Given Proper Training, the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog Is Very Well-Behaved, Highly Devoted and Protective

Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs are incredibly dutiful and trainable, and very protective of their humans. Originally developed from old Southern White Bulldogs (also known as White English Bulldogs), along with what is possibly a small mix of Colby Pit Bull Terriers and the Catahoula Bulldog , these dogs' origins date back to the 1800s as an original rescue of the "plantation dog" type that nearly became extinct after the Civil War.

These dogs are extremely rare, even today, and have their ancestry in cattle and pig herders. Today's Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, however, is bred solely to provide companionship and security to its owners. There exist only roughly 200 purebred Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs, although current breeders are working to expand the breed both by strengthening it (by adding to the gene pool through careful selection of other rare bulldog-type dogs as interbreeding choices) and by expanding the number of Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs available in general.

History

The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog has bloodlines that trace back to England; its true origins, though, are as the "plantation dogs" of the southern United States. In the 1800s, these dogs' ancestors watched over slaves and protected owners from intruders and from predators like wolves and coyotes. After slavery was abolished, the "plantation dog" was no longer needed for its original task, and the gene pool dwindled to just a few. Those that did stay were largely used to protect their owners and as companion dogs.

In Rebecca, Georgia, the Lane family began to breed Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs in the Alapaha River Valley; their intent was to retain and bring back the original "plantation dogs" in personality and temperament.

It apparently began with one dog named Otto, owned by a man named Buck Lane. Lane's granddaughter, Lana Lou Lane, apparently sought to reestablish the breed and then to have it registered with the American Rare Breeds Association in 1986, although this attempt remains somewhat controversial and contested. Ms. Lane passed away in 2001 without trademarking the original family bloodline. The Alapaha Blueblood Bulldog Association has stated that it was founded in 1979, with the earliest evidence of registry in California in 1989.

Although Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog enthusiasts will say that the breed originates from the Lane family, the breed itself may also have had some interbreeding with the bulldog throughout its development; that said, Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs are unique in both temperament and physical description as compared to the bulldog .

Originally, this type of dog was used to watch over large plantations and other large packages of land. The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is considered a descendant of the bulldog, but is not exactly the same as the English bulldog, in that it is not simply a variation of that breed. They do look like Bulldogs, with the same features of the bulldog but more exaggerated. They're taller and have longer legs than Bulldogs do, and they're also much more energetic with greater athleticism.

Many Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog breeders are working with other rare bulldog-type breeders to try to expand the gene pool while keeping the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog's temperament and characteristics as intact as possible.

Appearance

This well-developed muscular dog makes an excellent pet and guard dog, sturdy and large. These dogs weigh anywhere from 55 to 90 pounds and stand roughly 20 to 25 inches at the shoulder. Ears and tail are natural and not cropped or docked. Dogs are usually white with patches of brindle, merle, blue, chocolate, black, seal, tri-color, red or fawn.

Temperament

These dogs are still very rare, but they make excellent companions and guard dogs. They are very protective of those they love. Despite their protective instincts, they're very calm and trainable, and very intelligent. They can be dominant, so unless you're going to breed your dog, you should have him or her spayed or neutered; they do very well if they are given "companion dogs" to keep them company, but will do best if they are spayed or neutered and their companion dog has also been spayed or neutered and is of the opposite sex. This pet is very athletic and high-energy, loves children, and is very protective. However, because these dogs are so protective, you should introduce your pet to strangers carefully, to make sure he or she will accept them and not become aggressive.

These dogs are athletic by nature and need to be exercised, but they don't necessarily need a lot of room to run and play. As long as they receive daily exercise, they can even do well in apartments. Although large and very strong, these dogs behave very well indoors, where they will be relaxed and quiet. They love to sit next to their owners and simply keep watch, attentive to their loved ones and to the environment, a perfect watchdog. This is a pet that bonds very strongly with its loved ones, and yours will want to keep you in sight at all times.

With proper training from puppyhood, the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog makes an excellent pet and will crave love and attention from you. As with any puppy or dog, make sure you establish your own "alpha dog" status right from the start, so that your pet knows you're in charge. If you don't do this, your pet could become willful and even dominant.

Health

Because the dog has a very limited bloodline that likely stems from one stud dog named Otto (perhaps with some interbreeding with other bulldogs as well), it can be prone to the problems most breeds face when they are severely interbred. The breeding of these dogs is very carefully monitored. They are prone to and can develop a condition called entropies, where the lower eyelid turns inward and irritates the eye. It can cause blindness if left untreated, but can be surgically corrected so that there is no long-term damage to the eye. Deafness and tear duct inflammation as well have been known to be a problem with this breed. These pets can live 12 to 15 years with proper care.

Getting The Right Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog Puppy

If you do decide you want to get an Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, make sure you get one from a reputable breeder, as there are still imposter breeders out there that are not truly breeding Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs. There has also been some difficulty with puppy mill breeding; please remain aware of this during your puppy hunt.

Grooming

The dog's short coat requires very little grooming, brushing about once a week to remove loose hair and minimize shedding. Bathing occasionally to take care of "doggy smell" may be necessary.