American Bulldog Weight Pulling and Working Dog Sports
The American Bulldog was never bred to be a couch dog. From its origins as a farm and catch dog in the rural South, this breed was built to work. Today, American Bulldogs compete and excel in a range of working dog sports.
Weight Pulling
Weight pulling is a natural sport for the American Bulldog. Their powerful hindquarters, deep chest, and raw determination make them outstanding pullers. Weight pull is sanctioned by UKC, Irondog, and the American Pulling Alliance.
Titles available in weight pull include:
- WP -- Weight Pull
- WWP -- Working Weight Pull
- EWWP -- Elite Working Weight Pull
Dailey's American Bulldogs has produced weight pull champions alongside conformation champions -- proving that a well-bred American Bulldog can do both.
Hog Catching
Hog catching is the most authentic test of an American Bulldog's working ability. It is what the breed was originally developed to do. Read the full story: American Bulldog Wild Boar Hunting: The Breed Original Job. Don Matthews of Konfederate Kennels has dogs that were catching hogs in Florida at 8 years old -- a testament to the lasting drive these dogs carry.
Alan Scott's entire breeding philosophy was rooted in maintaining the gameness and working instinct that makes a bulldog a bulldog.
Protection Sports
American Bulldogs compete in multiple protection sport disciplines:
- Schutzhund / IPO / IGP
- PSA (Personal Security Assistants)
- PPD (Personal Protection Dogs)
Jose Lopez of Manstopper Kennels was renowned for his protection-trained American Bulldogs. He judged internationally in Italy, Brazil, Holland, and the Czech Republic.
Conformation
Conformation shows evaluate American Bulldogs against the breed standard -- structure, movement, temperament, and type. Shows are held through the NKC, ABRA, and UKC.
ABRA sanctioned conformation judges include some of the most experienced people in the breed:
- Jeff Dailey
- Dixie Luckman
- Alan Scott
- Don Matthews
Obedience and Agility
The American Bulldog is more trainable than its reputation might suggest. These dogs are intelligent, eager to please, and physically capable of impressive athletic feats. An American Bulldog can jump 6 feet from a standing start.
The Working Standard
Alan Scott said it best: "I don't want the working ability being bred out." That philosophy drives the best breeders in the American Bulldog world -- dogs that look the part must also be able to do the job.