Old English Bulldog Old English Bulldog - DOG BREEDS NOT RECOGNIZED BY FCI

History of the origin of the English Bulldog

No one knows the date of origin of the Old English Bulldog. Popularity in the 18th-19th centuries. The breed gained popularity thanks to popular entertainment – bull baiting. Over time, due to its ferocity, ruthlessness and strong jaw, the breed began to be exhibited in dog fights: in a matter of minutes, powerful bulldogs could tear apart an opponent.

Old English Bulldog

In the middle of the 19th century. Dog fighting was banned and Old English bulldogs were no longer bred, since they were not suitable for agriculture and as draft dogs. Over the course of a century, the breed completely disappeared, but the American veterinarian David Levitt in the 20th century. began to revive the breed.

Interesting! To create the breed, scientists crossed English and American bulldogs, pit bulls and bullmastiffs, selecting the largest, most valuable and viable representatives.

As a result of painstaking work, the Old English Bulldog was recreated. The dog turned out to be powerful, strong and energetic, but devoid of malice and aggression. The breed is small in number and is often found in America, although it has not been recognized by the Association of Dog Trainers.

The breed was revived in the 20th century.

How are Old English Bulldogs used?

Breeds that were bred specifically for fighting disappeared by the end of the 19th century, because these dogs were always used for such fun. But the bulldogs of the 20th century were bred for another purpose: to benefit people. And they easily cope with this task. In addition to the fact that this dog is an excellent companion, friend and protector of children, home guard and bodyguard, it is perfect as a partner for sports - running or cycling, as well as for use in special sports for dogs (agility, spring poling, etc. .). The nature of bulldogs allows them to be involved in police work when searching for and capturing criminals. After all, they are fearless, strong and are accustomed to always finishing what they start. And because of their high intelligence and ability to make decisions independently, they are successfully used in canistherapy - the treatment of certain diseases through communication between patients and dogs.

Interesting facts about the breed

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The Old English Bulldog is a short-legged, proud dog with many interesting stories associated with it, since the breed has come a long and difficult path from its fighting past to its peace-loving present.

Amazing facts:

For many brands, the English bulldog represents reliability, quality and dignity. The breed is also the emblem and symbol of many sports teams.
Any material depicting an old English bulldog is of interest to collectors.
Winston Churchill loved to have a photo shoot with bulldogs.
Due to the structure of their nose, dogs are not adapted to prolonged physical activity.
Bulldogs do not tolerate heat well.
The dog has its own opinion, which often does not coincide with the opinion of the owner. Therefore, it is better to negotiate with the breed, rather than force and subjugate.

How to get a dog of this breed

Modern Old English Bulldogs are a very rare breed. They are not recognized in Europe, so they are found mainly in America. But lovers of purebred breeds can still buy a puppy. First you need to make sure that the bulldog is right for you. The price of this particular breed in our country is quite high - up to 70 thousand. But to find a puppy, you will have to try, because kennels in Russia mainly offer ordinary English bulldogs. Most often, purebred puppies are brought from abroad.

Appearance of the dog, breed standard

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The Old English Bulldog is a powerful, medium-sized dog with a large head and muscular body. The breed has good health and an athletic build. The sizes of adult specimens are controlled by breed standards:

male weight – 45-50 kg, female – 40-48;
height of a male is 30-48.5, females - 23-30.

Important! Minor deviations from the norm are not taken into account in the overall assessment.

Standard and external description of the breed:

The head is powerful and high, with a slight groove between the eyes. The diameter of the head must be equal to or greater than the height at the withers. The muzzle is not shorter than half the length of the head and reaches 4 cm to the nose.
Teeth – underbite, lower jaw noticeably raised. The lower canines should not protrude.
The nose is wide with open wide nostrils, should be located at the level of the bridge of the nose, strictly below eye level. The nose is black.
The eyes are small, widely set. Eye color should be in harmony with the coat; different eye colors are acceptable, but not desirable. The eyelids are partially or completely pigmented.
The ears are triangular in shape with rounded tips, set on cartilage. Located on the sides of the head or at eye level.
The body is powerful, rectangular. The bone structure of males is square or balanced, while that of females is slightly elongated. The neck is short, muscular, wide, harmoniously extending into the shoulders. The scruff is not pronounced. The sternum is wide, the depth of the chest should reach the elbows.
Limbs – short, strong. Shoulders well laid back with significant articulation angles. The front legs are straight and widely spaced. The elbows are placed close to the chest. Hind legs with a significant bend in the joints and muscular thighs. The joints are strong, but not large. The brush is collected into a dense ball.
The tail is saber-shaped, set below the level of the spine. A docked tail is acceptable, but not desirable.
The coat is smooth, short, thick. The color can be any, spots, specks, brindle are allowed.

An adult male weighs 50 kg

What does an Old English Bulldog look like?

Photos of these dogs make it possible to understand how they differ from modern bulldogs. Purebred dogs of this breed should be medium in size, strong and muscular. Their height at the withers does not exceed 50 centimeters, usually even less. The body is compact and powerful, the dog is proportionally built. The head has folds, like all bulldogs, but there are not so many of them, and the skin is thick. If you compare the appearance of a modern Old English Bulldog with engravings depicting scenes of hunting or bull baiting, you can see that the dog turned out exactly the same as in the past.

Disqualifying faults

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To avoid making mistakes when buying a puppy, it is important to know the breed standards and disqualifying faults. Disadvantages of the breed:

the head is narrow or visually small;
elongated muzzle with a scissor or level bite;
lack of pigmentation or lightened nose;
erect, high-set, pointed or cropped ears are a serious fault of the breed;
asymmetrical shape and size of the eyes;
underdeveloped, narrow sternum;
straight shoulders, straight hind legs, loose and elongated toes are considered disqualifying faults;
Signs of increased waviness and long hair are considered a deviation.

The character of the animal and the characteristics of its upbringing

Levitt managed to breed a dog that was similar in appearance to the old-type breed, but differed in character. She turned out to be not evil and smart. This obedient dog quickly becomes attached to its owner, gets along with other pets, and gets along with children. Despite its good-natured disposition, if the owner is in danger, the dog turns into a formidable beast and attacks the enemy without fear.

Aggression occurs during times of danger

The Bulldog has a guard instinct, so it is often used as a bodyguard. The breed is intelligent and mentally balanced. Loves outdoor games and physical activity. At home he behaves calmly, so the dog is suitable for apartment living.

The dog shows its stubbornness during training. Without praise, she does not listen to her owner and refuses to follow commands.

For your information! If approved, the dog is hardworking and easy to train.

Education and training

The Old English Bulldog has pronounced leadership qualities, so it needs to be raised strictly, patiently and consistently, starting from the first days of being in the house. Having not sensed a “steady hand” since childhood, he will periodically try to seize power.

If the owner feels that he cannot cope with the training, it is better to contact a dog handler, but do not try to “push” the dog with blows. Physical punishment is not recommended for the breed. From a very young age, socialization is important: the Old English Bulldog must interact normally not only with the owner and members of his family, but also with strangers.

Similar article: History of origin and description of the German bulldog

Rules of care and feeding

The Old English Bulldog is constantly chewing and gnawing on something. It is extremely difficult to wean a pet from this bad habit, so there must be rubber or latex toys in the house, otherwise the owner’s personal belongings and furniture will be damaged.

According to veterinarians, dry food is not suitable for bulldogs, so it would be preferable to feed the dog with natural products. The diet should contain meat, cereals, eggs, offal, vegetables (except potatoes, cabbage, legumes). An adult dog is given fresh meat, a puppy is given boiling water over beef. Porridge is cooked in water with the addition of vegetable oil and chopped herbs.

Important! An Old English Bulldog can live for 12-15 years with caring owners.

Meals should be taken at a strictly set time; complementary feeding from the table is undesirable, since bulldogs are prone to overeating. The dog is prohibited from giving baked goods, sugar, spicy and salty foods. Bread is given in the form of crackers as a reward.

Description of the breed

The Old English version, faithfully recreated in the twentieth century, is different from the rest of the bulldog family. have been established for them :

body. This is a very powerful animal, strong, strong and well-developed muscles,
height. They rarely exceed fifty centimeters in height, but they are very heavy,
weight. An adult cable can weigh up to fifty kilograms. This weight is achieved due to large muscle mass,
eyes. Dark in color, spaced far apart, round in shape,
ears. Widely spaced, small with thin skin. They have funny curves that allow you to see the uncovered auricle,
the fur is always short. The color may be different, but always uniform,
the tail is always small, starting from birth.

To understand the dog's character, one must understand Levitt's intentions. A learned veterinarian dreamed of reviving a long-forgotten dangerous dog so that it could become a friend and protector. His dream came true. Today's Old English Bulldog is a true gentleman who is completely devoid of aggression, gets along well with other animals, but can become a real guard, as he is strongly attached to his owner.

The result that the American veterinarian achieved is truly amazing, but we should not forget that genetic memory is difficult to turn off completely. Training your puppy has a huge impact on the results you get as your pet grows.

You must clearly show your ward who is boss, show toughness in upbringing and achieve complete obedience and obedience. You have chosen this particular breed for yourself, which means you must understand what responsibility you have taken on . Before you is a powerful beast, born to kill or fearlessly die in battle. Of course, modern dogs evoke more affection and a smile than a feeling of fear, but it is within your power to ensure that it remains so in the future.

Caring for your four-legged friend will not be the easiest. Fine wool needs constant brushing with a special brush. If you live in a cold region, you must remember that your pet cannot tolerate low temperatures and must be dressed in clothes specially made for it. The digestive system of bulldogs is also not omnivorous. should be carefully controlled , giving preference to specialized luxury feeds.

The bulldog needs to constantly chew something, so that he does not chew all your shoes, provide him with rubber toys. Walking in the fresh air will have to be done at least twice a day. Do not deny your pet active games and, if possible, keep company.

Grooming

The dog's short hair does not cause much trouble for the owner. Combing is carried out 3 times a week with a massage mitten or a brush with natural bristles.

Bulldogs often suffer from tartar, so the dog is taught preventive cleaning from an early age. For cleaning, use a specially designed brush and paste. If tartar is found, it is strictly forbidden to remove it yourself. It is best to go to a veterinary clinic, where the stone will be removed with ultrasound.

Hygiene comes first

Every evening the ears are examined. The slightest redness or irritation can lead to otitis media. To prevent ear diseases, ear cleaning is carried out once a month with special antiseptic agents.

Walk

Regardless of where you live, the dog is walked at least 2 times a day. While walking, she should get physical activity. To strengthen the bones and build muscle mass, cynologists recommend taking long walks, walking uphill, and running after a bicycle from puppyhood.

The weather for walks with exercise should be moderately warm, since due to the nature of the dog’s build, in hot weather the dog can get heatstroke.

Important! A harness for an English Bulldog is only needed during puppyhood. An adult dog must be walked strictly on a leash.

How to choose a puppy

They buy a puppy at 2 months of age, since earlier weaning from the mother is extremely undesirable. When purchasing, the breeder must provide a veterinary passport and pedigree. When choosing the gender of a puppy, it is important to consider that girls are more flexible, careful, and quick to learn, while boys are curious, stubborn and cocky.

Important! After purchasing a puppy, you don’t have to worry about coming up with a nickname for your pet, since the name is already written in the pedigree.

It is better to purchase a puppy from a nursery