Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Facts and Information

Appearance
The Alapaha was mainly bred for catching livestock and medium sized dogs have been proven to be the best for this purpose. And indeed, the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is a medium sized, athletic, muscular and stocky dog breed with average height between 18-24 inch which is 45-56 cm and weight should be between 55-90 pounds, which is 25-40 kg. There are quite big size differences between males and females.

Just like majority of Bulldog breeds, even the Alapaha has large head with short, brachycaphelic muzzle. Males should have larger heads than females. They should also be heavier bones. Overall there is is a large amount of sexual dimorphism in the breed.

The Alapaha coat is short, glossy and it is stiff to the touch. The Alapaha is white with varying amounts of black, brown or red. Rarely they can also be blue merle.


Personality
According to the breed standard, the Alapaha is a dog with alert, outgoing and self assured attitude. They are naturally suspicious of strangers and quite territorial. Because of those temperamental characteristics, the Alapaha can easily work as guard and protector.

This is a pretty social dog who is demanding when it comes to attention. They tend to create strong bond with its owner and family and they are very loyal to them. They also like children, especially older children who can actively play with the dog, because this is, at least in comparsion to other Bulldogs, quite active and playful breed. It is definitely not a coach potatoe and they need daily walks and exercise.

The physical exercise is just as important as mental exercise, because this breed can get bored quite easily. You can try some task oriented playtime or longer training sessions. Speaking about training, this is definitely a smart dog who gets new commands quickly and is highly trainable, but they need strong, firm and consistent trainer. Because of its territorial, possesive and bossy temperament, this is definitely not a dog for novices or unexperienced dog owners.


Interesting fact
The Alapahas are sometimes nicknamed as Ottos. It is because for a long time they were solely bred by the Lane Family in Georgia and the foundation dog of the family's breeding program was named Otto.


History
There are several theories about the breeds origin, but the most accepted theory is, that the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog was developed in the late 18th century in Southern regions of United States. The ancestors were most likely today already extinct Old English Bulldogs and some local herding breeds. It might have been Black Mouth Curs or Catahoula Leopard Dogs.

The breed was developed as a catch dog to drive or capture unruly cattle or other animals, but later they were used as versatile all around farm dogs. They were good at it, because they would naturally guard the property and they were good for working with the livestock.


Health and Grooming
The grooming of Alapaha is easy. Even though they do have a short coat, they do shed, so brushing the coat from time to time will minimize the shedding. Other than that, no grooming is required. Just like with all dogs you should regularly check the dogs ears, eyes and nails and clip them or clean them if needed.

The Alapaha is hardy dog breed that does not suffer much from any hereditary illnesses. The only concerns are hip dysplasia, entropion, deafness and occasional skin problems. The average lifespan is between 12-13 years.