ENGLISH BULLDOG Breed Standards
The term "bulldog" was first used around 1568 and might have been applied to various ancestors of modern bulldog breeds. It has been theorized that Bulldogs were bred in England as a cross between the mastiff and the pug, although their genetic origin is debated.
In the 1600s, bulldogs were used for bullbaiting (as well as bearbaiting) a gambling sport popular in the 17th century with wagers laid in which trained bulldogs leapt at a bull lashed to a post, latched onto its snout and attempted to suffocate it. Bulldogs were not needed after these sports were outlawed, and so the original athletic bulldog was crossed with 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 speciality club is The Bulldog Club (England), which was formed in 1875. Members of this club met frequently at the Blue Post pub on Oxford St 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.
SKILLS: Family pet, non-sportin.
SIZE: The English Bulldog weighs 22 – 25kg (48 ½ - 55 lb) and stands 31 – 36cm (12 – 14 in).
COAT: The coat is short and is found in beige, red-brown, brindle (with or without a black face), white (with lots of dark pigment on the muzzle and eye) and piebald. Black liver, and black tan are not acceptable colors.
CARE REQUIRED: When the Bulldog sheds, it is easy to remove dead and loose hairs with a rubber brush. When necessary clean the folds in the face with a special lotion made for this purpose. The English Bulldog prefers to lie in a draught-free soft, dry place, and a kennel can be suitable if it meets those requirements.
CHARACTER: The Bulldog is animated, spontaneous, uncomplicated, and equable with a sense of humor, gentle-natured, sensitive but demanding of itself. This dog can be fearless if necessary, intelligent in a thoughtful way, and peaceful in the house. These dogs are very affectionate and prefer to be close to the family. Affectionate, but sometimes stubborn; great with kids.
TRAINING: Bulldogs are usually easy to train. They are very sensitive to your voice or voices and will often respond to a friendly but determined request. Consistency is most important in training these dogs and be sure they understand what you want.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: Mixing with other dogs and household pets is usually problem-free. They make ideal friends for children and are very tolerant. Most also have a well-developed sense of humor. Some English Bulldogs are extremely wary of strangers, while others are friends with everybody.
EXERCISE: This is not a breed requiring long walks. The English Bulldog will be quite happy with those short outings a day and for the rest of the time they will be pleased to stay in the house or yard, provided the family is close by, which makes them ideal for less active people. Bulldog puppies have a tendency to keep on running and playing when they are exhausted. Make sure they get sufficient rest and limit their exercise so that their energy can be used to build healthy bones, joints and muscles. They are not able to withstand heat, so make sure they have somewhere cool to lie in on hot days.
