English Bulldog

The English Bulldog is classified as a non-sporting dog breed. English Bulldogs have a long and interesting history. The exact origin of the breed is unknown; probably its ancestors were the Alaunts and Pugnaces – large and strong dogs of the Mastiff type. The first record of the English Bulldog dates back to the 13th century, when the breed was fully developed. The primary purpose of the breed was to control bulls and herd cattle. Later, these dogs were used for bull baiting. Old time breeders selected Bulldogs specially for this cruel sport. They took the strongest and the most agile dogs with a short muzzle, undershot bite, and a well-muscles body.

In 1835, when bull baiting was outlawed, the English Bulldog lost its popularity. It was not successful in pit fighting and became a family pet. Breeders of the 19th century emphasized the appearance of the English Bulldog and made these dogs look too exaggerated to survive without human assistance. Actually, a present-day Bulldog is not suited for bull baiting, because it lost most of the agility, endurance, strength, courage, and sure grip of its ancestors.

The English Bulldog is a medium-sized dog with the average height around 12-16 inches and the average weight around 49-55 lbs. There is no fixed size for this breed, but smaller dogs are praised higher. The hallmark of the breed is its large head with massive square jaws. The circumference of the skull should be equal or slightly exceed the wither height of the English Bulldog. The muzzle should be wrinkled, with deeply set large round eyes, small ears, and large nose with open nostrils.

The chest and shoulders of the English Bulldogs are very wide and massive; the body is stocky, but not round; the front legs are set wider than the hind legs. The tail of the English Bulldog is short and carried low. The coat of these dogs is very short and smooth. The breed standard is not very strict concerning the coat color. English Bulldogs come in brindle, white, fawn, red, or yellowish. Bi-colored and tri-colored dogs are accepted. The English Bulldog can have a black muzzle, but solid black coat is not accepted.