White English Bulldog

Infobox Dogbreed
name = White English Bulldog


image_caption = Hedden's Buddy Roe
altname = Old English White, English White, White English
nickname = White English
country = United States
life_span = 10-16 years
litter_size = up to 16

The White English Bulldog is a very old and rare breed of dog, originating in early [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Florida Spanish Florida] , originally bred as war dogs to defend the forts and homesteads against Indians, wolves, panthers, and bears. Farmers today use them to control unruly cattle and swine, but primarily, for the defense of livestock and family, especially children. Other names include: Old English White, English White, and White English.

Description

The White English Bulldog is a family and livestock protection dog. Controller and retriever of the roughest livestock, even in wetlands. Suffices as an all around hunter from treeing squirrels to bears. The WEB is not bred to be a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunting_dog hunting dog] , though it suffices adequately. A very old and extremely rare breed in it's true form, the WEB is a medium to large dog bred as an all around farm and stock dog, specifically protection of such. A moderate agile bodied dog standing on moderate but powerful legs of average bone. The neck should be solid; shoulders should be well muscled and well defined. Elbows should be in line with the dog's shoulders and feet. The musculature is not extreme or bulging as to allow for agility, quickness, and endurance. The coat is coarse with slight feathering on back of hind legs. Coat colors include white, with or without patches of color, shades of red brown, all shades of brindle; never covering more than 25% of body. Black only pigmentation and spotting which is found on the skin, around the eyes, on the nose and lips, and the genitalia. The head is square with noticeable or moderate stop. Supra-orbital arches pronounced with a center crease between the eyes to the back of the head. Muzzle square and broad, half brick 2 1/2" to 3 1/2". Bite: Scissor, reverse scissor to 1" under at most. The ears are rolled, flapped, or cropped. The eyes can be any shade of brown, amber, blue is a fault and considered an indication of crossbreeding. The feet are round and compact with noticeable webbing between toes. When the tail is not docked, it is thick at the base and feathered at the end.

Extremely agile and feline in movement, the breed has great body strength, jaw strength, and endurance.

The WEB is not an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Bulldog American Bulldog] , (Old) Southern White, (Old) Country White, (Old) Country Bulldog, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulldog AKC English Bulldog] , Old Time Southern Bulldog, Plantation Bulldog, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antebellum_Bulldog Antebellum Bulldog] , [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alapaha_Blue_Blood_Bulldog Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog] , or the Altman White English Bulldog, etc. Rather, the WEB is the foundation breed for these modern bull-breeds, with the exception of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulldog AKC English Bulldog] .

Temperament

Loyal and fiercely protective of its master, the master's family, property, livestock and especially the children. A non-dominant dog that does not require a firm handed master, the WEB is submissive to it's master and master's family, especially children. The WEB is aloof with and untrusting of strangers, does not require much attention or activity, often appearing lazy. Highly intelligent and intuitive, the WEB requires little to no training.

History

The White English Bulldog developed in the early pioneer days in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Florida Spanish La Florida] . Florida was settled by the Spanish military, rather than citizens. The Spanish Conquistadores started to conquer present day Florida in 1513 and were met by hostile tribes, quite unlike other areas of the new world. Though cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, chickens, and dogs were brought to the New World, Florida remained a hostile environment. Dogs required to defend the forts and homesteads were war dogs used in defense of Indians, wolves, panthers, and bears. Various dogs of Alaunt type, including the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alano Spanish Alano] , a few French, Italian, Portuguese, and English [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaunt Alaunts] all first brought by the Spanish to the Americas, were employed in the task of defense, thus the English name White English, as these dogs were later referred to by English speaking peoples.

Defense type dogs, known as Perro de Ayuda, became even more urgent in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Florida Spanish Florida] as the English pushed for war. The first attack on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._augustine_florida St. Augustine] , by the English was in 1702. The Spanish military set cattle in the moat to defend the fort. The cattle were smaller, athletic, and agile with long sharp horns, the predecessor of the Texas Longhorns. War raged off and on for over a hundred years between La Florida and the new major English military settlements in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savannah,_Georgia Savannah, Georgia] . However, it was the US that drove out the Spanish in 1819. The Spanish settlers dispersed into all directions into frontier lands from lower Florida to middle Georgia. As the English moved in, the cattle industry flourished and as well, the bulldogs of the newer English bull-baiting type were introduced into the area. While one can compare the amalgamation of breeds behind the WEB to the melting pot of the human races, separation of breed type can be identified, although the origins of the White English as well as the early history of the Spanish in Florida have long been forgotten. The White English still represent the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaunt Alaunt of the butchers, (Alaunt de Boucherie)] type, rather than the bulldog as developed in England. Farmers today use them to control unruly cattle and swine, but most importantly, for the defense of livestock and family, especially children. The White English are being repopulated by the [http://www.bttbab.com White English Bulldog Preservation Society] for use by farmers, ranchers, and open range grazers of livestock for serious predator eradication.

Health

The Breed has very few health problems. Many common problems, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_dysplasia_(canine) hip dysplasia] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbow_dysplasia elbow dysplasia] , entropian or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_eye cherry eye] , breathing difficulties, or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_torsion gastric torsion] , that plague other bull breeds are rarely found in the White English. Deafness, common in white coated breeds, is rarely found in the breed.

The most frequent health problems and injuries within the breed are arthritis, (due to years of rigorous work and or old age), knee injuries, defensive wounds from predators and snake bites.

Reproduction

White English females as old as 15 years have been known to whelp healthy litters without problems or intervention. Males can often sire litters at 6 months. (These breeding practices are not advocated by the [http://www.bttbab.com WEBPS,] a group dedicated to the preservation of the breed). Litters typically number above 10 and often up to 16.

The White English is a tough and hearty breed that requires little to no pampering. Despite their rigorous work, medical intervention is seldom required.

Recognition

Breed recognition includes the [http://www.bttbab.com White English Bulldog Preservation Society] , (The Official Registry of the Breed), and the [http://www.bbcdogregistry.com Backwoods Bulldog Club] .

See also

* [http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaunt Alaunt]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alano Alano]

References

1. "American Bulldog Review, The True History of the Spanish Conquest of the Americas" by Casey Courturier. Vol. 7, Issue 4. 2001, American Bulldog Association.

2. "American History, A Survey" 7th Edition, by Richard N. Current, T. Harry Williams, Frank Freidel, Alan Brinkley. ISBN:0-394-36535-6, 1983. Alfred A. Knopf Inc. pages 16-19.

3. "Cattle Raising in Spanish Florida, 1513-1763" by Charles W. Arnade, Assoc. Professor of History: University of Florida, Gainesville; Assoc. Editor: Florida Historical Quarterly. St. Augustine Historical Society 1965.

4. "Dogs of the Conquest" by John Grier Varner, Jeannette Johnson Varner. 1983, University of Oklahoma Press.

5. "Fighting Dog Breeds" by Dr. Dieter Fleig. ISBN:0-7938-0499-X, 1996, TFH Publications Inc.

6. "Making America, A History of the United States" 4th Edition, by Carol Berkin, Christopher L. Miller, Robert W. Cherny, James L. Gormly. ISBN:0-618-51558-5, 2006. Houghton Mifflin Co. pages 35-36.

7. "Mastiffs, the Big Game Hunters, Their History, Development and Future" by Col. David Hancock MBE. ISBN:0-9527-8013-5, 2000. Charwynne Dog Features Publishing.

8. "The Story of the Real Bulldog" by Robert Jenkins, Ken Mollett. ISBN:0-7938-0491-4, 1997. TFH Publications, Inc. page 18.

9. [http://www.bttbab.com White English Bulldog Preservation Society] , Official Breed Registry for the White English Bulldog. Hawkinsville, Georgia.

External Links

[http://www.bttbab.com White English Bulldog Preservation Society]

[http://www.bbcdogregistry.com Backwoods Bulldog Club]

[http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/index.htm Dog Breed Info Center]

[http://chla.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=chla;cc=chla;sid=53eba3dd449f692d21bb8bf2636fbecf;rgn=full%20text;idno=5077685_112_003;view=image;seq=0006 "Cattle Raising in Spanish Florida, 1513-1763" by Charles W. Arnade]