Old English Bulldogs
Some Interesting Facts about the Old English Bulldogs
The original English bulldog from the early 18th century was a staple in European families; today, the Old English Bulldogs take the best of its ancestor’s traits as it becomes one of America’s favorite breeds.
The ancestry of the Old English bulldogs is not attractive. In the very early Middle Ages, bull baiting was a favored sport. It involved using a courageous and tenacious dog that would seize a bull by the nose, the most sensitive area on the bull and hold tight. The bull, which was collared and tethered, had enough room to shake its head ferociously as it fought to shake loose its attackers. Dogs such as mastiffs were used in the beginning days of the sport, but were quickly found to be too large and slow moving to offer much sport. Many of these dogs were killed or rendered useless by the fierce swinging motions the bull provided. People began to breed a more efficient dog for the cause of the sport.
In the early 18th century, the bulldog evolved; named for its purpose. Its thick, heavy head was more suitable for the violent thrashings given by the bull; leaving fewer chances of the dog’s back being broken during the event. The temperament of this early bulldog was purposefully vicious, and their success in bull baiting brought the sport to a fever pitch. It wasn’t until 1835 that the sport was abolished by law, and the breeding of the bulldog dropped immediately.
In 1971, David Leavitt decided to attempt breeding a dog that would bear strong resemblance to this bull baiting animal. He did not, however, wish to recreate its fierce temperament. He utilized pictures, photographs and portraits from the era to determine the dog’s appearance, and used a line breeding program to begin developing the breed. This process resulted in the dog breed Mr. Leavitt coined as “Old English bulldog”. His desire was to build a new breed, not to recreate the original.
The resulting dog retained characteristics of courage and determination, but omitted the qualities of vicious behavior. While the Old English bulldog is not a recognized breed by the American Kennel Club, the standards for the breeding of this dog are established and firmly regulated by the Olde English Bulldogge Kennel Club.
The differences between the Old English bulldogs (OEB) and the English bulldogs are obvious. Larger in stature with less aggressive behavior, fewer health issues, and better breeding abilities, the OEB are also great with families with children.
Choosing an Old English bulldog as your pet will be as though taking a step back into the Middle Ages in appearance, but will provide you with a pet that is loving, loyal and easy going.