Old English Bulldog

Old English bulldog

Crib and Rosa
Country of origin	Britain
Traits
Classification and standards Extinct
Dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

This article is about the now extinct dog breed. For the modern recreation breed, see Olde English Bulldog.

The Old English bulldog was a breed of dog.

Appearance

The Old English bulldog was compact, broad and muscular, as reflected in the well-known depiction Crib and Rosa. The average height was approximately 15 inches, and they weighed about 45 pounds. A particular characteristic of the breed was the lower jaw that projected considerably in front of the upper jaw, which made possible a strong, vice-like grip. The nose was deeply set in the face, which allowed the dog to get enough air as it gripped the bull.

History

Wasp, Child and Billy

The English blood sport of bull-baiting allowed for a specialized breed in the form of the Old English bulldog. The main locations in London for these exhibitions were Westminster Pit, Bear Garden and Old Conduit Fields. One of the breeders who spanned the transition period between the Old English bulldog and the modern bulldog was famous dog dealer Bill George.

Breeding

Historians are fairly confident that the Old English bulldog is derived from ancient war dogs, such as the old Mastiff or Alaunt. Others believe that the true origin of the breed is not entirely clear. Depictions in old prints show that the variety was without doubt a small Mastiff with a comparatively long head. The word 'Mastiff' was eventually dropped when describing these smaller Mastiffs, as the Mastiff proper was found too slow for bull-baiting. Eventually, the Greyhound was crossed into the breed, increasing the mastiff's speed without losing the breed's ferocity. This step reduced the Old English bulldog's size and weight, with the Greyhound's features seen in specimens of that time.

Description

Two other recognized members of the breed can be seen in the 1817 painting Crib and Rosa, with Rosa exemplifying the form and size of the ideal type of Old English bulldog, albeit deficient in wrinkles about the head and neck and in substance of bone in the limbs. They are faster than regular bulldogs and have an average speed of 7 miles per hour.

Decline

In England, the passage of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 caused a decline of bull-baiting and dog fighting, leading to a lack of interest in perpetuating the Old English bulldog. Three dogs from the Duke of Hamilton's strain of Old English bulldog, 'Wasp, Child, and Billy,' were famously depicted in a painting and recognized as some of the last known members of the breed before they became extinct.

Despite the laws making dog fighting illegal the activity continued for many years. Breeders determined a cross between the Old English bulldog and Old English terrier created a superior fighting dog with increased quickness and dexterity. This new breed of dog, called the Bull and Terrier, was a precursor to the Bull Terrier and Pit Bull Terrier and accelerated the extinction of the Old English bulldog.

Reincarnations

Several breeders are attempting to recreate this extinct breed with some success. However, these recreations are not the Old English bulldog, as the genetics from this breed are extinct.

Olde English bulldogge

Main article: Olde English Bulldogge

One contemporary recreation of the breed is called the Olde English bulldogge. Starting in the 1970s, a breeding program developed for cattle at Ohio State University was used, with the aim of recreating the Old English bulldog. This modern day version, though possessing similar physical abilities, does not have the violent temperament of the Old English bulldog. This recreation was done by line-breeding to create a breed with a foundation of half bulldog, and the other half bullmastiff, American pit bull terrier, and American bulldog.^{[1] [2]}

Others

There are several other recreations but none have become popular, including but not limited to, the Able bulldog, Old Tyme bulldogge^[3], Renascence bulldogge, Victorian bulldog, Aylestone bulldog, Bulldog, and the Spanish bulldogge.

Bulldog

Main article: Bulldog

Often confused with the Old English Bulldog, the Bulldog is noted for its sweet disposition; however, it has maintained little of the speed and agility that were the definitive characteristics of the Old English Bulldog.

See also

• List of dog fighting breeds
• Bulldog breeds

References

1. ^ History of the Olde English Bulldogge
2. ^ History of the Olde English Bulldogge
3. ^ DOTB Club

Further reading

• Fleig, D. (1996). History of Fighting Dogs. Neptune, NJ: TFH Publications. ISBN 0-7938-0498-1
• Homan, M. (2000). A Complete History of Fighting Dogs. Howell Book House Inc. ISBN 1-58245-128-1
• Jenkins, R. (1997). The Story of the Real Bulldog. Neptune, NJ: TFH Publications. ISBN 0-7938-0491-4
• McDonald, J. (1985). The Book of the Bulldog. Neptune, NJ: TFH Publications. ISBN 0-86622-027-5

External links

• A Brief History of the Bulldog