THE (RE) CREATION OF THE “OLDE ENGLISH BULLDOGGE”
The Olde English Bulldogge originated in England between 1,600 and 1,700 and were the first ancestors for many of the Bull dog breeds that exist today, including the English Bulldog and the American Bulldog. These dogs were bred to participate in bloody sports such as fighting bulls, which were very popular in England, making dogs of great courage and agility necessary.
Around 1,835, laws were passed in England banning dogfights with bulls, thus the main purpose of the Olde English Bulldogge’s existence disappeared from their country, and with that, within a decade the number of Bulldogs decreased drastically reaching almost extinction. Dog breeders for show finally decided to rebuild the breed, but wanted to lower the aggressive temperament of the original Olde English Bulldogge. For that they crossed the remnants of the existing dogs with other breeds and over the years that followed, they developed the modern English Bulldog. Unfortunately, this modern dog is made with almost all types of genetic health problems.
The modern Olde English Bulldogge (OEB) is a reconstruction of the original 17th and 18th century Old Bulldog. Various genetic crosses have been used, carefully thought out and planned in breeding programs to achieve this goal. The foundation of most OEBs today can be attributed to the English Bulldog, American Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier and Mastiff. These different breeds were used very selectively in various combinations to obtain the desired physical characteristics of the original Olde English Bulldogge.
The results are aimed at a good Bulldog, with great athleticism, much healthier physically and without most (or all) the problems that afflict many modern Bulldogs. The goal of all OEB breeders should be to produce genetically healthy dogs.
The history of Bulldogs (American Bulldog, English Bulldog and Olde English Bulldogge)
