Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog (ABBB) is an American rare dog breed

Dog breed

Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....

, believed to have been developed in the Alapaha River

Alapaha River

The Alapaha River is a river in southern Georgia and northern Florida in the United States. It is a tributary of the Suwannee River, which flows to the Gulf of Mexico.- Course :...

region of southern Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

. They are recognized for intelligence, athleticism, and a protective nature. If raised correctly, they are noted for excellence in obedience, agility, weight-pulling, and Schutzhund

Schutzhund

Schutzhund is a dog sport that was developed in Germany in the early 1900s as a breed suitability test for the German Shepherd Dog. The test would determine if the dog displayed the appropriate traits and characteristics of a proper working German Shepherd Dog...

Appearance

Displaying a natural bulldog

Bulldog

Bulldog is the name for a breed of dog commonly referred to as the English Bulldog. Other Bulldog breeds include the American Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge and the French Bulldog. The Bulldog is a muscular heavy dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose...

type, the Alapaha is nevertheless a sturdy, well-developed, and muscular breed. Descriptions of its size vary greatly, calling for males anywhere from 70 to 90 lb (31.8 to 40.8 kg) give or take 10 lbs standing 20 to 25 in (50.8 to 63.5 cm) at the withers

Withers

The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...

, females smaller at 55 to 75 lb (24.9 to 34 kg). Ears and tail are natural, with no cropping or docking. Colors of the Alapaha are varied, preferred to be at least 50% white with patches. They can be predominantly solid-colored with white, or solid white. Patches are generally merle, brindle, solid blue, black, chocolate, red, fawn, seal, or tri-colored. Some dogs are piebald

Piebald

A piebald or pied animal is one that has a spotting pattern of large unpigmented, usually white, areas of hair, feathers, or scales and normally pigmented patches, generally black. The colour of the animal's skin underneath its coat is also pigmented under the dark patches and unpigmented under...

spotted. They are more recently seen in blue merle, red merle as well as fawn or chocolate merle. Eye color can vary from brown to blue with some dogs having two-color eyes or one eye showing two colors. Grooming requirements are minimal, due to the breed's short, close coat.

Temperament

The ABBB is described as trainable, dutiful, and responsible, with impressive capabilities as a guardian of family and property. It is protective, and loving in the home and are known to have a strong protective instincts. The Alapaha needs to be socialized well starting in early puppyhood and trained using humane methods rather than force-based techniques that encourage aggression.

Training

The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is very intelligent and learns quickly. Puppies are easy to house-train and fast to learn to walk on a leash; adults are known to excel in many dog sports, including agility, obedience, and protection work due to their intelligence and athleticism. ABBB respond best to assertive training.

Activity level

The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is very energetic and athletic. They may do well in an apartment if they are sufficiently exercised. They are very inactive indoors, but will do best with at least an average-sized yard. They are used for working cattle and catching hogs, and therefore their muscles are long and powerful, and must be exercised regularly. Their muzzle, which by standard should be 2 to 4 inches in length, makes breathing easier while running. These athletic dogs demand exercise, enjoy long walks, running around and playing.

Health

This breed is susceptible to entropion

Entropion

Entropion is a medical condition in which the eyelid folds inward. It is very uncomfortable, as the eyelashes constantly rub against the cornea. Entropion is usually caused by genetic factors and may be congenital...

, an inversion of the eyelids, and cherry eye or inflammation of the tear duct, due to their small genetic pool.

History

The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog breed was developed by using Old Southern White Bulldogs (also called White English Bulldogs), Catahoula Bulldogs, and a small amount of Colby Pit Bull Terriers. The origins of the breed are unknown. They are not the same breed as American Bulldogs and not to be confused with them, although the pre-registry Alapaha stock included many dogs also found in the American Bulldog's breed ancestry.

The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog Association has stated they were founded in 1979. earliest evidence of this registry club is registered in California in 1989 to Raoul Trevoy Coleman, Abba translates ("father") in arabic, which explains the "b" missing in the abrieviation of Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog. Claims made that Ms. Lana Lou Lane was the secretary and ( first cousin) Mr. Pete Strickland president both claim to never have been apart of the ABBA club, as contested by William Herb Strickland statement Pete Stricklands brother, and Ms. Vivian Lane signed and noterized http://www.alapahabulldog.com/breedinformation.htm. Mrs. Lana Lou Lane claims to have begun registering the breed with the Animal Research Foundation in 1986. However, there is little evidence to support either claim however, Ms. Lana Lou Lane family lines are described in the World Atlas of Dog Breeds as the founders of the breed, and is said that Ms. Lane did not trademark the name for her family bloodline before her death. Ms. Lana Lou Lane's line where the first to be shown in a confirmation show ring with the A.R.B.A.(All Rare Breed Association)

Registries

Registries include the ACA (American Canine Association) registered the first Champion Titled Alapaha's. ABBA (Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog Association), NKC (National Kennel Club), (ABBBR) Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog Registry, CKC (Continental Kennel Club), WWKC (World Wide Kennel Club), UWABC (United Working Alapaha Bulldog Club & Registry), UCA (United Canine Association), and IOEBA (International Olde English Bulldogge Association), among which there is a great variance in type.