Breed Standard

Description

2019 Revised ABRA - Description: This breed standard is meant to provide breeders that register their dogs ABRA and judges at ABRA sanctioned conformation shows with a written guide that describes the unique characteristics of the American Bulldog, the guide should be used by the breeder when selecting brood stock and by the judges when selecting dogs in an ABRA conformation show. 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. American Bulldogs are extremely attached and affectionate with their human families.

Color

All white, pied, and bodysuits with more than 25% white are acceptable. Patches can be brindle, reverse brindle, black, blue, red, brown, chocolate, fawn, blue fawn & tan. Dogs with less than 25% white, dogs that are primarily solid black, blue or chocolate, (black, blue & chocolate patches are allowed but a dog that could be described as being primarily black, blue or chocolate are disqualified), black and tan or trindle pattern markings, fawn with a black mask, and/or any degree of merle are all disqualifiers.

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".

Size

Males should range from 23 to 25 inches at the withers and weigh between 90 and 110 pounds. Females should range from 22 to 24 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.

Coat

Short, less than one inch in length varying from soft to stiff. Long, feathering, or fuzzy coats are a DQ.

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. The forehead is wider than it is high. An excessively narrow head is major fault 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. The haw should not be visible. Dark brown is the preferred color. Light brown or hazel are accepted. Black eye rim pigment preferred. Brown pigment is acceptable, lack of pigment is a minor fault. Blue, glass, cracked, crossed, wall eyed and/or nonsymmetrical eyes are a DQ.

Ears

The ears should be medium in size and may be either drop, or rose, with no preference.

Drop ears: The ears are set high, level with the upper line of the skull, accentuating the skull's width. At the base, the ear is just slightly raised in front and then hangs along the cheek. The tip is slightly rounded. When pulled toward the eye, the ear should not extend past the outside corner of the eye.

Rose ears: These have small relatively thin leathers which fold backwards, so you can see the inside of the ear or the burr, the rose-shaped leathers are "set on" high but at the back of the head.

Deaf dogs (unilateral or bilateral), cropped ears & bat ears are a DQ.

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, brown is acceptable. An excessively narrow muzzle is a major fault 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.

Any dog that exhibits difficulty breathing while in the ring is a DQ.

Teeth

The teeth should number 42 but it is accepted to have missing premolars and the teeth should be large in size. In the upper jaw there are 20 teeth: 6 upper incisors, 2 canines, 8 premolars, 4 molars. In the lower jaw there are 22 teeth: 6 lower incisors. Sometimes the two most centrally placed incisors are called the lower centrals and maybe smaller than the others. 2 canines, 8 premolars, 6 molars. 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. A reverse scissors bite is an undershot mouth where there is no gap between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws. However, the top surface of the teeth in the upper jaw must actually touch the under surface of the teeth in the lower jaw for it to be called a reverse scissors bite.

Classic: Undershot 1/8 to 1/2 inch preferred. More than 1/2 inch is a serious fault. In an undershot mouth, the lower jaw is perceptibly longer than the upper jaw.

Both types: Teeth showing when the mouth is closed is a DQ. Overbites (parrot mouth) are a DQ. Wry Jaw is a DQ.

Nose

The nose is large with wide open nostrils. Black is the preferred color. A brown nose is acceptable. Lack of pigment is a minor fault but pinched nostrils/nares are a serious fault. Nares that are so pinched that you can hear the intake of each breath is a DQ. A completely pink/dudley nose is a DQ.

Neck

The neck should be very muscular and medium in length, as broad as the head at its widest point where it meets the shoulder and taper slightly toward the head. The neck should taper from shoulder to head and be slightly arched. A slight dewlap is acceptable.

Shoulders

The shoulders should be well-muscled with good definition and the wide sloping blades set so elbows are not angled out. Blades (scapula) are well laid back forming a 90 degree angle with the upper arm (humerus).

Body / Chest / Back

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.

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. The chest should extend to the elbows.

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: More level topline is preferred.

Classic: Appearance of being slightly (very slight) higher in the rear is preferred.

Legs

The legs should be strong and straight with moderate to heavy bone. Fine bones is a major fault. Well-muscled front and back. The rear legs should be moderately angulated and parallel. The thighs should be thick with well developed muscle. There should not be an excess of or lack of angulation in the rear legs. Excessively bow-legged, fiddle fronted or cow hocked is a major fault.

Hindquarters

The hindquarters should be thick with well-defined muscles. Not as wide as shoulders, but well-balanced. The hips and thighs should not be narrow or lacking in muscle definition and density.

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, screw tails and tails that end in a complete circle are a DQ. Kinked tails are a structural fault, although a kinked tail does not hinder the dog's ability to work it should be heavily faulted.

Feet

The feet should be upright, not flat or hare footed, of moderate size with toes well arched and close together. The toes should not be splayed. Pasterns should be upright. Toe nails should be short. Long nails impede movement.

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. The topline should remain level and the head and tail should be up, showing confidence. Front legs and/or rear legs crossing is a major fault but should not be confused with the feet moving toward the centerline when speed increases. Ideally the dog should single-track but not cross. The cross must be definite.

Faults: Topline bouncing up and down, legs moving too close or touching, pacing, paddling, side winding. Poor movement should be penalized to the degree to which it reduces the dog's ability to perform the tasks it was bred to do. A lame or limping dog is a DQ.

Disqualifications

• Dogs that are spayed or neutered.
• Female dogs in heat.
• Males that do not have 2 testicles.
• Dogs that display behaviour that the judge deems to be excessively shy or aggressive.
• Dogs with less than 25% white, primarily solid black, blue or chocolate.
• Black and tan or trindle pattern markings, fawn with a black mask, and/or any degree of merle.
• Dogs with long, feathering, or fuzzy coats.
• Dogs that are blind.
• Eyes that are blue, glass, cracked, crossed, wall eyed and/or not symmetrical.
• Deaf dogs (unilateral or bilateral), cropped ears & bat ears.
• Dogs that the judge deems to be having difficulty breathing while in the ring.
• Teeth showing when the mouth is closed.
• Overbites (parrot mouth) and wry jaw.
• A completely pink/dudley nose.
• Docked tails, screw tails and tails that end in a complete circle.
• A lame or limping dog.