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"The Olde English Bulldogge originated in England between 1600 and 1700. These were the early ancestors to many of the Bull breeds that exist today including the English bulldog and the American Bulldog. They were bred to participate in sports like bull baiting. This sport, became quite popular in England through out the middle of the 18th Century. Bull baiting consisted of staking out a bull and allowing several Bulldogges to attack it. A dog of great courage and agility was needed for bull baiting. This dog was of medium size; larger dogs were considered to be the result of mastiff crosses.
Around 1835, laws were passed in England prohibiting bull baiting and the Olde English Bulldogges main purpose of existence vanished. Within a decade the numbers of bulldogs declined drastically almost to extinction. Dog show fanciers eventually decided to reconstruct the breed, but wanted to tone down the aggressive temperament of the original Olde English Bulldogge. They crossed the remnants of the existing stock with the pug and over the years that followed they developed the modern English Bulldog. Unfortunately, this modern dog is wrought with all kinds of genetic health problems.
The modern Olde English Bulldogge is a reconstruction of the original Olde Bulldogge of the 17th and 18th century. Genetic crosses have been used carefully and thoughtfully in planned breeding programs to obtain this goal. The foundation of most of today's Olde English Bulldogges can be traced to English Bulldog, American Bulldog, APBT and Mastiff.
These dogs were used very selectively in selective combinations to obtain the desired physical and mental traits of the original Olde English Bulldogge. The result has been an amazing looking Bulldogge of great athletic ability that is healthier and physically fit without all of the problems that plague today's modern English Bulldogs. The goal of Backbone Bullies Olde English Bulldogge breeder is be to produce genetically healthier Bulldogges that are free breathers, free breeders, and free whelpers."
French Bulldog History & Info
The French Bulldog probably descends at least in part from the English Bulldog – likely from one of the toy varieties which were popular in England around the 1850s and 1860s, especially among lace-makers in the Nottingham region of the English midlands. Eventually, the small bulldogs fell out of favor with the English and were sent in large numbers to France, where they were crossed with assorted other breeds and finally became fashionable among both rural landowners and eventually wealthy women in the cities. Although some authors suggest that the French Bulldog’s original function was the bloodsport of bull-baiting, this is highly unlikely. Evidence suggests that from the moment the Frenchie existed as a distinct breed, it was bred almost exclusively as a human companion and watchdog. It gained its French name when the lace-makers from England moved to France, taking their miniature companions with them. The tiny Bulldogs quickly became enormously popular in France, although European breeders tended to prefer rose-shaped ears rather than the large, erect bat-like ears that mark the modern breed. The bat ears add much to the highly distinctive appearance of the French Bulldog and are a predominant breed feature today.
The controversy over ear type led to the formation of the French Bulldog Club of America in 1897, the oldest organization devoted to the breed. It held a specialty show in 1898 in the Waldorf-Astoria ballroom in New York, the first show of its kind. After that, the diminutive bulldogs became all the rage in this country, and registration of Frenchies flourished. In 1913, the Westminster Kennel Club reported 100 French Bulldogs benched at its show. The dog that contributed the most to the breed in America may have been Ch. Nellcote Gamin, imported here in 1904 by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Goldenberg. Gamin helped to cement the French Bulldog’s breed type, making the stock in America among the finest in the world, without need for further importation.
The French Bulldog Club of England was founded in 1902, holding its first show in 1903. The Kennel Club in London gave the breed official approval in January of 1906, as the Bouledogue Francais. In 1912, the English Kennel Club changed the name to the French Bulldog.
Frenchies declined in popularity after World War I, while the Boston Terrier’s popularity skyrocketed. The Great Depression made purebred dogs even less accessible to many Americans. Fortunately, by the 1980s and 1990s, the French Bulldog’s popularity in America took a turn for the better, and the breed’s survival seems assured.
Miniature Bull Terrier History & Info
When dog shows became the rage in the late 1800s, the Bull and Terrier was snubbed. The dog's association with a questionable class of people and lack of dapper looks caused the dog show fanciers to look askance at the breed. In response, some Bull Terrier patrons began to select for appearance by crossing the dogs with Dalmatians and White English Terriers. They were so successful that the Bull Terrier became an elegant man's fashion statement and companion. Subsequent crosses back with the Staffordshire Terrier gave back color as well as more variation in size.
The interest in the miniature version of the breed has grown slowly. Although the dogs were recognized as a breed in England in 1939, it was not until 1991 that the AKC recognized the Miniature Bull Terrier. They are still very uncommon and this is a breed that is sure to capture your heart.
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