A great pet and safe companion, the Blue Blood bulldog is a rare breed. It is strong and reliable but has a mind of its own. This story provides some information about this unique breed.
Although there are many different dog breeds developed in the United States of America, not all of them are originally from a different country. One of these breeds is the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog (the ABBB). This dog was used on farms and plantations years ago, but it is very rare these days. It is estimated that only 150 to 200 of these dogs are alive in the world today, and the breed is nearly extinct.
History
This breed was first developed in Georgia. It was bred and kept in existence by the Lane family, who got their first dogs from a plantation in Alapaha. There is an ongoing debate on whether this is a distinct breed, or just a bulldog that can be found everywhere.
However, if you look at the pictures depicting the two breeds, it is quite evident that they are very different. The American bulldog does not look anything like the Blue Blood.
This dog was used on the plantations for many reasons like guarding, herding cattle and pigs, hunting, and many other things. Hence, it is very agile, very quick on its feet, and alert.
This breed is a descendant of the bulldog brought over from England in the 1700's. There have been very few registrations with the Animal Research Foundation (ARF) in the past ten years, only 700 or so. The breed that is present today is the result of a breeding program undertaken by Buck Lane of Rebecca, Georgia. After his death, it was taken over by his granddaughter Lana Lou Lane, who continued to breed this dog till her passing in 2001. She was an ARF certified breeder.
Appearance and Grooming
The height of this dog can reach up to 24 inches (60 cm). The males weigh up to 100 pounds (47 kg) and females weigh up to 78 pounds (35 kg). Males are larger than the females. The coat is short. The eyes are set far apart. Eye color can be blue, or blue mixed with brown. Coat colors are blue merle, red merle, or brown merle. Ears are dropped. The ears and tail are never docked in this breed.
The coat is short and it does not shed too badly. This dog is a medium shedder. Occasional grooming is recommended to remove dead hair and to reduce the shedding. It also keeps the coat in good condition. A bath once every two weeks is recommended.
However, if your dog is mostly indoors and doesn't smell much, the time span between two baths can be increased. Washing a dog too often strips the coat of the essential oils that it needs. Without these, the dog can develop skin conditions.
Nature
This dog can be stubborn even though it is intelligent. It is not aggressive, but will fight to the death to protect its owners. It is a very good companion, and is excellent with and very protective of children. It is well-built and has a lot of strength. It is an active breed that needs a regular workout. It does fine in apartments if it gets its daily dose of exercise. A medium-sized yard with a fence around it is also enough for this dog to play around in. It needs daily walks of a considerable distance.
Health
As it is a rare breed which has not been mixed with other breeds, its genetic pool is quite small. Thus, it can be affected by health problems such as entropion, wherein inversion of the eyelids occurs. The life expectancy of this breed is 12 to 15 years.
When you are looking for a puppy, always do a lot of research on the animal you want to buy. Make sure that it will be able to fit in well with your lifestyle and that you will not regret buying it somewhere down the road. It is always better to avoid unpleasant situations such as having to give away the animal. Also, get your dog from a reputed breeder who cares for his/her puppies. It is better to get a dog that is well-cared for than encourage the immoral and cruel trade of puppy mills.