Shorty Bull - History and Breed Standard

Breed History

The Shorty Bull is a relatively new breed originating in the USA during the late 1990’s. Two women, Jamie Sweet and Amy Krogman deliberately embarked on the journey to design a smaller bulldog style companion suitable for todays active lifestyle with an emphasis on ease of maintenance and a healthy lifespan of 10 years or more. Sweet and Krogman kept their personal programs independent of one another as they designed the shorty bull of today. Sweets background, rich in bulldog history and daily experience raising, training, showing and working bulldogs combined with Krugman’s experience as a veterinary assistant and dog breeder as well, the Shorty Bull emerged just as planned- a small but heavily built style of bulldog, approximately 40 pounds and no taller than 15 inches, capable of short periods of activity but retaining the features that clearly show its a bulldog of some sort.
 
The type was set in early on and has been maintained by kennels in the USA and abroad.  The breed founders have guided this breed since its inception and the breed has flourished in many capable hands around the world. The Shorty Bull has proven to be unique amongst its peer breeds and while its clear there are bulldog similarities, there are far more differences that set the Shorty Bull in its own lane.
 

Breed Standard

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

A well written detailed breed standard is a very effective tool that should be used to assist breeders of Shorty Bulls in the selection process and evaluation of Shorty Bulls that are being considered for a structured breeding program or as a possible conformation show participants.  

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

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

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

The IOEBA has been endorsed and granted permission by Jamie Sweet to adopt and utilize the original Shorty Bull Breed Standard. We extend our sincere respect and gratitude to Jamie Sweet for allowing the IOEBA to showcase the Shorty Bull and utilize the BBC Shorty Bull Breed Standard. 

General Description : Shorty Bulls are a compact and muscular bulldog of small stature. They are athletically inclined and incredibly agile. Shorty Bulls have a strong desire to please, are highly intelligent and good natured. Shorties make excellent family dogs and are very tolerant of children and other animals. They are bred to be well rounded family companions. Shorties have a zest for life and are little comics. They can easily adapt to different lifestyles from living in an apartment to life on a farm. Grooming is minimal. Shorty Bulls should never be extremely shy or aggressive. 

Height: 15″ and Under.  Over 15″ at withers is disqualification from the show ring.

Weight: Approximately 40 pounds. Over 40 pounds is allowed but should be proportionate to height. Obesity is a fault.

Head : Round head with typical bulldog features. Eyes should be set far apart and not protrude.  Nose should turn up slightly and may be black or liver coloured. Dudley noses are a cosmetic fault.

Bite : All dogs must be undershot but not to an extreme degree as to show lower canines when mouth is closed.

Eyes : Brown is preferred although eyes may be any colour.  Eyes should have an oval shape and not protrude from the skull.

Ears : Cropped close to head. Dogs with uncropped ears should never be allowed in the show ring unless showing in EU countries. 

Body : Body should be short from withers to tail.  Chest should be broad for height and have a depth reaching the elbow.  A compact look is desired, width of front and hind quarters should be proportionate, not lending to a narrow rear. The chest may be broader than the rear, but narrow hindquarters are a fault. 

Shoulders and Rump : Well rounded and well muscled.  Lending to the appearance of strength.  A slight rise over the loins is allowed, but not preferred and should never be to an extreme degree.  

Legs : Heavy boned and in direct proportion to the body.  Long legs in proportion to the body or fine bones are a serious fault.  Cow hocks and pigeon toes are a fault. 

Feet : Tight feet and straight pasterns are desired.  Splayed feet and weak pasterns are a fault. 

Tail : Tail must be short, either docked or screwed.  No long tails permitted in the show ring. 

Color : All coat colors are acceptable with the exception of merle.  

Temperament :  Good natured and even tempered. Extreme shyness or undue aggression is a fault.  Shorty Bulls should never be aggressive to humans.