Five Things You Didn’t Know about the Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog

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When you think of a Bulldog, you probably immediately get the image of a tough, short-legged, stalky, and flat-faced dog with strong jaws and overbite. These dogs look like they could do some serious damage with their large mouths and aggressive features, and actually they could. The Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog is just one of the types of bulldogs that exist, and although this type doesn’t have much of a known history prior to 1979, it is believed that the breed descended from the Mountain Bulldog, along with the Old Southern White Bulldog and the Old Country Bulldog breeds. They were bred for their working ability and not were meant to be show-ring dogs. They are known for their tenaciousness, strength and aggressiveness, yet they are very obedient dogs and easy to train. You may have seen one, but were not aware that this was a particular species of bulldog. So let’s take a closer look at this particular breed. Here are five things you didn’t know about the Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog.

1. They were primarily used as guard dogs

These are working dogs, and they were known to hold specific jobs. The primary job of the Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog was to act as a guardian. They were known as plantation dogs where they were used to guard over the livestock on the plantation and the people who lived there, mainly their owners. It’s not hard to figure out why they would make such good guard dogs with their looks, and their deep, aggressive bark that could startle and scare just about anyone or anything away.

2. Known as a “Catch dog”

One of the jobs these dogs had on the plantation when it came time to guarding over livestock, is to herd the animals that strayed away, like cattle and hogs. Because they were so good at catching these straying animals, they developed the nickname, “Catch Dog,” and it has stuck ever sense.

3. Courageous is their middle name

There is nothing shy or cowardly about this breed of dog. They are just the opposite, as a matter-of-fact, and always display a sense of courage and strength. It is due to the early mountain stockmen who brought out this trait in these dogs. They would not allow their dogs to be shy, noise-sensitive or nervous. They had high expectations of their dogs to always be courageous and physically sound, and this trait still holds true today. It is said that to this day, in the enclaves of the South where the mountaineers still reside and use this breed for work dogs, they have no need to even lock their doors, or keep their livestock confined in certain parameters. Their Bulldogs keep everything in order and well protected.

4. Not a dog for first-time dog owners

This is a very strong, powerful and prey-driven dog that is known to be very territorial. They’re very domineering and require a very strong handler who can be the alpha-male and pack leader over them, otherwise, this dog will surely run over you and try to control the house. They need to be worked with on a regular basis to train them well, and need to be very highly socialized in order to create an obedient and well tolerant dog of all kinds of situations and environments. You should also look for a very experienced breeder when going to purchase one of these dogs, to make sure you get a top-of-the-line Alapaha Bulldog.

5. Very agile dogs despite their size

When you look at this breed, you may think that it is slow, lumbering and maybe even not very agile due to its size and girth. This is far from the case, however, because despite the male’s weight at 70-90 pounds, and the female’s size being a hefty 55-75 pounds, these are known to be very agile dogs and often described as being light on their feet. Their strength and determination can really get this breed going, and when they do, they are all power and speed. When you watch an Alapaha run, you will see why it is very easy for this dog to cover a lot of ground in a very short period of time. They are well-balanced and smooth, and they have a lot of power packed into their medium-sized, power-packed bodies.