It is safe to say that the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is not the most popular pooch out there, but this is one dog with fascinating qualities. And we’ll be taking a look at this interesting dog breed in today’s article. So, what is an Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog?
The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is a little-known dog breed with origins that can be traced back to Old English Bulldogs. Primarily designed to herd cattle and drive hogs, the Alapaha Bulldog’s functions have evolved, and this pooch is now used mainly for protection and as a companion dog.
While the Alapaha Bulldog’s distinctive and well-defined physical features make it well suited to its guard dog duties, this pooch also has a large heart. And tips on how to feed this bulldog, potential health issues, and info on this pooch’s personality are detailed in this article. Before we take a look at all that, though, let’s try to trace the origin of the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog.
Where Do Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs Originate From?
The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog (also known as the Otto) is a rare dog breed that is believed to have developed from old, now extinct English Bulldogs such as the Mountain Bulldog, Old Country Big Bulldog, and Old Southern White dog, that made their way to America sometime in the 18th century.
Primarily designed to herd cattle and drive hogs, the Alapaha Bulldog’s functions have evolved, and this pooch is now used mainly for protection and as a companion dog.
Physical Appearance
The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is popular for its fearsome, no-nonsense look, and this is accentuated by a broad head and a prominent muzzle that is covered by loose upper lips.
Ottos usually have a sturdy, athletic build with well-defined muscles and hips that are typically narrower than the chest region. The Otto is also known to have prominent, well-spaced eyes that are typically either glass blue in color or brown and blue in the same eye.
A short thick coat, natural droopy ears, and an undocked tail complete the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog’s distinctive appearance.
Size
The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog exhibits a medium-sized pooch. And this is reflected in the fact that, at maximum height, this pooch stands only between 19 to 26 inches tall at shoulder level.
The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is a typical case of sexual dimorphism, with there being a considerable size difference between the male and female pooches. Adult male Alapaha Bulldogs can grow up to weights between 66 to 99 lbs, while the adult female Blue Bloods typically attain weights between 55 to 66 lbs.
Coat Colors
Most Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs have a predominantly white coat, with markings in other colors such as red merle, brindle, red fawn, chocolate, black, seal, or solid blue. Similarly, it is possible to have Ottos with coats of solid colors such as black or brown.
How Long Do Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs Live?
The average lifespan for an Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog typically falls between 12 to 15 years.
Common Health Challenges
Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs are relatively hardy and healthy dogs, but like all other pooches, may be subjected to certain medical conditions that will drastically reduce the quality of life. That said, some of these health problems that an Otto is prone to include:
Entropion
Alapaha Bulldogs are particularly prone to several eye challenges, one of which is eyelid entropion. And this simply refers to a condition in which the pooch’s eyelids roll inwards, thereby resulting in the eyelashes rubbing on the pooch’s cornea.
Entropion typically occurs as a secondary eye disease due to injury resulting from trauma. But it is also worth noting that the Bulldog breed is predisposed to this condition. And if left untreated, entropion can lead to permanent loss of sight in the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog.
Hip Dysplasia
The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, being a medium-sized pooch, is prone to suffering from hip dysplasia, a medical condition that is characterized by an abnormal formation of the hip socket.
Hip dysplasia in Ottos is typically caused by genetics, but it is mostly triggered by the nature of the physical activity, its diet, environment, growth rate, and the pooch’s hormones.
An Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog suffering from hip dysplasia typically shows a reluctance to rise from a lying position, and when the pooch does rise, you can expect its movements to be wobbly.
Congenital Deafness
Congenital deafness in Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs refers to a condition in which the pooch loses the ability to hear. Ottos are particularly predisposed to this condition thanks to their light-colored pigmentation, but the Alapaha Bulldog may also lose the ability to hear due to an illness, liver disease, or the side effects of medication.
Sadly, there is no treatment for congenital deafness in Alapaha Bulldogs, but with the appropriate training methods, you can teach a pooch to live with this condition.
Other Health Challenges
Apart from those listed above, the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog may also suffer from:
- Skin problems
- Inflammation of the tear duct
- Obesity
How To Take Care Of Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs?
Exercise
Alapaha Blue Bloods, and Bulldogs in general, are notorious for excessive weight gain when kept indoors without activity for the majority of the time. Hence, to ensure your Blue Blood remains healthy, and to prevent issues with obesity and the Bulldog’s joints later in life, it is imperative that you engage this pooch in regular exercises.
The Otto should be engaged in at least 45 minutes of exercise per day, and this should be ideally broken down into portions. Physical activities that engage the muscles are ideal for the Otto, and these include games such as tug-of-war, chase, and fetch.
Also, since the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog was originally bred to herd sheep, activities that mimic herding can also provide a great form of exercise and keep this pooch mentally stimulated.
Dietary Needs
Feeding is a vital part of taking care of an Alapaha Blue Blood, and this pooch must be fed a healthy and well-balanced diet to maintain proper musculature and appropriate weight gain.
That said, the Alapaha Bulldog thrives best on high-quality dry food or kibble that contains a high percentage of meat-based protein and a minimal amount of cereals. And with the highly nutritious Pet Plate, you have a meal plan that meets the aforementioned requirements and goes even further to ensure your Otto gets the best nutrition.
The Pet Plate meal plan is carefully crafted from tasty and healthy, all-natural ingredients that Ottos absolutely love eating. And with precise and detailed food composition, you know exactly what you’re feeding your pooch.
Regular and unrestricted access to clean, fresh water is a must for the Alapaha Bulldog. And you can invest in dental water additives to keep the Otto’s oral hygiene in pristine condition.
Are Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs Aggressive? Temperaments Of Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs
Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs have been described as being devoted and fiercely loyal family dogs with a constant demand for attention.
The Alapaha Bulldog has a strong sense of duty towards family and makes for an excellent companion dog. However, this pooch is known to be strongly territorial and highly possessive of its favored items, and these, coupled with an occasional stubborn streak, may not be ideal for inexperienced dog owners.
The Otto also relates well with children, and it’s even better when they are raised together. With proper socialization, Alapaha Bulldogs can learn to live with cats and other pets, but this pooch tends to display aggressive behavior towards unfamiliar dogs.
Training
Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs are known for their high level of intelligence, and it is this quality that makes this pooch easy to train. However, the Otto has a strong sense of independence and a high prey drive, hence it is important that you begin training this pooch as early as possible.
Training for an Otto can begin as early as when the pooch is just eight weeks old, and it is important that the training exercises be modeled around this dog’s reputation as a working dog breed.
Security Purposes
The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is very attentive and suspicious of strangers, qualities that make this pooch excel as a watchdog. However, the Otto needs to be in constant touch with family; hence it may not do quite as well when left alone as a guard dog.
Ottos are excellent protective dogs, and this is one pooch that will fight to the death to guard whatever or whoever it has been assigned to watch over.
Does An Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog Shed? Grooming Tips For Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs
Despite having a relatively short, thick coat, the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is known to be a moderately shedding dog, and it may not be the ideal hypoallergenic pooch for those with canine allergies.
Brushing
Regular brushing can help minimize the Otto’s shedding, and it is recommended that you brush this pooch’s coat at least once a week to get rid of dead skin cells and hair.
Additionally, by frequently brushing your Otto’s coat, you’re helping to redistribute the oils on the pooch’s skin, thereby maintaining the coat’s polished and healthy appearance. And one brushing tool I’ll recommend to make brushing your Alapaha Bulldog’s coat a breeze is the FURminator Undercoat Tool.
The FURminator tool has curved edges that conform to the Otto’s body shape, and the brush’s ergonomic handle design makes for comfortable handling and usage.
Bathing
Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs typically don’t need to be washed frequently, but you may need to wash your Otto more often than not, if it is used to herd livestock.
And when you do have to bathe your Alapaha Bulldog, it is recommended that you do so with lukewarm water and the dog-friendly Mighty Petz 2-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo And Conditioner.
The Mighty Petz’s all-natural formulation is gentle on the Otto’s skin, and its dog ear cleaner is particularly effective at removing wax and other substances that typically cause ear problems in pooches.
Additional Grooming Tips
- The Alapaha Bulldog has a tendency to drool, hence keeping a rag nearby will come in handy in cleaning excess saliva.
- The Otto’s teeth should be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent dental infections.
- Regularly clip the Otto’s nails before they grow too long.
- Regularly examine the Bulldog’s ears for dirt and to catch ear infections at an early stage.
Related Questions
How Much Is An Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog? The Otto is a relatively rare pooch; Hence, you should be prepared to pay a considerable amount to get one of these doggies. Typically, the average price for an Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog falls between $800 to $1,500. And the exact amount you’ll spend to get an Otto depends on the pooch’s health status, breeder, and age, among others.
What Does Alapaha Mean? Alapaha is a town located in Berrien county, Georgia, in the United States of America. And as the name suggests, the history of the modern day Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog can be traced back to this small town located in Georgia.
What Is The Bite Force Of An Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog? While there isn’t specific information available on the bite force of an Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, the average American Bulldog has a bite force of 305 PSI (Pound Square Inch). And it is safe to suggest that the bite force of an Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is similar to that of an American Bulldog as well.
