American Bulldog Association
Club, Judge and Registration Information




Starting an ABA sanctioned Club

For owners of ABA registered American Bulldogs who have an interest in forming an ABA sanctioned club for the purpose of holding weight pulling competitions and/or conformation shows for ABA registered dogs, the following information is provided.

Requirements for ABA
sanctioned Clubs

All clubs must have at least 10 members, an annual updated list of all members with their addresses must be filed with the ABA. When the required number of members have been met, an organizational meeting should be held and officers elected and a name chosen for the club or association. This organizational meeting will be termed the first official meeting with subsequent annual meeting to be held the same month the following year.

Meetings must be held at least every other month. Elections must take place annually, with the results filed with the ABA. The following officers must be elected at the annual meeting: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary.

A constitution which states the objectives of the club must be drawn up. A separate paragraph must be included which states "No member of (name of) Club nor any participant at any club function may hold the American Bulldog Association responsible for any liability whatsoever which may occur at any scheduled club meetings or functions." A copy of the constitution must be on file with the ABA. A similar disclaimer statement listing the ABA and the club itself as not being liable for any damaging incident must be signed by all club members and participants (including spectators) at all ABA sanctioned events.
ABA Sanctioning

When all the requirements are met, and the ABA receives written confirmation, we will print an official announcement in the Bulldog Review along with a contacts name and phone number. After which, space will be made available for a club column in the Bulldog Review.

A club must have at least one fun or practice show before a license for a sanctioned event will be issued. The Fun Show should follow all the rules for a sanctioned event including the filing of the show report to familiarize your members with the required procedures.

After your club has had a Fun Show and has the confidence to hold a sanctioned event, a show date and location must be chosen. A request must be made in writing, and will automatically be approved if the date does not conflict with a previously licensed event. Show dates may be chosen and reserved up to one year in advance and must be set up far enough ahead that the event can be advertised in the Bulldog Review preceding the show date. Said advertisement will be printed in the Bulldog Review at no charge to the club.

An established club or association that desires to sponsor an ABA sanctioned conformation or weight pull show must make application in writing to the ABA with the signatures of two club officers requesting the desired show dates. Sanctioned clubs are usually allowed two 2 day shows (total of four) per year.

The dates requested will be assigned if they do not conflict with another club in your area. We will assign dates up to one year in advance, so plan ahead to avoid disappointment.

A camera-ready ad (1/4 to full page) with dates, location, events and other relevant particulars [or the info so we can put an ad together] must be submitted for publication in the American Bulldog Review magazine and the American Bulldog World website at least one issue prior to the show date. Example: A show in July must be announced in the January issue of ABR. The July issue would not be acceptable.

A show license and show report form will be mailed to the sponsoring club prior to the show date, which must be returned completed and signed by two club officers and the show judge within one week after the show with the required fee, $1.00 per dog with a $30.00 minimum per show.

Judges for ABA events need to licensed by the ABA.

These are the requirements to start an ABA sactioned Club, I would appreciate if all interested parties would please make their interest know. I would think it inconvinent if you are not from Ireland to join this paticular club (to be(hopefully)) so I will post a topic with links to ABA clubs in other locations, if you are interested, soon.

If your dog is not registered with the ABA contact me and I will help you register your dog(s).

Thanks everyone!
<3 Amy