history of
American bulldog
The bulldog in his pure form was in America
as early as the 17th century. In colonial America bulldogs were used by
butchers and even engaged in baiting contests with bulls, bears and
buffaloes. The modern American Bulldog can trace it's roots to remnants
of the original Bulldog that managed to survive as farmers' catch-dogs
in isolated pockets of the Southeastern United States. Its original
purpose on these Southern plantations and ranches was personal and
property protection and as an aid in handling (catching) large animals
such as cattle and hogs.
All modern American Bulldogs can trace
their roots to four strains (Williamson, Scott, Bailey & Johnson.) from
the Alabama/Georgia area.
The breed was not known by its modern name
until about 10 years ago. The breed we know as the American Bulldog was
originally known by many different names before the name American
Bulldog became the standard. In different parts of the South he was
known as the "English White" or "White English" because he was a
primarily white dog. He was also called the "Alabama" or "Southern
Bulldog" but most commonly just "bulldog." The breed was not called a
bulldog because of a certain look, but because they did real bulldog
work. They could and did catch and hold for their owners rough cattle
including bad Brahma bulls, and did double duty as a farm protector
against feral dogs and two-legged bad guys.
The American Bulldog became noticed by the
public in the late 1980's and began to increase in popularity. A good
all-around family pet and guard dog was a thing to be desired. As the
breed started to increase in popularity, it started to catch the eye of
some greedy fast buck artists. Most of the scam artists, flimflam men
and assorted con men have left the breed for greener pastures when they
found out the American Bulldog fanciers were starting to educate
themselves. But there are still puppy peddlers out there, mostly preying
on uninformed individuals through the all breed magazines like Dog World
and Dog Fancy.
The American Bulldog is an assertive
medium-large breed originating from the American Southeast. Descended
from working catchdogs (wild & rough cattle and wild boar), the modern
American Bulldog has evolved into America’s #1 family & property
protection dog. American Bulldogs are powerful, strong willed dogs, but
with basic obedience training and early socialization they make good
canine citizens.
These qualities should be prerequisites for
candidates of all modern breeding programs. A well bred dog should be a
stable Bulldog that reacts to perceived threats, not a "chain-brain"
type of dog. The gameness and determination of a well-bred Am. Bulldog
will come into play if his family is ever threatened.
The American Bulldog is all the dog anyone
could ever want, and too much dog for some. He does require early
socialization and some basic obedience training. Good examples of
American Bulldogs are equally at home catching wild boar and guarding
the farm & livestock in a rural setting as they are in protecting family
& property in today's crime infested suburban areas and inner cities.
Even though not one out of a hundred of
today's American Bulldogs get the opportunity to perform traditional
catch-work with cattle or wild boar, the traits this breed inherited
from it's gladiator ancestors of bravery, gameness, assertiveness,
intelligence, mental stability, pain tolerance, and natural
protectiveness, can relate to adverse situations and conditions that can
and do happen in today's crime infested cities, suburbs and even rural
areas. One of those traits that separate the American Bulldog from other
so called protection breeds is its ability to act cool and calm in the
heat of battle. The American Bulldog is not afraid to take charge in
situations where his family or his families property are endangered.
Responsible ownership of American Bulldogs
is a must. Like a young human, a young American Bulldog must be taught
what is right and what is wrong in order to live in society. Early
socialization and basic obedience training is the key to responsibly
owning this breed.
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Traits of an
American bulldog
There are many traits to look for in an American Bulldog besides color
and good looks. One of the firsts I would look for is the protection
instinct. A dog that will defend his family and home from any thing or
anyone is priceless. Another trait to look for is an innate love for
children, any children. Also, athletic ability is something any real
american bulldog must possess. He can't look like an English Bulldog and
have athletic ability. It takes legs under a dog to enable him to get
around, as he should. A short legged or bench legged dog just can't do
it.
Socialization is one of the most important traits to look for
when purchasing a pup or older dog. A few breeders are turning out so
many pups they don't have the time or inclination to socialize their
dogs or pups. If you purchase one of these type, he will probably be
afraid of you and everything else. It could take months to make him into
a normal American Bulldog or it may never. If you go personally to see
someones' pups, they should not be shy. The young pups should run toward
you and attack your shoestrings or pants leg. That would be a normal
response from a healthy American bulldog.
The real American Bulldog should have bulldog tenacity-- never
quit no matter what the task or odds against him, be immune to pain when
in the attack mode, and be able to catch a hog or any other animal
instantly. The real AB has this ability if the situation ever arises.
The American Bulldog has so many wonderful traits you could go on
forever.
Color is something that seems to have become a point of
controversy in some areas of the bulldog world. I personally look at the
dog instead of his color. John D. Johnson and Allen Scott say the same
thing and they are the founders of the breed. Who are the "Johnny come
lately" that presume to tell the founders of the breed what color their
dogs must be? If you find the right real american bulldog, buy him no
matter what the color.
Conformation is also a bone of contention. I ran into an
excellent article written by Vito Alu describing the three main types of
american bulldogs and what is wrong with all three. Now you can bet this
will make everyone mad when his or her type of dog is criticized.
But, we must all realize that our dogs are not perfect so we can
continue to improve the breed. The breeder who thinks his dogs can't be
improved on should get out of the business now. I will insert this
entire article at a later date as it is interesting reading and could be
of great value to some people and it includes drawings of structurally
correct and incorrect bulldogs.
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Standard of
the breed
Background:
The American
Bulldog originated as a catchdog (mostly cattle) and property protection
dog, in America's Southeast. He was not bred to put on threat displays
or to look a certain way. But, he did need the right equipment to take
care of his real bulldog duties which were confrontational personal and
property protection and as a catch dog. He needed to be strong enough to
put unruly bulls on the ground and athletic enough to catch hogs that
were allowed to free range in a semi-wild state.
General Appearance:
The American Bulldog should generate the impression of great strength,
agility, endurance and exhibit a well-knit, sturdy, compact frame with
the absence of excessive bulk. Males are characteristically larger,
heavier boned and more masculine than the bitches. The AB is a white or
white and patched (brindle or red) dog. When patched he can range from
the traditional pied markings of a patch over one or both eyes or ears,
or a patch on the base of the tail, to a large saddle patch and various
other patches. For judging purposes, distinctions between an ideal
"Scott-type" and an ideal "Bully-type" are defined in brackets
and in bold.
Size-General:
Males - 23 to 27 inches at the withers and weigh from 75 to 120 lbs.
Females - 21 to 25 inches at the withers, 60 to 90 lbs. The weight
should be proportional to size.
[Standard-type: an ideal male should be 23 to 27 inches at the withers
and weigh from 75 to 110 lbs., females, 21 to 25 inches, 60 to 85 lbs.
The weight should be proportional to size.]
[Bully-type:
an ideal male should be 22 to 26 inches at the withers and weigh from 80
to 120 lbs. Females 20 to 24 inches, 60 to 90 lbs.]
Head:
Medium in length and broad across skull with pronounced muscular cheeks.
Eyes:
Medium in
size. Any color. The haw should not be visible. Black eye rims preferred
on white dogs. Pink eye rims to be considered a cosmetic fault.
Muzzle:
Medium length (2 to 4 in.), square and broad with a strong under jaw.
Lips should be full but not pendulous. 42 to 44 teeth.
[Standard-type: tight undershot (reverse scissors) preferred. Scissors
and even bites are considered a cosmetic fault. Structural faults are a
muzzle under 2 inches or longer than 4 inches, pendulous lips, less than
42 teeth, more than 1/4 inch undershot, small teeth or uneven incisors.]
[Bully-type:
definite undershot, 1/8 to 1/4 inch preferred. Scissors or even bite is
a disqualification. Structural faults are a muzzle under 2 inches or
over 4 inches.]
Nose:
Color is
black or grizzle. On black nosed dogs the lips should be black with some
pink allowed. A pink nose to be considered a cosmetic fault.
Ears:
Cropped or
uncropped. Uncropped preferred.
Neck:
Muscular,
medium in length, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to head, with
a slight dewlap allowed.
Shoulders:
Very muscular
with wide sloping blades, shoulders set so elbows are not angled out.
Chest, Back and Loin:
The chest
should be deep and moderately wide without being excessively wide as to
throw the shoulders out. The back should be of medium length, strong and
broad. Loins should be slightly tucked which corresponds to a slight
roach in the back which slopes to the stern. Faults: sway back, narrow
or shallow chest, lack of tuck up.
Hindquarters:
Very broad
and well muscled and in proportion to the shoulders. Narrow hips are a
very serious fault.
Legs:
Strong and
straight with heavy bone. Front legs should not set too close together
or too far apart. Faults: in at the elbows or excessively bowlegged.
Rear legs should have a visible angulation of the stifle joint.
Feet:
Of moderate
size, toes of medium length, well arched and close together, not
splayed. Pasterns should be strong, straight and upright.
Tail:
Set low,
thick at the root, tapering to a point. Tail should not curl over back.
Docked or undocked.
Coat:
Short, close,
stiff to the touch, not long and fuzzy.
Color:
All white,
pied, or up to 90% brindle or red patches, (red is defined as any shade
of tan, brown or red).
Disposition:
Alert,
outgoing and friendly with a self-assured attitude. Some aloofness with
strangers and assertiveness toward other dogs is not considered a fault.
Disqualifications:
Both types:
dogs that are deaf or males without two testicles clearly descended.
[Bully-type:
an even or scissors bite.]
A cosmetic fault is one of a minor nature.
A fault not specified as cosmetic has to do with structure as it relates
to a working dog. In a show or other evaluation, the dog is to be
penalized in direct proportion to the degree of the fault. Any fault
which is extreme should be considered serious fault and should be
penalized appropriately.
We have not included a line drawing of a
Standard-type or Johnson-type standard dog because they could not take
into account the variations acceptable within the realm of the working
American Bulldog. The emphasis placed on specific types in other breed
standards has led to the general disintegration of the breed concerned
by eliminating individuals who might have contributed significantly to
respective gene pool.
Attributes
other than cosmetic listed in the standard all relate to working
qualities which include but are not limited to agility, endurance,
leverage, biting power and heat tolerance.
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Dogs are still mans best friend.
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