Old English Bulldog facts for kids
Crib and Rosa
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| Origin | England |
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| Breed status | Extinct |
| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |
The Old English Bulldog was a strong and muscular type of dog. It is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists. This breed was once very popular in England.
Contents
What Did They Look Like?
The Old English Bulldog was a very strong dog. It had a compact, broad, and muscular body. A famous painting called Crib and Rosa shows how powerful these dogs looked. This painting became very well-known. These dogs were usually about 15 inches (380 mm) (38 cm) tall. They weighed around 45 pounds (20 kg) (20 kg).
History of the Breed
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The Old English Bulldog was specially bred for a sport called bull-baiting. This was a blood sport popular in England. In this sport, dogs would fight a bull. Famous places in London for these events included the Westminster Pit and Beargarden.
How They Were Bred
Many historians believe the Old English Bulldog came from ancient war dogs. These might have been dogs like the old English Mastiff or the extinct Alaunt dog. Other experts are not so sure about their exact origins. Old pictures show that these dogs looked like smaller Mastiffs. They had a longer head compared to modern bulldogs. The word 'Mastiff' was later dropped. This was because the larger Mastiffs were too slow for bull-baiting.
Describing the Old English Bulldog
The 1817 painting Crib and Rosa shows two other dogs of this breed. Rosa in the painting was a good example of an ideal Old English Bulldog. She showed the right shape and size. However, she did not have enough wrinkles around her head and neck. Her leg bones were also not as thick as they should have been.
Many writers have described the extinct bulldog. One of the most detailed descriptions came from William Hamilton Maxwell. He wrote about their looks and their brave nature.
He said the bulldog was short and had a deep chest. Its shoulders and thighs were very strong. Its head was broad, and its nose was short. The lower jaw stuck out, which made it look fierce. Its eyes were far apart and seemed to have a suspicious look. Even when calm, its teeth showed, making it look like it was always grinning.
Maxwell described them as the bravest dogs. They would attack any animal, no matter how big. He also noted that their brains were smaller than other dogs. This might have made them less intelligent. They were not easy to train. They were mostly good for fighting and being fierce.
These dogs got their name because they were used to attack bulls. They would always go for the bull's front. They would bite its lip, tongue, or eye. They would hold on very tightly. This showed their amazing strength. If a bulldog attacked a bull's legs, it was seen as a sign that the dog was not purebred. Young puppies, even at six months old, would attack a bull. They would rather die than give up.
These dogs were considered a unique breed from Britain. They were as original as the shepherd's dog or the Irish greyhound. Some people kept the breed pure for bull-baiting and dog fighting. However, these cruel sports started to decline.
Why They Disappeared
In England, a law called the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 was passed. This law made bull-baiting and dog fighting illegal. Because of this, people lost interest in breeding Old English Bulldogs. Three dogs named Wasp, Child, and Billy were some of the last known Old English Bulldogs. They were shown in a painting.
Even though dog fighting became illegal, it continued for many years. Breeders found that mixing the Old English Bulldog with the Old English Terrier created a better fighting dog. These new dogs were faster and more agile. This new breed was called the bull and terrier. It led to breeds like the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, and American Pit Bull Terrier. This also sped up the extinction of the Old English Bulldog.
Modern Recreations
Today, some breeders are trying to bring back this extinct breed. They use dogs that are related to the Old English Bulldog. However, the original breed died out before DNA was understood. So, it is hard to know exactly how much the new dogs resemble the old ones. Most modern versions have been bred to be less violent than the original.
One modern recreation started in the 1970s. It used a special breeding program. This program led to two types: the Olde English Bulldogge and the Leavitt Bulldog. The Leavitt Bulldog is lighter and more athletic. These modern dogs look similar to the old ones. But they do not have the violent temper of the original Old English Bulldog. These new breeds were created by mixing different dogs. They used half Bulldog, and then parts of Bullmastiff, American Bulldog, and American Pit Bull Terrier.
Other Recreations
There are other attempts to recreate the breed, such as the Continental Bulldog.
Old English Bulldog vs. Modern Bulldog
The modern Bulldog is often confused with the Old English Bulldog. The modern Bulldog is known for being sweet and gentle. However, it has lost most of the speed and agility that made the Old English Bulldog special.
See also
In Spanish: Antiguo Bulldog Inglés para niños
