We know the original "Ottos" were White English Bulldogs. The descriptions of Lana's describe WEBs. 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    

The WEBPS has widened the search for the best examples of WEBs, and is an on going program gaining new members who continue this search. Many WEBs have already been denied registration as we follow strict policy to ensure replenishment through a selected gene pool. At times, many of our rejected specimens, (found in the 75 - 100 mile radius of south Georgia), are actually excellent examples of Alapahas. So far, we have simply sold these off with no papers. After speaking with Al Walker; he has opened our eyes to the fact that ARF Alapaha breeders are in dire need of fresh stock.   Ray 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 WEB. His father, Curtis Conner bred and raised them and as a result, Johnny has first hand knowledge and experience of what a true WEB is and what isn't. He has what we at the WEBPS call a solid reference point that only growing up with the WEB can provide. 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. 

Curtis Conner interview

John Conner interview

Johnny supplied me with a shoebox full of pictures containing well over a hundred photos of many of his father's dogs. The dogs in the photos were WEBs. 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 WEB and the ABBB, specifically the head type. 

ALL PHOTOS BELOW ARE THE PROPERTY OF JOHN CONNER, THE WEBPS, AND IT'S CONTRIBUTORS. REPRODUCTION AND OR USE OF ANY OF THESE PHOTOS IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF BOTH PARTIES. VIOLATORS CAN AND WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

Here are a few of Curtis Conner's dogs.

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 WEB 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."  Lana Lou Lane  The photo of Otto shows him to in-fact be a WEB. The photo on the inside of the first page of her brochure is in-fact a WEB. These rural southern farm bulldogs were and still are in-fact WEBs. They were and still are referred to as White English, Old English Whites, or 'bulldogs'. 

The ABBB is a relatively new breed, despite Lana's history of them. The information she provides about the ABBB is actually what she knew to be true of the WEB, as she had only begun developing the ABBB and had no dogs of any consistency to base her information on.  To understand this; first you must understand some of Lana's background. Her father as well as grandfather, (Papa Buck), bred WEBs, not as breeders but to always keep one around. This was and still is a common practice in the south. "My granddaddy, Papa Buck Lane, always had an 'Otto'. "  Lana Lou Lane  The Carr family, residing within this 75-100 mile radius, were no different than this, they were simply known to have the best WEBs around. Many of the local farmers and ranchers would seek out stock mainly from the Carr family and breed accordingly, therefore all WEBs in the local area either descend from or are kept pure Carr. "Most all WEBs in this area trace back to Mr. Jake Carr."  John Conner  Lana's mother, Mrs. Vivian raised Colby Pits. According to John Conner; as an adult, Lana had a WEB and Colby cross that accidentally got bred by a neighbor's Catahoula. The resulting pups were beautifully colored that sold very quickly. Lana capitalized on this and began producing these dogs on a regular basis. They could not be sold locally as WEBs, as locals knew the difference, rather, they had to be sold under another name; thus the advent of the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog. Indeed, Otto was not an ABBB at all, but a WEB. It wasn't until the accidental crossing of the Catahoula with a WEB and Colby cross that the ABBB first began. Lana never crossed the ABBB with other breeds as the ABBB did not yet exist. 

Below are two pictures; to the far left is Lana's Dakota Connor Lane (ARF ABBB484), and the other dog is Arnold's Cody. I spoke with Ed Arnold, who is a neighbor of mine and long-time resident of Hawkinsville, (as are John and Curtis Conner, Lana's breeding partners). Ed is the brother of Marvin Arnold, the breeder of this Cody.  Both photos are taken on the same day in the same yard. They are exactly the same dog.  At the time, Arnold's Cody was NKC registered as an American Bulldog, (as the NKC did not acknowledge the WEB as a separate breed), that Lana got registered with the ARF as a purebred ABBB, by providing the ARF with her NKC American Bulldog papers.  This was the advent of Lana's Dakota Conner Lane  (ARF ABBB484).     

It is well known that Lana purchased at least one dog from J. D. Johnson. She does state "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  However, the influence of the AB is seen in some of her stock; again, most notably in the head type and in temperament, as is shown below.

Thumbing through Lana's brochure: page 2 shows her grandfather, Papa Buck, directly under a photo of a WEB: Page 5 at the bottom is a photo of a Catahoula puppy: in the photo above this are three dogs in the water, (one dog facing front shows a heavy Johnson influence): The bottom of page 7 shows an ABBB watching a WEB swimming, the caption states, 'usually unrelated pairs available', (the definition of a pure breed is that the dogs are related no matter how far removed in the pedigree.): Page 12 in the center is Roseanna, according to John Conner, she was a Colby Pit: Page 17 at the top is a wash tub of 5 puppies, two of the pups look to be Catahoula, a 3rd cannot be seen well, the other 2 closely resemble WEBs, (this inconsistency is a common occurrence in a crossbred litter): Page 24 is a photo of what appears to be a Johnson dog with a merle coat, it has an obvious basketball head and protruding eyes that point in opposite directions: Page 29 is a photo of Hank with a heavy Catahoula influence.

Based on previous research of the various so-called 'breeds' of bulldogs in the south that were registered and sold to the unwitting public, one look at Lana Lou Lane's brochure proves she had nothing to hide.