NOTICE TO THOSE WHO WISH TO ARF-REGISTER AN AMERICAN BULLDOG
FROM AL WALKER, ARF GENEALOGIST & REGISTRAR

As a result of our U.S. economy, the loss of American jobs, and the increase of “highly questionable dog-registries”, we are now experiencing an unusual high influx of individuals, contacting the ARF, for the sole purpose of registering their American Bulldogs with the ARF. Because of our nearly 40-year reputation, with American Bulldogs, and our being the “Official Registry for the Johnson American Bulldog”, many individuals have come to realize that having ARF-registered American Bulldogs is to be highly obtained. However, there are many so-called American Bulldog breeders, who cannot register their American Bulldogs with the ARF, because they cannot meet our high standards. Therefore, these unscrupulous breeders are registering their dogs in some of these “highly questionable dog-registries”. Afterwards, when these dog buyers learn about us, either from the Internet, or other dog enthusiasts, they seek to have their pup ARF-registered.

When we ask, “Where is your dog currently registered?”, they are providing us names, of registries, that, according to our research, are relatively new to the dog-registry business. Further, when we question their dogs’ pedigree, they may have the names of the sire and dam; however, all the other dogs in the pedigree are listed as “Original Stock”. Further, an unscrupulous breeder may sell an individual a dog, that may look like an American Bulldog, and tell the individual that he has not received his ARF-puppy papers, when, in fact, he was lying to the purchaser. Again, the ARF name is being used to sell dogs, when the breeder is not even associated with the ARF. Later, many of these buyers are going to these “off-the-wall registries” so that they can obtain some kind of paperwork on a “highly questionable” dog, being called an “American Bulldog”; then, these same individuals are calling the Foundation [ARF], to see if they can register their dog with us.

As a result of spending huge amounts of time, explaining to individuals, that we must have a 5-generation extended pedigree, to validate their dog’s ancestral history, or their dog cannot be ARF-registered. Again, we are finding that there are some unscrupulous breeders, who will make up a pedigree for a dog, to try to slide it past the buyer, so that the buyer can obtain an ARF Certificate of Registration. Where are these unscrupulous breeders getting their pedigree information? Off the Internet! We have done our best to tell ARF-American Bulldog owners/breeders, that their ARF 5-Generation Extended Pedigree has a common law copyright, and that it is not to be reproduced, for one of the above-mentioned reasons. Unfortunately, we have not been successful in preventing this.

Therefore, beginning January 1, 2010, the ARF will no longer recognize American Bulldog registrations, coming from any organization; this includes, but not limited to, the ABA, ABRA, ACA, CKC, DRA, NKC, UKC, etc. After January 1, 2010, the only American Bulldogs that will be entered into the “ARF American Bulldog Stud Book”, are those American Bulldogs whose breeders are registered in the ARF database, and those American Bulldog breeding stock are registered with the ARF.

Therefore, if anyone seeks to become an ARF American Bulldog breeder, he must either own an ARF-registered American Bulldog, or purchase a companion breeding mate from another ARF-registered American Bulldog breeder. However, once an American Bulldog is ARF-registered, the dog can be registered in whatever club/registry the owner chooses; but, no offspring can be registered with the ARF, without first obtaining an “ARF Certified Pedigree”. This means that both the Sire and Dam must be ARF-registered first, before any litter pedigrees will be issued from the ARF.

Finally, the reason we are now establishing this policy, is to preserve the integrity of the American Bulldog breed. Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at the Foundation.

Al Walker,
ARF Genealogist and Registrar
ANIMAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION