The skull is large, flat, deep and broad between the ears. Viewed from the top, the skull is square. There is a deep median furrow that diminishes in depth from the stop to the occiput. Cheek muscles are prominent.
Muzzle: The muzzle is broad and thick with a very slight taper from the stop to the nose. The length of the muzzle is equal to 35 to 45 percent of the length of the head. Lips are moderately thick but not pendulous. The chin is well defined and must neither overlap the upper lip nor be covered by it.
The American Bulldog should have a complete set of large, evenly spaced, strong teeth. His large nose has wide nostrils; this dog’s dark nose is a desirable color.
Teeth: The American Bulldog has a complete set of large, evenly spaced white teeth. The preferred bite is undershot with the inside of the lower incisors extending in front of the upper incisors up to one-quarter inch. A scissors bite is acceptable. A level bite and extreme undershot bite are considered faults to the degree that the bite interferes with the dog’s ability to work. Teeth are not visible when the mouth is closed. Worn teeth or broken teeth are acceptable. Disqualification: Overshot.
Nose: The nose is large with wide, open nostrils. The nose may be any color but darker pigment is preferred.
Eyes: Eyes are medium in size, round and set well apart. All colors are acceptable but brown is preferred. Haw is not visible. Dark eye rims are preferred. Faults: Very visible haws.
Ears: Ears may be cropped but natural ears are preferred. Natural ears are small to medium in size, high set, and may be drop, semi-prick or rose.
Drop ears: The ears are set high, level with the upper line of the skull, accentuating the skull’s width. At the base, the ear is just slightly raised in front and then hangs along the cheek. The tip is slightly rounded. When pulled toward the eye, the ear should not extend past the outside corner of the eye.
Semi-prick ears: Same as drop ears except that only the tips of the ears drop forward.
Rose ears: Rose ears are small and set high on the skull. Fault: Hound ears.
NECK
The neck is where the American Bulldog exerts power to bring down livestock. The neck must be long enough to exert leverage, but short enough to exert power. The neck is muscular and, at its widest point, is nearly as broad as the head, with a slight arch at the crest, and tapering slightly from shoulders to the head. A slight dewlap is acceptable. Faults: Neck too short and thick; thin or weak neck.
The neck must be long enough to exert leverage, but short enough to exert power.
FOREQUARTERS
The shoulders are strong and well muscled. The shoulder blade is well laid back and forms, with the upper arm, an apparent 90-degree angle. The tips of the shoulder blades are set about 2 to 3 finger-widths apart.
The forelegs are heavily boned and very muscular. The elbows are set on a plane parallel to the body, neither close to the body nor turned out. Viewed from the front, the forelegs are perpendicular to the ground or may, especially in a dog with a very broad chest, incline slightly inward. The pasterns are short, powerful and slightly sloping when viewed in profile. Viewed from the front, the pasterns are straight.
The chest is deep and moderately wide with ample room for heart and lungs, and visible musculature.
BODY
The chest is deep and moderately wide with ample room for heart and lungs. The ribs are well sprung from the spine and then flatten to form a deep body extending at least to the elbows, or lower in adult dogs. The topline inclines very slightly downward from well-developed withers to a broad muscular back. The loin is short, broad and slightly arched, blending into a moderately sloping croup. The flank is moderately tucked up and firm. Serious faults: Swayback; sloping topline.
The shoulders should be strong and well muscled, with legs parallel and strong.
HINDQUARTERS
The hindquarters are well muscled and broad. The width and angulation of the hindquarters is in balance with the width and angulation of the forequarters. The thighs are well developed with thick, easily discerned muscles. The lower thighs are muscular and short. Viewed from the side, the rear pasterns are well let down and perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are straight and parallel to one another. Faults: Cowhocks; open hocks. Serious faults: Narrow or weak hindquarters.
FEET
The feet are round, medium in size, well arched and tight. Fault: Splayed feet. The seriousness of this fault is based on the amount of splay in the feet.
TAIL
The American Bulldog may have a natural or a docked tail, but the natural tail is preferred. The natural tail is very thick at the base, and tapers to a point. The tail is set low. A “pump handle” tail is preferred but any tail carriage from upright, when the dog is excited, to relaxed between the hocks is acceptable. Serious fault: Tail curled over the back; corkscrew tail; upright tail when the dog is relaxed.
COAT
The coat is short, close and stiff to the touch. Disqualifications: Long or wavy coat.
More important than the height and weight is the dog’s overall appearance of strength, agility and balance.
COLOR
Any color, color pattern or combination of colors is acceptable, except for solid black, solid blue and tricolor (white with patches of black and tan). Some dark brindle coats may appear black unless examined in very bright light. A buckskin color pattern, where the base of the hair is fawn and the tips are black, may also appear solid black. A judge should not disqualify an American Bulldog for black color unless the dog has been examined in sunlight or other equally bright light. Disqualifications: Solid black with no white markings; tricolor (white with patches of black and tan).
