English Bulldogs - Rescues

English Bulldogs - Rescues - Introduction and History

Picture source: Docs English Bulldogs

The bull baiting practice began with the Earl of Stamford granting local bull hunting shows in a meadow near his castle. Later the bull baiting practice expanded, and there was a multitude of stadiums and arenas for that purpose. Shows included setting of dogs onto tethered bulls. Shows also involved bear and lion hunting. These shows were popular until the early 1800s, and in 1835, they were no longer legal.

Definitely, it takes a great deal of agility, power and energy for a dog to kill a bull. Old Bulldogs were bigger than contemporary Bulldogs; they had thickly set bodies and had a peculiar undershot lower jaw. After the ban, the demand for Bulldogs plunged for lack of use, and the breed's existence was in question.

Fortunately, there were groups of enthusiasts, who worked to prevent the English Bulldog from extinction. They crossbred the Bulldog with the Chinese Pug in order to instill less sinister traits into the breed, and since then English Bulldogs started to obtain the shape and character that were closer to those of modern Bulldogs.