|
Learn more about the American Bulldog
True grit. True devotion. True love. These tributes are used often to describe the American Bulldog
-- a hardy, athletic, all-purpose working dog. The strong, muscular, confident, athletic and stubborn American Bulldog
is taller, leaner and more athletic than the English Bulldog. The American Bulldog is a loving family
companion, good with children and other pets, yet at the same time, fearlessly determined. It has been known to display heroic
acts of courage in protecting its master. The American Bulldog has also been used to hunt everything from squirrel to bear,
and has been trained to drive cattle and guard stock from predators. The American Bulldog should be evaluated as a working
dog, and exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dogs ability to work.
The American Bulldog has lots of energy that needs an outlet. American Bulldogs should be exercised daily, particularly
if they will not used as working dogs. This is a large, stubborn dog requiring a consistent and firm owner who lets the dog
know who is the boss. Early obedience training is recommended to let the dog know how to fit into its role within the family.
The essential characteristics
of the American Bulldog are those which enable it to work as a hog and cattle catching dog, and a protector of personal property.
These tasks require a powerful, agile, confident dog with a large head and powerful jaws. The American Bulldog is a gentle,
loving family companion who is fearless enough to face an angry bull or a human intruder; Good with children; Good with pets
Brush coat with a firm bristle brush or rubber
mitt and bathe only when necessary. Puppies should have early socialization.
A very healthy, hardy dog. Some strains have hip dysplasia.
Bulldogs in England were originally working dogs who drove and caught cattle and guarded their masters' property. At one time, the
breed was used in the grueling sport of bull baiting. With the outlawing of the sport in England in 1835, the original type
of Bulldog disappeared from Britain and was replaced with the less athletic dog we now know as the English Bulldog. Yet the original Bulldog was preserved by immigrants who brought their working dogs with them to the American South. By
the end of World War II, the last remnants of the working English Bulldog were disappearing in the U.S. Thanks to the breeding
programs of John D. Johnson and Allen Scott, the breed was brought back from the brink of extinction. The American Bulldog
was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1999 in the rare, working class.
Rare, Working
Country
of Origin: U.S.A.
Breed Standard
The American Bulldog is an athletic, temperamentally sound
medium to large sized dog that possesses great strength, agility and confidence. The expression should reflect intelligence
and alertness. The sturdy and powerful yet compact frame is characteristically stockier and heavier boned in the males and
more refined in the females. Some aloofness with strangers and assertiveness towards other dogs is accepted. However, an American
Bulldog should not be excessively timid, shy or aggressive towards man and preferably not overly aggressive with other dogs.
Due to its distinctive physical and mental characteristics along with its natural desire to be the total companion and working
dog, an American Bulldog should never be confused with uniquely different breeds such as the American Staffordshire Terrier
or the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Size-General: Males should range from 24 to 27 inches at the withers and weigh between
90 and 110 pounds. Females should range from 22 to 25 inches at the withers and weigh between 70 and 90 pounds. Weight should
be proportional to height and body type. A dog should be well conditioned and not overweight or underweight.
Standard:
A leaner and more athletic dog in appearance.
Classic: A larger and more powerful dog in appearance.
Color: Solid
or varying degrees of white, all shades of brindle, brown, red, or tan are acceptable. Solid black, black and tan, and/or
any degree of merle is unacceptable. A full black mask is not acceptable. **Merle is a dilution of overall body color (black
or red) with splotches of darker color giving the effect of "merling" or "marbling" not to be confused with Brindle that gives
the effect of "striping".
Coat: Short, less than one inch in length varying from soft to stiff. Long, feathering,
or fuzzy coats are unacceptable.
Head: The head should be relatively large and broad in proportion to the size and
overall structure of the dog. It should be flat on top giving a squared appearance. There is a defined furrow between the
eyes with a distinct, deep stop. The head is well-muscled throughout with prominent cheeks. An excessively narrow head is
unacceptable in both types.
Standard: Generally box shaped to wedge in appearance with a slightly shallower stop and
less wrinkles.
Classic: Generally box shaped to round in appearance with a more definitive stop and heavier wrinkles.
Eyes:
The eyes should be round or almond shape, medium sized, and wide set. Black or dark brown is the preferred color. Other colors
are accepted. Black eye rim pigment preferred. Crossed and/or nonsymmetrical eyes are unacceptable.
Muzzle: The muzzle
should be relatively broad and square. The large jaws are well-muscled, displaying great strength. Lips are full but not pendulous.
Black pigment lining lips preferred. An excessively narrow muzzle is unacceptable in both types.
Standard: muzzle
should be 30% to 40% of the overall length of head.
Classic: muzzle should be 25% to 35% of the overall length of
head.
Teeth: The teeth should number 42 to 44 and large in size is preferred. Working dogs should not be penalized
for broken teeth. Should medical removal of teeth be needed, documentation and verification by a veterinarian is requested.
Bite:
Standard: Reverse scissors is preferred. Moderate underbite, scissors or even bite is acceptable.
Classic:
Undershot 1/4 to ½ inch preferred. Even bite is not preferred. Scissors bite is unacceptable.
Both types: Teeth should
not be visible when the mouth is closed.
Nose: Black is the preferred color. A red, brown, or grizzle nose is acceptable.
A pink or dudley nose is unacceptable.
Ears: The ears should be medium in size and may be either forward flap or rose,
with no preference. Cropped ears is unacceptable.
Neck: The neck should be very muscular and medium in length. The
neck should taper from shoulder to head and be slightly arched.
Shoulders: The shoulders should be well-muscled with
good definition and wide sloping blades giving the appearance of great strength.
Chest: The chest should be deep and
moderately wide giving the appearance of power and athletic ability. The front, overall, should be straight and well balanced.
The chest should not be narrow or excessively wide nor should the elbows be angled out or pulled in.
Body: The body
should be compact and moderately short while powerful and athletic in appearance. Well balanced. There should be a good spring
of ribs with the loin moderately tucked. The body should not be excessively long.
Back: The back should be broad and
moderately short in length showing great strength. Slight roach over loins. The back should not be narrow or swayed.
Standard:
Straighter more level topline is preferred.
Classic: Appearance of being slightly higher in the rear is preferred.
Legs: The legs should be strong and straight with moderate to heavy bone. Well-muscled front and back. The rear legs
should be moderately angulated and parallel. There should not be an excess of or lack of angulation in the rear legs. Excessively
bow-legged or cow hocked is unacceptable.
Hindquarters: The hindquarters should be thick with well-defined muscles.
Not as wide as shoulders, but well-balanced. The hips should not be narrow or lacking in muscle definition.
Tail:
The tail is set low, thick at base and tapering to a point. The tail should reach the hocks in a relaxed position. Docked
tails are not accepted. The tail should not end in a complete circle.
Feet: The feet should be of moderate size with
toes well arched and close together. The feet should not be splayed.
Gait: The American Bulldog should move with speed,
agility, and power with a definite spring to the step. All legs move parallel to direction of travel, with front legs clearly
reaching and the rear legs propelling the dog forward. The legs should not travel excessively wide. Front legs and/or rear
legs crossing is unacceptable.
Standard: A tighter, more athletic gait.
Classic: A rolling gait is acceptable.
|
