Banter Bulldogge Breed Standard

Recognized by the AMA in 2016

Background: The Banter Bulldogge was created by Todd Tripp of Southeast Ohio in the late 1990's. His vision was to re-create the now extinct Brabanter Bullenbeisser of the 1700's from the Belgium province known as Brabant. There were two regional varieties, the Brabanter Bullenbeisser and the Danziger Bullenbeisser. The Brabanter Bullenbeisser was the smaller more bully type dog that was well-known as a hunting dog. Its task was to seize the prey and hold it until the hunters arrived. It is generally accepted that the Brabanter Bullenbeisser was a direct ancestor of today's Boxer. The Banter Bulldogge’s foundation mainly consisted of Boxers but other Molosser breeds such as the American Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and American Bulldog were used.

General Appearance: The Banter Bulldogge should be a powerfully built, athletic, muscular medium sized dog with minimal white. A strong working dog with a bully build, there legs are underneath them and they are 50-85lbs., this is keeping in a range that the Brabanter Bullenbeisser was believed to be in. They are a working breed and should be proven at every opportunity in various working venues.
Disqualifications: unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism

Disposition: The Banter Bulldogge are easy to train and are very obedient. They are an excellent family dog and are always loyal to its family. They are always eager to go but able to relax when needed. Banter Bulldogges are suited to home life but require an outlet for their energy. They are a rough and tough dog who enjoy other dogs as long as they have been properly socialized. They are well suited as a watchdog and will alert to danger or trespassers. They are ready and willing to protect if necessary.
Disqualifications: viciousness or extreme shyness

Size: Dogs excessively above or below the standard weight/height should be seriously faulted.

                  Male: An ideal male should be 21 to 24 inches tall at the withers and weigh 50-85lbs.
                  Female: An ideal female should be 20 to 23 inches tall at the withers and weigh 50-75lbs. 

Head: The Banter Bulldogge head is square and muscular. The head should have a pronounced stop between skull and muzzle with the top of the skull mostly flat with strong muscular cheeks.
Serious faults: narrow or long head

Eyes: Rounded almond eyes that are wide set with a wrinkled brow for a look of heavy concentration. All eye colors are accepted without preference except blue.
Cosmetic faults: blue eyes, pink eye rims, eyes that do not match in color
Disqualifications: crossed eyes, Divergent Strabismus (wall-eyed)

Muzzle/Bite: The muzzle should not be upturned therefore allowing un-restrained breathing. The bite should be a slight undershot with a compliment of good strong teeth, with impressive canines. The Banter Bulldogge has full dentition with 42-44 teeth.
Serious faults: muzzle too long, scissor bite, even bite, less than 42 teeth
Disqualifications: wry mouth

Nose: Balanced to muzzle, clean and free breathing. Black or liver pigmentation without preference.
Cosmetic faults: lack of pigmentation
Serious faults: pinched nares, completely pink nose

Ears: Natural or cropped with no preference. If the ears are natural they are short and are either drop or rose.
Disqualifications: unilateral or bilateral deafness
          
Neck: Well-muscled thick high neck blending into very muscular strong forelimbs.

Shoulders: The shoulders are muscular and well laid back.
Serious faults: shoulders that are too steep without a lay back

Chest, Back and Loin: Impressive strong chest should come down to meet elbows. Should appear square and not overly exaggerated. Chest should have spring to it to allow for heavy intake of air. Should have a slight roach. Well-muscled loin above the shoulders.
Serious faults: narrow chest

Hindquarters: Very muscular for strong bouncing leaps and superior pulling power. The leg is slightly shorter than body is long. Rear should appear to be very square. The rear feet when viewed from the rear are straight and parallel and the hindquarters should have moderate angulation.
Serious faults: cow hocked, bowed legs

Legs: Should not be "stubby" or "lanky" but have a nice balance of height compared to the length of the body to keep "Performance" in the breed. The Front legs are muscular and well defined.

Feet: Compact, round and the pasterns are strong.
Serious faults: splayed feet, down in the pasterns

Tail: The tail can be natural or docked with docked preferred. The tail is set high. The natural tail should reach near the top of the hock.

Coat: The coat should be short and smooth.

Color: Fawn, black, red, brindle of all types, with or without black mask. All colors can possess various amounts of white up to 30%.
Disqualifications: more than 30% white, merle, albinism

Movement: The gait is balanced and smooth, powerful and unhindered suggesting agility with easy, ground covering strides, showing strong driving action in the hind quarters with corresponding reach in front. As speed increases the feet move toward the center line of the body to maintain balance. Ideally the dog should single-track. The top line remains firm and level, parallel to the line of motion. Head and tail carriage should reflect that of a proud, confident and alert animal.
Movement faults: Any suggestion of clumsiness, tossing and/or rolling of the body, crossing or interference of front or rear legs, short or stilted steps, twisting joints, pacing, paddling, or weaving. Similar movement faults are to be penalized according to the degree to which they interfere with the ability of the dog to perform in performance/working venues.

Disqualifications:
-Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism
-Viciousness or extreme shyness
-Crossed Eyes
-Divergent Strabismus (Wall-Eyed)
-Wry mouth
-Unilateral or bilateral deafness
-More than 30% white
-Merle
-Albinism


Fault Degrees:
A cosmetic fault is one of a minor nature. A fault not specified as cosmetic has to do with structure as it relates to a dog that is able to compete in performance/working venues. In a show or other evaluation, the dog is to be penalized in direct proportion to the degree of the fault. Any fault, which is extreme, should be considered a serious fault and should be penalized appropriately.

Banter Bulldogge


est. 2015