THE EVOLUTION OF THE BULLDOG

A Historical Survey  by  R. H. Voss

We prepared this History page about Bulldogs, Breeders and the evolution of our beloved American Bulldogs. There are photos and humor.  If you take the time to read and understand this History, you will know more about the Hisotry of Bulldogs, than most breeders selling them today (1999*).   I installed the photos, and a little humor hoping to help you to see, understand and enjoy "Bulldog History" a little better.  photos are authentic.

Text originally printed in 1933 in a British publication called "Our Dogs". Mr Voss was the #1 authority and historian of his day on Bulldogs. This same article was printed before in Stodghill's ARF Cowdog Magazine, issue #114 in 1989.

R.H. Voss suggest that the breed goes back to the war dogs of the ancient Britons.  Briton was made a Roman province in the year 50 AD, when the British chieftain Caractacus was defeated by Emperor Claudius.  At That time there were "pugnaces" or war dogs, in Briton. They were used in war, for the contests in the amphitheater and in the chase.  These fighting dogs of Briton were known as the Broad Mouthed Dogs of Briton.  There is very little doubt that they were the original and remote ancestors of our Mastiff and Bulldog.  They appealed to the Romans, who sent considerable numbers of them from Briton to Rome, to take part in the sports of the amphitheater, and it has even been said that the Romans appointed an officer to  select British dogs and export them to Rome.  There is evidence that from Italy the breed of British war dogs was disseminated over the continent in the years 50/410.

Bear Baiting
The Saxon kingdom of England was succeeded in 1066 by Norman Kings and the training of bulls, bears, horses and other animals for the purposes of baiting the with dogs was practiced by the jugglers who were introduced into England by her Norman conquerors.  As early as Henry II 's time 1154 the baiting of bulls and bears by dogs was indeed a popular amusement.  Henry II had gained Bordeaux on his marriage with Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1151, and this important town remained in the hands of the English till about 1411, for approximately 260 years.  From 1356 to 1367 the court of King Edward III "father of Edward the black prince", with it's attendant sports of bull and bear baiting, was held at Bordeaux.

It was in or about 1406 that Edmond de Langley, Duke of York, the forth son of seven son's of Edward III, wrote a treatise entitled "The Mayster of the Game and of hawks to Henry IV, and in his treatise he described the Alaunt or Allen dog as a dog with a large and thick head and a short muzzle, which was remarkable for his courage, so that when he attacked an animal he hung on, and was used for bull baiting.  He described the great French Alaunt, drawing a distinction between the Gentil and the Alaunt de Boucherie.  The French Alaunt being a descendant of the English Alaunts exported to Bordeaux, and in turn the ancestor, without any doubt whatsoever, of the Dogue de Bordeaux, the huge fighting dog of South of France.

In 1556 it is known that great numbers of English Alaunts were introduced into Spain and the island of Cuba by Philip II for the purposes of the arena.
In 1557 Dr. Caius, of Chambridge, described the Mastyve or Bulldog which was undoubtedly the direct descendant of the Alaunt, as a vast, huge stubborn, ugly and eager dog., of a heavy and burdenous body, "serviceable to bait and take the bull by the ear two dogs at most being sufficient for that purpose, however untamable the bull might be.

In 1585 a Hondius painter an oil painting on an oak panel [which came into the possession of Mr. Frank Adcock] which depicted two bandogges or Alaunts attacking a wild bore in the bed of a shallow stream.  One was red with a black muzzle, and the other was white with brindle ear patches, and they were both had "rose ears", and long fine tails, and looked as though they must have weighed 100 to 120 lbs.  The red dog had a firm grip on the left ear of the boar.

The fact that the "pugnaces" of Briton were known as the "Broad Mouthed dogs of Briton" and that Claudian in 390 AD stated that they were able to pull down a bull, shows that these dogs were, of course, in a rough and typical manner only the original stock from which the Bulldog and Mastiff sprang. That these dogs were in the years 50/410 exported to Rome by the Romans, and form Rome disseminated over the Continent, there is no doubt. Further, it has been shown that as early as 1154 the baiting of bulls and bears by dogs in England was a popular amusement. Also it shows that from 1151 to 1411 Bordeaux belonged to England, and that the English court was actually situated there from 1356 till 1367, with its accompaniment of bull and bear baiting. It was while the English still held Bordeaux that the Alaunt was undoubtedly exported to France from 141 onwards for a period on 260 years, and he was almost certainly crossed there with some remote descendants of the British war dogs which hundreds of years previously had traveled to France via Rome. It is absolutely in keeping therefore, to imagine that the Dogue de Bordeaux as imported to England in 1895 by Mr. Sam Wookiwss and the late Mr. H.C. Brooke, was the originally descended from the English Alaunts which were exported to Bordeaux from 1151 to 1411.

THE DOGUE DE BORDEAUX
In 1895, in the year that Mr. John Proctor judged the breed at the Bordeaux show, it was a dog of an average height of 25 1/2 inches and of an averaged weight of 120 lbs. The skull circumference was 26 inches. Nose length as measured from the corner of the eye to the tip of the nose was three inches on the average. These dogs for many years. from the English occupation of Bordeaux onwards, were bred for encounters in the arena, being pitted against each other or against the bull, the bear or the ass, and even as late as 1906 these encounters occasionally took place. The famous Mastiff, Beaufort, whose measurements approached the standards of perfection were, 27 inch skull, and the length of his muzzle was 4 inches, whilst he stood 29 1/2 inches at the shoulder, and therefore weighted about 160 lbs, forty pounds more than the average Dogue de Bordeaux.
In 1907 the dog's use in the arena in France began to be entirely discontinued, and at the Paris dog show that year there was only 10 Dogues on view, and the winners had button ears and black mask, like English Mastiffs.

THE NAME BULLDOG
During the reign of Mary, Elizabeth, James 1 and Charles 1, which covered the years 1553 to 1649, the bating of bulls and full grown bears by dogs was a very popular sport. Hentzner, in his itinerary, printed in Latin in the reign of Queen Elizabeth in 1598, stated that there was a place built in the form of a theater for bating and "great English dogs" which shows that in 1598 they were still very large.

In 1556 Philip II became king of Spain and introduced great numbers of English Alaunts into Spain and the Islands of Cuba and Majorca for the purpose of the arena. In my own mind there is very little doubt that the dog from Burgos depicted in the old bronze plaque, dated 1625, was a descendant of these English dogs or was an imported English dog himself.

It was not until 1631, in the reign of Charles I, that the name "BULLDOG" was first mentioned in England. There is a letter in the record office which was written in 1632 from St. Sebastion in Spain, by an Englishman called Prestwich Eaton to his friend George Wellingham in St. Swithens s Lane, London, asking for a good "MASTIFF" dog and two "BULLDOGS" to be sent out to him. This is definite proof that six years after the Burgos plague the export of Bulldogs {as they were just beginning to be called} from England to the sport loving Dons of Spain, which had been commenced by Philip II 75 years earlier, was still continuing.

The cropped dog depicted on the old Spanish plaque of 1625 was very noticeable a big dog and very noticeable a BULLDOG, being much underhung, with a big skull and well laid back nose. Many years later in the year 1840, Bill George imported from Spain a big BULLDOG, which was called Big Headed BIlly, whilst in 1868 Mr. Marquart brought over Bonnhomme and Lisbon, and in 1873 Mr. Frank Adcock acquired Toro and Alphonse in Madrid. All these five were termed purebred Spanish Bulldogs, and they were exactly of the type depicted on the 1625 plaque. Big headed Billy was a brindle pied, Bonhomme a brindle, Torro a red carroty brindle, and Alphonse a fawn with a black mask and white markings, and all these four dogs weighted 90 lbs.  I heard it stated that Lisbon and Alphonse were both noted dogs in the arena in Spain.  Torro had a 22 inch skull, stood 22 inches at the shoulder, and measured 2 1/2 inches from the corner of his eye to the tip of his nose.  It is clear to me that these big 90 lb  Spanish dogs were reasonably short in face with proper Bulldog tails having a downward crook at the root and at the end.  They were all cropped.

Ball, owned by Mr. Lovell referred to as a British Bulldog Standard London around 1865
It seems to me quite clear that the Dogue de Bordeaux, which averaged 120 lbs. in weight and was 25 1/2 inches in height,  26 1/2 inches in skull circumference,  and three inches in length of face.  With in many cases light eyes and red noses, and in all cases only slight projection of underjaw had tails which reached in the hocks, represented the English Alant as bread in England and Bordeaux in the years 1151/1411.

Whilst the Spanish Bulldog, which averaged only 90 lbs in weight.  2 1/2 inches in length of face,  and which had dark eyes and a black nose and mask .  Was well underhung with a moderately short crooked down tail.  The Bulldogs rolling gate represented the English Bulldog as bread in the years 1556/1649, when the Bulldog was just beginning to be a different dog from the Mastiff.

To the modern eyes the Dogue de Bordeaux and the Spanish Bulldog would appear to be of Mastiff type, but the Bulldog less so clearly due the fact that the English dogs  which began to go out to Spain in 1556 were already much more of the Bulldog type than the English dogs that went to Bordeaux in the years 1151/1411, before the Bulldog and the mastiff had begun to emerge from the Alaunt and to take definite shapes of their own.

THE SMALLER DOG APPEARS.
The new system of Bull-baiting, as practiced from 1686 onwards favored an active dog of moderately low stature and size.  With his nose will laid back and a protruding underjaw.  The great Bulldog of 90 lbs in weight which had been in Vogue when bull-baiting was the sport of kings, was no longer wanted.  Whilst the common folk who now gad the sport in hand could not afford to keep such Hugh animals.  Much can happen to change a breed of a dog in fifty years and by inbreeding and breeding with a fixed purpose in view, between the years of 1686 and 1735, a dog of definite type and of an average weight of 50 to 60 lbs, was produced.  The dog of 1735, was smaller in skull than the Bulldog of today 1933, longer in face, higher in shoulder, not so wide in front, lighter in bone and body, and less exaggerated in every way.  The Bulldog that was gradually evolved in the years 1686/1735, though finally more than 40% lighter than his ancestors and was not only the bravest dog but actually the bravest creature on earth, not even excepting the old English Game Cock.  This was an indisputable fact, which was proven time and time again.
A number of Bulldogs were matched against George Wombwell's lions in Warwickshire in 1825.

 The dog which was produced in the years 1686/1735, was the dog for the bull, and it was during those years and not before then, that the Bulldog was taught and trained to pen the bull by the nose and never to attack him in any other place.  As early as 1710 this method of attack became an inherited tendency and even today, though bull-bating was abolished 98 years ago, or around 1835.

Reproduction of an oil painting, probably by Charles Towne, Circa 1800.

DOG FIGHTING: AND THE BULL TERRIER  
From 1735 to 1835 the Bulldog was bread on the same lines with no alterations in type.  In 1835 the cruel practice of Bull-baiting  was prohibited by law and the Bulldog's true occupation disappeared.  He would probably have most died out but for the barbarous so called sport of dog fighting.  Dog fighting commenced about 1690, in the reign of James II.  Burnette in his "History of My Own Times" written about 1700, refers to dog fighting and the gardens at which these scenes were enacted. For fully 100 years the Bulldog was the only dog used in this cruel pastime, but in or about the year 1800 the devotees of the game sought to produce a quicker dog in the pit.

At this time there were many smooth coated Old English Terriers in varied colorings, but all smart, active and alert.  Excellent for Killing rats or unearthing the fox.  the larger types of these Terriers were crossed with the Bulldog and the product which was a dog that combined all the dash and speed of the terrier with the indomitable courage and fighting instinct of the Bulldog.  These dogs were known as Bull Terriers.  In the years 1800 and 1835, when the notorious Westminster Pit flourished, the young Corinthians of those days indulged freely in dog fighting.  And it is probable that a certain number of pure Bulldogs were fought in the pit till at least 1840.

From a colored engraving of Westminster Pit.

Web masters note:  This in the beginning of the PIT BULL as we know him today or American Pit Bull Terrier.  I am sorry to say that many of the so called American Bulldogs today have some Terrier blood as well as Mastiff, Bull mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Louisiana Catahoula Cur, Boxier or, the modern English Bulldog.  Be very cautious in buying a so-called American Bulldog.  Four major guidelines, COMPARE : Breeders, Pictures, Registries and Health.

   The New Complete Bulldog, Champion English Bulldogs,  Keep'em in the shade girls.
 Dog fighting, as well as bull and bear baiting, was made illegal in 1835, but it continued to be carried on secretly in quite an extensive manner until about 1880, more especially in London, Birmingham, Liverpool and several towns in the black country, notably Walsall.
From 1840 till about 1855 no other dog was used in the pit but the comparatively short faced, course and bandy legged Bull Terrier. In about 1855 James Hinks, of Birmingham, produced the first of the modern white Bull Terriers, which he had obtained by crossing the Bulldog and the Terrier with the refined and graceful white English Terrier. After 1880 police supervision became much more strict, though fights were secretly staged in different towns on a number of occasions between 1880 and 1899, that being the last year I ever heard of a dog fight being held.

BULLDOGS A CENTURY AGO
Let us now revert to the year 1835, when bull bating, bear bating and dog fighting were abolished by law. The Bulldog was then looked upon as the associate of rogues and vagabonds and was condemned by the better class of people for keeping bad company. For five years, the Bulldog was probably only kept in existence by the fact that he still had a few admirers who stuck to him as a fighting dog. But by 1840 there were probably less Bulldogs in England than at any period during the breed existence. The bulk of Bulldogs at that time were 45 to 50 pound dogs upon the lines which they had been bred for that type and purpose had emerged about 1735, that is to say they were extremely active, powerful, game and tenacious dogs, much more leggyand much less coddley and not nearly so heavy built as our present day dogs, but nevertheless very muscular and compact, as shown in Scott's engraving of Crib and Rosa, dated 1817.

Reproduction of an oil painting, portraits of Rosa and Crib.

At the same time there were still in existence a certain number of much bigger dogs running up to 65 pounds in weight and these were undoubtable the remanats of the days when Bulldogs were 90 pound dogs. These remnants of the old type were mostly in the hands of one or two people, notably Bill George, who in 1838 had succeeded Ben White as a keeper of baiting and fighting dogs and they were naturally more of a Mastiff type than the smaller and more popular dog.

Ben White 1836 running his Bulldogs at head of Bill Gibbons Bull.

This was the position of 1840 and it was fortunate for the Bulldog that just about then, the interest in the dogs began to increase and working man fanciers began to arise who bred dogs with great care and who held small Public-House evening shows, where their dogs paraded on the sanded floors of rap rooms, the landlord usually providing the prizes, though sometimes the working men who kept these dogs, clubbed together to contribute a handsome silver collar, or something of that sort.

THE PUG CROSS AND IT'S EFFECTS
The dogs which epically appealed to those good old working men fanciers were King Charles Spaniels and Bulldogs and as they always preferred a little dog, there is no doubt that they crossed some of their smaller sized Bulldog bitches with Pug dogs, in order to reduce the size of the progeny and also to produce the fawn emut color which was then much admired. The average weight of the Pug dog of those days was 20 lbs. and their ears when not shorn off and rounded close to the head, were then as often Rose as Button. By crossing the two breeds over a decade of years, lightweight Bulldogs were produced weighting between 12 and 20 lbs., It being the desire of these dog fanciers to bantamize the Bulldog and produce as attractive a pet that would cost no more to rear than their Toy Spaniels and for which they would have a ready Sale. There is no doubt that this Pug cross had a lot to do with the prevalence later on of the Fawn Emut or fallow emut Bulldog and with the prevalence of the SCREW TAIL, although less headstrong and daredevil in character. But as the Bulldog was much more the stronger character of the two it is doubtful the alliance with the Pug actually affected the courage of the progeny and as a matted of fact, the lightweight Bulldogs of the fifties, sixties and the seventies were particularly game little dogs often quite useful in the RAT PIT.
In 1859 open dog shows began to be held and the commencement of the dog show era immediately created an incentive for breeding Bulldogs for show purposes. The original show dogs were of the type as follows:

1. The dog which had been specifically bred to bait the bull from 1735 "when this dog first attained a very definite type" until bull baiting was abolished in 1835 and which since 1835 had maintained it's existence by reason, first of a dog fighter and later of pot house shows. These dogs varied from 45 to 50 pounds, as a rule.

2. The big dogs of more or less Mastiff type which were the remnants of the original 90 lbs. Bulldogs. By 1859 had been reduced in size to 60 lbs. These dogs received a stimulus by the importation of the Spanish Bulldog, Big-Headed Billy in 1840. Bill Georges famous White dog Dan, which weighted 65 lbs. and was sold for 100 pounds, was a grandson of Big Headed Billy.

3. The little dogs of 12 to 25 pounds in weight which had been produced by inbreeding smaller sized Bulldogs and by crossing these small sized bitches with Pug dogs in the years 1835 to 1845. At the early shows, from 1859 to 1870, Classes were always provided for dogs under 20 pounds. And those cases were as a rule were well filled. The little dogs as might be expected from their breeding, were usually very short in face with noses well laid back. They were chiefly bred in London, Nottingham and Birmingham.

THE SPANISH INVASION
In the years 1868 to 1873 the fresh importation's of Spanish bulldogs by Mr. Marquart and Mr. Frank Adcock further increased to the numbers and probably also to the size of the large-sized Bulldogs, though only four or five Kennels used these imported Bulldogs at stud. These importation's greatly incensed the breeders who swore by the 50 lb. dog as specifically bred for bull-baiting as being the original British Bulldog, which in actual fact he was not and it was the outburst of horror at the dangers of the Spanish Invasion which caused the formation of the Bulldog club in 1875.

It cannot be proved that any fresh crosses have been made since the 1870's, but it is said that in the middle of the 90's a small Mastiff bitch was on more than one occasions mated to a Bulldog in order to produce dogs of greater size and substance.  Whether this type is true or not, it is a significant fact that since that period we have had quite a number of dogs weighing over 70 lbs. some of them decided Mastiff type, although better rearing has doubtless played it's part in increasing size and substance.

The exhibition of the dog of today (1933*) is therefore the result of inter-crossing of the three distinct types which existed in 1859.  The large size dog having been increased in numbers by crossing with the imported Spanish Bulldogs of the 70's and possibly further increased by the alleged Mastiff cross on a limited scale is the middle 90's.

Students of the Bulldog who take the trouble to read history of his evolution will readily understand why even today, (1933*) there is no uniformity of type or size in Bulldogs, and why it is possible for two dogs to be of different type and size whilst at the same time , they are both good ones.  The differences in type and size spring from the different ingredients in their origin and these differences will never entirely disappear.  I hope that my reader will also agree with me that the British Bulldog, the Old English Mastiff, the Dogue de Bordeaux, and the Spanish Bulldog all sprang originally from the same British origin which is from the English Alaunt.  It is a theory I have held for years, but have never seen propounded...

Cute Bulldogs :) - Bulldogs are the best !

English Bulldog Grooming and Care

Bulldogs enjoy being groomed (except for the nail trimming), and most love taking a bath. The Bulldog has a smooth, short coat and is naturally a reasonably clean dog. Because of his short fine coat, many people think that grooming is not important, or seldom needed. This is not true!

To keep a Bulldogs coat shiny and beautiful it must be groomed about 4 times a week. The cost of having a professional groomer clip, pluck, trim or shape is an expense you will not have, but there is more to grooming than elaborate coat care.

Grooming should be routine and common, just as it is for you! Start when your puppy is young, get her use to a table or stand to be groomed on, it will make things so much easier for you both. You will also be checking for bare spots, skin lesions, scabs, infection, flaky skin, rough skin and other problems. If anything is not normal you will notice it right away, which is the best time to catch a problem. This may seem like a lot of work but in fact it will only take 5 to 10 minutes a day. Don’t forget to check between her toes for cysts or inflamed areas, look over her wrinkles and tail area while examining her.

BRUSHING~

Your dog’s coat is a good indicator of problems, it is the first sign for you when something is wrong. Is the shedding minimal or is it excessive? If it is not a seasonal change then it must be another reason- Stress? Worms? Fleas? Diet Change? All these and more can cause shedding, have your vet examine her if you feel this is a non seasonal excessive change is shedding. As a rule bulldogs don’t shed much. Daily care would be starting to brush her from the shoulder area and going back toward the tail. Always follow the natural lay of the hair. Use a quality brush, a slicker brush, hand brush, grooming glove or a tight rubber pronged brush. Any pet store has these for a few dollars. If you find that there is a doggie odor and its not related to a health condition or the smell is just slight and its not coming from the wrinkles, tail pocket or ears then you may spray a few squirts of a deodorizer made for dogs on the coat after brushing or a coat enhancer. Bulldog hair
seems to be hard to remove from furniture and clothes as its fine and small.

EARS~

Check the inside of the ears good, if you smell a odor then you should have your pet examined by a vet. Clean the ears out with a warm water cloth and remove any debris and dirt. A cotton Q-tip may be used at the edge of the ear canal, A WORD OF CAUTION, don’t insert the Q-tip into the canal, if you can’t see the end of the Q-tip then its in to far and could cause some serious damage to the ears. You may also use some peroxide instead of water to help in the removal of debris.

If the canal is swollen, red or inflamed you should have her examined by your vet. Ear infections often take a long time to clear up if they are not caught early. Warm mineral oil will help in keeping the ear folds from drying out, only do this once a week and then just a drop. If your dogs nose is dry and rough then use some mineral oil on it.

WRINKLES~

A bulldogs face is covered with wrinkles and is his trademark for sure. That trademark requires cleaning, use a mild soap and water solution to clean. If your dog has a heavy nose wrinkle, lift it and clean, rinse and dry it well, the tail pocket should also be cleaned the same way. Many owners will also put some corn starch, medicated powder or baby powder in there when finished. You can use this to keep things looking good, if it is dry and flaky you may want to put a small amount of a diaper rash ointment in there like Desitan ointment instead of the powder or if the rash is severe. Remember to keep her vulva area cleaned (not inside, only the exterior part) with warm water as bulldogs need some help with that. Keep the male Bulldog clean as well. This is the last thing you should wipe and clean before your done.

EYES AND TEAR STAINS~

Check the eyes to see that they are clean and normal. They should be well formed and bright. You will notice any changes if they occur. If there is excess drainage, yellow, green or a foul smell draining from the eyes see your vet.

Tear stains is a debated issue that has many possible causes and cures. The methods used to rid the stains varies from breeder to breeder and vet to vet. This is the price we pay for those beautiful sourmug faces, TEAR STAINS. Here is one formula that has been proven to work well.

To prevent this from happening wash the area daily with warm water and a wash cloth, if this fails and your Bulldog gets tear stains then try this:

Mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and white milk of magnesia with enough corn starch to make a paste. Apply this mixture to the stained area 2 times a day until it is starts to go away(about 7-9 days), then apply once a day(for the next 1-2 weeks or until it is gone). You should see results starting in about 7 days. After the stain is gone stop using the mixture and just wash with warm water and dry to keep it looking nice.

BRUSHING THE TEETH~

There is many tooth brushes and products out there to use for brushing your Bulldogs teeth and it should be done 3 times a week and give a few crunchy treats to help aid in his oral care as well. If the gums are inflamed and red or irritated see your vet.

BATHING~

Most Bulldogs enjoy getting a bath. It is suggested that unless your dog gets dirty she should only have a bath about 1 time a month. Bulldogs are inside dogs and usually don’t get very dirty. Use water that is lukewarm and try to give the bath in the morning so the Bulldog can find a window with the sun shinning in to lay in front of it to dry. Bath your Bulldog in a gentle and mild soap, remember that a dog skin is more sensitive than your skin. Avoid getting water and soap in the eyes, ears and nose. Talk with your dog while giving the bath and positive words goes a long way with a Bulldog. Start at the shoulders and work back, rinse well and dry with a towel, brush the coat when your done and again when the dog is dry. Frequent brushing will do more good for your dogs coat and appearance than bathing will do. Bulldogs are beautiful!

English Bulldog - British Bulldog breed Information

A Bulldog, also known as British Bulldog or English Bulldog, is a breed of dog which traces its ancestry to the British Isles. It should not be confused with other varieties such as the American Bulldog or the French Bulldog, which have a similar appearance.

Appearance

The bulldog is a breed with characteristically thick shoulders and a matching head. There are generally thick folds of skin on a bulldog's brow, followed by round, black, wide-set eyes, a short muzzle with characteristic folds called "rope" above the nose, with hanging skin under the neck, drooping lips, and pointed teeth. The coat is short, flat and sleek, with colors of red, fawn, white, brindle (mixed colors, often in waves or irregular stripes), and piebalds of these.

In the US, the size of a typical mature male is about 45 pounds and that for mature females is about 45 pounds. In the United Kingdom, the breed standard is 55 pounds for a male and 50 pounds for a female, though it is not uncommon for males to be 60 pounds.

While some canine breeds require their tails to be cut or docked soon after birth, bulldogs are one of very few breeds whose tail is naturally short and curled. A longer upright or "gay" tail is a serious fault in a show bulldog.

Temperament

Despite their famous "sourpuss" expression, bulldogs are generally docile although can prove to be very fast movers over a short distance. They are friendly and gregarious but occasionally willful. The phrase "stubborn as a bulldog" is loosely rooted in fact. They rank 77th out of 79 in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, being of lowest degree working/obedience intelligence.

Breeders have worked to breed aggression out of the breed, and as such the dog is known to be of generally good temperament. Bulldogs can be so attached to home and family that they will not venture out of the yard without a human companion. Due to their friendly nature bulldogs are known for getting along well with children, other dogs and pets.

Health

Statistics from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals indicate that of the 467 Bulldogs tested, 73.9% were affected by hip dysplasia, the highest amongst all breeds. Similarly, the breed has the worst score in the British Veterinary Association/Kennel Club Hip Dysplasia scoring scheme, although only 22 Bulldogs were tested in the Scheme. Patellar luxation is another condition which affects 6.2% of Bulldogs

Some individuals of this breed are prone to interdigital cysts, which are cysts that form between the toes. These cause the dog some discomfort, but are treatable either by vet or an experienced owner. They may also suffer from respiratory problems.

Other problems can include cherry eye, a protrusion of the inner eyelid (which can be corrected by a veterinarian), certain allergies, and hip issues in older bulldogs. Puppies are frequently delivered by Caesarean section because their characteristically large heads can become lodged in the mother's birth canal during natural birth. However, it is not entirely uncommon for a bulldog to whelp naturally and successfully.

The folds or "rope" on a Bulldogs face should be cleaned daily to avoid unwanted infections caused by moisture accumulation. Also, some bulldogs' naturally curling tails can be so tight to the body as to require regular cleaning and a bit of ointment.

Like all dogs, bulldogs require daily exercise. If not properly exercised it is possible for a bulldog to become overweight, which could lead to heart and lung problems, as well as joint issues.

Bulldogs are extremely sensitive to heat. Extra caution should be practiced in warmer climates and during summer months. Bulldogs must be given plenty of shade and water, and must be kept out of standing heat.

In January 2009, after the BBC documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed, the The Kennel Club introduced revised breed standards for the British Bulldog, along with 209 other breeds, to address health concerns. Opposed by the British Bulldog Breed Council, it was speculated by the press that the changes would lead to a smaller head, less skin folds, a longer muzzle, and a taller thinner posture, in order to combat perceived problems with respiration and with breeding due to head size and width of shoulders. The large head also means that cesarean sections are often required during birth. 

History

The term "bulldog" was first used around 1568 and might have been applied to other various ancestors of modern bulldog breeds before adorning the breed we recognize today. The Bulldog had its origin in the British Isles. The name "bull" was applied because of the dog's use in the sport of bull baiting. The original Bulldog had to be very ferocious and so savage and courageous as to be almost insensitive to pain. In 1835 dog fighting as a sport became illegal in England. Therefore, the English Bulldog had outlived his usefulness and his days were numbered. However, there were dog lovers who felt deep disappointment at the passing of the bred, and they set themselves the task of preserving it. They proceeded to eliminate the undesirable fierce characteristics and to preserve and accentuate the finer qualities. Within a few generations, the English Bulldog became one of the finest physical specimens, minus its original viciousness.

It has been theorized that bulldogs were bred in England as a cross between the Mastiff and the Pug, though their genetic origin is debated[5]. Since the pug did not arrive in Europe until the late 16th century, it is unlikely that the breed is an original progenitor of the Bulldog. The Bulldog and the Mastiff are widely thought to have common roots in the ancient Pugnaces Britanniae of Great Britain.

In the 1600s, bulldogs were used for bullbaiting (as well as bearbaiting)—a gambling sport popular in the 17th century with wagers laid while trained bulldogs leapt at a bull lashed to a post. The bulldog's typical means of attack included latching onto the animal's snout and attempting to suffocate it.

However, the bulldog's early role was not limited to sport. In mid-17th century New York, bulldogs were used as a part of a city-wide round-up effort led by governor Richard Nicolls. Because cornering and leading wild bulls was dangerous, bulldogs were trained to seize a bull by its nose long enough for a rope to be secured around its neck. The use of dogs for fighting with other dogs or other animals was banned in the United Kingdom by the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835, but Bulldogs as pets were continually promoted by dog dealer Bill George.

In time, the original Old English Bulldogwas crossed with the pug. The outcome was a shorter, wider dog with a brachycephalic skull. Though today's bulldog looks tough, he cannot perform the job he was originally created for, as he cannot withstand the rigors of running and being thrown from a bull, and cannot grip with such a short muzzle.

The oldest single breed specialty club is The Bulldog Club (England), which was formed in 1878. Members of this club met frequently at the Blue Post pub on Oxford Street in London. There they wrote the first standard of perfection for the breed. In 1891 the two top bulldogs, Orry and Dockleaf, competed in a contest to see which dog could walk the farthest. Orry was reminiscent of the original bulldogs, lighter boned and very athletic. Dockleaf was smaller and heavier set, more like modern bulldogs. Dockleaf was declared the winner that year. Although some argued that the older version of the bulldog was more fit to perform, the modern version’s looks won over the fans of the breed because they proved they were equally as fit and athletic in the walking competition.

 

At the turn of the 20th century, Ch. Rodney Stone became the first Bulldog to command a price of $5000 when he was bought by controversial Irish-American political figure