Brief historical summary:

With a breeding program known to go back to the late 1980's, Steve Barnett of England, UK, set out to re-create his ideal Bulldogge of old, utilising his earlier experiances of the various bulldog crosses he was involved in breeding, some of which went into the foundation stock of the late Victorian Bulldog breeder Mr. Ken Mollett, whom originally set out to produce a fitter Kennel Club Bulldog.
Steve Barnett's goal has always been to produce a National Bulldogge. A dog which is brought out into the show or bull-ring with pride, to stand beside of your dog knowing that he is an athelet, capable of non stop energy, worthy of the name gladiator, a true bulldog both in appearance and traditional bulldog tempermant, and not a nuisance around animals and other dogs, but with a inbred fire if needed, or called upon, a dog that would grace the arena of any show in any country any were in the world, and be gazed upon with true spirit and real national pride. Not shown amongst the fruit and vegetables in a wheel barrow, like the KC dogs of today, Steve found his desired bulldogge's, way back in history being bred strong in the early 16th century, bred for the Kings and Queens of the Tuder period as the bear baiting dogs of old, the same dogs which were bred for the early barbaric sports of both bear baiting and bullbaiting
During the Tuder period both these bloody sports were at a height of national past time's. The normal person, although poverty stricken and hungry, seemed to always find the odd half penny to attend the various bear pits that lined the south side of the Thames as early as 1506, mentioned by Shakespeare and other known writers in their day. Henry the VIII (1509 -47) had a real strong liking and interest, in the early bear pits and bullbaiting, appointing the first official master of the game. Documented in history Queen Elizabeth had a facination for the sport of bull and bear baiting, and she also visited Kenilworth Castle in 1575, then owned by the Earl of Leicester, where 13 bears were assembled for her amusement.
Although this was the height of the bull and bear baiting period in old England, a bill to end bull-baiting was defeated as late in history as 1829 by forty -five votes, only to be abolished 6 years further on in 1835.
A royal sport that has been documented through out history for close on 400 years.......these early dogs were the back bone to the know out of the shape of the Bulldog of today, the kind that won the hearts and minds of the early writers of the day, that stamped the seal, that brought national pride to the words English Bulldogge.
Our goal has been to re-produce this early broad muzzled flat faced dog of old, but to still keep the traditional shape and charector we have all come to love. In doing this, Steve Barnett presents us with the Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge, the original English Bulldogge , our National breed, the better, fitter, Bulldogge.

Description:

A medium size dog whom stands proud and out from the rest, fearless, confidant, alert yet docile,
Showing great strength, a real powerhouse, whom attracts stares and comments, with regards to his strong
hard atheletic physic, yet still close coupeled and compact, enough to promote the traditional Bulldog looks, that are common with regards to his breeding, stocky atheletic imposing.

Temperament:

A very good all round family member, 100% loyal among the children and keen to please and be a part of the family circle, not homed as a guardian, but a determined protector none the less.
If you are active or laid back, the Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge will fit into any life style, keen to lay at your feet or walk at your side.
A good companion very attached to his master and very affectionate,...longs to be loved.

Height:

Desired height for both sexes is 48-61 cm. (19-24 in) at the shoulder. The height and weight should be in keeping with a symmetrical, well proportioned body, keeping the apperance of the strong traditional Bulldogge looks.

Weight:

Desired weights for both sexes: 27-41 kg. (60-90 lbs), prefering a strong stocky musceled physic.

Mastini's Monty of el Alamein.

Forequarters:

Shoulders muscular and slightly sloping. Forelegs straight, well boned and set well apart. Eelbows turned neither in or out, feet broad and strong, toes tight, nails curved and strong, pads thick and tougth.

Hindquarters:

Broad and muscular, with well developed second thigh denoting power, but not cumbersome. Moderate angulation at hocks. Cow hocks and splay feet are serious faults.

Gait:

Powerful, heavy good drive from the hindquarters.

Tail carriage:

Straight tail or pump handle preferred and most desired, but crank and cork screw accepted.

Head shape:

Large strong head, the upper region of the head is slightly convex from one side to the other, the forehead dominates the face. However, it is still wider than high, the head is furrowed, with loose thick and wrinkeled skin around the throat and side of head.
Cheeks: prominent, due to the strong development of the muscles.
Broad muzzle: with obvious folds, broad and deep, keeping its length in comparison with that of the entire head.
Nose broad, well open nostrails. Lack of foreface with nostrails set on top of muzzle is a reversion back to the Kennel Club Bulldog and is very undesirable.
cCare taken to keep the traditional strong Bulldogge head, allowing short strong enougth muzzle to not hinder breathing while still keeping the solid close coupled broad set Bulldog looks.

Ears:

Ear set high and wide, rose preferred, button accepted.

Body:

Compact. Chest wide and deep with ribs well sprung and well set down between the fore legs.
Back: short, giving the impression of a well balanced dog.

Neck & topline:

Neck slightly arched, of moderate length, very muscular and almost equal to the circumference to the skull.
Top line: solid with a broad and muscular back, withers well marked, broad loin, rather short and solid.

Coat:

Fine texture, smooth flat, short coat desired, similar to the gloasy sheen of the Staffordshire Bullterrier. Double or oily coat undesired.

Colour:

Any colour acceptable: Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge bred in variations of brindle, variations of pied, also black and slate grey-blue. The slate grey blue's known as Dorset Blue Poole's, as a respect & tribute to the original Blue Paul (pol) of Scotland, and the area of Poole in Dorset. This breeding is still at the early stage's of Steve's breeding program, and have only just after a few years started to reproduce type, in colour.

Living conditions:

Can live indoors or out, will need the benifit of a good dry draft free kennel.

Exercise:

Can handle any amount of exercise, the dog will adjust and fit into your schedual, proceed as you mean to continue. If you are active or layd back, the Dorset Bulldogge will fit into any life style, keen to lay at your feet or walk at your side.

Health problems:

None

Life expectancy:

Some dogs known to live up to 14 years.

Grooming:

Just a daily wipe over with a brush or cloth is all that is required. Dogs with slightly more jawles should have extra care taken with regards to the folds and wrinkles round the mouth and muzzle, a damp cloth wiped round these parts will keep clean and free from discoluering.

N.B:

Male dogs should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Mastini's Buster.