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American Bulldog |
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The old-time bull-baiters did more than provide a day's entertainment. One of the excuses given for baiting was to tenderize the meat. Notices of a bull-baiting were considered advertising for a fresh meat sale, long before refrigeration made that commodity available. Dogs were expected to fight until the bull submitted or their own currently there is a strong central organization to sponsor and maintain this type of hound which was never meant to compete with the speed of the streamlined hounds. The Blue Gascons were and still are prized as game-taking hounds; i.e., they are used on real animals in actual hunting situations. Capable of pursuing a wide variety of quarry including fox, badger, coyotes, wolverine and wild boar, the Big 'n Blue dogs are particularly suited to the big-game hunter going for bear, bobcat, jaguar or mountain lion. "They also make splendid coondogs for the man who hunts for the enjoyment of hearing and seeing good hounds work, or to experience that special bond between a man and his hound." To insure the
maintenance of the type, the American Bulldog organization requires all
dogs to be examined for type, even those of registered parents, before
permanent registration can be granted. The group has not sought UKC recognition,
fearing loss of type if control escapes the breeders' hands.
This is not a hound for everyone,
but he is excellent for specialized needs. His extremely large size
and loud voice, which can be heard up to five miles, necessitate large
spaces and remote areas. He is best suited to adverse terrain and poor
hunting conditions, such as dry canyons, swamps and bayous, high altitudes
or where game is quite scarce. The person who appreciates an American
Blue Gascon is a sports enthusiast to whom the hunt is more important
than the kill. Stories, both
modern and long past, show the heart of these hounds—tales of "Green's
Scout," "Blue," and "Sport." Scout and Blue were
two well-known hounds of the late 1930s and early 1940s. One day they
hit a bear track in the Wa-satch Mountains of Utah and were never seen
or heard from again. Sport's spectacular leap of 150 feet from a bluff
into water won his owner a field trial in the early 1920s. More recently,
"Sugar Creek Blue Ben" kept a lion treed for three days during
sub-zero weather in the Bit-terroot Mountains of Montana.
It is no wonder
that the Blue Gascon is admired for its stamina, perseverance, desire
and hunting abilities. These are truly dogs of great heart. They are bold
with people they know, aloof with strangers and sometimes protective to
death. When tossed, the owner would attempt to catch the dog on a leather
apron or, amazingly, on a bamboo pole which the dog then slid down. No
matter what the injuries cracked ribs, injured back, ripped or gored hide
if the dog could walk, it was expected to continue its bloody battle.
After the bull was called on a technical KO, and before he was killed,
the young canine apprentices were allowed to rush the victim for a "taste
of blood."
The American
Bulldog, as opposed to today's familiar English version, is very similar
to the old 17th-century bull-baiter. If that's confusing, it's because
the modern English Bulldog has been changed, modified, improved or exaggerated,
depending on who's making the statement.
The original
"bulldogge" was first brought to American shores in early colonial
times. Here the American Bulldog did not undergo the "improvement"
of his English cousins and has come down to the present day in his generally
original form.
The American
Bulldog remains higher on the leg, more agile and swifter than its English
counterpart. This dog can leap eight feet into the air and "turn
on a dime." The American Bulldog has tenacity, an iron jaw, small
flap or rolled ears and, usually, a long, low tail.
The American
version is now an all-around dog, used for protecting homes, with some
owners hunting raccoons, squirrels and even wild hogs and bears with their
Bulldogs. They boast longevity of up to 16 years, and these dogs are still
capable of wrestling down a cantankerous bull. Farmers find all these
qualities attractive for a working farm dog and companion.
Reputable breeders
recount myriad tales showing the heroism of the American Bulldog dogs.
They do not wait for a command, but assess the situation themselves and
react appropriately. To protect their masters, they have fought wild dogs,
bulls and even fire. It is said that "fighting off one of these dogs
is like fighting an animal that possesses an alligator's head and a python's
body," Yet when called off by their handler, they immediately obey.
No wonder they are said to have "true grit, true devotion and true
love." This breed genuinely loves children.
Other types
of American or "original" Bulldogs are being bred in the USA.
While some are merely dogs crossbred in an attempt to produce something
that looks like the former dog, others are truly descendants of early
dogs. Some of these latter are called Old Country Bulldogs or Old English
Whites and are common in the southern states where they are used as boar
dogs.
A small underground
faction continues to illegally fight the American Bulldog. This activity
is not encouraged or promoted by the breed organization or by reputable
breeders. American Bulldogs
are registered with the Game American Bulldog Club (GABC). Some recently
have been placed on military bases as Marine mascots.
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