English Bulldog - History

The bulldog is an ancient breed which well was known in England till 16 centuries. Its English name «bulldog» is meant by "the bull dog" that is connected with its main task – an attack on a bull.

Ancestors of modern bulldogs were used for persecution of bulls, for hunting for such dangerous and strong animals, as wild boars and bears, and also for the dog fights. Earlier, in Northern and the South America these dogs trained specially for hunting behind fluent slaves.

In 1835 in Europe the ban for the dog fights and persecution of bulls has been imposed, societies on protection of animals everywhere began to be created, and the English bulldog was out of work. Only its separate individuals for carrying out, already illegal, dog fights which continued to prosper on farms, in cellars of houses, on boondocks of bars here and there have remained.

But nevertheless, for the dog fights, the English bulldog, at all bravery and aggression, was not enough entertainment and effective dog, therefore, the increasing popularity at fans of the dog fights the bull-terrier - a hybrid of a bulldog and a terrier began to use. There was an opinion that from a terrier these dogs inherit dexterity and playfulness, and from a bulldog - boldness and endurance.

The English bulldog has appeared on the verge of full extinction. Only the New World and other colonies could rescue this breed as it began to be taken out there in large quantities and had considerable success there. The life in those places was severe, and furious customs of an English bulldog were very well entered in local everyday usages.

However Englishmen, after a while, have thought suddenly. In fear that the breed which is a symbol of the English nation will disappear, they were accepted to its rescue and in 1875 «the Club of English bulldogs» has been created. But the relation to these dogs, nevertheless, was now differrent. The respectable Englishman of that time should have the counterbalanced dog, quiet and incapable making any harm. After a while, the British selectors have deduced that new breed which today is known as «an English bulldog».

Force, endurance, mobility and character of an English bulldog became a remarkable material for deducing of such breeds like the staffordshire terrier, the bull terrier, the boxer, the bullmastiff, the american staffordshire terrier.

Today it is one of the most well-known and bright European breeds of fighting dogs in which, however, remains very little from their furious ancestors.

Selectors aspired to extravagance, and it has led to that appearance of a dog has undergone serious changes.

The first exhibition bulldogs had charm of soldiers and force expression, and today's dogs are rather, a symbol of "a charming disgrace».

Fashionable tendencies conducted to that selectors stuck out the prominent features of appearance of this breed. And the more comical appearance the dog has, the more medals it receives at exhibitions.

Today the English bulldog is a work of art in which the aesthetics directly clashes with normal physiology, as selectors direct their efforts to area of more likely pathological physiology.

But recently, more and more work is conducted in a direction of improvement of breed, and the balance here is very important. Appearance of a bulldog should not lose its "highlight", and, simultaneously, continuation of escalating of decorative qualities, will lead to frailty of breed.