Source: https://books.google.co.uk/books?

id=8cwKBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA77#v=onepage&q&f=false

CHAPTER: NEW BULLS ON THE BLOCK (pg 71)

Now let's turn our attention from our six bull-and-terriers to their precursors--Bulldogs. While the world
of bull-and-terriers has remained stable and relatively quiescent in recent years, nothing could be further
from the truth in Bulldogdom. The AKC and TKC may continue to recognize only the Bulldog and the
French Bulldog; however, other "bulldog" breeds are coming out of the woodwork. A bit of research will
turn up a bevy of breeds with "Bulldog" in their names.
Five hundred years ago, the canines used for baiting bulls were larger--the size of Mastiffs. Then
progressively the dogs were reduced in size, and other changes made, to better meet the special demands
of baiting. English Bulldogs were prized around the globe; we know, for example, that many were sent to
Spain during the 1600s. The heyday of the old Bulldogs was in the 1700s, by which time they were
smaller--often 40-50 lb--and more active than their forebears. As we discussed in the first chapter,
however, this classic period was soon at an end. In this 1899 monograph on the breed, Edgar Farman
wrote that by "1840 very few thoroughbred examples existed." One faction of breeders even imported a
number of the comparatively immense Spanish Bulldogs to use in their programs. However, this was
frowned upon by those who went on to establish the Bulldog Club in 1875 in order to protect the purity of
their bloodlines.
A number of authorities question the purity of these remaining specimens, arguing that most sported some
terrier blood. Others, however, downplay the terrier's contribution even to the later fighting dogs. Richard
Stratton wrote in This Is the American Pit Bull Terrier in 1976: "Here is the original Bulldog (the APBT)
come down to us from ancient times, retaining his original shape and form and gameness, and he is truly a
unique animal!" And in terms of spirit and indomitable courage it may well be that the Pit Bull is the
successor to the classic Bulldog of yesteryear. Form, however, is more debatable. Yes, the Pit Bull may
be closer in physique to the old Bulldog than is today's "sourmug" with his massive head, ultrashort
muzzle and lack of agility. However, the Pit Bull was not bred for bullbaiting and doesn't need to
approach a bull almost on its belly and to have that remarkable quickness of lateral movement to avoid
being tossed; these were specialist characteristics of the old Bulldog. In the final analysis, we can but
speculate on these matters.
There were also miniature (toy) Bulldogs aplenty in England during the nineteenth century. Usually
weighing under 20 lb, many were exported to France, where breeders employed these and other smaller
types of Bulldog to develop that most delightful of breeds--the French Bulldog. When these Frenchies
crossed the English Channel, they found themselves in competition with the remaining smaller specimens
of English origin. The conflict this invasion engendered was short-lived, however, as the small English
dogs did not survive World War I as a show breed, leaving the bat-eared Frenchies to occupy the slot of
the small Bulldog. The AKC requires Frenchies to weigh no more than 28 lb.
Modern (English) Bulldogs are wonderful characters and deservedly maintain a large and devoted
following around the world, as do Frenchies. But neither can lay effective claim to the roles of the classic
Bulldog--butcher's dog, bullbaiter or catch dog for semiwild cattle. Today's Bulldogs and French
Bulldogs are pet and prize dogs that have distanced themselves from the 18th-century Bulldog. And in the
case of the modern (English) Bulldog, some specimens can neither mate nor whelp naturally.
Interestingly, the UKC classifies Bulldogs as well as Frenchies as Companion Dogs.
So inevitably certain breeders have sought ways of recapturing the desirable attributes of those original
old Bulldogges. Their efforts have taken two paths. In some cases, enthusiasts have taken advantage of
the few remaining specimens of older-style Bulldogs and crossed them judiciously with other breeds to
generate sustainable numbers. Examples are the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog and the Campeiro Bulldog.
Other breeders have taken on the challenges of actually re-creating types of Bulldog more to their liking,
coming up with new breeds such as the Olde English Bulldogge and the Victorian Bulldog. Several of
these Bulldog variants are dependent on very few supporters, and their sparse numbers place them firmly
in the rare breeds category.

RARE BULLY BREEDS IN AMERICA (pg 73)

Perhaps the most firmly established of the new Bulldog breeds is the American Bulldog, which since
1999 has been recognized by the UKC and competes at its shows. …
...pg 74 American Bulldogs can also be registered with the International Olde English Bulldogge
Association (IOEBA) in Texas, which desribes itself as "the premier registry for Alternative Bulldogges
and Rare Breeds... dedicated to the preservation, continuation and improvement of these breeds." Its focus
is the Olde English Bulldog, with the goal of bringing together "all bloodlines...that exist today under one
standard...to take the breed to the next level." The IOEBA also registers three other lesser known
Bulldogs--the Banter, the Olde Boston and the Valley.

The Olde English Bulldogge (pg 74)

...pg 75... Confusion has been created by breeders around the world producing "old-style" Bulldogs and
selling them as Olde English Bulldogs. (...etc...) The only guarantee that an Olde English Bulldogge is a
genuine "Leavitt" dog--one bred from Leavitt's stock by him or his associates--is that it has papers
declaring this from the Leavitt Bulldog Association (LBA) or the Olde English Bulldogge Kennel Club
(OEBKC), the parent clubs of the breed. Caveat emptor. The American Rare Breed Association (ARBA)
also registers the breed, and the OEB is on its way to United Kennel Club (UKC) recognition. ARBA and
the UKC will only register Olde English Bulldogges from the LBA or OEBKC.
Other registries now recognize the unrelated Olde English Bulldogges, among them, as previously noted,
the international association (IOEBA), which is working with "breeders scattered throughout the United
States, Canada, Spain, Brazil and Great Britain who has been breeding 'Oldes' for years but were unable
to register their Olde English Bulldogges." The IOEBA goes on to say, "By 2001 several thousand Olde
English Bulldogges had been registered [with IOEBA]." So efforts to bring a more diverse population of
old-style dogs together are moving apace.
(...etc...)

The Banter Bulldogge (pg 75)

pg 76 … The Banter Bulldogge foundation, formed by breed founder Todd Tripp and other enthusiasts,
was unveiled in late 2007. The foundation maintains a working registry, hosts events for the breed and
sets forth a breed standard.

The Olde Boston Bulldogge (pg 76)

...As per IOEBA standard for the breed...
The Valley Bulldog (pg 76)
...From the IOEBA standard...

The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog (pg 77)

...old plantation dogs of the southeastern United States--Bulldogs that arrived in this country in the 1700s.
... Generations of the Lane family in Georgia worked to keep the Alapahas from extinction. Then, in
1986, Ms. Lana Lou Lane approached the Animal Research Foundation (ARF) in Texas to provide a plan
to ensure the survival of the Alapahas. Between 1986 and 2001, nearly 700 of these dogs were registered
or pedigreed by the ARF, although other sources claim that their numbers are much smaller. Alapahas are
also recognized by the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) in the Working Group.

The Catahoula Bulldog (pg 78-79)

Page 78
The Catahoula Bulldog
In the South, we also find Catahoula Bulldogs, which as the name implies originate from crosses between
Bulldogs (in this case, American Bulldogs) and (Louisiana) Catahoula Leopard Dogs. The latter are
renowned for their intelligence and hunting skills and are also useful for herding cattle. They are not,
however, big enough or strong enough to function as catch dogs for hogs, for example. This is where the
American Bulldogs come in; they are second to none as catch dogs. Catahoula-to-American-Bulldog
crosses combine many of the most desirable characteristics of both breeds, and to retain these
characteristics the ratio of Catahoula to Bulldog is kept at no greater than 75% to 25%. The resultant
Catahoula Bulldogs excel at working cattle and as catch dogs; they have also proven themselves as top-
notch bear dogs.
Page 79
This breed is believed to be about 100 years old; ARF has registered them since 1951. In character, the
Catahoula Bulldog is "laid back yet alert when necessary." He's rugged, highly intelligent and
independent--a true working dog. Catahoula Bulldogs are easily trained and make fine family dogs,
described as being very tolerant of children. They weigh 75-99 lb and stand 24-26 inches at the shoulder.
They have musculature akin to that of the American Bulldog, with tight skin and a short smooth coat.
Naturally they have wider heads and more powerful jaws than do Catahoula Leopard Dogs. Ears can be
rose, button or cropped and are used expressively. Adding the merle markings of the Leopard Dog to the
typical American Bulldog colorations leads to an extraordinary range of coat colors and patterns Thus this
breed combines the traits of an excellent working dog with one that is beautiful to look at.
(Photo caption) Above, left: Catahoula Leopard Dogs are known for their distinctive looks, particularly
their striking eyes and coat colors, in addition to their intelligence and abilities.
(Photo caption) Above, right: The combination of Catahoula Leopard Dog and American Bulldog results
in an excellent working dog with fine pet characteristics as well, not to mention the Catahoula Bulldog's
unique good looks.

RARE BREEDS IN OTHER COUNTRIES (pg 79)

The Dorset Olde Tyme Bulldogge (pg 79)

...These dogs are registered with the British Olde Tyme Bulldogge Registry.

The Victorian Bulldog (pg 79)

...The Victorian Bulldog Society serves to advance and improve these dogs, with only dogs bred by
members being accepted for registration.

The Aussie Bulldog (pg 80) aka Australian Bulldog

...Dogs are now registered with the United Aussie Bulldog Association, which was established in 2003.
Only suitable specimens are registered for breeding purposes, others being provided with "pet"
certificates.

The Mallorquin Bulldog (pg 81)

aka Ca de Bou and Perro de Presa Mallorquin
...The Mallorquin Bulldogs are recognized by the FCI as a molossoid breed. The FCI standard... The
Mallorquin should not be confused with the Perro de Presa Canario, which was recently recognized by the
UKC, or the Alano Español (Spanish Bulldog), which is registered with the Old Red English Bulldogges
Association (OREBA).
The Campeiro Bulldog (pg 82)
...They are recognized by the Brazilian Kennel Club. The translation of the club's standard explains that...
So here we have true working Bulldogs whose breeders hope that they will be recognized by the FCI in
due course.

The Bandogge (pg 83)

Finally a word about Bandogges (Bandogs), which aren't purebred dogs in the modern sense. ... In the
1960s American veterinarian John Swinford initiated a breeding program to create dogs with the
capabilities of the Bandogges of yesteryear. However, his early death left the project incomplete. ... There
is no official standard, but ... But remember that these are crosses and so exhibit much greater variances in
size, appearance and, of course, temperament than the pure-bred dogs to which this book is devoted.
Some breeders have bred these crosses together for several generations, this securing greater uniformity.
Many would argue, however, that the ultimate guardian dog is best obtained from one of those first
generation Pit Bull/Mastiff crosses.

A FINAL WORD (pg 83)

This breed discourse on "alternative" Bulldog breeds illustrates their quite remarkable diversity and the
widespread interest in them. Many, of course, are what we term rare breeds, dependent for their numbers
on small cadres of enthusiasts. Some, however, are gaining in popularity and may well gain recognition
by the major registries in the not-too-distant future.