Conceived and started by Casey and Sheila Couturier in 1989, the American Bulldog Association is the original breed specific registry for the American Bulldog.  The ABA was born in Patriot, Indiana, then moved west across our nation with the Couturier’s going from Indiana to Arkansas then of course ending up in the beautiful foothills of Round Valley near Covelo, California.  Sheila and Casey ran the ABA from California for 20 years give or take.  Sometime in 2008, my wife Jan and I noticed that the American Bulldog Association was for sale to the “right” folks.  Sometime after that I contacted Sheila and voiced my concern that whomever purchased the registry should be of high integrity, a real ‘dogperson’ with the American Bulldog being the important and motivating factor, NOT the money to be made or the prestige to be gained - someone older who actually remembers some of the “old dogs.”  Anyone can learn to run a breed registry, as demonstrated by the many kitchen table AB registries that have sprung up in the last 10 years.  Sheila really seemed to understand what I was saying.  That was sometime in February of 2009.  One March evening right around dusk – my wife Jan hollered out the back door that Mr. Casey Couturier was holding on the phone.  As many of you dogmen know – just about no one or nothing will bring you inside in the middle of your chores – and this particular evening I was building a new dog pen … typically I wouldn’t be coming in till the black of night.  But this was Mr. Couturier!  I dropped everything and ran all the way back to the house.  After an hour or so conversation, Casey offered me the American Bulldog Association.  I was so excited and stunned.  I had seen the profit and loss statements and all of the lucrative offers that were being made by lots of folks from lots of places.  But apparently, they weren’t the “bulldoggers” that Casey and Sheila wanted in charge of the ABA.  Long story short I am truly honored to have the American Bulldog Association – I will strive to keep and elevate the high standards set by the American Bulldog Association.

Now a quick synapses of my career with canines.  My very first dog was a small, brindle Pit Bull Terrier.  That was in the mid 1960’s when dogs were rarely fenced and very often died under the wheels of automobiles – as was the case with our “Brindle.”  Shortly thereafter my folks gave me a German Shepherd Dog puppy.  I joined a 4-H dog project, learned how to show and train dogs; trained my German Shepherd Dog to her AKC CD, CDX, and UDT obedience titles.  I raised, showed and bred AKC dual champion Golden Retrievers and professionally handled and trained several different breeds of dogs.  This was all before I graduated from high school.  Jan and I were married in August of 1983 and got two American Pit Bull Terriers.  Then in 1985, I purchased a very special puppy, an American Pit Bull Terrier named Robinson’s Bob Marley. Because of that bulldog we jumped into American Pit Bull Terriers all the way, owning as many as 20 bulldogs at one time (however we are well over that now).  We started an American Dog Breeders (ADBA) sanctioned club “The Equality State Pit Bull Club” in Wyoming and in 1990 established “Relentless Kennels” with the ADBA.  We were heavily into competitive weight-pulling with both the ADBA & the IWPA (International Weight-Pulling Association).  Because of our participation in the competitive weight pulling we met and got to know Mr. Mark Landers of Mountain Gator Kennels in Colorado.  Very long story short, we eventually purchased Relentless Kennels foundation stock, MGK’s Winston and MGK’s Whole Lotta Rosie from Mark Landers.  In 1993, Relentless Kennels became an ABA registered Kennel and has persevered and thrived, producing scores of mentally and physically sound, correct for type American Bulldogs that their owners can be proud of.  In 2004, we added a third breed, Olde English Bulldogges.  Using original foundation stock acquired exclusively by and for Relentless Kennels our OEB’s are small to medium size, very tight, athletic, not extreme in any way and very unlike any other OEB’s that we are aware of.  Of course it goes without saying the little bulldogges are simply a sideline to the real deal and our real love THE AMERICAN BULLDOG.

Yours in the breed,

Michael L. Bell
Owner