Size
The Alapaha was bred mainly for catching live-stock. A medium sized dog has been proven to be most effective for this task. Height and weight should be in proportion.

General
Males - 20 to 24 inches at the withers and weigh from 70 to 90 lbs.
Females - 18 to 22 inches at the withers, 55 to 75 lbs.

Head
The overall head is box-shaped medium in length and broad across the skull with pronounced muscular cheeks. The top of the skull is flat, but covered with powerful muscles; there should be a distinct furrow between the eyes. There should be an abrupt, deep stop.

Eyes
Medium in size and of any color. The haw should not be visible. Black eye rims preferred on white dogs. Pink eye rims to be considered a cosmetic fault.

Muzzle
Medium length (2 to 4 in.), square and broad with a strong under jaw. Lips should be full but not pendulous, 36 to 42 teeth. [A definite undershot, 1/8 to 1/4 inch preferred. Scissors or even bite is a disqualification. Structural faults are a muzzle under 2 inches or over 4 inches, less than 36 teeth, more than 1/4 inch undershot, small teeth or uneven incisors.]

Nose color
black or liver. On black nosed dogs the lips should be black with some pink allowed. 50% or more light pigment is considered a cosmetic fault.

Neck
Muscular, medium in length, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to head, with a slight dewlap allowed. The neck is where the power of the dog is put to use against its opponent (i.e. livestock, vermin or manly intruders). It must be long enough to apply leverage, short enough to exert power and strong enough to do the job.

Ears
V-shaped, or folded back, set on wide and high, level with the occiput, giving a square appearance to the skull, which is most important. They should be small and the point of the ear should be level with the eye when alert. Rose ears to be penalized. Cropped ears are not permissible in the show ring.

Shoulders
Very muscular with wide sloping blades; set so elbows are not bowed out.

Body
Square, robust and powerful. The Alapaha is a broad, wide dog, but this width should not be exaggerated. The chest should be deep with a good spring of ribs. The back should be of medium length, strong, broad and powerful. Loins should be slightly tucked which corresponds to a slight roach in the back which slopes to the stern. Faults: Swayed back, narrow or shallow chest, lack of tuck upHindquarters: Very broad and well muscled and in proportion to the shoulders. Narrow hips are a very serious fault.