All of our dogs are
ABBA registered and will
only be breed with ABBA registered stock males and females.
A-lap´a-ha Blue-Blood Bulldog Association
Official Breed Standard
Background:
It was developed in the southern enclaves of the United
States during the late 18th century. The breed originated from crosses
of the now extinct Old English Bulldog and one or more of the local
herding breeds like the Catahoula Leopard Dog and Black Mouth Cur. The
breed has been known by a series of names such as Otto, Cow Dog,
Silver Dollar, and Catahoula Bulldog. It was originally bred for the
sole purpose of coursing and catching wild and unruly cattle,
afterwards establishing its self on the farms, ranches and plantations
as an all around utility dog (i.e. guard dog, livestock working dog
and varmint patroller). It was not bred to put on threat displays or
to look a certain way. But, it did need the right equipment to take
care of its real bulldog duties. It needed to be strong enough to
catch and hold ornery cattle and athletic enough to catch hogs that
were allowed to free range in a semi-wild state. The Alapaha is a
functional and unexaggerated bulldog with a square head, broad chest
and prominent muzzle. It is dutiful, highly trainable, possessive and
attentive which makes them eager companions for children. They are
protective of their property and establish their territory at a young
age, always demanding attention. They are not suitable to kennel
situations, preferring the role of devoted family companion. These
bulldogs are intelligent, athletic, and suspicious of strangers.
Training and socialization are recommended at an early age. The
Alapaha is hardy, resistant to disease and requires minimal grooming.
General Appearance:
The Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog is well put
together, an athletic power-packed medium size dog (with the absence
of excessive bulk). Light on its feet, it should move with power and
determination; giving the impression of great strength for its size.
The Alapaha is graceful and keenly alive to its surroundings. It is
bold and fearless without being hostile or overly aggressive. It
should be stocky, not long-legged or racy in outline. The first
impression one should get is that of an athletic bulldog, not one of a
high belly cur or a powerful terrier. Males are characteristically
larger, heavier boned and more masculine than the bitches. The Alapaha
is white with varying amounts of black, brown, red and occasionally
the rare blue-merle (harlequin). When covered by patches it can range
from the traditional pied markings of a patch over one or both eyes or
ears, a patch on the base of the tail, to a large saddle patch and
various other marks.
Size:
The Alapaha was bred mainly for catching live-stock. A medium
sized dog has been proven to be most effective for this task. Height
and weight should be in proportion.
General: Males - 20 to 24 inches at the withers and weigh from 70 to
90 lbs. Females - 18 to 22 inches at the withers, 55 to 75 lbs.
Head: The overall head is box-shaped medium in length and broad across
the skull with pronounced muscular cheeks. The top of the skull is
flat, but covered with powerful muscles; there should be a distinct
furrow between the eyes. There should be an abrupt, deep stop.
Eyes:
Medium in size and of
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, 36 to 42 teeth. [A
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, less than 36 teeth, more than 1/4 inch undershot,
small teeth or uneven incisors.]
Nose color:
black or liver. On
black nosed dogs the lips should be
black with some pink allowed. 50% or more light pigment is considered
a cosmetic fault.
Ears:
V-shaped, or folded
back, set on wide and high, level with the
occiput, giving a square appearance to the skull, which is most
important. They should be small and the point of the ear should be
level with the eye when alert. Rose ears to be penalized. Cropped ears
are not permissible in the show ring.
Neck:
Muscular, medium in
length, slightly arched, tapering from
shoulders to head, with a slight dewlap allowed. The neck is where the
power of the dog is put to use against its opponent (i.e. livestock,
vermin or manly intruders). It must be long enough to apply leverage,
short enough to exert power and strong enough to do the job.
Shoulders: Very muscular with wide sloping blades; set so elbows are
not bowed out.
Body:
Square, robust and
powerful. The Alapaha is a broad, wide dog,
but this width should not be exaggerated. The chest should be deep
with a good spring of ribs. The back should be of medium length,
strong, broad and powerful. Loins should be slightly tucked which
corresponds to a slight roach in the back which slopes to the stern.
Faults: Swayed 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
close together nor far apart. Faults: Excessively bowed in or out at
the elbows. Rear legs should have visible angulations of the stifle.
Movement:
The gait is balanced
and smooth, powerful and unhindered
suggesting agility with easy, ground covering strides, showing strong
driving action in the hind quarters with corresponding reach in front.
The rear legs should propel the dog forward, not merely follow along
behind. As speed increases the feet move toward the center line of the
body to maintain balance. Ideally the dog should single-track. The top
line remains firm and level, parallel to the line of motion. Head and
tail carriage should reflect that of a proud, confident and alert
animal.
Movement faults:
Any suggestion of
clumsiness, tossing and/or rolling
of the body, crossing or interference of front or rear legs, short or
stilted steps, twisting joints, pacing, paddling, or weaving. Similar
movement faults are to be penalized according to the degree to which
they interfere with the ability of the dog to work.
Feet:
Of moderate size, toes
of medium length, well arched and close
together, not splayed. Pasterns should be strong, straight and
upright.
Tail:
The tail should be long
enough to reach the hocks tapering to a
point. It should be moderately thick and as an extension of the spine,
it should be powerful. The tail will often be carried above the back
when the dog is moving or excited. The tail should not curl over the
back. Docked tails are not permissible in the show ring.
Coat:
Short, close, glossy
and stiff to the touch.
Color:
The preferred color
pattern is at least 50 percent white with
patches of color. A predominately colored dog with areas of white is
next in order of preference. The colored patches may be any shade of
merle or brindle, solid blue, black, chocolate, red or fawn. An all
white dog is acceptable, but care must be taken to ascertain that
there is proper pigmentation of the skin as to insure that there are
no genetic defects (i.e. deafness, blindness or problematic skin).
Disposition:
Alert, outgoing with a
self-assured attitude. Some
aloofness with strangers and assertiveness toward other dogs is not
considered a fault.
Disqualifications:
A dog that is blind or
deaf. A male without two
testicles clearly descended. A dog that is shy. A dog with a kinked,
cranks, or screw tail that does not reach the hocks.
Fault Degrees:
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 a serious fault and should be penalized
appropriately. 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.
Point Breakdown for Judging
Overall:
proportion 10 points
temperament 10 points
total of 20 points
Head:
size and shape 10 point
muzzle 5 points
teeth 5 points
total of 20 points
Body:
neck 5 points
shoulders 5 points
chest 10 points
back 10 points
hindquarters 10 points
legs 10 points
feet 5 points
tail and coat 5 points
total of 60 points
Grand Total of 100 points
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