American Bulldog - History & Breed Standard

Breed History

The Olde Boston Bulldogge originated in England between 1600 and 1700.  These Early Bulldogges were the ancestors to  many of the Bull breeds that exist today including the English Bulldog and the American Bulldog.

The original Bulldogges 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 various 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 other breeds 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.Boston

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 various dog breeds were used very selectively in various combinations to obtain the desired physical 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 many of 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.

Today it is recommended that the International Olde English Bulldogge Association’s breed standard be used by Olde English Bulldogge breeders in an effort to maintain the high standards that the breeders of the past and the International Olde English Bulldogge Association have set fourth to continue to improve and preserve today’s Olde English Bulldogge for future generations of fanciers.

Breed Standard

The IOEBA’s official Olde Boston Bulldogge breed standard is a detailed written description of the perfect “type” or “flawless” Olde Boston Bulldogge. 

A well written, detailed breed standard is a very effective tool that can be used to assists Olde Boston Bulldogge breeders in the selection process and evaluation of Olde Boston Bulldogges that are being considered for a structured breeding program or as a possible conformation show participant.  

It is important that Olde Boston Bulldogge breeders understand and use the IOEBA’s official Olde Boston Bulldogge breed standard, as the offspring they produce will have an impact on the Olde Boston Bulldogge breed in the future for many generations. 

The goal of all reputable Olde Boston Bulldogge breeders is to achieve perfection as far as correct breed type, health and temperament.

All IOEBA conformation judges use the IOEBA’s official Olde Boston Bulldogge breed standard as a guide to give themselves a mental picture of  breed perfection by which they select future IOEBA conformation champions.

General Description :  The  

Head :  Large 

Ears :  Rose

Muzzle :  Broad

Eyes :  Wide

Nose :  Broad 

Neck :  Sho

Chest :  Ribs

Back :  M

Shoulders :  Sho

Legs :  For

Movement :  Dog

Feet :  Ro

Height :  Ma

Weight :  Be

Color :  An

Coat :  Th

Tail :  A

Temperament :  Dis