The Request
In December of 2007, at the request of Al Walker of the Animal Research Foundation, we launched an extensive investigation into the origins of the ABBB.
The E-Mail
(click link to see the Email)
"The Alapaha is not the same dog as the American Bulldog and not to be confused with them or to be crossed with them." Lana Lou Lane
Our first step was to contact John Conner, Lana's breeding partner. My family and I have known John for years; he is a neighbor, close personal friend, and as well, is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to dogs. You have to know a little bit about Johnny before I continue. He has lived his life here in Hawkinsville, Georgia, just an hour's drive from Rebecca. He graduated from high school here and most importantly to this investigation, he grew up with the White English, as did I. His father, Curtis Conner bred and raised them and as a result, Johnny has first hand knowledge and experience of what a true White English is and what isn't. I have heard his many memories of Lana over the years. According to John, she was a real character, somewhat of a rogue, hard-headed and very argumentative. He has spoken of many disagreements the two had, usually about breeding. She may or may not have entertained him or others with questions, yet do as she pleased in the end.
When we approached Mr. Curtis about the Alapaha, our first question was, "Did the ABBB come from the White English?" He answered, "Yes". All other questions he referred to John Conner, his son.
I met with John for this interview on March 15, 2008. When I told him it was about the Alapaha, he grabbed the paper, read over the questions and laughed hysterically saying, "There is no such thing as an Alapaha, Lana made it up after an accidental breeding with her dog and a neighbor's Catahoula." This is all he would say on the subject.
Johnny supplied me with a box full of pictures containing well over a hundred photos of many of his father's dogs. The dogs in the photos were White English. There were a handful from more recent years that were ABBBs, specifically, one of his best sires, Toby. Clearly seen here are the physical differences of the White English and the ABBB, specifically the head type.
The E-Mail
(click link to see the Email)
"The Alapaha is not the same dog as the American Bulldog and not to be confused with them or to be crossed with them." Lana Lou Lane
Our first step was to contact John Conner, Lana's breeding partner. My family and I have known John for years; he is a neighbor, close personal friend, and as well, is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to dogs. You have to know a little bit about Johnny before I continue. He has lived his life here in Hawkinsville, Georgia, just an hour's drive from Rebecca. He graduated from high school here and most importantly to this investigation, he grew up with the White English, as did I. His father, Curtis Conner bred and raised them and as a result, Johnny has first hand knowledge and experience of what a true White English is and what isn't. I have heard his many memories of Lana over the years. According to John, she was a real character, somewhat of a rogue, hard-headed and very argumentative. He has spoken of many disagreements the two had, usually about breeding. She may or may not have entertained him or others with questions, yet do as she pleased in the end.
When we approached Mr. Curtis about the Alapaha, our first question was, "Did the ABBB come from the White English?" He answered, "Yes". All other questions he referred to John Conner, his son.
I met with John for this interview on March 15, 2008. When I told him it was about the Alapaha, he grabbed the paper, read over the questions and laughed hysterically saying, "There is no such thing as an Alapaha, Lana made it up after an accidental breeding with her dog and a neighbor's Catahoula." This is all he would say on the subject.
Johnny supplied me with a box full of pictures containing well over a hundred photos of many of his father's dogs. The dogs in the photos were White English. There were a handful from more recent years that were ABBBs, specifically, one of his best sires, Toby. Clearly seen here are the physical differences of the White English and the ABBB, specifically the head type.
We must first look back at "Otto", Lana's grandfather's dog, and her inspiration behind the Alapaha. From the photo provided by Lana, and as is presented on her video, Otto was an all white dog that lived during the 1940's in rural south-central Georgia. The accounts of Otto that Lana gives in the first page of her brochure, describe the character of a WE perfectly. "Very protective of their property, that being whatever their master instructed them
as theirs to keep guard over. They were very possessive of their 'family'; also highly intelligent and easily trained." 'They get along well with other dogs. They only show aggression when it's for defense. The ABBB does not have to be restrained with a log chain around it's neck, after all, what good are they for protection to you if they are chained?' Lana Lou Lane
We know the original "Ottos" were White English. The descriptions of Lana's describe WE. The dogs are not kept on chains like the original Pit Bulldogs and even two males can work together. "The Alapaha is a true breed of plantation dogs found only in a 75 - 100 mile radius of South Georgia." Lana Lou Lane - Not only did Lana use the White English Bulldog but more specifically she used the Carr White English. Lana Lou Lane stated that the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog derived from the Alapaha River Region and more specifically dogs within a 75 to 100 mile radius of Rebecca Georgia. What Lana was telling the world was that her dogs had come from a specific geographic location! However, Lana didn't want to give the whole secret away by telling exactly the location of the origins of her foundation stock. As other breeders would try to duplicate what she was doing in her new breed development. Mr. Jake Carr lived in Hawkinsville, Georgia and bred White English Bulldogs for over eighty years and this location is within the radius Lana specified in her brochure. The photo of Otto shows him to in-fact be a WE. The photo on the inside of the first page of her brochure, (below right), is in-fact a WE. These rural southern farm bulldogs were and still are in-fact WE. They were and still are referred to as White English, Old English Whites, or 'bulldogs'. The photo at below left is a vintage photo taken IN ALAPAHA, GEORGIA in 1923 of a man with his 'bulldog'. This is a White English! What was and still is native to this 75-100 radius.
as theirs to keep guard over. They were very possessive of their 'family'; also highly intelligent and easily trained." 'They get along well with other dogs. They only show aggression when it's for defense. The ABBB does not have to be restrained with a log chain around it's neck, after all, what good are they for protection to you if they are chained?' Lana Lou Lane
We know the original "Ottos" were White English. The descriptions of Lana's describe WE. The dogs are not kept on chains like the original Pit Bulldogs and even two males can work together. "The Alapaha is a true breed of plantation dogs found only in a 75 - 100 mile radius of South Georgia." Lana Lou Lane - Not only did Lana use the White English Bulldog but more specifically she used the Carr White English. Lana Lou Lane stated that the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog derived from the Alapaha River Region and more specifically dogs within a 75 to 100 mile radius of Rebecca Georgia. What Lana was telling the world was that her dogs had come from a specific geographic location! However, Lana didn't want to give the whole secret away by telling exactly the location of the origins of her foundation stock. As other breeders would try to duplicate what she was doing in her new breed development. Mr. Jake Carr lived in Hawkinsville, Georgia and bred White English Bulldogs for over eighty years and this location is within the radius Lana specified in her brochure. The photo of Otto shows him to in-fact be a WE. The photo on the inside of the first page of her brochure, (below right), is in-fact a WE. These rural southern farm bulldogs were and still are in-fact WE. They were and still are referred to as White English, Old English Whites, or 'bulldogs'. The photo at below left is a vintage photo taken IN ALAPAHA, GEORGIA in 1923 of a man with his 'bulldog'. This is a White English! What was and still is native to this 75-100 radius.