Colleen and Gene's top 10 reasons to get an Olde English Bulldog over an English Bulldog
OEB's are free whelpers, no c-section needed like EB's
Save a ton on vet bills with OEB's!
OEB's are Athletic, not couch potatoes
OEB's are very loyal
Less cleaning with OEB's due to fewer wrinkles (less stink too!)
OEB's are very family friendly
OEB's are great protectors
A "pet quality" EB is $2,400 and up generally... show quality OEB's $2,500
OEB's are extremely trainable and can be taught to do tricks
Oldes are just more fun!
A little history for yah!
It is thought that the Bulldog
comes from an ancient, fierce mastiff-like breed which was used to restrain wild
oxen and to hunt wild boar. The word "Bulldog"
was thought to have first been used in a 1598 description of a bull baiting
contest. However, it is generally thought that the Bulldog was a well-known
breed in England long before. Bandogs, Bonddoggess, Bolddogges and other term
used to describe the dogs were repeatedly mentioned in English literature
beginning around 1200, when the sport of bull baiting first became popular in
England. However, there is a reference to British Hounds that attacked bulls
dating back to 395 AD. These dogs were bred and trained to bite and hang on to
the noses, ears and necks of bulls.
"William Earl Warren, Lord of this town in the reign of King John (1209),
standing upon the walls of his castle at Stamford, saw two bulls fighting for a
cow in the castle meadow, 'til all the butcher's dogs pursued one of the town
bulls, which maddened by the noise and multitude, ran through the town. This so
pleased the Earl that he gave the castle meadow where the bulls combat began,
for a common to the butchers of the town, after the first grass was mowed, on
condition that they should find a mad bull' on a day six weeks before Christmas
for the continuance of that sport forever."
During bull baiting the Bulldog had to bite the bull in the nose and hang on,
without ever letting go of his hold on the bull. These dogs could retain their
hold even after their entrails had been torn out. The dogs often bled to death
from wounds received from the bull. Enthusiasts in the early bull and
bearbaiting contests included all classes of people.
In 1559, Queen Elizabeth was noted to be an enthusiast and often hosted grand
social gatherings centered on bull baiting. At that time, almost every village
in England had its own bullring and huge amounts of money were spent on sport
related wagers. Therefore the dogs were selectively bred for power, courage and
tenacity.
In 1835, bull baiting contests were forbidden in England by an act of
Parliament. After the abolishment the number of purebred Bulldogs declined
greatly!! This was due to the growing popularity of the sport of dog fighting,
which replaced bull baiting as a favorite public entertainment in the late
nineteenth century in England.
During the Middle Ages, the sport of baiting was extremely popular in England
and was patronized by all classes of people, from the highest to the lowest in
the land. Almost every town and village in the country had its bull ring. The
baiting of animals may be traced to an early period in English history. It was
also a favorite form of amusement among the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the
Romans, as well as the people of other ancient nations. Bulls, bears, horses,
and other animals were trained for baiting. This barbarous practice, the rise of
which cannot be satisfactorily ascertained, had the sanction of high antiquity.
Fitz-Stephen, who lived during the reign of Henry II and whose "Description of
the City of London" was written in 1174, informs us that in the forenoon of
every holiday during the winter season, the young Londoners were amused with
boars opposed to each other in battle, or with bulls and full-grown bears baited
by dogs.
Asses, although they did not sufficiently answer the purpose of the sport, were
occasionally treated with the same inhumanity, but the baiting of horses was
never a general practice.
The original bull-baiting at Tutbury (probably at the Bankside Bear Garden) is
thus described by John Houghton: "I'll say something of baiting the bull, which
is by having a collar about his neck fastened to a thick rope about three, four,
or five yards long, hung to a hook so fastened to a stake that it will turn
around. With this the bull circulates to watch his enemy, which is a bull dog
(commonly used for this sport), with a short nose, that his teeth may take the
better hold. This dog if right, will creep upon his belly that he may, if
possible get the bull by the nose, which the bull carefully tries to defend by
laying it close to the ground, where his horns are also ready to do what in them
lies to toss this dog; and this is true sport. But if more dogs than one come at
once, or they come under his legs, he will if he can stamp their guts out.
The custom was for owners of dogs who wished to bait the bull to each pay
entrance fees and if their dog pinned the bull they received a prize. The reward
might be five shillings, a gold laced hat, a silver watch, or an ornate dog
collar. "Many great wagers were laid on both sides and great journeys would men
and dogs go on for such diversion." As mentioned previously, the first
bull-running in England were supposed to have been at Stamford in the year 1209,
in the reign of King John, and at Tutbury in 1374.
There are, however, grounds for the belief that bull-baiting began much earlier,
and that it was probably first indulged in by butchers who employed their dogs
to chase, catch, and throw the bulls, and to bait them so as to render the flesh
tender. Moreover, Claudian's writings suggest that the practice of baiting bulls
was a form of diversion in his time. "William, Earl of Warren, Lord of the town,
standing upon the walls of the castle saw two bulls fighting for a cow in the
castle meadow, until all the butchers' dogs pursued one of the bulls (maddened
with noise and multitude) clean through the town. This sight so pleased the
Earl, that he gave the castle meadow where the bulls' duel began for a common to
the butchers of the town after the first grass was mowed, on condition that they
should find a mad bull the day six weeks before Christmas Day, for the
continuance of the sport forever.
This may or may not have been the origin of the old English sport of
bull-baiting. At any rate, wherever it began, it became more popular with the
passing years. Its popularity created a demand for dogs qualified for the sport.
These dogs were selected and bred for courage, power, and ferocity. From the
thirteenth to the eighteenth centuries, bull-baiting was a national sport in
England. It was not uncommon to see the dogs at early English baits, with their
entrails trailing on the ground, urged again and again to run at the bull they
were baiting.
In one case, a dog of great repute was gored by the bull so that his bowels were
torn out. Securing them in their place with needle and thread, the spectators,
in consequence of some wager depending upon the outcome of the baiting, then set
the dog at the bull in this mangled and almost dying condition.
In many towns the butchers were liable to a penalty if they sold the flesh of a
bull in the market without having had the animal baited on the previous market
day. The reason for this was that the flesh of a baited bull was universally
considered more tender and nutritious than that of animals slaughtered without
first being submitted to the process. The belief, while it does not excuse the
brutality of the act, may have been founded on fact. The excited state of the
animal just before death would have tended to hasten putrefaction, and the flesh
would have had to be cooked sooner or it would have been unfit to eat.
There can be little doubt that bull baiting, as practiced by the early English,
was not merely a cruel sport intended to gratify the lowest and basest passions,
but also was intended as a means of rendering wholesome and nutritious a large
quantity of flesh that otherwise would not have been utilized. In the old Court
Roll of the Manor at Barnard Castle, it is stated that "no butcher shall kill
any bull two years old upwards, unless he first be brought to the ring and
sufficiently halted."
The ring in Barnard Castle (fixed in a large stone that was level with the
pavement) was in the Market Place opposite the District Bank. Bulldogs of a
strain known as "Lonsdales," named for Lonsdale, a butcher and publican who
lived at Barnard Castle about 1780, were in demand for many years.
In 1802, after a very heated discussion, a bill to abolish bull-halting was
thrown out of the House of Commons. The practice continued until 1835 when it
was made illegal by an Act of Parliament. Bull-bailing continued to be practiced
occasionally at the West Derby Wakes until about 1853, and baits were held at
Wirksworth as late as 1838 or 1840. The last bull-bait in Aylesbury took place
on September 26, 1821. At Ashbourne the final bait was held in 1842, while at
Lancashire the practice continued until about 1841 or 1842. It is interesting to
note how many years passed after the Act of Parliament before the custom died
out completely.
With the decline of bull-baiting, the number of pure-bred Bulldogs began to
diminish rapidly. One early writer states that they Were occasionally to be
obtained in London and Birmingham and a few scattered places in the Black
Country. An engraving of Wasp, Child, and Billy, published May 15, 1809, -bore
the following account in the margin: "The above Bulldogs, the property of H.
Boynton, Esq. originally of the late Duke of Hamilton's breed, and the only ones
left of the blood, are in such high estimation that Mr. Boynton has received one
hundred and twenty guineas for Billy, and twenty guineas for a whelp before
taken from the bitch. It is asserted that they are the only real Bulldogs in
existence, and upon their decease this species of dog may be considered as
extinct."
The sport of dog-fighting which succeeded bull-baiting in public fancy, was
largely responsible for the diminishing number of pure-bred Bulldogs. Many
breeders began crossing the Bulldog with the Terrier because they felt that such
a cross produced a better fighter. Bull-baiting portrays another chapter in the
evolution of the breed as a sporting dog. And a survey of the facts surrounding
the Bulldog's use for bull-baiting cannot but instill admiration for the courage
and determination required in this old English sport.
The English Bulldog's origin is responsible for the breed's name as well as for
the dog's appearance. The short muzzle and wide lower jaw were needed for the
dog to clamp itself to the bull's nose like a vise, and the nose had to be
upturned so that the dog could still breathe while clinging to the bull.
Anyone who has read about the sport of bull baiting must have been conscious of
its extreme cruelty. From this we can gather that the original Bulldog had to be
a very ferocious animal. Beauty and symmetry of form were in no way desirable,
the appearance of the dog counting for nothing. The extraordinary courage
possessed by these dogs is hardly believable. Bred from a long line of fighting
ancestors, they grew to be so savage, so courageous as to be almost insensitive
to pain. Such was the Bulldog of British sporting days.
However, there were dog lovers who felt a deep disappointment at the passing of
so fine a breed, they set themselves the task of preserving it. Though ferocity
was no longer necessary or desirable they wished to retain all the dog's other
splendid qualities.
Source: Much Information and print found here comes from various sources
including the South African Bulldog Club.
The Truth about the Olde English Bulldogge The Olde English Bulldogge is a recreation of the original 18th century Bulldog "The Butchers dog". Throughout history different people have made attempts at recreating the bulldogs of olde days. Today there are many bloodlines of the breed we know as the Olde English bulldogge. One particular individual by the name of David Leavitt was recognized in a book called The World of Fighting dogs, as having created the first dog of this kind and naming the breed "Olde bulldogge", and later "Olde English Bulldogge". Although researching history will show that there were many others doing basically the same recreations of bulldogs, it was Leavitt who was credited for naming the breed. In the book written by Dr. Carl Semenic, Leavitt's recipe for his creation was published, along with several pictures of his dogs. The book listed the breeding of these dogs as being one half English Bulldog, one sixth American Pit Bull Terrier, one sixth American Pit Bulldog (which later became known as the American Bulldog) and one sixth Bull Mastiff. One of the dogs pictured in the book is actually documented elsewhere as being a EB/APBT, fifty fifty cross. Leavitt's dogs were first registered with ARF, later Leavitt began his own registry so he could have more control over his bloodline. Eventually he stopped raising dogs all together. Around the same time Leavitt was coming public with his dogs, various other breeders were coming public as well and later even more breeders came out with their own alternative Bulldog recreations. Most all of theses dogs were developed to reflect a certain time period in the past history of the Bulldog breed. The Olde English Bulldog breed possessed many of the great qualities of their ancient ancestors. Today the most important goal that all Olde English Bulldogge breeders should have in mind, is the health of the dogs they produced. That is what sets the OEB breed apart from todays modern Bulldog!! The IOEBA was organized to bring about Unity within the world of rare alternative bulldog breeds. Under this registry all breeders and owners unite and breeding takes place under one set of standards designed to further strengthen the Olde English Bulldogge breed as a whole. Within the Olde English Bulldogge breed, there are numerous bloodlines, each possessing unique characteristics representative of the particular line from which they descend. Quality health, Sound Temperament, Strength, Stamina, Ability, Functionality and Form all describe the Olde English Bulldogge. 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 blood sports like bull baiting. This so called sport, became quite popular in England through out the middle of the 18th Century. Bull baiting primarily 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 though, 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. Various genetic crosses have been used in carefully and thoughtfully 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, and Mastiff as well as APBT and Bull Mastiff. These dogs were used very selectively in various combinations to obtain the desired physical and mental traits of the original Olde English Bulldogge. The result has been a good looking Bulldogge of great athletic ability that is much healthier and physically fit without most or all of the problems that plague today's modern English Bulldogs. The goal of all Olde English Bulldogge breeders should be to produce genetically healthier Bulldogges that are free breathers, free breeders, and free whelpers. The IOEBA's detailed breed standard is the best guide as to what the perfect Olde English Bulldogge should look like according to the International Olde English Bulldogge Association. It is recommended that it be used by today's Olde breeders in an effort to maintain the high standards that the breeders of the past and the IOEBA have set fourth. Many claim to have the only "true" Olde English Bulldogges, but ALL are recognized and registered with the IOEBA. Official IOEBA Breed Standard for the Olde English Bulldogge General Description : The perfect Olde English Bulldogge should be of medium height to large size with a massive head and a very stout, muscular body. The disposition should be outgoing, loyal and courageous. The temperament is to be very stable and trustworthy. Most importantly the Olde English Bulldogge is a healthy dog with out many of the problems affecting the modern English Bulldogs. Males should be free breeders and females should be free whelpers. The Olde English Bulldogge should be devoid of all breathing problems. Head : Large and high, deeply sunken between the eyes (medial furrow). The circumference of the head should be equal to or greater than the dog's height at the shoulder. Fault : Head too small. Muzzle : Broad, deep and short. The bite is undershot. Fault : Muzzle too long (more than 3 inches), scissor or even bite. Eyes : Wide apart and of moderate size. Any color is acceptable. Nose : Wide and broad. The nose should not be pushed up between the eyes. From the stop to the end of the nose must be at least an inch. Fault : Completely pink nose (a small amount is acceptable). Neck : Short and very muscular. Chest : Ribs should be well sprung (rounded) and the chest wide and deep. Fault : Too narrow in the chest. Back : Short with a slight rise from the shoulders to the rump (level back is just as acceptable). Legs : Forelegs should be stout and wide apart, neither bowing out or turning in. Fault : Bowing or turned out resulting in poor movement. Feet : Round and the pasterns should be strong. Fault : Down in the pasterns or splayed feet. Height : Males - 17 to 23 inches at the shoulder. Females - 15 to 21 inches at the shoulder. Weight : Between 50 to 90 lbs. No penalty for dogs above the standard weight as long as the dog is well proportioned. Color : Any color is acceptable. The color of the coat is of no major importance. The coat should be short. Ears : Short either drop or rose. Tail : Naturally reaches near the hock, pump handled, screwed short or may be docked.
Pg from RockRoll Kennels
Thanks to Jodie Mallory of Arrowhead Bulldogges for the history on the OEB's!
