Backwoods Bulldog Club

 Bull Breed & Guardian Group Registry

Olde English Bulldogge

OLDE ENGLISH BULLDOGGE STANDARD

The Olde English Bulldogge is an athletic Bulldog, temperamentally sound and is medium to large in size and possesses great strength, agility and confidence. The expression should reflect intelligence and alertness. The sturdy and power yet compact frame is characteristically stockier and heavier boned in the males and more refined in the females it is also characteristically common for a female to look like a male at first glance. Some aloofness with strangers and assertiveness toward other dogs is accepted but should be controlled. An Olde English Bulldogge should not be excessively timid or shy. He is a natural companion and working dog. The Olde English Bulldogge should not be confused with the AKC Bulldog.

Size: in General: Males should range from 17 to 20 inches at the withers and weigh between 60 to 90 lbs. Females, 16 to 19 inches and 50 to 80 lbs. In both sexes weight should be in proportional to the height and body type. A dog should be well conditioned and not overweight or underweight.

Color: Solid or varying degrees of white, all shades of brindle, brown, red, or tan are acceptable, solid black, black and tan, and/or any degree of merle is acceptable.
Coat: Short, less then one inch in length varying from soft to stiff. Long feathering or fuzzy coats are unacceptable.

Head: The head should be relatively large and broad in proportion to the size and overall structure of the dog. It should be flat on top giving a squared appearance. There is a defined furrow between the eyes with a distinct deep stop. The head is well muscled throughout with prominent checks. An excessively narrow head is unacceptable in the Olde English Bulldogge.

Eye: The eyes should be round or almond shaped medium sized and wide set. Black or dark brown is the preferred color. Other colors are accepted. Black eye rim pigment preferred. Crossed and/or nonsymmetrical eyes are a serious fault.

Muzzle: The muzzle should be relatively broad and square. The large jaws are well muscled, bottom jaw has a slight curve rather then straight displaying great strength. Lips are full and pendulous. Black pigment lining lips preferred. An excessively narrow muzzle is unacceptable.

Teeth: The 42 to 44 teeth, bottom K-9s should be inline with front teeth making the bottom jaw as wide as possible. Missing teeth is a fault.

Bite: under bite being 1/4 to 1'2 inch. Preferred. Scissor bite is a fault.

Nose: Black is preferred color. A red, brown, or blue nose is acceptable. Pink or dudley nose is a serious fault.

Ears: The ears should be medium in size and may be either forward flap or rose eared, with no preference. Cropped ears are a serious fault.

Neck: The neck should be very muscular and medium length. The neck should taper from the shoulder to the head and be slightly arched.

Shoulders: The shoulders should be well muscled with good definition and wide sloping blades giving the appearance of great strength.

Chest: The chest should be deep and wide giving the appearance of power. The front, overall, should be straight and well balanced. The chest should not be narrow or excessively wide nor should the elbows be angulated out or pulled in.

Body: The body should be compact and moderately short while powerful and athletic in appearance and well balanced. There should be a good spring of ribs almost barrel chested with the loins slightly tucked. The back should not be narrow or swayed.

Back: The back should be broad and moderately short in length showing great strength. A slight roach (wheel) over the loins. The back should not be narrow or swayed.

Legs: The legs should be strong and straight with moderate to heavy bone. Well muscled front and back. The rear legs should be moderately angulated and paralleled. There should not be an excess of or lack of angulation in the rear legs. Excessively bow-legged or cow hocked is unacceptable.

Hindquarters: The hind quarters should be thick with well-defined muscles. Not as wide as shoulders, but well-balanced. The hips should not be narrow or lacking in muscle definition.

Tails: The tail should be thick at the base tapering to a point if left natural. Screw tail or docked, docked not more them 3 joints. Long tails should not end in a complete circle.

Feet: The feet should be of moderate size with toes well arched and close together. The feet should not be splayed.

Gait: The Olde English Bulldogge should move with power a small amount of role is acceptable. All legs move parallel to the direction of travel, with front legs clearly reaching out, not as far as the American Bulldog and the rear legs propelling the dog forward. The legs should not travel excessively wide. Front legs and or rear legs crossing is unacceptable. The movement of the Olde English Bulldogge should not resemble the movement of a Terrier in any way. The Olde English Bulldogge has a slower movement then the American Bulldog.

*Note: Males without two testicles, dogs that are deaf and dogs that have been spayed or neutered are not allowed to compete in the conformation ring. Females in estrus are not to be shown in the conformation classes and are not allowed in the proximity thereof.
 

Submitted by John Britton

 

Original Olde Standard

Olde English Bulldogge  

 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”.  Pricked ears that stand up on top of the head (tulip ears) are a disqualifying 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 ˝”.  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.