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American Bulldog Breed Standard
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Standard according to The NKC

The A, B, C, & D's of Sound Structure
A. American Bulldog Fronts:  Figure1: Straight Front, with legs parallel and under chest, correct width of chest, heavy muscled, feet pointing straight ahead.  Figure 2: Unsound, bowed front legs, lacking muscle, weak pasterns, out-turned feet, narrow chest.  Figure 3:  Unsound thrown out shoulders, legs not under dog, shallow chest, high likelihood for elbow dysplasia.

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B. American Bulldog Hindquarters: Figure 1:  Well-muscled hindquarters which should be the aim of every breeder, straight hocks, feet pointing straight ahead.  Figure 2:  Severe cow hock, feet pointing east and west, weak hindquarters (this dog should never be bred).  Figure 3 :  Cow hock, hocks turned out northeast and northwest, narrow hindquarters, lack of muscle.

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C. American Bulldog Hind Angulation: Figure 1: Sickle-hock, too much angulation, poor tail (resembled pit bull tail).  Figure 2:  Correct angulation, with ideal stifle and hock, correct American Bulldog tail (thick at root, heavy tapered to the tip). Figure 3: Straight or stilted stifle, incorrect tail (thick hair, like Labrador tail.)
D. American Bulldog Front Pasterns:  Figure 1:Straight, firm, strong pastern. 
Figure 2:  Let down, weak, broke-down pasterns.



General Appearance: Tall, Stands erect with head held high, with back straight neither swayed nor ridged. The tail should be down approximately to the hocks, chest wide and moderately deep.

Head: Broad, flat on top squared appearance with muzzle short to medium in length, with a prominate dish between eyes. Lower jaw should protrude slightly more than the upper jaw, with wide apart eyes. Ears medium in size with a roll backwards or a flop.

Temperament: Very friendly in daytime, but very aggressive at night especially with the persons not known. This dog should be eager, bold, and trusting with no signs of fear or timidity. Aggressive enough to fight a mean bear or wild hog but gentle enough for a house pet.

Color: White to all brindle colors mixed with white to solid brindle, solid black or black mixed with brindle or white.

Size: Males from 22 to 32 inches and weighing from 70 to over 100 pounds. Females from 18 to 28 inches and weighing from 50 to over 80 pounds. Body structure should be big and rugged showing strength and endurance.

Showing Rules: Follow the above standards: Dogs must be untrimmed and unaltered. Tails are held down at a normal stance. Exceptiondogs may show if altered by a vet and handler has statement from the vet.

It is hoped that these standards will help both the breeder and the show judge in the selection of dogs that will better the breed and make dogs more enjoyable to their owners. The American Bulldog was developed in early years for the purpose of catching and holding wild pigs and cattle. It was also used as a fighting dog that had no equal. The American Bulldog is still used in many places to work with pigs and cattle, but humane laws and common sense has stopped most of the fighting of dogs.. Today the American Bulldog is used for a family pet and a fearless guard dog. Old people and ladies living alone have made the American Bulldog the preferred family guard dog. It is said that anyone can sleep soundly with the knowledge that the family American Bulldog is on sentry duty all night. From the beginning in southern farm communities the love of the American Bulldog has spread nation wide and to many other countries.
These breed standards were established by John D. Johnson of Georgia and Alan Scott of Alabama, and the Alabama-Georgia American Bulldog Club. These breed standards were approved & the American Bulldog was approved for registration by the National Kennel Club (N.K.C.) on July 7, 1970.