Posted by aysel on February 23, 2003 at 18:52:18:
In Reply to: Re: cool!! posted by PH FasDog on February 21, 2003 at 10:46:01:
The older pup had a small head and the young one seemed to have a head that fit his body. Other bulldogs I've seen had the massive head and jaws. What is the difference? They also called them "English Bulldogs". Is there a difference between this type of bulldog and just a plain old bulldog?
Well, there are a few different kinds of bulldogs out there. There is the Olde English Bulldogge, the English Bulldog, American Bulldog, etc etc.
The Olde English Bulldogge often very closely resembles an English Bully, but it is HUGE.
After doing some brief research on Olde English Bulldogges, I was heartbroken to see how people have mutilated the bully breed. With some animals, the chest has been so abnormally widened, I can't help but wonder as to the quality of life of the dog.
Official O.E.B.A. Breeding Standard
GENERAL Re-Creation of original Bulldogge
APPEARANCE Medium sized dog. Powerfully built and showing great strength. Weight for males is 60 lbs. and up. Females 50 lbs. and up. Height at shoulders for males 17" and up. Females 16" and up. He should be alert, with a symmetrical, well proportioned body. The dog should be cobby, but have the appearance of an athlete.
TEMPERAMENT Friendly, but a fearless adversary to anyone who threatens his master or property. Unfriendliness to strangers isn’t a defect, although it’s unusual.
HEAD Large in proportion to body and square. Deeply sunken between eyes, extending up forehead. Moderately wrinkled. Jaw muscles large. Lower jaw turned up and protruding. Bite squared, but undershot. Large tusks. Eyes low and wide set. Forehead flat. Muzzle short and broad. Flews semi-pendulous. Ears may be either rose or button and should be set high and wide. Dewlap will have two folds.
BODY Neck should be short and nearly as wide as the head. Shoulders very broad and muscular. Front legs may be slightly bowed or straight. Ribs well rounded and chest wide and deep. Back short, slightly roached and strong. Belly well tucked up. Thighs very muscular. Rear legs neither pigeon-toed or cow-hocked. Tails must be straight.
COAT Short, close and medium fine.
COLOR Brindle of red, grey, or black. Brindle spots on white. Solid white. Fawn, red or black, solid or with white. Pink noses and pink skin around eyes are undesirable, but not a disqualification
GROUP Working
After looking up the breed on the internet, I have seen so many varied representations of the breed. The breed standard is either very loosely interpreted, or manipulated and taken to extremes.
I was pleased to see that some dogs from the Hermes line are much more proportioned (although enormous). 
Dio with my daughter, Marvea.
Dio is a 146 pound male.
His head is 33", his chest is 241/2".
Hermes Alma is one year old and 110 lbs.
Will top out at 120 lbs.
The general appearance of the English Bulldog, by AKC standards, is as follows:
The perfect Bulldog must be of medium size and smooth coat; with heavy, thick-set, low-swung body, massive short-faced head, wide shoulders and sturdy limbs. The general appearance and attitude should suggest great stability, vigor and strength. The disposition should be equable and kind, resolute and courageous (not vicious or aggressive), and demeanor should be pacific and dignified. These attributes should be countenanced by the expression and behavior.
It should weigh around 40-50lbs.
"The Skull--The skull should be very large, and in circumference, in front of the ears, should measure at least the height of the dog at the shoulders. Viewed from the front, it should appear very high from the corner of the lower jaw to the apex of the skull, and also very broad and square. Viewed at the side, the head should appear very high, and very short from the point of the nose to occiput. The forehead should be flat (not rounded or domed), neither too prominent nor overhanging the face."
After living with English Bulldogs for a large part of my life, they hold a special part of my heart. They are stubborn, yet affectionate and each has their own unique personality. =)
American Bulldogs are a taller breed. They came to American in the 1700's and are known to be bred by two men known as Johnson and Scott. The American Bulldog is originally a catchdog. It would run down cattle and boars. The American Bulldog is the athletic variant of the Bulldogs. It is taller, should not have breathing difficulty, and should be an active dog.
Today, the American Bulldog is often used as a personal guardian, Schutzhund dog, and a cathdog for boar hunting, as well as a companion.
As with most large breeds of dogs, hip displaysia is a defect that sometimes occurs. Most breeders have their dogs and breeding stock OFA registered and tested by PennHip for hip displaysia. The muscularity of the dog's hindquarters often diguises the pain associated with hips popping out of their sockets because the muscles hold the joint together.
Visually, the American Bulldog does not resemble the English as much as the Olde English Bulldogge. It is thought that the American Bulldog possibly resembles the original Bulldogs the most, before they were bred down to their smaller sizes. The American Bulldog comes in two varieties; the Scott and Johnson. Today, since the two lines have often been cross-bred, the two varieties are often referred to as the Classic and Bully variety.
Because of the many different types of work this breed can do, several distinct lines evolved, each emphasizing the traits needed to do a specific job. The best known lines are usually referred to as the Johnson and Scott types. The Johnson dogs are more massive, with a larger, broader head and shorter muzzle, and a definite undershot bite. The Scott dogs were somewhat lighter in musculature and bone than the Johnson dogs, with a less Mastiff-like head. Today, however, most American Bulldogs have crosses to two or more of these lines and are not as easily distinguishable.
The modern American Bulldog continues to serve as an all-purpose working dog; a fearless and steady guard dog; and a loyal family companion.
The American Bulldog was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1999.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The American Bulldog is a powerful, athletic short-coated dog, strongly muscled, and well boned. The body is just slightly longer than tall. The head is large and broad with a wide muzzle. Ears are small to medium in size, high set, and may be drop, semi-prick, rose, or cropped. The tail may be docked or natural. The American Bulldog comes in solid colors, white with colored patches, and brindle. Gender differences are well expressed in this breed, with males typically larger and more muscular than females. Honorable scars resulting from field work are not to be penalized. The American Bulldog should be evaluated as a working dog, and exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog's ability to work.
CHARACTERISTICS
The essential characteristics of the American Bulldog are those which enable it to work as a hog and cattle catching dog, and a protector of personal property. These tasks require a powerful, agile, confident dog with a large head and powerful jaws. The American Bulldog is a gentle, loving family companion who is fearless enough to face an angry bull or a human intruder. Note: It is common for young American Bulldogs to be somewhat standoffish with strangers and judges should not penalize this. By the time the dog is around 18 months of age, however, the breed's normal confidence asserts itself.
Disqualifications: Viciousness or extreme shyness; cowardice.
HEAD
The head is large and broad giving the impression of great power. When viewed from the side, the skull and muzzle are parallel to one another and joined by a well-defined stop. The stop is very deep and abrupt, almost at a right angle with the muzzle. Despite the depth of the stop, the forehead is wider than it is high.
SKULL -- The skull is large, flat, deep, and broad between the ears. Viewed from the top, the skull is square. There is a deep median furrow that diminishes in depth from the stop to the occiput. Cheek muscles are prominent.
MUZZLE -- The muzzle is broad and thick with a very slight taper from the stop to the nose. The length of the muzzle is equal to 35 to 45 percent of the length of the head. Lips are moderately thick but not pendulous. The chin is well defined and must neither overlap the upper lip nor be covered by it.
TEETH -- The American Bulldog has a complete set of large, evenly spaced, white teeth. The preferred bite is undershot with the inside of the lower incisors extending in front of the upper incisors up to ¼ inch. A scissors bite is acceptable. A level bite and extreme undershot bite are considered faults to the degree that the bite interferes with the dog's ability to work. Teeth are not visible when the mouth is closed. Worn teeth or broken teeth are acceptable.
Disqualification: Overshot.
NOSE -- The nose is large with wide, open nostrils. The nose may be any color but darker pigment is preferred.
EYES -- Eyes are medium in size, round, and set well apart. All colors are acceptable but brown is preferred. Haw is not visible. Dark eye rims are preferred.
Faults: Very visible haws.
EARS -- Ears may be cropped but natural ears are preferred. Natural ears are small to medium in size, high set, and may be drop, semi-prick, or rose.
Drop ears: The ears are set high, level with the upper line of the skull, accentuating the skull's width. At the base, the ear is just slightly raised in front and then hangs along the cheek. The tip is slightly rounded. When pulled toward the eye, the ear should not extend past the outside corner of the eye.
Semi-prick ears: Same as drop ears except that only the tips of the ears drop forward.
Rose ears: Rose ears are small and set high on the skull.
Fault: Hound ears.
NECK
The neck is where the American Bulldog exerts power to bring down livestock. The neck must be long enough to exert leverage, but short enough to exert power. The neck is muscular and, at its widest point, is nearly as broad as the head, with a slight arch at the crest, and tapering slightly from shoulders to the head. A slight dewlap is acceptable.
Faults: Neck too short and thick; thin or weak neck.
FOREQUARTERS
The shoulders are strong and well muscled. The shoulder blade is well laid back and forms, with the upper arm, an apparent 90-degree angle. The tips of the shoulder blades are set about 2 to 3 finger-widths apart.
The forelegs are heavily boned and very muscular. The elbows are set on a plane parallel to the body, neither close to the body nor turned out. Viewed from the front, the forelegs are perpendicular to the ground or may, especially in a dog with a very broad chest, incline slightly inward. The pasterns are short, powerful, and slightly sloping when viewed in profile. Viewed from the front, the pasterns are straight.
BODY
The chest is deep and moderately wide with ample room for heart and lungs. The ribs are well sprung from the spine and then flatten to form a deep body extending at least to the elbows, or lower in adult dogs. The topline inclines very slightly downward from well-developed withers to a broad, muscular back. The loin is short, broad, and slightly arched, blending into a moderately sloping croup. The flank is moderately tucked up and firm.
Serious faults: Swayback; sloping topline.
HINDQUARTERS
The hindquarters are well muscled and broad. The width and angulation of the hindquarters is in balance with the width and angulation of the forequarters. The thighs are well developed with thick, easily discerned muscles. The lower thighs are muscular and short. Viewed from the side, the rear pasterns are well let down and perpen-dicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are straight and parallel to one another.
Faults: Cowhocks; open hocks.
Serious faults: Narrow or weak hindquarters.
FEET
The feet are round, medium in size, well arched, and tight.
Fault: Splayed feet. The seriousness of this fault is based on the amount of splay in the feet.
TAIL
The American Bulldog may have a natural or a docked tail, but the natural tail is preferred. The natural tail is very thick at the base, and tapers to a point. The tail is set low. A "pump handle" tail is preferred but any tail carriage from upright, when the dog is excited, to relaxed between the hocks is acceptable.
Serious fault: Tail curled over the back; corkscrew tail; upright tail when the dog is relaxed.
COAT
The coat is short, close, and stiff to the touch.
Disqualifications: Long or wavy coat.
COLOR
Any color, color pattern, or combination of colors is acceptable, except for solid black, solid blue, and tricolor (white with patches of black and tan). Some dark brindle coats may appear black unless examined in very bright light. A buckskin color pattern, where the base of the hair is fawn and the tips are black, may also appear solid black. A judge should not disqualify an American Bulldog for black color unless the dog has been examined in sunlight or other equally bright light.
Disqualifications: Solid black or blue with no white markings; tricolor (white with patches of black and tan).
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
The American Bulldog must be sufficiently powerful and agile to chase, catch, and bring down free-ranging livestock. Dogs capable of doing this come in a rather wide range of height and weight. Males are typically larger with heavier bone and more muscle than females. Both sexes, however, should have a well-balanced overall appearance.
Desirable height in a mature male ranges from 22 to 27 inches; in a mature female, from 20 to 25 inches. Desirable weight in a mature male ranges from 75 to 125 pounds; in a mature female, from 60 to 100 pounds.
GAIT
When trotting, the gait is effortless, smooth, powerful and well coordinated, showing good reach in front and drive behind. When moving, the backline remains level with only a slight flexing to indicate suppleness. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance.
Poor movement should be penalized to the degree to which it reduces the American Bulldog's ability to perform the tasks it was bred to do.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Unilateral or bilateral deafness. Cowardice. Overshot. Long or wavy coat. Albinism. Solid black or blue with no white markings. Tricolor (white with patches of black and tan).
Some organizations specify that American Bulldogs born after the year 1996 (approx) should not have their ears cropped or tails docked. Also, for some organizations, at least 50% of the dog being white is preferred.
I hope that helps you a little bit.. it sure is long!! hehehe
picture references:
http://www.oldebulldogge.com
http://www.angelfire.com/bc/ghermes
http://www.theamericanbulldog.co.uk/
http://akoyas.freeyellow.com/index.html
