Size:
Males--20 to 24 inches at the withers and weigh from 70 to 90 lbs.
Female--18 to 20 inches at the withers and weigh from 55 to 75 lbs.

Head:
The overall head is box-shaped, medium in length, and broad across the skull with pronounced muscular cheeks.  The top of the skull is flat, but covered with powerful muscles; there should be a distinct furrow between the eyes.  There should be an abrupt, deep stop.

Eyes:
Medium in size and of any color including blue, green, marbled, and brown.

Muzzle:
Medium length (2 to 4 inches) square and broad with a strong under jaw.

Nose Color:
Black or liver

Neck:
Muscular, medium in length, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to head, with a slight dewlap allowed.  It must be long enough to exert power and strong enough to do the job.

Body:
Square, robust, and powerful.  The Alapaha is a broad, wide dog; but this width should not be exaggerated.  The chest should be deep with a good spring of ribs.  The back should be medium length, strong, broad, and powerful.

Hindquarters:
Very broad, well muscled, and in proportion to the shoulders.

Coat:
Short, close, glossy, and stiff to the touch.

Color:
The preferred color is white with patches in an array of colors.  The colored patches may be any shade of merle or brindle, solid blue, black, chocolate, red, or fawn.

Breed History:
The Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldogs' origin is somewhat undocumented and unverifiable before 1979. Authorities differ so completely about the origin of the Alapaha that the name itself is in dispute.

The Alapaha is believed to have its origin in a recently extinct species know as the Mountain Bulldog, Old Southern White, and Old Country Big Bulldog.  These dogs were first brought to America in the early 18th century.  Unlike its "English" counterpart, it was continuously bred for utility and stamina, whether it be for guard work, farm work, or as a family companion.  Despite their proven worth in many areas and ability to reproduce type with reliability, these strains of bulldogs survived mainly in small pockets of the south.  In my discussions with other breeders, it is estimated that there are about 1,000 true Alapahas in existence.

Note from South Bay Bullies Owner:

The following detailed history of the Alapaha blue-blood breed is my opinion supported by facts that I’ve searched out over time.  The information is in no way meant to disrespect other breeders or their conception of the breed.
 
The Alapaha Blue-blood (ABB) is not really a rare breed . . . or is it?  Before Lana started breeding what we now call an Alapaha Blue-blood bulldog, it went by many different names.
 
You have to consider a lot of the names used in the formation of our breed, as well as the modern American bull dogs.  The American bulldog did not become an official breed name until the late 70's or early 80's.  Before that time, you heard names like mountain bulls, white English bull dogs, plantation bull dogs, old country bull dogs, and pit bull dogs.
 
The Otto name that you hear about in some videos is not an ALAPAHA BLUE BLOOD BULLDOG but rather a white English bulldog (WEB).  This is what Papa Buck bred and had by his side.  In fact, WEB breed was used in the development of the Alapaha Blue-blood and the American bull dog of today.  Most white English bulldogs of that region trace back to the breeders Mr. Jake Carr and John Conner.  The name Alapaha Blue-blood bulldog is just a geographic location of about 75 to 100 mile radius for, again, the white English bulldog.
 
Most of Lana’s foundation stock was purchased from breeders around the South.  Lana’s mother, Mrs Vivan, raised Colby pits.
 
A white English Bulldog and a Colby pit cross was, in fact, Roseanna.  Now we have the stud that the breed was founded on, Lana’s Marcelle.  He was the result of this breeding and one of the first standards for the breed was built around Marcelle.  The unfortunate thing about this great looking dog is that we do not know who was the real sire of Marcelle--he had 2 different sires.
 
The litter from this breeding were beautifully colored and sold quickly.  Breeders were producing these dogs on a regular basis, as I do when I do a breeding.  Folks love the merle colors and patches, whereas a WEB is 95% pure white.
 
THE ABB became a rare new breed to the general public in 1986 due to this accidental breeding.  In my opinion, this type of breeding was already taking place in the South.
 
Lana never crossed any original ABBB with other ABBB as they did not exist yet until an accidental breeding took place in 1986, but I have heard and seen info that states the ABB was founded in 1979 not 1986.  The original dogs used were some NKC REGISTERED AND SOME ARF REGISTERED AS EVERYTHING FROM AMERICAN PIT BULL DOGS, OLD SOUTHERN WHITES, MOUNTAIN BULLS AND OLD COUNTRY BULL DOGS.
 
Same names you will find for American bulldogs!
 
Most of the pre - registration foundation dogs that were used to develop the Alapaha are found in some American bulldog pedigrees.  In the 80's the two breeds took a different turn.  The ABB had Catahoula and black mouth cur in-fluxed into it.  The American bulldog was crossed with various other breeds.
 
Therefore, it’s my belief that the ALAPAHA BLUE-BLOOD IS JUST A DIFFERENT STRAIN OR TYPE OF AMERICAN BULL DOG.  Look at the names used to describe the two breeds.
 
In my opinion, the ABB is a bully cross to working curs and pits.  This is why, depending on the breeder, you will have dogs that are very bully or more of a Catahoula bulldog cross.  I have seen different types within my own litters all across the boards.  As I see it, the diversity is inherent to the breed and I hope it stays that way.
 
The breed has no real organizations that currently recognize the breed.  The ARF and ABBA were the first that would register Alapahas.
 
The standard has changed many times from Lana’s first litters to what you now see with the ARF.  As far as I know, the ABBA has kept to the standard that was set from the get go.
 
Because no one officially recognizes the breed, that results in a lot of confusion and fighting back and forth among various kennels claiming to have the “real deal Alapaha.”  No such thing folks!  I do know most breeders that have been around from the get go have some of the original stock in his or her line, whatever it may be. 
 
There are also many false statements made all over the Internet, such as who bred what to this and that, and pedigrees not being up front.  This is the way the ABB is and always will be.  Consider these discrepancies as the growing pains of a new dog breed.
 
There are, however, a very small group of breeders like my self and others that are devoted to keeping that working trait going in the breed.  That’s what it was and always will be--old Southern working bulldogs.

--Brian Spevack

 

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