Due to the recent tragic event that took place in Ohio, the Great Lakes American Bulldog Club contacted Tom Riche, President of the Working American Bulldog Association.  They requested that the WABA put together a written evaluation for the purpose of helping people understand how their dogs’ temperament measured up and how to fix any temperament problems that their dogs might have.  In discussing this idea, the Working American Bulldog Association developed a Temperament Test (TT) that would help expose unstable temperament in the American Bulldog.  However, it is the position of the Working American Bulldog Association that the majority of temperament problems in our breed are genetic and therefore, not fixable.  The WABA feels that while a temperament test is desirable, even necessary at this point for our breed, it will not fix the problem.  The only way to preserve and promote the working ability and soundness of the American Bulldog is through balanced breeding.

We can all agree that the American Bulldog is a working breed.  What then, are the components that make up a working breed?
A working breed must:
1. Have proper temperament.  A dog with proper working temperament must:
A. Be secure in his environment, in the world in which he lives.
B. Be confident.  This confidence should extend to his interactions with people, his ability to handle uncomfortable circumstances and his general outlook on life.  This confidence creates stability of temperament.
C. Possess enough drive and endurance to accomplish the work set forth to him by man.
D. Have the ability to bond strongly with his master.
E. Possess a very high degree of forgiveness, necessary to complete the learning process.
F. Be intelligent.
G. Possess willingness to do their work.

2. Be properly structured so that it is physically capable to work.  Some factors that reflect working structure are:
A. Good hips.
B. Front and rear angulation.
C. Proper head size, shape and dentition.
D. Proper height to length to weight ratio.
E. Strong muscle.

3. Be correct in conformation.  Without conformation you only have a working dog, not a working breed.  Conformation of the breed reflects the work it was created for.  As the creator of the German Shepherd Dog, Max von Stephanitz said, “Form must follow function.”
These three factors, temperament, structure and conformation are the main tools in the breeder’s toolbox. These tools are used to gauge a dog’s breed worthiness.  If a breeder uses these tools properly he/she will be able to put together a balanced breeding program.

Just as a carpenter cannot build a house with a hammer alone, a breeder cannot breed a balanced dog by using only one of their breeding tools.  An exceptional conformation dog with great working drive and dysplastic hips is useless as a breeding dog.  Just as useless is the dog with OFA excellent hips and poor temperament.  With American Bulldog conformation shows taking place all over the world, it is imperative to remember that a beautiful bulldog with poor temperament is a liability to its owner.  But if this dog is allowed the opportunity to pass that temperament on to future generations of American Bulldogs, it is a liability to our breed.  A breeder must have a minimum set of standards that make a dog breed worthy.  This set of standards can change slightly from breeder to breeder which is what creates the diversity in the breed.  However, the tools used by breeders of all working breeds are basically the same.

Many working breeds have organizations that state the baseline standards of breed worthiness for their dogs.  Each of these organizations can assist a breeder in adding another tool to their breeder’s toolbox.  The organizations for the American Bulldog breeder are:
1. OFA and PennHip-  These organizations evaluate a dog’s hips.  Additionally, OFA evaluates eyes, elbows, thyroid, heart and the list goes on.  These evaluations help the breeder assess the structural soundness of their breeding stock.
2. Breed Registries-  A breed registry’s conformation competitions help evaluate a dog’s structure and conformation.  If a dog’s structure and conformation are not correct, it will not consistently place high in the conformation ring.  Additionally, some breed registries will record titles earned on the dog’s pedigree.  In fact, the American Bulldog Association is now offering a performance pedigree to the American Bulldog.  This performance pedigree is similar to the “pink paper” pedigree system used by other working breeds.  In order to receive a performance pedigree, both parents of a litter of pups must be hip-certified and hold working titles.  Through this performance pedigree system, the American Bulldog Association is providing the American Bulldog breeder with a very valuable tool for their breeder’s toolbox.
3. Sport Organizations-  USA, DVG, KNPV, NARSA, NAPD, UCDA, AWDF and many other organizations are designed to promote and test working ability in working breeds.  In most of these organizations, when a title is awarded, the dog’s working temperament is evaluated and rated.  These ratings can assist a breeder in deciding the breed worthiness of their dogs.
4. The Working American Bulldog Association-  For the American Bulldog, the WABA is the organization that ties it all together.  Through the many titles and degrees the WABA offers, the American Bulldog breeder is afforded an opportunity to prove that their dogs have proper American Bulldog working temperament.  The Working American Bulldog Association’s Breed Suitability Test (BST), which implements all three components of the proper working dog (temperament, structure and conformation) provides the American Bulldog breeder with an opportunity to prove to themselves and the world their dog’s breed worthiness.

Balanced breeding of the American Bulldog is what this article is all about.  More specifically, balanced breeding of the American Bulldog, a working breed, is what this article is all about.  We all want to preserve and promote our breed’s working heritage.  We all want to improve our breed’s health and temperament.  We all want to keep our breed out of the clutches of the anti-breed legislators.  We all gasp in horror at the thought of our dogs becoming AKC recognized because, to quote many a bulldogger, “AKC breeders breed the heritage and temperament right out of the dog!”  Why then, are American Bulldog breeders not taking advantage of the many tools available to them to create a balanced breeding program?  Why the craze over champion status and hip certifications when temperament is being so painfully ignored?  Are American Bulldog breeders full of hot air or do they truly want to contribute positively to our breed?  The Working American Bulldog Association is the organization to help American Bulldog breeders accomplish this goal.  The WABA is here to help American Bulldog breeders evaluate their dogs and create a balanced breeding program.  To paraphrase a quote by Max von Stephanitz, “American Bulldog breeding is, and must be, working dog breeding or it is not American Bulldog breeding.”  The Working American Bulldog Association is only for breeders who truly care about the future of the American Bulldog.

*Please be sure to check WABA’s website at http://outpostnet.com/WABA regularly for updates on tests, trials, rules, policies and club information.

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