The American
Bulldog´s origin is as a farm-dog from the South-Eastern USA who
worked with livestock and as home-protection and hunting dog. He
was not bred to have any extreme anatomic look. More important was
the capacity to do the work of a real farm dog. He had to be
strong enough to stand successful in confrontation to cattle or
hog and also fast and agile enough for hunting purposes. As
hunters, the bulldog had to be able to hunt in pairs. For this
reason the American Bulldog should be non-dog-aggressive. Also he
had to be social and friendly with anyone living in his family.
The American Bulldog is a medium to large-sized dog,
athletic and temperamentally sound. Shows a compact and powerful
frame, built for stamina and agility. A more solid and heavier dog
may be preferred but must be free of any exaggeration or
overweight. Males are heavier boned and more masculine than
females.
At this time Bully/Classic and Standard-type are still judged in separate classes. But most of the modern dogs are already hybrids of both types.
Size
and weight:
Males
57-67cm, 35-55kg
Females 53-65cm, 30-45kg
Weight should be
proportional to size and type.
Bully/Classic-type more large
and heavy, Standard-type more lean and athletic.
Coat
and Color
Coat
short, close and stiff
Color: white or white with
brindle/red/fawn markings. Up to 90% color allowed.
Always with
white on the head.
Disqualification: black mask, solid black,
black, blue or merle markings.
Head
Medium
in length. Large in proportion to size and type. Well pronounced
cheek muscles. The top of the skull should be broad and flat. A
pronounced stop at base of muzzle. Stronger feature in males.
Eyes
Medium
sized, round or almond shape, wide set. Dark brown in color with
black eye rims preferred. Blue eyes accepted but to be considered
a cosmetic fault.
Muzzle and Teeth
Muzzle is medium in length,
(5-10cm) heavy in bone, square and large. Jaw strong and broad.
Lower jaw should be broad enough so there is no crowding or
overlap of the lowerwed front teeth. Lips full but not pendulous.
Black lip pigmentation preferred. As a working dog an American
Bulldog should have a complete set of 42 teeth. Teeth are not
visible while the mouth is closed.
Standard
type: reverse
scissors preferred. Undershot, even-bite or scissors-bite
accepted.
Bully/Classic: undershot preferred. Reverse scissors, even bite or scissors accepted.
Disqualification: more than 4 premolars missing, extreme undershot or overshot. Canine’s standing inside. Other wrong placed teeth or anomalies in the structure of the jaw always in relation to the degree of the fault.
Nose
Black
preferred. Brown/liver or grey accepted, some pink spots allowed.
Ears
Un-cropped
and medium size. Close to the head, fold or rose-ear.
Neck
Muscular,
medium length, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to head,
some dewlap allowed.
Shoulders
Very
muscular, with wide sloping blades, set so elbows do not turn out.
Chest, Back, Loin
Chest
deep and wide, but not excessively wide.
Back of medium length,
strong and broad.
The loin short, broad and slightly arched
corresponding to the withers.
Sway back is a serious fault
depending on its degree.
Hindquarters
Broad
and well muscled. Must be in proportion to the shoulders, not
larger.
Narrow hips are a serious fault.
Legs
Strong,
straight and heavy in bone. Clear angulation of the stifle joint
and femur head set.
Feet medium sized, closed and well arched.
The weight well balanced distributed evenly on four legs. Pasterns
strong, straight and upright preferred. Slightly arched pasterns
accepted. Weak or flattened pasterns are a serious fault.
Tail
Undocked.
Thick at the low tailset, tapering to a point. Reaches the hocks
in a relaxed position. Not ending in a circle.
Movement
The
gait shows agility with ground covering strides. Strong drive from
the hindquarters and corresponding reach in the front. Top line
firm and level while moving, parallel to the line of moving.
Faults
Dogs
must be penalized in proportion to the degree of the fault.
A
cosmetic fault is always of minor nature.
Serious faults are
always in relation to the structure of a working dog.
Cosmetic faults are such as: nose and eye color, ears or tail cropped, less than 4 premolars missing, any minor teeth fault.
To be penalized as a serious fault : excessively overweight, too short or too long muzzle, teeth and jaw anomalies, movement faults, lack of stamina, aggressiveness or shyness, especially shyness with gunfire.
Disqualifications:
-
deaf dogs
- solid
black, blue or merle markings through out
-
males without two testicles clearly visible
- pink nose
-
aggressive or shy
dogs
- cosmetic treatments
-
more than 4 premolars failing
- long hair
- wrong
positioned teeth or jaws anomalies
- neutered/ spayed
dogs
Females in heat may not be shown.
European American Bulldog Club