Breed Standard and History for Alapaha Blueblood Bulldog

January 1,2005 written by: Michael P. Connors

    The Alapaha Bulldog is a breed surrounded by much controversy. I'm here to give you my findings in the developmental history of this breed. I will start by saying there is very little if any, solid evidence proving this breed has been bred pure since the early 1900's. My research and experience began in 1994, after recieving my first Alapaha Bulldog from Lana Lane. The dog's name was Butler he was blue merle with blue eyes and to be honest the strangest looking dog I have ever seen. Within a short period of time this dog captivated me with his abilities, both physcially and intelligence wise. Needless to say, at this point I was talking to Lana alot and wanted to know as much about this unbelievably overlooked superbreed as I could. However, many of the questions I asked were either met with redirection or quick subject changes. The one question or issue I was having was: "How could Lana be the only breeder of these dogs"? Answer: "She created them."

    Between 1994 and 1997 I was talking with Lana Lane about the breed and she was telling me about some issues she was having producing "live litters" and she wasn't sure what to do about it. During this time I was starting and developing my strain of Alapaha Bulldog, and put 2 generations of successful breedings on the ground. 

    In 1997 I moved to Georgia to further my education on these dogs, as well as help out at the Lane's. Here's where it gets interesting. Upon arrival Lana looked over everyone of my dogs and seemed to like Bama Boy(grandson Leclerc's Doc Holiday)a straight American Bulldog, and Whiskey a(double bred Colby's Dolan)Pittbull the best. She wanted to discuss the breedings we could do to incorporate "new blood" into her yard. O.K. red flag for a minute... Why after all the preaching of how the Alapaha was the purest of the pure bulldogs would she specifically pick those dog's? Let alone want to breed to them? From there she gave me a tour of her guest house, there were paintings hanging on the walls of dogs. They were paintings of Am. Pittbulls. She went on to tell me that "these were dogs that were all owned by them at one time." Let's just say suspicions were running high! From there I was determined to find the truth. 

    After meeting some folks around Rebecca, Ga. I noticed something, nobody had a bulldog. Not even the folks on her tape. Now I started talking with every dog man in the area. The one thing they all remarked about about when I mentioned Lana's name was "at one time she had some great Pitbulls". These guys would carry thier females down to Lana to breed them. However, when I'd ask about Alapaha Bulldogs it was always met with a smile and the response "she made them up". One man in particular told me flat out "he lived in that area all his life and never heard of them". I then found the dog Henry, which she spoke about on her tape, only he was NOT a great grandson of Otto and had nothing to do with the Lane program at all. Henry was a bulldog, he was owned by a famliy in Sycamore, Ga about 5 or 10 miles from Lana's and as the man told me "they kept him penned up 'cause he was dangerous around livestock". He and his brother had been raising a calf for the 4H Club, they were getting it ready for a show when all of a sudden Henry broke loose and latched on to the calf. The man's father had enough with this dog, he called the Stricklands,(Lana's cousins)they owned a gas station, asked them if they needed a bulldog? That's how they wound up with him. 

    Through further investigation I also found out that the Lane's at one point bred and raised Great Danes and Bullmastiffs. When I inqured what type of Great Danes, the man told me the big black and white ones. For those of you who don't know; Harlequin great Danes produce blue merle. Now the pieces were coming together in what could be the make-up department. In talking with Lana she also purchased a dog from John D. Johnson. It wasn't the type he produces today, it was a much more performance type dog. When I asked why she would buy a bulldog somewhere else she simply said "she liked the dog". By now I think its safe to say we have picked out 4 breeds which could go into the make-up of the dogs. Two of which I know as fact were entered even for Marcelle.

    Now of course there's Lana's Silva a straight Merit Registered Catahoula Bulldog. Even Lana herself told me that and never tried to hide it. There were also Catahoula Bulldogs sent to her from Texas that she bought "on the hush". Before I say anymore, I don't want to give the impression that I'm attacking the Lane family in anyway, quite the contrary I'm simply trying to shed important facts and findings which I feel are important to breeders and breed history alike. 

At this point you maybe thinking, "well these dogs are mutts right"? Wrong, what your reading is the developmental components to building a breed. Even I at that time was considering cutting my losses and calling it quits. Somehow I couldn't let myself do that and here's why.

    My knowledge of bulldogs started long before Lana Lane. My first love had always been the ABPT, they are the greatest pound for pound K9 athlete in the world. American Bulldogs became part of my life around 1992-1993. When I started out, I had performance Leclerc and Painter blood as well as Williamson. For those who are familiar with working bulldogs or American bulldogs you will realize they too are a combination of breeds as well, not unlike the Alapaha. The American bulldog is known in certain strains to have ABPT, Great Dane even Pointer. Does this take away from the dog? No, every breed is developed for one reason or another and it takes different breeds to develop pure bred dogs. The Alapaha bulldog is no different and like other breeds has been bred for a purpose. Lana being from the South had access, or should I say unlimited access to bulldogs. When dogs were acquired for her program they were simply not from traditional lines. Non-traditonal meaning Johnson or Scott, your typical American bulldog lines. Remember it wasn't until 1989-1990 that color became such a factor with AB Registries. One registry in particular made it seem as though dogs should be predominately white. In my opinion, color on a working dog should not be a determining factor. When I started developing the strain of Alapaha bulldog we have now, alot of thought went into what goal we were aiming for. Consistancy was a big one, tempermant, overall physical soundess and high trainability all of which goes with Lana's standard.

    I had the oppourtunity to see 3 generations of Bama Boy blood which I believe was the most consistant producing blood out there in the early 1990's. My standard and base for this was: temperment, health, ability. These attributes also fit with Lana's standard for the breed. So we have American bulldog as the first selection. Now the second selection which is pure Colby APBT. Reasoning? Strictly performance, and health. Through research, they produce when bred right larger offspring. Not to mention, The Colby strain is among the oldest proven strain out there. This was started over 10 years ago, what's the results today? Our males are 24-25 inches tall, weight 80-93 lbs., colors are red with white, blue merle, brindle, black with white. They all have naturally social tempermant, are physically capable, highly trainable, and protective.  Females are 20-24" tall, weight 60-80lbs., colors are red with white, blue merle, brindle, black with white. How was this acheived? Isolating the blood of 3 major dog's in Lana's program.  Lana's Marble, Lana's Butler, Quinlan's Hank. Outcrossing to this blood then line breeding and being very selective with testing the offspring has proved to be key. Dog's derived from this strain, just to give you an idea are shown in Conformation, Competition, Weight Pulling, and compete in K9 Prosport. (PP) are starting thier training toward French Ring, PSA, and have done hog hunting just to list a few.

    Now bear in mind, this is one strains history. Over the last few years many "strains" of Alapaha Bulldogs have developed and in my opinion should be viewed as a good thing. The problems have been what standard are they bred too? For us the original standard written by Lana Lane is the one we follow and continue to follow today and for all intent purposes should remain the standard. To this point, in this writing the past has been the issue, good or bad it is what has brought us to where we are today. For us the future of the dogs is what's more important then their past. I believe the time has come for the many strains, to be available and to be recognized by the registries and clubs, without this the breed as a whole will not move forward. For the Alapaha, the future is brightest now. With growing interest in breeders and registries, we need to pull together and set forth a working and open relationship.

    In closing, my feelings and beliefs of this breed are as follows: When the breed was established in 1986 it was still in a development stage, Thru the efforts of countless breeders, some quality strains have developed. Through careful breeding practices, as well as working communication between other breeders I feel success can and will be achieved. The breed is now in my opinion pehaps the best its ever been. I would also like to commend Mr. Al Walker of the ARF for his continued support and also continued researching of pedigrees old and new. This is something most other registries do not do. Thank you Mr. Walker and staff of the ARF. I for one look forward to working towards the goal of unification and the future of the Alapaha bulldog.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Michael P. Connors

1148 Ossipee Trail

Porter, Maine 04068

207-625-4103

email: Yankeebulldog@hotmail.com