History
Bulldog's History Few breeds can truly claim an ancient history. Many were shaped in the mid-nineteenth century, products of the Victorian era’s creativity and curiosity. The Bulldog is one of the breeds that began to reach its modern form in Victorian times, but its origin goes back much further in time. The early Bulldog was very different from the low-slung, shambling but dignified dog we know today. The first Bulldogs were tall, with a smaller head than the modern version of the breed. They were certainly more fierce, given their use in bull-baiting ( a dog grabs a bull by the nose to hold it in place), which was done not only for pragmatic need to bring young bulls in for breeding or castration, but also a popular past time. This dubious sort became so widespread that by the end of the 13th century, it was the rare market town that did not have a bull ring. A successful Bulldog had a thick, strong, overshot jaw to aid in grasping the bull; a short flat muzzle to help air pass through the nostrils while the dog was champed onto the bull; and a hard, rangy body, able to take a beating and survive being tossed into the air by an angry bull. Human nature being what it is, people found pleasure in pitting the dogs not only against bulls but against each other. Although they might be ferocious toward other animals, the Bulldogs learned to turn a gentler face toward people. Those that didn’t were ruthlessly culled. By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Bulldogs were a recognizable type, with long legs, heavy bones and muscle, and straight tails. It was during the 19th century that the Bulldog’s appearance began to change, a result not only of new human laws but also of the rise of dog shows. Dog fighting was outlawed in England in 1835, making the bull breeds some of the earliest beneficiaries of the budding humane movement. With the decline in dog fighting, however, Bulldogs faced the risk of extinction. Luckily for them, their fanciers-along with the advent of dog shows-intervened to keep the breed alive. People began breeding Bulldogs for exhibition, and during this time their appearance began to change. By the mid-nineteenth century, Bulldogs had become shorter in leg with larger heads, but they retained their strength and tenacity. At the end of the nineteenth century, the Bulldogs more closely resembled what it looks like today, a dog of medium size, with a heavy, thick-set, low-swung body; a massive, short-faced head; and wide shoulders with sturdy limbs. The Bulldog’s temperament evolved as well. It softened considerably as the dog became less of an outdoor farm animal and more a show animal and family pet. The breed standard calls for a dog with a disposition that is equable and kind, resolute and courageous, and a demeanour that is pacific and dignified. In the past century, Bulldogs became considerably sounder and healthier overall. After the introduction of a distemper vaccine in the 1930s, more dogs survived puppyhood, which allowed breeders a better chance to use the best animals in the litter. The bulldog’s biggest setbacks occurred due to WWI and WWII, when many English breeders were forced to disband their kennels. Many of the best dogs were sent to America at the time and up through the 1950s, which allowed the American dogs to finally be on par with those overseas. As the Bulldogs enters the 21st century, the breed is still very popular without being common. Bulldogs are among the top 20 breeds registered by the CKC. Given its reputation as a sociable yet courageous friend, the Bulldog is sure to keep its place as a firm favourite of knowledgeable dog lovers.
For the history of the French Bulldog breed please visit this excellent website for more information:
French Bulldog History