Originating from plantations in Georgia, America, the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog was bred to be a watchdog and also to herd cattle in some instances. They are descended from the original bulldog stock which was brought to America in the 1700s. A rarer breed of dog, there are thought to be around 120 Alapahas worldwide. They were recognised officially as a breed in 1986. Families in Americas South have been attempting to boost these numbers for some years now. The Alapaha is often found sitting or standing in an alert and noble way, which is where the blue blood aspect of the name is derived from.

Appearance

The Alapaha has a strong and stout body like many of their bulldog cousins. They are quite agile despite their heavy, muscular appearance. They are classified as a medium sized dog at around 22 inches in height. They weigh an average of around 35 kilos. These are average sizes and it should be noted that there is much difference in the size of these dogs across the board. The female is often quite smaller than the male. The Alapaha comes in five variations on colour; brown, red, blue, black and white, they have a short coat which is coarse to the touch. Too much brindle on the body means that the dog is a mismark. Some Alapahas will have white markings to the body and black marks to the face, which is acceptable by the breed standard.

Temperament

The Alapaha is an incredibly alert dog and makes for an excellent guard. They are also very intelligent. Well known for their courage and fearlessness, this characteristic is one of the most endearing of the breed and they are for this reason sought out often as pets and guard dogs.

Defensive of their family and property, the Alapaha will quickly respond aggressively to a stranger approaching the home, but will relax if their master requests them too. They are also quite affectionate with their master and other close family members.

Said to have an alpha dog attitude, it is important to train your Alapaha form a young age. Alapahas will learn and respond to training well.

Working and Tasks

Alapahas do best at what they are bred for, being a guard dog of stock and plantations. They are naturally protective of their property as well as being fast and strong dogs. They can also succeed at herding to some extent.

It is recommended that you walk with your dog at least once a day or spend some time playing with it in the yard. They are an active dog that loves attention from their master.

Health

The Alapaha sheds little, and needs minimal amounts of grooming. They have been known to suffer from Entoprion, which is an inversion of the eyelids.

Like many purebred dogs they are due to suffer from some health ailments, so it is important to monitor them closely and take regular visits to the vets. The low numbers of the breed may mean that there are health problems in the future due to limited stock.