General
Appearance:
The American Bulldog is a
dog of a great power dog showing strength, endurance and
alertness. Powerfully built, but active.
well-balanced, short-coated, muscular and athletic dog. American
Bulldogs display great strength, endurance, and agility. Males are
characteristically larger, heavier boned and more masculine than
the females.
Temperament:
American Bulldogs should be alert,
outgoing and confident. Aloofness with strangers is acceptable.
Some assertiveness toward other dogs is not considered a fault,
however; dogs may be dismissed at the judge’s discretion for
disrupting their class.
Faults:
Overly aggressive or excessively shy. All dogs must be physically
examined by the judge, any dog refusing to allow physical
inspection by either shying away or becoming vicious may be
disqualified depending on the severity.
Disqualifications
Extreme
viciousness or shyness: Shyness - A dog shall be judged
fundamentally shy if, refusing to stand for examination, it
shrinks away from the judge; if it fears an approach from the
rear; if it shies at sudden and unusual noises to a marked degree.
Note: Puppies should not be faulted severely here. With maturity
and socialization confidence should increase. Viciousness
- A dog that attacks, or attempts to attack either the judge or
its handler unprovoked, is definitely vicious. An aggressive or
belligerent attitude towards other dogs shall not be deemed
vicious.
Size:
Ideal
bully males should measure between 23 to 28 inches at the withers
and weigh 80 to 150 pounds. Females; 20-26 inches 70 to 130
pounds.
Note: The
overall proportion of the dog is of utmost importance when
evaluating weight.
Head:
The head
should be broad, flat on top squared or rounded appearance with a
well defined stop. The stop should be deep and abrupt. The
head should also be medium in length with pronounced muscular
cheeks.
A larger
rounder shape is ideal.
Muzzle:
The
muzzle should be broad with wide-open nostrils. The lips should
be full with black pigmentation; some pink allowed. The chin is
well defined and must not overlap the upper lip nor covered it.
The muzzle should be in proportion to head size & type.
Muzzle should
be broad 2 to 3 inches in length and should be 25% to 35% of the
overall length of head. The muzzle should allow for clean
breathing and should allow for working ability. The
preferred length should be 2-2 1/2"
Faults:
Pendulous Lips, Narrow muzzle, and Full continuous black mask.
Nose:
Preferred
nose color is Black although red is acceptable.
Cosmetic
Faults:
Dudley, or grizzle colors will occur but are considered cosmetic
faults.
Bite:
Teeth should
be medium to large and should not be visible when mouth is closed.
Lips are moderately thick; black pigment lining the lips is
preferred; with some pink allowed. ¼ - 1 inch “Undershot”
depending on size of dog and shape of skull. Plus or minus 1/8
inch is acceptable with no visible teeth.
Faults:
Small teeth or uneven incisors.
Disqualification (both types):
Parrot mouth or closed mouth with visible teeth.
Serious Fault:
Even, level, scissor bite, overshot, or wry mouth.
Note:
American Bulldogs are a working breed and should not be penalized
for broken or missing teeth.
Eyes:
Almond-shaped
to round, medium-sized. Normal preferred color is Brown. Any
color acceptable. The haw should not be visible.
Black pigment is preferred; all other colors of pigmentation are
considered cosmetic faults.
Serious
faults:
Crossed or non-symmetrical eyes. Ie: Symmetrical is the shape the
eye not the color.
Disqualifications:
Entropia or ectropia
Ears:
The ears
should be set high on the head, small to medium in size may be
drop, semi-prick, or rose. The ears should be carried close
to the head.
Faults:
Cropped ears. Hound Ears.
Neck:
Slightly
arched, very muscular and of moderate length, tapering from
shoulders to head. Neck is almost equal to the head in size.
Faults:
neck too short and thick; thin or weak neck.
Body:
Wide,
fairly compact, deep chest; straight and well balanced. The chest
should not be narrow or excessively wide, nor should the elbows be
angled out or pulled in. The back should be broad and moderately
short, showing great strength. The loin is wide, muscular
and slightly arched.
Faults:
The back should not be narrow, excessively long or swayed.
Note: The degree of fault will depend on how it affects the
dogs “working” ability and movement.
Forequarters:
The combined front assembly from its uppermost components, the
shoulder blades, down to the feet should be muscular and slightly
sloping. The "Forelegs" and front should be straight and
well balanced. The chest should not be narrow or excessively
wide. Bone structure: medium to
heavy - to be able to carry a large dog.
Serious
Faults:
Upright or loaded shoulders; elbows turned outward or tied-in;
down at the pasterns; front legs bowed; wrists knuckled over;
toeing in or out.
Hindquarters:
Broad, well
muscled with muscles tapering well to the leg to show speed and
strength, but not quite as large as at the shoulders. There
should not be an excess or lack of angulation in the rear legs.
Serious
Faults:
Narrow or weak hindquarters, weak pasterns, cow hocks, open hocks,
or bowed legs.
Legs:
The legs
should be strong and straight with moderate to heavy bone. Front
legs should not set too close together or too far apart. Pasterns
should be strong, straight and upright. The rear legs should be
moderately angulated and parallel.
Serious
Faults:
Excessively Bow-Legged in the front, weak pasterns, cow hocks,
open hocks, bowed legs in the rear.
Feet:
The feet are
round, medium in size; toes are well arched, and tight.
Faults:
Splayed feet or crooked toes.
Tail:
Strong at the
root tapering to the hocks, in a relaxed position, however the
tail can be carried back when excited or walking. A "pump handle"
tail is preferred but any tail carried from upright, when the dog
is excited, to relaxed between the hocks is acceptable. The tail
should not end in a complete circle.
Faults:
Tail curled over the back; corkscrew tail, kinked, crooked tail or
docked tail.
Gait:
The gait
should be “balanced and smooth”, showing great speed, agility and
power. The dog should not travel excessively wide, and as speed
increases the feet move toward the centerline of the body to
maintain balance. The top line remains firm and level, parallel to
the line of motion.
Faults:
Legs not moving on the same plane; legs over reaching; legs
crossing over in front or rear; front or rear legs moving too
close or touching; pacing; paddling; side winding.
Note:
The Bully type gait will have a slight degree of less reach,
flexibility, and spring than that of a Standard Type.
Coat:
Short, smooth
and tight to the body.
Serious
Fault:
Long and fuzzy coats.
Color:
Solid white,
all shades of brindle or any color pattern including black, red,
brown, fawn, blue, mahogany, cream and gray and all shades of
brindle.
Faults:
Solid Black or any degree of merle.
Disqualifications:
Any dog that
has been spayed or neutered. Male dogs that do not have 2 visible
testicles. Blindness or deafness. Full black mask, cow-hocked,
splayfooted and scissor bite.
*Females in
heat are not to be shown in the conformation classes and are not
allowed on the show grounds.
Dogs excessively under the standard height are not to be
considered and overly aggressive dogs may be asked to leave the
ring or the show grounds.