Is the American Bulldog AKC Recognized?
The short answer: no, the American Bulldog is not fully recognized by the American Kennel Club. But the breed is enrolled in the AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS) as of November 11, 2019.
What Is the AKC Foundation Stock Service?
The FSS is the first of three stages a breed must pass through on the road to full AKC recognition:
- Stage 1: Foundation Stock Service (FSS) -- where the American Bulldog is now
- Stage 2: Miscellaneous Class -- dogs can compete in some AKC events but not conformation
- Stage 3: Full Recognition -- the breed is assigned to a group and can compete in all AKC events
While enrolled in the FSS, American Bulldogs cannot compete in AKC conformation shows.
What Does It Take to Get Full Recognition?
AKC requires a national breed club with at least 100 members and 150 to 200 dogs with verified three-generation pedigrees. The National American Bulldog Club is currently working toward meeting these requirements.
The Community Debate
Not everyone in the American Bulldog world wants AKC recognition. The American Bulldog Association (ABA) has explicitly stated it does not endorse AKC recognition, citing concerns about how AKC standards could change the breed over time.
Where Can You Register an American Bulldog Today?
The American Bulldog has a long history with breed-specific and all-breed registries that have served the community for decades:
- ABRA -- American Bulldog Registry and Archive (43,000+ pedigree records)
- ABA -- American Bulldog Association
- NKC -- National Kennel Club
- UKC -- United Kennel Club
- Johnson Registry -- 100% Johnson bloodlines
- Irondog -- Australian registry
- EBKC -- European Bully Kennel Club
- UKBKC -- UK Bully Kennel Club