywhere between $1500 and $3500 is reasonable if you’re buying the puppy from a reputable breeder.
The price usually covers several things, such as at least a one-year health guarantee, vaccination and deworming, food for adaptation, a blanket, dog toys, a dog training collar, a leash, and full documentation on the puppy.
However, if you’re willing to buy the puppy for anything less than $1500, you should probably know that the initial price doesn’t include these things.
Backyard breeders and shady puppy mills generally don’t disclose all the information on a puppy, which is why you should pay for the first health exam out of your own pocket. Additionally, you should be ready to purchase all other things from the list on your own.
First Year Costs
When it comes to first-year costs, there are several things you should focus on. These large dogs require high-quality food, as well as food supplies, such as vitamins, healthy snacks, and foods enriched with calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Furthermore, purchasing a litter box or poop bags is an unavoidable part of having a pet. Luckily, there are a plethora of indoor potty options available on the market for a reasonable price. Always take into consideration that this is a large dog, so the purchase of a bigger potty would be a better choice.
When it comes to vet exams, a healthy puppy will only need a regular, yearly vet check-up. However, flea treatments are something you should do on a monthly basis. Generally, this treatment shouldn’t cost you more than $20 per month.
Lastly, spaying or neutering your dog should be done within the first year, as well as the purchase of a brand-new dog bed.
Food
These large family members will need a healthy diet and a responsibly designed feeding chart in order to stay healthy. As a responsible owner, you should avoid the worst dog food brands on the market, as well as table scraps.
These canines require timely meals and food enriched with protein and healthy fats. Just like American Pit Bull Terriers, or Staffordshire Terriers, both male and female American Bulldogs have a strong body and a muscular physique that needs to be preserved with proper nutrition.
In order to do that, consult your vet about the best possible foods for this canine. A raw diet is often a good choice, as it contains proper nutrients for the puppy.
Food Supplies
Just like food – food supplies are equally important for your new puppy, as they add to their overall well-being. The American Bulldog feeding chart requires foods enriched with protein but also additional supplements that contain vitamins, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus.
The last two are especially important in the early puppyhood stage, as they improve the bone structure of a puppy.
Healthy snacks are also an important food supply, especially when it comes to training. Snacks are generally used as a positive reinforcement technique during puppy training. However, the proper usage of snacks is key, as overused snacks can lead to obesity.
Vet Exams
Bear in mind that this is not the healthiest dog breed in the world. These loving dogs face many health problems, such as hip dysplasia, cancer, allergies, cherry eye, obesity, and overheating.
Generally, visiting a vet on a yearly basis or every six months is more than enough if you have a healthy puppy. However, unpredicted vet exams or vet procedures are very possible in these puppies.
You can expect a vet bill to be anywhere from $0 to $150, but in the case of some major disease, such as hip dysplasia, the price can go significantly up. For instance, the average cost of hip dysplasia surgery revolves between $1500 and $3000.
Still, if you decide to buy pet insurance, these procedures are generally covered.
Vaccination And Deworming
Subjecting your dog to a vaccination and deworming process is something any responsible owner should do. Any dog is prone to viruses, such as parvovirus, adenovirus, rabies, parainfluenza, or even coronavirus.
Vaccination helps your puppy boost its immune system, which is something every puppy needs. Otherwise, you can face symptoms such as lack of energy, lethargy, a parvo poop smell, poor immune system, frequent diseases, poor mouth smell, and many others.
The recommendation is to buy this puppy from a responsible owner, as the vaccine shot, as well as deworming, are an unavoidable part of responsible breeding.
Spaying Or Neutering
Is your dog entering the juvenile phase, and you keep wondering: ‘‘Why is my dog acting weird all of a sudden?’’ Well, one of the most common explanations for this behavior could be that your puppy is entering its sexual maturity phase.
Spaying or neutering both female and male American Bulldogs is the key to a healthy dog. Spaying or neutering helps your puppy calm down, but it also adds to their overall behavior.
Unspayed puppies are most likely to behave irrationally as they follow their basic instincts. Irrational behavior can lead to mischievous behavior, stubbornness, and possibly, aggression.
If you’re planning on having a puppy indoors, this procedure is highly recommended. It will save you from unpredictable puppy behavior, but it will also add to the overall health of your puppy.
In fact, some reputable breeders oblige future dog owners by contract to spay or neuter their puppies within the first year. This is a preventive measure breeders take in order to prevent irresponsible breeding.
Grooming
Luckily, your new family pet won’t be high-maintenance in terms of grooming. These canines have a short coat, often with a white, brindle, fawn, red, or black color pattern.
They need an occasional brush on a weekly basis and a bath every few months or so. The best-smelling dog shampoos for all coat types are highly recommended in this regard, especially if your puppy goes out on a daily basis.
The purchase of a firm bristle brush is a good choice for the American Bulldog. Luckily, it doesn’t cost much, as you can find a good brush for only $10 on the market.
Additionally, you will need a nail clipper as these canines need nail clipping every two weeks.
Poop Bags Or A Litter Box
Even though these are not the easiest dogs to potty train, American Bulldogs are extremely intelligent dogs. However, they require patient, committed, and consistent dog owners, as they can display stubbornness at times.
That’s why you need to be persistent when it comes to potty training or any other training. Purchasing a big potty box will be a good choice, as these canines belong to the club of large dog breeds, and they won’t manage a small box very well.
On the other hand, if you take your dog out on a regular basis for its daily walks, you will need poop bags. The average price of this item on a monthly basis revolves around $40 dollars.
A Leash And A Collar
The purchase of a leash and a collar for your American Bulldog puppy is a must, as these dogs are not the friendliest breed. In fact, improperly trained or untrained Bulldogs can give you a headache, and the dilemma of ‘‘How to socialize an aggressive dog’’ could be an everyday battle.
Walking your puppy on a leash is necessary for public places and dog parks, as these canines are generally reserved with strangers and other dogs.
Still, properly socialized puppies are highly unlikely to hurt anyone, as they do great with kids and other pets.
The average price of a dog leash and a collar revolves around $10 and $30. Dog training collars are a good tool for training your dog in obedience.
Dog Toys
In order to determine how much attention a dog actually needs, any dog owner should get to know their dog in detail. These canines are generally independent, which means they don’t require as much attention as some smaller dog breeds, such as Chihuahuas, Cockapoos, or French Bulldogs.
Still, this puppy craves human attention, and it definitely needs a human touch.
Dog toys are generally a good positive reinforcement technique when it comes to American Bulldogs. Purchasing dog toys won’t significantly affect the overall American Bulldog price, but it will impact your dog positively.
Dog toys help your puppy socialize, but at the same time, chew toys help them develop their jaws properly. The average cost of these toys revolves between $10 and $20, which is not expensive.
Dog Bed
Dog beds should definitely be included in the American Bulldog price. There are two reasons why dog beds are an unavoidable part of this puppy’s life. The first reason is related to the very nature of the American Bulldog.
Namely, these canines face overheating, especially during summer, which is why purchasing the best cooling dog bed for your puppy would be a great choice.
On the other hand, a dog bed will help you with reducing hair trails in the long run. Even though this dog is a moderate shedder, it still leaves occasional hair trails all over the house. By getting your dog used to one sleeping place, you will save yourself from hours of cleaning.
Overall, your puppy will get a nice, comfortable place where it can relax and feel safe. This addition is not that expensive, as you can find a perfect dog bed for less than $50.
Annual Costs
When it comes to annual costs, we mostly refer to food, food supplies, vet check-ups, grooming, and poop bags, as these items belong to the list of essentials when it comes to the American Bulldog.
However, additional annual costs may include renewing dog toys, a new collar and a leash, anti-dog barking devices, a license, and pet insurance. Still, let’s stick to the basics and see why they are important!
Food And Food Supplies
As this is a large dog breed, it requires bigger meals during the day. The average food and food supplies cost on a yearly basis revolves between $1200 and $1300.
This includes high-quality foods, healthy snacks, and dog supplements. In order to keep the American Bulldog growth chart within a normal ratio, you will need a well-prepared feeding schedule combined with a good exercising routine.
These canines enjoy home remedies and raw foods, but giving them kibble and wet food is also a good choice. Dry foods help puppies between eight weeks and twelve weeks of age strengthen their jaw and their teeth. On the other hand, wet food is good for puppies that don’t drink as much water as planned.
Vet Check Ups
The average cost of a vet check revolves between $70 and $100. However, the cost of having the American Bulldog puppy will significantly reduce after the first year, as you won’t need to spend money on spaying or neutering.
Still, spending money on flea treatment and other healthcare supplements will cost you anywhere from $20 to $50. Bear in mind that this is not the healthiest dog breed in the world, which is why you need to be prepared for some additional costs.
If you notice unusual symptoms in your dog, such as lethargy, lack of appetite, puppy diarrhea at night, vomiting, panting, and constant scratching – the recommendation is to visit a vet as soon as possible.
These canines have a tendency to develop multiple conditions, such as hip dysplasia, cancer, skin allergies, and bloat. Furthermore, puppy diarrhea may occur as a result of transitioning to another food.
Grooming
Grooming won’t add much to the overall American Bulldog price. That’s because this canine has a short coat, and it is a low shedder. Still, buying a bristle brush is a good choice, and you can get one for less than $15.
These canines don’t have excessive grooming needs, as they have a smooth coat and a low drooling level. Aside from a dog shampoo and a brush, you will only have a nail clipper, as these canines require nail clipping every two weeks.
If you’re a first-time dog owner and you don’t know how to clip your puppy’s nails, you can always sedate a dog for nail clipping. Using aromatherapy, snacks, or herbs are several ways to do so.
Poop Bags
Having a dog waste disposal system is probably the best choice, as it is practical and easily used. Poop bags are an unavoidable part of having a dog, especially if you take your puppy out on a regular basis.
Generally, you can expect to spend around $30 to $40 on poop bags. However, if you’re not an active individual and you prefer staying at your home – having a potty box will probably be enough.
However, the recommendation is not to buy this puppy if you prefer a low-key, stay-at-home lifestyle. These canines require daily exercise, and they could get frustrated if they don’t get one.
At least sixty minutes of exercise during the day will be enough.
Additional Costs
Some dog owners need extra items on their list, such as passports, electric dog fences, pet insurance, anti dog barking devices, and dog carriers – as they travel a lot, or they just feel safer with those items on the list.
However, the most important additional costs that you might come across are a passport, pet insurance, and a dog carrier, though. These three things are a must if you travel on a regular basis.
Passport
A passport is an unavoidable part of your life if you have a dog and you constantly travel across the border. However, there is no standard price for a dog passport, as its price can go anywhere from $100 up to $1000.
The passport cost depends on the state you’re living in, and it also depends on a state sales tax.
However, having a dog passport is an excellent idea if you are a travel enthusiast and you would love your dog to accompany you in your quests. Early socialized and obedience-trained American Bulldogs, even though not as ideal of a family dog breed as Labs or Retrievers, are decent companions.
Pet Insurance
The average cost of pet insurance revolves around $10 to $50. However, there is more than one type of pet insurance you can get for your puppy. The most popular ones are accident-only and wellness insurance.
The latter is generally a bit more expensive, as it costs up to $40 on a monthly basis.
Getting pet insurance for this dog won’t significantly affect the price, but it will pay off in the long run. These canines are not the healthiest dogs in the world, as they face many issues, such as hip dysplasia, dog hypothyroidism, allergies, cancer, and skin problems.
These health conditions affect their overall lifespan, which is around 10 to 12 years. However, having pet insurance can save you from spending high amounts of money on surgeries, hospital expenses, and medications.
Dog Carrier
Dog carriers can be another good option if you intend to travel with your dog. However, bear in mind that this is a large dog breed, which means that you will need a larger dog carrier. The average price for this travel supplement is around $40.
However, if you don’t plan to travel with your dog on a regular basis, then probably the purchase of a leash or a weighted dog harness would suffice for your needs.
Factors Affecting The American Bulldog Price
There are several factors affecting the American Bulldog price. Generally, those are the reputability of a breeder, training program, dog’s pedigree and bloodline, age, sex, coat color, and the state you’re buying the puppy from.
Generally, reputable breeders cost more, as they spend more time socializing a puppy, and they offer a plethora of other services. ‘‘How to show dominance to a dog’’ is one of the services, as Bulldog puppies need firm leadership.
On the other hand, buying a puppy from American Bulldog rescues or some other puppy mills is generally not a good choice, as you won’t get as much information on a puppy as at high-quality breeders.
Reputable Breeders
Reputable breeders generally take care of creating a good puppy schedule for the first eight weeks of a puppy’s life. That includes early socialization, obedience training, potty training, and the development of a proper feeding chart.
Even though the price at a reputable breeder may go above $2000, it still pays off in the long run. These puppies are not as easy as some other American Kennel Club registered puppies, such as Labs or Golden Retrievers.
They need firm leadership, a lot of commitment, and long hours of training. That’s what you will get at reputable breeders. Additionally, high-quality breeders will disclose all information related to a dog, including puppy documents, health exams, bloodline tests, and the first vaccine and deworming.
Age, Sex And Coat Color
The price of these big guard dogs depends on their age, sex, and coat color, too. Generally, puppies cost significantly more than adult dogs. Sometimes male dogs can be more expensive than females, as they perform better in dog competitions, and their body musculature is more athletic.
On the other hand, some rare coat colors in a dog may affect the overall price. For instance, Chocolate, Lilac, or Blue American Bulldogs may be slightly more expensive than standard white or brindle Bulldogs.
In fact, some breeders reserve the right to choose the first puppy from the litter for themselves.
Trainability
Based on their level of trainability, some Bulldog puppies can cost you above the average. For instance, dogs trained for weight pulling, Schutzhund, or some other dog sports generally cost more than dogs bred for family purposes.
On the other hand, if you are a first-time dog owner, the cost of hiring a professional dog trainer can cost you a few hundred dollars, too.
Basically, the difference between a highly trained Bulldog and a moderately trained Bulldog varies from $500 to $1000 on average.
FAQ Section
1. Are American Bulldogs Expensive To Own?
Generally, the American Bulldog price is slightly higher than the price of some other puppies.
However, there are some other things that make this dog expensive to own, such as food, snacks, training supplements, healthcare, interactive dog toys, and disposable poop bags.
Even though you might need all these things with any other dog breed, American Bulldog puppies are large dogs that require bigger meals and more frequent training sessions.
At times, this dog can display mischievous behavior, which is why help from professional dog trainers is highly welcomed, especially if you are a first-time dog owner. Still, dog trainers will cost you an additional few hundred dollars.
2. Are American Bulldogs A Good Pet?
It is highly unlikely that you will be wondering: ‘‘Why my puppy doesn’t like me?’’ if you are an owner of the American Bulldog. Even though there are many stereotypes about this breed, these American beauties are extremely good family dogs, and they make excellent pets.
They are affectionate, loyal, and they will do anything to protect you. Still, these canines need early socialization and obedience training, as they are natural watchdogs.
Final Thoughts
The American Bulldog price is generally a bit higher than the price of some other large dogs. Still, paying a couple of thousand dollars for this canine pays off in the long run, as these dogs are loyal, affectionate, and excellent guard dogs.
However, if you’re planning to buy this beautiful dog breed, you will need to calculate side costs, such as food, healthcare, disposable poop bags, a dog bed, dog toys, and several others.
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