The
exact history of the Olde English Bulldogge is hotly contested, with many breeders claiming that their bloodlines represent
the TRUE breed. Instead of taking sides, this site follows the International Olde English Bulldogge Association (IOEBA), which
seeks to bring all bloodlines under a single standard. The breed history below is from the IOEBA website:
"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." (http://www.ioeba.net/ioebaoebhistory.htm)
Height : Male 17" - 23" Female 15" - 21"
Weight : 50 - 90 lbs.
Colors : any color acceptable
Coat : Short
Temperament : stable and trustworthy
Health Issues : Very Healthy , should not have many of the health problems associated with the English
Bulldog.