The modern British Bulldog is a Molosser breed who is taken far away from
its original form.
Wynn wrote in his 1886 book that the Bulldog and the English Mastiff evidently have arisen from
a common origin. Hugh Dalziel wrote in 1889 that the Mastiff and the Bulldog have the same origin,
and tells us that the reason to his believe is the characteristics they still have in common, despite
of so many years they have been bred in different directions.
Arrian wrote in the year 130 about the pugnaces of Britain and Gaul
(Belgium, on the shore of the British Ocean) in his Cynegeticus, observing that they were getting
scarce in their purity, having been much crossed with the larger and swifter breeds. It is easy
to analyse this to that the dog described by Arrian was the pre-Mastiff/Bulldog and that the Mastiff
were developed by crossing this dog with the above mentioned larger and swifter breeds. I will put up more about this
at a later time.
The Bulldog, from the medieval to the 1800's was clearly constructed to
be used at bull-fights, as his name Bull-dog shows. Some says that the Pug most likely, together with the
Mastiff, is the foundation of the Bulldog, but this I do not beleive. It is possible that one time or
another a Pug have been crossed with a Bulldog, but as the foundation of the breed, impossible!
The Mastiff and other large Molossers was not suited to be pittet against the bull, therefore they used the Bulldog,
whom with his large head, moves the center of gravity nearer the axis of rotation, when the Bulldog grab onto
the bulls nose,-and holds.
Why it is impossible that the Pug is the ancestor to the Bulldog? Because bullbating originated in 1204
and the Pug were first imported from Asia in the mid to late 16th century, and the Britons did not use
the large Mastiff to fight bulls from 1209 to the 16th century. Ok, they occasionaly let the Mastiff fight bulls but they soon realized that it was the smaller
and faster dogs which were better suited to the purpose. It does not make sense either, to cross the
already existing bull-fighters, whether it was Mastiffs or Bulldog, with the small Pug that hardly can protect
himself, and absolutly not fight successful with bulls or other animals, to produce a better bull-fighter.
My believe is that no Pug have been involved in the development of the pre-1800's Bulldog, and if the Pug one
time or another have been crossed with the Bulldog, it have likely been after the bullbaiting became
illegal in 1835, and from this time in history, the Bulldog successive changed to the animal today known as the English Bulldog.
Picture from "Illustrert Vitenskap".
As the picture above is showing the muzzle of the Bulldog changed radical over
just 45 years. The question is: is this possible without help from another breed? The Pug have the muzzle
needed to produce the Bulldog's changes. I do not say that this is the way the modern Bulldog have been made,
but only keeping the possibility open.
Some I have spoken with says that the Bulldog never have been a bigger dog, and that the size of the Bulldog today
is the size they always have been. All old illustrations and descriptions prove that they are wrong.
Even today there is born "throwbacks" of the Bulldog, with a too long muzzle and too long legs,
which indicate how the breed looked like before the modern-type were bred. Such a "throwback" can be found at this page;
"The Enlish Bulldog Spike".
"Cain", born 26th january 1908. His father "Lord Hesketh" was one of the
legendary Mr. Crabtrees first studs At the picture the dog is 13 months and 49 cm. at the withers.
It is also interesting that Bulldog breeders in the 1800's imported Spanish Bulldogs
into England, and used them in their breeding program. The Bulldog Club of England was however founded to prevent the infusion of the
Spanish Bulldog blood introduced by Mr. Frank Adcock and others, so it is most likely that the lines with the foreign blood had little
influence on the English Bulldog, if any at all.
When bullbaiting became illegal in 1835 the Bulldog lost their work, and would probably have died out without the
transforming to a pet-dog. The aggressive and agile bullbaiter were replaced with a friendlier but less functional
version of the same dog. As a result of this the modern Bulldog have lots of medical problems. Cherry eye, entropian,
extropian, demodectic skin mites (mange), skin allergies and birth via C-section are some of the problems of the Bulldog.
They also strive with dyplastic hips, and some modern Bulldogs have problems to breath, because of their flat muzzle.
"Sharrow Duke", owner Mr. W.H. Stocks, Sheffield. Picture from the early 1900's.
The aggressive nature is bred out of the former pit fighter. The Bulldog nowadays is a loving
family member. They are still stubborn and singleminded, and they also still ignore the pain a great deal, as the Bulldog
always have done.
The coat of the Bulldog are close, short and smooth. The breed comes in all colours exept grey
black, black and tan. Most common is white and pied.
The size of the Bulldog is usally below 40 cm. (15,7 in) and the weight about 20-25 kg. (44-55 lbs).
