American Bulldog Club of America
General Appearance: The American Bulldog is a powerful, athletic, heavyweight of a medium-large sized dog. Light on his feet, he moves with power and determination, giving the impression of speed, power, and agility. He is alert and inquisitive. He is bold and fearless without being hostile or overly aggressive. The first impression one should get is that of a very large, athletic bulldog, not one of a powerful terrier.
Head: The overall head is box-shaped. The skull should be large and square. 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 . The muzzle is also square and box-shaped. It should be deep, wide, and show power. The muzzle should be approximately 30 to 40 percent of the overall head length measured from the back of the skull to the end of the nose. Muzzle is measured from the stop to the end of the nose. Bite should be moderately undershot. Teeth large and powerful. The eyes should be round and set wide. Eyes should be brown. Ears may be either rose or flap, no preference. Ears may be carried semi-erect. Nose should have large, open nostrils and be black. Faults: A weak appearing, or narrow head. Any noticeable tapering of the head to give a wedge-shaped appearance. Narrow, or tapering muzzle. Level bite. Excessively undershot to the point that the teeth are visible when the mouth is closed. Blue eyes. Eyes of differing colors. Eye color, other than brown, is a slight fault. Cropped ears. A tan or liver colored nose is a slight fault. A pink, or Dudley nose is a slightly more serious fault but not a disqualification.
Body: The body shall be robust and powerful, bone medium to heavy. The American Bulldog is a broad, wide dog, but this width should not be exaggerated for the show ring. The chest should be deep with a good spring of ribs. The back is fairly short and very powerful. There should be a slight roach just over the loins, giving spring and power to the hindquarters. A level back is acceptable, but not preferred. Belly should be slightly tucked. The neck should match the body. Fairly short, but not to the point of exaggeration, and thick and powerful. The neck is where the power of the dog is put to use against his opponent and it must be long enough to apply leverage, short enough to exert power, and muscular enough to do the job. Shoulders shall be broad and heavily muscled. Faults: Any weakness, or exaggeration. A weak, swayed back, or a back with a slope from the shoulders to the rump. Light bone. The American Bulldog is a "working" bulldog and lack of power, or agility are serious faults. Exaggeration of any part of the American Bulldog will reduce his effectiveness and ability to work and shall not be encouraged in the show ring.
Legs: Front and rear legs shall be considered together because they must be balanced. The rear of the American Bulldog shall be heavily muscled, but it is not as broad as the shoulders. The rear legs shall be moderately angulated, and must be parallel. The front legs shall be straight and well muscled. Faults: Any semblance of weakness. Cow-hocks. A front whose feet turn either in or out. Some American Bulldogs can be so wide in the chest that the elbows appear to be pointing out when the dog is in motion, but if the front is correct the elbow will not point out when the dog is standing. Straight stifles or excessive angulation such as that seen in the German Shepherd Dog.
Tail: The tail should be long enough to reach the hocks, or slightly past. 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. It can end in a semi-circle, which is often evident when the dog carries it above his back. Faults: A short tail, or a straight tail, showing no evidence of a curl at the end. The tail must not be docked.
Size: The American Bulldog has been bred to work, not for the show ring, therefore there is a wide size latitude in the breed. Males can be anywhere from 23 inches up to 28 inches at the shoulder. Bitches will be smaller, from about 19 inches up to 25 inches. Dogs should weigh from 90 pounds up to 125. Bitches from 65 to 110 pounds. Weight shall be in proportion to the height : a 23 inch dog should weigh about 90 pounds, a 27 inch dog closer to 120. An ideal dog would probably be 25 or 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh 110 to 115 pounds. These weights are for well muscled, conditioned dogs. The American Bulldog is a working dog and size alone is no criteria of quality. A well put together dog in hard condition at110 pounds is preferable to an out-of-shape sloppy dog at 125 pounds, but a narrow, terrier-like dog is not typical of the breed and is to be discouraged. Faults: Any deviation from the desired sizes, degree of fault according to the degree of deviation. Terrier-like dogs are to be avoided at all costs.
Color: The preferred color is white. Brindle, or brown, patches of color are also common and equal to an all white dog in the show ring. The color patches may be any shade of brindle or any shade of brown (tan, red, yellow, fawn, etc.). A predominately colored dog with areas of white is next in order of preference ( the same colors allowable). Color should not exceed 80% of the total. Faults: Any solid color other than white. Black is not allowed, black-and-tan, black-and-liver, merle, and fawn with black mask are not allowable.
Coat: Short, soft, and shiny. the coat mirrors the dogs overall health and should be clean and bright.
Gait: The American Bulldog should move with speed, agility, and power. There should be a definite spring in the step and the rear legs should propel the dogs forward, not merely follow along behind. There should be definite stifle action in the rear legs. All legs should move parallel to the direction of travel. Front legs will not cross nor swing out to either side when the dog is in motion. Rear legs will not travel in an arc, but will move in a straight line in the direction of the dogs' travel. Reach will be moderate, neither short and mincing nor approaching the reach of a Doberman Pincher. Faults: Any deviation from the above.
Disqualifications: Dogs under 75 pounds, bitches under 60 pounds. Black, black-and-tan, black-and-liver, merle, and fawn with a black mask. Heads, from the back of the ears forward, lacking some white coloring. Level or scissors bite. Dogs with less than two normal testicles. Cropped ears. Docked tails. note: American Bulldogs whelped prior to June 1,1994 may be shown with cropped ears and docked tails.
Scale of points:
General appearance 20 Head 15 Body 15 Size 15 Legs 10 Gait 10 Color 5 Tail 5 Coat 5 TOTAL 100
When judging American Bulldogs one must first select correct type. Without correct breed type no other qualities of the dog are of any importance.
An American Bulldog with correct type but deficient in one or more areas may not be an ideal bulldog, but he is a better bulldog than the most perfectly constructed dog in the world if the other dog lacks those features that differentiate a bulldog from a Dogo or a pit bull terrier.
Among the dogs of the desired type one must then select on the basis of attitude, soundness, and condition. Exaggeration of any part of the dog is to his detriment and not to be encouraged. Dogs that stray far from the mid-range of size (105 to 120 pounds) should be thoroughly scrutinized for any weaknesses. Extra size alone is not desirable if the dogs is defective in other areas or lacks proper movement. Undersized dogs often move extremely well but it must show absolute proper breed type or be severely penalized.