 The
Olde English Bulldog originated in England
between 1600 and 1880. They were bred to participate in blood sports
like bull baiting. This so called sport, became quite popular in
England by the middle of the 18th Century. Bull baiting primarily
consisted of staking out a bull and allowing several bulldogs to
attack it. A dog of great courage and agility was needed for bull
baiting. This dog was of medium size; larger dogs were considered
to be the result of mastiff crosses. Around 1835, laws were passed
in England prohibiting bull baiting and the Olde English Bulldog's
main purpose of existence vanished. Within a decade the numbers
of bulldogs declined drastically. Dog show fanciers eventually decided
to reconstruct the breed, but wanted to tone down the aggressive
temperament of the original Olde English Bulldog. They crossed existing
stock with the pug and over the years that followed they developed
the modern English bulldog. Unfortunately though, this modern dog
is wrought with all kinds of genetic problems. The modern Olde English
Bulldog is a reconstruction of the original bulldog of the 17th
and 18th century. Various crosses have been used to obtain this
goal. Usually English Bulldog, American Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Boxer
and Pitbull have been used in various combinations to obtain the
desired physical and mental traits of the original Olde English
Bulldog. The result has been a good looking bulldog of great athletic
ability and a much healthier dog. The goal of all Olde English Bulldog
breeders should be to produce a genetically healthier bulldog that
is a free breather, free breeder, and free whelper. |
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