Dog Breeds: American Blue Lacy

There is a great deal of confusion over what is meant by "American Blue Lacy." There are really two breeds these days, the Blue Lacy and the American Blue Lacy (though they were originally one and the same). The Blue Lacy is a gaming dog. The American Blue Lacy, on the other hand, is a companion/working dog. American Blue Lacy breeders are making every attempt to preserve the breed without introducing new blood.

The American Blue Lacy is a proud dog originating in Texas, but its roots go back to Kentucky. In 1858 the dogs were brought by covered wagon from Kentucky to Texas by George, Ewin, Frank, and Harry Lacy. The Lacy brothers settled in Burnet County area and bred their unique dogs. At the time, the breed was simply called the Lacy. Eventually the term "blue" was added to the name due to both the blue gene the dogs carry. The Blue Lacy was a working dog right from the start, used for hunting, tracking, and even herding on the ranches of Texas.

For a century the breed was called the Blue Lacy. But eventually, in the early part of the 21st century, the Lacy breed began to split in two because of industrious breeders. Some lines were bred for gaming, sometimes with a little of other breeds mixed in to get the most out of the Lacy's working abilities. This breed retained the name Blue Lacy.  The other line was bred more for companionship and ranching than gaming. It is this second breed that eventually became known as the American Blue Lacy, and no impure blood is allowed in this breed. Today the American Blue Lacy Association (ABLA) is concentrating on the restoration of the breed to the original standards set by the Lacy brothers in the late 1800s.

The general appearance of the American Blue Lacy should convey a sense of speed, power, and grace. The dog should be medium in size, standing no more than 21 inches and weighing no more than 45 pounds. The bearing should be noble, the expression alert, and the lines well balanced and clean. The eyes should be deep and wide set.

Despite the name of the breed, there are actually three color variations allowed, though blues are most common. Red dogs range from a light cream to a deep rust. Blues are any shade of gray from a light silver to charcoal. The third acceptable color is actually a combination of blue and red. Some dogs may have a blue base with red markings and even a little white, making them a tri-color American Blue Lacy. White can appear on the chest and run all the way up to the chin. The stomach and toes may also be white, but too much white is not in keeping with the breed standard. Dogs with excessive white should not be bred.

This breed is alert, intelligent, and has a sweet disposition. Even though this breed was originally intended to hunt hogs, they make excellent companion dogs. They are good with small children and other pets and are smart enough to learn just about any trick. As a house pet, the American Blue Lacy is almost perfect, but they can also be used as working dogs. You will find this breed working as service dogs, search and rescue dogs, and police dogs. They also excel at obedience trials. The American Blue Lacy is also a good guard dog, though they are bay hounds and so are more prone to barking madly than actually attacking someone.

Because this breed is so smart, it can become bored quite easily; long walks help, but it's not always enough. They need constant mental and physical stimulation and a lot of attention; this is not a breed that can spend 40 hours a week all alone while everyone is at work and school. They adapt to most living conditions as long as they have something to do when not sleeping or eating. An American Blue Lacy doesn't do well outside because they have almost no coat. This makes grooming easy enough, but it also means you can't leave Fido outside for hours on end. He'll get cold, so bring him inside.

There are few health problems associated with this breed, but most American Blues are vaccine sensitive due to the blue gene. This means that over vaccinating can lead to health problems, most notably immune disorders. Discuss a reasonable vaccination schedule with your veterinarian to ensure your pet's health.

This versatile breed can be used as a ranch dog or can make a wonderful house pet. Their love of games and their easy way with people of all ages contribute to their growing popularity as pets. If you're looking for a dog to fit in with an active and energetic family, this breed might be for you.

Dog Breeds: American Bullnese (Purebred)

Sometimes, a dog lover will look at several breeds of dog, pick their favorite traits, and decide to breed a dog will all of these traits. This is what happened to Robert E. Rice. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Rice began a breeding program in 1989. He selectively bred animals from five different dog breeds, including the Pekingese and the French Bulldog. The other breeds used were the Pug, Boston Terrier, and Dachshund. Contrary to popular belief, the American Bulldog was not used in the development of what would eventually be called the American Bullnese.

His breeding program was successful and today there are many American Bullnese in North American. However, there has been a slight snag. Somewhere in the 1990s hybrid breeders got in on the action. They started crossing the French Bulldog with the Pekingese and calling the pups American Bullnese. As early as 2006, some of these puppies were being registered with the American Canine Hybrid Club as Bullnese, leading to a great deal of confusion. This confusion persists, but the purebred described as the Bullnese has bred true for more than twenty years.

I once heard a breeder describe this breed as "a little like pugs, but not really." This is kind of apt. Weighing in at up to 30 pounds, they are muscular dogs, heavy in the front, but with a strong bearing overall. The body should be broad in the chest, but narrowing considerably by the time you reach the base of the tail. Sturdy little things, they should be solid and low to the ground, rarely growing to more than 12 inches in height.. Legs are short; legs which are too long are considered a fault. The head should be large and square with well defined cheekbones. The eyes should be almost perfectly round and on the large side. Ears must have a soft fold; erect ears are a definite fault. The tail should have a slight curl, appearing a little like a sickle. If the tail has a screw-like appearance, that dog is disqualified, especially in the American Bullnese Association.

All coat colors and patterns for the American Bullnese are acceptable, even encouraged. The coat should be short with no curls. A long coat is grounds for disqualification. Though thick and dense, the coat should also be extraordinarily soft. The fur on the ears should feel like brushed velvet. This means grooming is generally easy. Most dogs need brushing once a week and the occasional bath. Be sure to clean the creases on the face regularly.

The American Bullnese is a happy, fun-loving, and even clown-like dog. They have a cute run that makes them look like they're hopping; this fits in perfectly with their personality, as they are joyous and ready for excitement. These guys are generally seen as adorable and sweet. But do not make the mistake of treating this dog like a baby. If there's any dog that embodies 'big dog in a small body', it's these compact dogs.

This non-sporting dog is fairly energetic and can be prone to obesity when not exercised. Taking your dog for regular walks can help combat this. Despite this, or maybe because of it, the American Bullnese makes a good apartment dog. They tend to be quiet and inactive when indoors and can manage without a yard if you make sure to exercise them on a regular basis.

It is the combination of features and the refinement during the initial breeding program that creates the unique lovability of the American Bullnese. This breed is considered to be one of the best house pets and is suitable for people of all ages.

Dog Breeds: American Bulldog

American Bulldogs are sometimes confused with English Bulldogs, but they are two separate and unique breeds. They don't look the same and they certainly don't have the same traits. American Bulldogs have longer legs and a wider head. They are also faster and considerably more agile. American Bulldogs are better suited to hard work than their English counterparts and actually enjoy being a working dog.

Though the American Bulldog was once used for bull baiting, today they are typically employed as working dogs on the ranch or farm. They are often used for guarding or hunting. They are highly intelligent and quite protective, so they can be trained to guard flocks and herds from predators. They can also be used to drive stock on ranches, though other breeds are more common for this purpose.

The American Bulldog, like so many other breeds, was near to extinction after World War II (WWII). It was thanks to a young man from Summerville, Georgia that the breed survived at all. John D. Johnson returned from the war in the 1940s to discover his beloved breed was near to dying out. His father had bred the dogs and he felt a responsibility to ensure the American Bulldog was not lost entirely. Johnson spent the remainder of his life gathering the best specimens of the breed. He created a prolific breeding program that is continued today by John D. Johnson Kennels in Georgia.

Weighing up to 120 lbs and standing up to 28 inches high, this breed is considered medium-large in size. This is not a hostile breed, but it can be determined and highly protective. The American Bulldog can be aggressive with other dogs, but is generally gentle with children. Brave, loyal, and reliable, this breed needs to be with people and would benefit from structured obedience training. This dog needs plenty of exercise or it can become high strung and difficult. For this reason, the American Bulldog tends not to enjoy apartment living.

The American Bulldog is powerful, muscular, and sturdy in appearance. Their athletic legs can propel them up to six feet in the air. The head is square, the chest is deep, and the neck is exceptionally strong. The muzzle is broad and the preferred bite is a reversed scissors. It should be noted, however, that most associations in which this breed is recognized will also accept a scissor bite, under bite, or even bite. The tail should be low set, thick at the base and tapering to a point.

Forward flap ears are preferred in most associations, though rose, half-pricked, and even cropped are acceptable. Those looking to obtain a dog for show purposes should understand that cropped ears are not considered desirable even when they are accepted. This is because unnecessary cropping is now frowned upon in both North America and Europe.

Eyes can come in any color, but black rims around the eyes are a must. Pink rims are considered a fault and can sometimes lead to the disqualification of an otherwise acceptable dog. The nose is preferably black, but grizzle, brown, or red are also acceptable. The lips should also be black, though a small amount of pink showing is permissible. Those lips should be full and well defined, not loose and they certainly should not flap. This dog tends to drool and slobber, though excessive slobbering may indicate a health problem.

The coat of the American Bulldog can come in a variety of brindles including red brindle with varying degrees of brown, fawn, red, white, tan, and even piebald. The coat should be short, smooth, and just a little harsh, making grooming easy. Comb your dog with a firm bristle brush weekly and bathe only when necessary. This breed is an average shedder, and the hairs sometimes embed in carpeting.

The American Bulldog is a breed that can make a lovely family pet, but they are happiest when they're working. If you have a large yard and something for the dog to do, this may be the breed for you.

Dog Breeds: American Bull Molosser

Also known as the American Molosser, the American Brabanter, or the American Bullenbeisser, the American Bull Molosser was really developed by combining several breeds. Some of the breeds used to achieve this vibrant animal include Hines Bulldog, American Bandogge, German Rottweiler, Neapolitan Mastiff, South African Boerboel, Hermes Olde Bulldog, Cane Corso, and the Dogue De Bordeaux. These breeds were usually chosen for their strength and protective instincts.

Weighing in at up to 115 pounds, but standing only 26 inches high, the American Molosser is a medium-large dog. They are loyal and courageous and have a great desire to please. This dog is highly intelligent and tends to have a stable temperament. This means there is little variation in underlying temperament, so you always know what you're going to get with an American Bull Molosser. They are easily trained and adapt well to family life, but only if socialized as puppies. An unsocialized adult can become aggressive, so make sure you socialize your pup at an early age. These dogs also need a firm pack leader in the home. If they get these things, they're perfectly happy as a family pet.

Since the American Molosser is bred more for function than form, they have relatively few health problems. They can live in apartments if you're willing to take them for long walks every day, but they prefer a fenced yard. This dog has a short and dense coat, so grooming is not difficult. A light brushing once a week is usually enough, and you should trim the nails once a week. You might like to bathe your dog a few times a year, but if your dog hates water, the American Bull Molosser can get perfectly clean using a dry shampoo.

The American Molosser is a strong and intelligent dog that can be used as a service or working dog. But they're really designed as a family pet for those families who want a loyal and loving protector.

Want to see a young American Molosser in action? Watch this cute little video.