| The English bulldog is not a very large but a very strong breed of dog having the characteristic features of a fat and short muzzle, flat and forked nose and wide forked upper lip, due to which the upper incisors are seen from inside. The fur is short, straight and close to the body. The bulldogs are very kind dogs. The bulldog is a reliable guard to its master.
History of the breed
The predecessors of the modern bulldogs were used for hunting strong and dangerous beasts for example, wild boars and bears. Earlier in North and South America the bulldogs were trained for hunting the fugitive slaves but with the abolishing of slavery this custom disappeared on its own.
At present there are many varieties of this breed but all of them are descendants of the huge bulldogs that existed way back in the 15th century which are now still seen in Spain. By power, strength of the jaws and anger, bulldogs are not a very suitable sort for hunting and that is why their genes cannot be crossed with many breeds of dogs: Russian wolfhound, foxhound, terrier and even pointers. Incidentally, bulldogs along with the Russian mastiffs were used for hunting bears and were bred in the 70s of the 19th century in Moscow by the Rogozhsky post.
Information about the varieties of bulldogs can be found in the history of the breed “bulldog” in the 18th century. At that time such dogs were not used for domestic purposes, but were used for hunting bears and bulls. This perhaps, is the most barbaric and unworthy deed of man. However, this bloody sport was the forerunner of the modern dog exhibitions and shows.
It is absolutely right to assume that in those times bulldogs were of other sizes than what it is now. They were massive dogs, more closely resembling Great Danes. Their job was that during close fights with the bull, they had to cling to the opponent at the most vulnerable place, i.e. the nose. Thus making the bull helpless. It is from this that there is no neck in the English bulldogs. The dog had to attack the enemy from a lower position that the latter can’t have it with his horns. Some huge bulldogs had to even completely come down as a reply to the lunge. That is why now while turning the head bulldogs are forced to turn around the entire body.
There are two more characteristic features of the given breed: the dog always attacks from below and having achieved the aim, it neither bites nor leaves, i.e. simply holds on tightly to the grip which is almost impossible to loosen. This happens due to the characteristic feature of the skull, allowing the nostrils to remain open after the gripping by the jaws. Before 1835 similar shows were prohibited by English law, it was possible to see that even after the death of the dog in such a duel, the jaws remained gripped to the nose of the bull. And to this day “the iron grip” of the bulldog is utterly impossible to release or to even persuade it to let go the victim.
The English bulldog is a splendid specimen of artificially bred dogs.
Wild dogs never resembled this.
It is unique, as no other breed of dog is so violently trained for acquiring such warrior like (noble) features like bravery and devotion, truth and stamina.
What sort is a perfect bulldog?
It is stumpy, medium sized, with straight but short and closely set fur. The torso of the bulldog is strong and solid.
The head is massive with a short hanging muzzle.
Broad shoulders and strong limbs
The dog should give an impression of a decisive, energetic and strong character.
The character of an English bulldog: balanced and friendly, decisive and courageous without spite and aggression, it behaves itself amicably and with dignity.
All these qualities should come out in its looks and behavior. The style and manner of the movements are the characteristic features of a bulldog.
Bulldog moves heavily, shuffling the paws sideways, as if waddling. However, the movements in the joints are not limited, it is free and energetic. |
