English Bulldogs - Puppy

English Bulldogs - Puppy - History

Picture source: Bullwrinkle com © 2003

Bulldogs were supposed to grab bulls by the nose, the most vulnerable part of its body, and pin it down to the ground. The dog's specifically structured jaws would close in a death grip, rendering the bull utterly helpless and thus exposing the rest of its body to final attacks by other dogs in the bunch.

As the tradition throve, the dog's shape gradually evolved toward one more suitable for this particular goal. Individual breeders strove to produce a vicious and powerful species of dogs with massive heads and broad and muscular forequarters, which reduced the chance of spinal fractures and head injuries. Many Bulldogs got killed in such contests. Many dogs got broken limbs, fractured skulls and torn out teeth from the violent swinging about by a raging bull.

Bull-baiting was arranged in circular constructions with rope enclosures and scaffolds with kennels, which kept the public safely away from animals. The tradition was born in the Middle Ages, in the times of the Earl of Stamford, who happened to witness a group of butcher dogs chasing a bull on a lawn near his castle. He was so impressed with the scene that he decided to provide the lawn for similar shows on a regular basis on a number of conditions.

Throughout the centuries, the show became incredibly popular, and not only in England, but in other European kingdoms, also. The tradition persisted until 1835, when it was considered excessively brutal and was made illegal. After the ban, the English Bulldog faced a not too enviable destiny. It started drifting into oblivion and disinterest, and there was even a threat of its extinction.

However, a group of enthusiasts took efforts to rescue the breed, and the dog avoided extinction. They paved the way for developing kind and amicable English Bulldogs of these days, whose disposition actually has little to do with their initial assignment.