STANDARDS

Olde English Bulldogge   REFERENCE IOEBA.NET

General Description : The ideal Olde English Bulldogge is a loyal, courageous dog of
medium size with a large powerful head and stout muscular body.

Olde English Bulldogges are athletic and most importantly of very good health, males
are free breeders and females are free whelpers. The Olde English Bulldogge is
devoid of all breathing issues and is capable of enjoying outdoor activity without
concern except in extreme heat or cold.

The temperament is very stable and trustworthy making them a loyal companion,
capable protector and the ultimate family member.

Old English Bulldogges thrive on pleasing their owners and are very trainable.

Their lifespan is between 10 and 14 years.

Head : Large and high, moderately 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. A narrow head or one that appears too small for the body is a fault.

Ears : Rose ears set well on the sides of the head are preferred. Dropped ears are
acceptable as long they are small, not “hound like”. Full pricked ears that stand up on
top of the head should be considered a serious fault.

Muzzle : Broad, deep and short with moderate wrinkling. The bite is undershot with
the bottom jaw turning up noticeably. Lower canines should not protrude. Muzzle too
long (more than 3 inches), scissor bite or even bite are disqualifying faults. Muzzle
should be no shorter than 1 ½”. Wry jaw is a disqualifying fault.

Eyes : Wide apart and of moderate size. Any color is acceptable. However, odd eyes
(one dark, one blue or light) should be considered un preferred. Misshapen or bugged
eyes are a serious fault. Lacking pigment around the eyes is undesirable. Crossed
eyes or non-symmetrically shaped eyes are a disqualifying fault.

Nose : Broad with open nostrils (nares) with no sign of air restriction. The nose
should not be pushed up between the eyes. From the stop to the end of the nose must
be at least one and one half inches.   The nose should be a solid color. Lacking
pigment is a serious fault. A nose lacking all pigment is a disqualifying fault.

Neck : Short to medium in length and very muscular flowing into the shoulders and
should not be set on the dog so it appears to stop at the shoulders.

Chest : Ribs should be well sprung (rounded) and the chest wide and deep.
Depth of chest should be at least to the elbows.
A hollow or narrow chest (slab sided) should be considered a serious fault.

Back : Males should appear square and balanced. Females should appear similar
with consideration given for body length.    Short with a very slight rise from the
shoulders to a slight drop in the croup is preferred. A level back is acceptable as long
as the tail does not come straight off the top of the back.

Shoulders : Shoulders should be well laid back with significant angulations to allow
for good movement. Straight shoulders are a fault.

Legs : Forelegs should be straight and wide apart, neither bowing out nor turning in.
There should be significant bone substance. Elbows should be relatively close to the
body. Lacking bone and substance is very undesirable. Elbows that are loose or
“fiddle fronts” are a disqualifying fault. “East / West” forelegs are a serious fault.

Rear legs should exhibit significant bend of stifle so to allow for good movement.
They should be well muscled. Straight or “posty” rear legs are a serious fault.
Cow hocks are a disqualifying fault.

Movement : Dogs should have a balanced gait that drives off the rear and is
complimented by reach allowing the dog to cover ground with a sense of power.
Dogs should single track. Pacing or crabbing is a serious fault.

Feet : Round, tight both front and rear, and the pasterns should be strong.
Weak pasterns and/or splayed feet are disqualifying faults.

Height : Males - 18 to 20 inches at the shoulder. Females - 17 to 19 inches at the
shoulder.

Weight : Between 50 to 70 lbs. for females and 65 to 85 lbs. For males. Although
height and weight above the standard is to be discouraged, there is no penalty as
long as the dog is well proportioned, otherwise correct and balanced.

Color : Any color, except merle, is acceptable with no preference for one over
another. The coat is short. A wavy coat or a long coat is a disqualifying fault. There
should be no signs of feathering on the legs or neck area, also a disqualifying fault.

Tail : A pump handle tail that naturally reaches the hock is preferred, screwed short
or a docked tails are acceptable. The pump handle tail should be carried low and not
over the back of the dog.

Temperament : Disposition should be outgoing and happy. While a watchful nature
may be expected at home, human aggression without provocation is a disqualifying
fault

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,
APBT and 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.

HISTORY OF
OLDE ENGLISH

STANDARDS OF
OLDE ENGLISH