GENERAL APPEARANCE:

Being that of a great powerful dog showing strength, endurance, intelligence, and alertness. Powerfully built, but active.

CHARACTERISTICS:

The essential characteristics of the American Bulldog are those, which enable it to work as a hog and cattle catching dog, and a protector of personal property. These tasks require a powerful, agile, confident dog with a large head and powerful jaws. The American Bulldog is fearless enough to face an angry bull or human intruders. Aggressive enough to fight a mean bear or wild hog but gentle enough for a house pet and a loving family companion.

TEMPERAMENT:

Very obedient and faithful to its master and family. 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.

SIZE & WEIGHT:

Johnson: Males to be 23 - 32" at withers. Weight. 90 - 150 lbs. Females to be 20 - 28" at withers. Weight. 70 - 130 lbs.
Scott: Males to be 22 - 28" at withers. Weight. 70 - 100 lbs. Females to be 18 - 26" at withers. Weight. 50 - 80 lbs.

HEAD:

Should be large and broad, flat on top squared appearance with muzzle short to medium in length, and well muscled. The skull and muzzle joined by a well defined (STOP).

SKULL

The skull is large, flat, deep, and broad between the ears. Viewed from the top, the skull is square. Cheek muscles are prominent.

MUZZLE:

Should be broad, and thick not long and narrow. Length of "MUZZLE": Not less than 1 1/2 inch to no more than 3 inches. (Preferred length: 2 to 2 3/4 inches).

NOSE:

The nose is large with wide, open nostrils. The nose may be any color but darker pigment is preferred.

BITE:

Lower jaw should protrude slightly more than the upper jaw, at least 1/4 to 1 inch (Undershot) depending on size of dog and shape of head. Faults: Overshot

EYES:

Wide apart eyes, almond-shaped to round, medium-sized: Normal Color, brown. Acceptable Colors: gray, green or light blue eye(s).

EARS:

Small to medium, carried close to the head, with a flop, or raised ears, with a roll backwards.

NECK:

Slightly arched of moderate length. Very muscular - almost equal to the head in size.

CHEST & BODY:

The chest is deep and moderately wide with ample room for heart and lungs. The ribs are well sprung from the spine and then flatten to form a deep body extending at least to the elbows, or lower in adult dogs. The topline inclines very slightly downward from well-developed withers to a broad, muscular back. The loin is short, broad, and slightly arched, blending into a moderately sloping croup. The flank is moderately tucked up and firm. Faults: Swayback; sloping topline.

TAIL:

Strong, and thick at the root, and tapering to the point. Faults: Tail curled over the back.

COAT:

Short and soft. Fault: long and wavy.

FEET:

The feet are round, medium in size, well arched, and tight.

COLOR:

Solid white. White with all shades of brindle (white, red, yellow, blue, brown, black or gray)Red and white; fawn and white; beige and white; buckskin and white; black and white; brown and white; mahogany and white; cream and white.{all black not accepted & any color without at least 25% white not accepted}

FOREQUARTERS:

The combined front assembly from its uppermost components, the shoulder blades, down to the feet should be muscular and slightly sloping. The "Forelegs" are to be straight. Bone structure: medium to heavy - to be able to carry a large dog.

HINDQUARTERS:

Broad with muscles tapering well down the leg to show speed and strength, but not quite as large as shoulders.

DISQUALIFICATIONS:

Full black mask; cow-hocked; splayfooted; even and scissor bite; glass eye(s); docked tail.

GAIT:

When trotting, the gait is effortless, smooth, powerful and well coordinated, showing good reach in front and drive behind. When moving, the backline remains level with only a slight flexing to indicate suppleness. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward centerline of balance. Poor movement should be penalized to the degree to which it reduces the American Bulldog's ability to perform the tasks it was bred to do.

HISTORY:

Bulldogs in England were originally working dogs that drove and caught cattle and guarded their masters' property. The breed's strength, courage, and familiarity with livestock led to its popularity in the brutal sport of bull baiting. When this sport was outlawed in England, the original type of Bulldog disappeared from Britain and was replaced with the shorter, stockier, less athletic dog we now know as the English Bulldog. The original Bulldog, however, was preserved by working class immigrants who brought their working dogs with them to the American South.
Small farmers and ranchers used this all-around working dog for many tasks. By the end of World War II, however, the breed was almost extinct. Mr. John D. Johnson, a returning war veteran, decided to resurrect this breed. Along with Alan Scott and several other breeders, Johnson began carefully to breed American Bulldogs, keeping careful records and always with an eye for maintaining the breed's health and working abilities.
Because of the many different types of work this breed can do, several distinct lines evolved, each emphasizing the traits needed to do a specific job. The best-known lines are usually referred to as the Johnson and Scott types. The Johnson dogs are more massive, with a larger, broader head and shorter muzzle, and a definite undershot bite. The Scott dogs were somewhat lighter in musculature and bone than the Johnson dogs, with a less Mastiff-like head. Today, however, most American Bulldogs have crosses to two or more of these lines and are not as easily distinguishable.
The modern American Bulldog continues to serve as an all-purpose working dog; a fearless and steady guard dog; and a loyal family companion.