Popeye was brought to us from another shelter where his time was up.

Foster Update:  We have had Popeye for 2 1/2 weeks now. He is such a sweetheart. I can go on forever about how great he is! He is 100% housebroken and does not chew on anything but his bones and toys. He doesn't try to get on the furniture. He is not food or toy possessive and hardly ever barks. He is also so calm. It is really easy to forget he is around. He likes going for walks and walks well on the leash. It took him a couple days to get used to my dogs and to feel comfortable. It appears he was abused at some point because he was very scared at the beginning and would shake when you came near him. Now he realizes nobody is going to hurt him and has made himself right at home. We don't have cats or little kids so I don't know how he would be with them. I suspect he would be fine with children. He likes all humans and is so calm I think he would make a great family pet.

Foster Update:  Popeye is wonderful.  He is the best dog I have ever fostered.  The best adjective to describe him is "low maintenance".  You never have to worry about him getting into any trouble.  I am amazed he hasn't been adopted yet.  He loves exploring in the backyard, going for walks and playing tug-a-war with my younger lab.   He rarely barks... even if my two are barking he doesn't join in.  This is one great dog and whoever adopts him is going to be very lucky!

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, early Bulldogs were used in the bloody sport of bull bating. Some of these dogs emigrated with their masters from England to America. Eventually the English Bulldog was bred down in size and his personality was softened, but the American version remained a larger, fiercer dog. The American version has longer legs and more speed and agility than the English show dog. Thanks to the efforts of John D. Johnson of Summerville, Georgia the American Bulldog exists today. After he returned from WW II he was disappointed to find that, like the English Mastiff, they were almost completely extinct. He then decided to gather the best he could find from all across the rural south and bring them back from the brink of extinction. He has been breeding these dogs longer than anyone else in the world and his father bred them before him. He is an old man now (in his 80's) and these dogs have always existed in his family. He is the sole reason why they exist today. If it were not for his efforts they surely would be gone. He has been breeding them non-stop since then. The American Bulldog has also been used as a guard and in hunting bear, wild boar, squirrel and raccoon. They have even been trained to drive cattle and guard stock from predators. Farmers prize these dogs for their stamina, protectiveness, intelligence and working abilities. Some of the American Bulldogs talents are hunting, watchdogging, tracking, weight pulling, and guarding. An American Bulldog should never be confused with uniquely different breeds such as the American Staffordshire Terrier or the American Pit Bull Terrier. The American Bulldog is a brave and determined, but not hostile dog. Alert and self-confident, this breed genuinely loves children. It is known for its acts of heroism towards its master. These dogs have fought wild dogs, bulls and even fire. It is said "fighting off one of these dogs is like fighting an animal that possesses an alligator's head and a python's body." Yet when called off by their handler, they immediately obey. No wonder they are said to have "true grit, true devotion and true love." Because of its strong protective instincts, the American Bulldog should be well-socialized and obedience trained at an early age. Some may be aggressive with other dogs and reserved with strangers. They need to be around people to be truly happy. This breed tends to drool and slobber. They have a life expectancy of up to 16 years.