ENGLISH BULLDOG

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY

The Bulldog was first classified as such in the 1630s, although there was earlier mention of similar types called “bandogs”, today a reserved term for a type of fighting dog. Initially used to fight bulls (“bull-baiting”), the Bulldog also battled its way through dogfights, but after 1835 it began to evolve into the shorter, squatter version we know today. He entered the exhibitions in 1860 and, in the following years, saw a major change in personality. A deliciously ugly dog, with a boxer expression, which hides a loving and affectionate character with family and friends. One of the oldest breeds, known as the National Dog of Great Britain and associated worldwide with British determination and the legendary John Bull.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

Soft fur; stocky, of very short stature, wide, powerful and compact. Massive head, quite wide in proportion to the size, but no part should be in excess in proportion to others, to the point of impairing the general symmetry or making the dog appear deformed or even interfering with its movement. The face is relatively short; snout broad, thick and slightly tilted upwards, although not excessively. Dogs showing breathing difficulties are highly undesirable. Reasonably short, well-fitting body. Robust, well-muscled limbs and in very good condition with no tendency to obesity. Tall and strong posterior. Females are not as imposing or well-developed as males.

BEHAVIOR / TEMPERAMENT

The Bulldog gives an impression of determination, strength and activity. Alert, brave, loyal, trustworthy, courageous, with a fierce appearance, but endowed with an affectionate nature.

HEAD

Seen in profile, it looks very tall and moderately short from occiput to nose. The forehead is flat, with skin on top and around the head, slightly loose and finely wrinkled, without excess, neither prominent nor hanging on the face. The face, from the front of the cheekbones (zygomatic arches) to the nose, is relatively short. The skin may be slightly wrinkled. The distance from the inner corner of the eye (or the center of the stop between the eyes) to the extreme tip of the nose should not be less than the distance from the nose tip to the lower lip commissure.

CRANIAL REGION

Skull: Relatively large in circumference. Seen from the front, it appears to be high from the corner of the lower jaw to the occiput; also wide and square. A groove extends from the stop to the middle of the skull and is marked to the apex of the head (occiput).

Stop: Defined

FACIAL REGION

Seen from the front, the various parts of the face must be equally balanced on each side of an imaginary line descending from the center.

Nose: Nose and nostrils large, broad and black, never liver, red or brown. Very large, wide and open nostrils, with a well-defined straight vertical line between them.

Muzzle: Short, broad, curving upwards and very deep from the corner of the eye to the corner of the mouth.

The wrinkle over the nostril, if present, whole or incomplete, should never negatively affect or hide the eyes or nostril. Narrow nostrils and heavy wrinkles over the nostril are unacceptable and should be severely penalized.

Lips: Thick, wide, hanging and deep, completely covering the sides of the jaw, but joining the lower lip in front. Teeth not visible.

Jaws / Teeth: Jaws broad, strong and square. The mandible protrudes slightly in front of the upper jaw, moderately curved upwards.

Jaws broad and square, with six small incisors regularly inserted between the canines, in a straight line. Canines well separated. Big, strong teeth should never be seen with your mouth closed. When viewed from the front, the mandible should join directly and parallel to the upper jaw.

Cheeks: Well-rounded and extended laterally beyond each side of the eyes.

Eyes: Seen from the front, set low in the skull, well separated from the ears.

Eyes and stop in the same straight line at a right angle to the frontal groove. Well separated, but their outer contours are contained in the contour of the cheeks. Round, of moderate size, neither deeply set nor prominent. Very dark in color, almost black, without showing white when looking straight ahead. Free of obvious eye problems.

Ears: Set high, that is, the anterior border of each ear (seen from the front) joins the outline of the skull in its upper corner, so that the ears are well separated, higher and as far away from the eyes as possible. Small and thin.

Pink ears are correct, that is to say, folded inwards in their posterior part, the internal anterior or superior border curves outwards and backwards, showing the inner part of the ear.

NECK

Of moderate length, thick, deep and strong. Well arched at the back, with some loose, thick and wrinkled skin on the throat, forming a small dewlap on each side.

TRUNK

Topline: Slightly sloping backwards, behind the shoulders (lower part), from where the spine is directed towards the loin (point higher than the point of the shoulders), descending, again, abruptly, to the tail, forming a slight bow, characteristic of the breed.

Back: Short, strong, broad at the shoulders.

Chest: Wide, prominent and deep. Ribs well sprung back. Chest round and deep, well lowered between the front legs.

Ribs not flat on the sides, but well rounded.

Bottom line and belly: Retracted belly and not hanging.

TAIL

Set low, protruding and straight, then tilting downwards. Round, smooth, without fringes or rough hair. Of moderate length, shorter than long, thick at the root, tapering rapidly to a fine point. Carried low (does not have an upward curve at the tip), never carried above the back. Absence of tail, inverted or extremely tight tails are undesirable.

PREVIOUS MEMBERS

General appearance: Short legs in proportion to the hind legs, but not so short that the back appears long or impairs the dog’s activity. Shoulders: Wide, oblique and deep, very powerful and muscular, giving the appearance of being joined to the body.

Elbows: Long and placed well away from the ribs.

Forearms: Very robust and strong, well developed, well separated, thick, muscular and straight. Bones of the legs large and straight, neither arched nor crooked.

Pasterns: Short, straight and strong.

Legs: Straight and turned very slightly outward; medium in size and moderately round. Fingers compact and thick, well separated, with prominent and high joints.

POSTERS

General appearance: Large, muscular legs, slightly longer in proportion than the forelegs. Long, muscular legs from loin to hock.

Knees: Turned very slightly outward.

Hocks: Slightly angled, well let down.

Legs: Round and compact. Fingers compact and thick, well separated, with prominent and high joints.

MOVEMENT

Seeming to be walking in short, fast steps, at the fingertips. The hind legs do not rise much, seeming to graze the ground. When the dog moves quickly, either shoulder moves forward. Defect-free movement is of paramount importance.

COAT

Hair: Fine in texture, short, closed and smooth (hard only because it is short and closed, but not wire).

COLOR

Unicolor or “smut” (with soot, that is, of a single color with black mask or black muzzle). Unicolor only (which must be shiny and pure); brindle, red in its different shades, fawn, light brown, etc.; white and mottled (combination of white with any of the previous colors). The liver, black and black with brown colors are highly undesirable.

WEIGHT

Males: 25 kg.

Females: 23 kg.

FAULTS

Any deviation from the terms of this standard should be considered a fault and penalized in the exact proportion of its severity and its effects on the dog’s health and well-being.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS

Aggressiveness or excessive shyness.

Any dog ​​that shows any sign of physical or behavioral anomaly must be disqualified.

GRADES

Males should have both testicles, normal in appearance, well lowered and accommodated in the scrotum.

Only dogs that are clinically and functionally healthy and of a typical breed configuration should be used for breeding.