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rec.pets.dogs: Bulldogs Breed-FAQ |
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Archive-name: dogs-faq/breeds/bulldogs
Posting-frequency: 30 days
Last-modified: 05 Jun 1995
This is a regularly posted faq and appears every thirty days in
rec.pets.dogs and news.answers. The latest version of this file is
a hypertext document available via the Web at
http://www.io.com/user/tittle/dogs-faq/breeds/homepage.html
The most recently posted ASCII version of this file is available via
anonymous ftp to rtfm.mit.edu in the directory
pub/usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/breeds
It is also available via email: check the weekly posting Cindy Tittle
Moore (tittle@io.com) puts out entitled "Complete List of
rec.pets.dogs FAQs" for details.
BULLDOG FAQ
The Bulldog FAQ is also available in hypertext (HTML) format at
http://www.io.com/user/wilf/bulldog_l/faq.html. Check out Craig
Foltz's Bully Archive at http://sculptor.as.arizona.edu/foltz/bullys/
for lots of Bulldog GIFs and JPEGs. Craig also maintains a Bulldog
Homepage (at http://sculptor.as.arizona.edu/foltz/bulldogs/) with
pointers to lots of good Bulldog information.
[ A NOTE TO THE HUMOR IMPAIRED. BULLDOGS ARE CLOWNS. HAVING A *VERY SERIOUS*
FAQ WOULD BE COUNTER TO STANDARD ACCEPTABLE LOGIC. ]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Authors
2. General
3. Are Bulldogs for you ?
4. Good books
5. Magazines
6. Mailing List
7. A Bulldog As Pet and Companion
8. Bulldogs and Shameless Advertising
9. Cost
10. Breed Description
11. Health Issues
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Bulldog Rescue Organizations
1. AUTHORS
1. Wilf LeBlanc (wilf@io.com)
2. Craig Foltz (foltz@as.arizona.edu)
3. Aaron Dial (bismarck@uniblab.ocis.temple.edu)
4. Jack Segall (segalljack@aol.com)
5. Catherine Quinn (cquinn@access.digex.net)
6. Cindy Tittle Moore
Direct all comments/ criticisms to wilf please.
2. GENERAL
The Bulldog is a beautiful dog (see Q11, Q12) which was originally
bred for Bullbaiting, and although the dog may look strange to people
with no class and culture, one must keep in mind that virtually all of
its physical traits were tailored for Bullbaiting.
Originally, Bulldogs were most likely a cross between a Pug (which was
imported from China by the Portuguese in the mid to late 16th
century), and the progeny of the Alaunt/Mastiff crosses. These dogs
were no doubt quite a bit different than current day Bulldogs...
Todays bulldogs are not dog aggressive, or people aggressive, in
general. They are about as people/dog aggressive as Golden Retrievers.
They are not Pit Bulls, and although they look mean, they are not (at
all).
Bullbaiting (see Q6) originated in 1209 and ran out of favor (i.e.
became illegal) a little before rec.pets.dogs was created, (1835).
3. ARE BULLDOGS FOR YOU?
o Do you want a dog that can run for miles and miles and miles?
If so, don't get a Bulldog. (Bulldogs don't jog. They waddle).
However, they should go on long walks regularly like any other dogs.
(See Q15). Bulldogs are not (NOT!) aggressive dogs, they are not
'performance' dogs, they are above all else 'characters' and
'clowns'.
o Do you want a very obedient dog who will salute on command?
If so, don't get a Bulldog. Bulldogs aren't stupid, but generally
pretty stubborn and thus harder to train.
Theorem: Bulldogs aren't stupid.
Proof 1: Smart dogs learn what "cookie" means really fast.
Bulldogs learn what "cookie" means really fast.
Proof 2: At least two out of the six FAQ Makers have
PhDs, so their dogs must be smart, right ?
QED
o If you live in a hot climate, your Bulldog might need special care
in the summer. They tend to overheat in the hot weather (sometimes)
and care should be given (i.e., shorter walks or walks at night).
o Bulldogs are not long-lived dogs; 8 to 10 years is common.
o There are lots of other breeds which may interest you. Please
consult the breed FAQs at ftp://rtfm.mit.edu (in
/pub/usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq), or the hypertext site at
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/dogs-faq/breeds
/top.html. Wilf also maintains a set of links to various dog
related sites at http://www.io.com/user/wilf/dogs/doggy_info.html.
4. GOOD BOOKS:
[1]. The Book of the Bulldog,
Joan McDonald Brearly 1985, TFH Publications, Inc, Ltd. 211
West Silvania Avenue, Neptune City, NJ 07753 ISBN 0-86622-027-5
[2]. The New Bulldog,
Colonel Bailey Hanes MacMillan Pub Co (Howell Book House) ISBN
0876050690
5. MAGAZINES AND CLUBS
[1]. Bulldog Club of America
Write to:
Dennis Quinn,
Secretary, Bulldog Club of America,
450 Bully Hill Drive, King George,
Virginia,USA 22485
The club was founded in 1890 and had been in continuous
existence ever since. There are several thousand members now.
For only $15 a year membership a person gets a wonderful
quarterly publication full of photos and useful information.
[2]. Sourmug,
Write to:
Sourmug, #1 Windy Ridge
Mendota, MN
55150, USA
Phone: 612 454 9510
Fax: 612 454 9460
$35/year CAN
Sourmug usually has some pretty good articles and quite a few
good pictures.
6. MAILING LIST
We have a Bulldog and Bulldog cross (Bullmastiff, Bull Terrier,
AmStaff, StaffBull, etc etc) mailing list. To subscribe, send a
message to majordomo@io.com with "subscribe bulldogx-l
your-email-address" in the body of the message (no quotes). (If you
don't receive a reply, send a message to me ).
7. A BULLDOG AS PET AND COMPANION
After the outlawing of Bullbaiting (1835), the Bulldog breed would
have died out if not for the people who liked them for their more
endearing properties. Namely, their abundant good nature which makes
them excellent pets.
8. BULLDOGS AND SHAMELESS ADVERTISING
Some products endorsed by Bulldogs
1. Bulldog Brand Steel Wool
2. Mack Trucks
In case your in the market for a MACK truck, and have
wondered who the Bulldog used in their print advertizing is,
wonder no more. His name is Thunder, and he belongs to a
member of the Detroit Bulldog Club. He was selected by the Ad
agency from a group of eight or ten bulldogs to represent the
"massive" image that Mack wants to present. At 78 pounds, he
is type cast for this role.
3. Kibbles 'n Bits
(Pitched by Ike the Bulldog. Apparently, Ike doesn't eat the
stuff, because its waxed to keep the Kibble moist and the
Bits crunchy).
4. Bulldog Canadian Lager Beer
Old Canada Brewing Company, Canada
Imported by Barton Beers, LTD, Chicago, IL 60603
5. Red Dog Beer
A Molson product (Canada). The commercials are great !
Institutions with the Bulldog as mascot:
1. University of Geogia
2. Yale University
3. Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Butler Bulldogs!
We'll sing the Butler War Song
We'll give the fighting cry
We'll fight the Butler battles
Bulldogs ever do or die
And in the glow of the vict'ry firelight
Hist'ry can not deny
To add a page or two
For the Butler fighting crew
Beneath the Hoosier sky!
4. Fresno State University
5. University of Minnesota - Duluth (UMD)
6. United States Marine Corps
9. COST
Bulldogs are one of the most expensive dogs. In general, they are hard
to breed and typically have to be born via Caesarean section (see
Q13). Furthermore they are often lethargic breeders, needing so much
human assistance that the conjugal event can often approximate a
`menage a cinq.' Artificial insemination is often called for. This
brings us to an oft-pondered question: "Could the breed even exist
without the intervention of technology?" The answer to this has has
occupied some of the best minds of the day for a microsecond or two.
The answer is actually unimportant; for a dog so wonderful, no price
is too much to pay. ["Whew, I'd better fill my pockets with jelly
`cause I'm about to become toast!"]
10. DESCRIPTION
Official Breed Standard [AKC]
General Appearance
Size, Proportion, Symmetry
Head
Neck, Topline, Body
Forequarters
Hindquarters
Coat and Skin
Color of Coat
Gait
Temperment
Scale of Points
General Appearance-- The perfect Bulldog must be of medium size and
smooth coat; with heavy, thickset, 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 equitable 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
behavoir.
Size, Proportion, Symmetry-- Size-- The size for mature dogs is about
50 pounds; for mature bitches about 40 pounds. Proportion-- The
circumference of the skull in front of the ears should measure at
least the height of the dog at the shoulders. Symmetry-- The "points"
should be well distributed and bear good relation one to the other, no
feature being in such prominence from either excess or lack of quality
that the animal appears deformed or ill-proportioned. Influence of
Sex-- In comparison of specimens of different sex, due allowance
should be made in favor of the bitches, which do not bear the
characteristics of the breed to the same degree of perfection and
grandeur as do the dogs.
Head-- Eyes and eyelids-- The eyes, seen from the front, should be
situated low down in the skull, as far from the ears as possible, and
their corners should be in a straight line at right angles with the
stop. Thet should be quite in front of the head, as wide apart as
possible, provided their outer corners are within the outline of the
cheeks when viewed from the front. They should be quite round in form,
of moderate size, neither sunken nor bulging and in color should be
very dark. The lids should cover the white of the eyeball, when the
dog is looking directly forward, and the lid should show no "haw".
Ears-- The ears should be set high in the head, the front inner edge
of each ear joining the outline of the skull at the top back corner of
skull, so as to place them as wide apart, and as high, and as far from
the eyes as possible. In size they should be small and thin. The shape
termed "rose-ear" is the most desireable. The rose ear folds inward at
its back lower edge, the upper front edge curving over, outward and
backward, showing part of the inside of the burr. (The ears should not
be carried erect or prick-eared or buttoned and should never be
cropped). 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 not overhanging the face. Cheeks-- The cheeks should be
well-rounded, protrouding sideways and outward beyond the eyes. Stop--
The temples or frontal bones should be very well defined, broad,
square and high, causing a hollow or grove between the eyes. This
indentation, or stop, should be both broad and deep and extend up the
middle of the forehead, dividing the head vertically, being traceable
to the top of the skull. Face and muzzle-- The face, measured from the
front of the cheekbone to the tip of the nose, should be extremely
short, the muzzle being very short, broad, turned upward and very deep
from the corner of the eye to the corner of the mouth. Nose-- The nose
should be large, broad and black, its tip set back deeply between the
eyes. The distance from bottom of stop, between the eyes, to the tip
of the nose should be as short as possible and not exceed the length
from the tip of nose to the edge of underlip. The nostrils should be
wide, large and black, with a well-defined line between them. Any nose
other than black is objectionable and a brown or liver-colored nose
shall disqualify. Lips-- The chops or "flews" should be thick, broad,
pendant and very deep, completely overhanging the lower jaw at each
side. They join the underlip in front and almost or quite cover the
teeth, which should be scarcely noticeable when the mouth is closed.
Jaws-- The jaws should be massive, very broad, square and
"undershot", the lower jaw projecting considerably in front of the
upper jaw and turning up. Teeth-- The teeth should be large and
strong, with the canine teeth or tusks wide apart, and the six small
teeth in front, between the canines, in an even, level row.
Neck, Topline, Body-- Neck-- The neck should be short, very thick,
deep and strong and well arched at the back. Topline-- There should be
a slight fall in the back, close behind the shoulders (its lowest
part), whence the spine should rise to the loins (the top of which
should be higher than the top of the shoulders), thence curving again
more suddenly to the tail, forming an arch (a very distinctive feature
of the breed), termed "roach back" or, more correctly, "wheel back".
Body-- The brisket and body should be very capacious, with full
sides, well rounded ribs and very deep from the shoulders down to its
lowest part, where it joins the chest. It should be well-let-down
bewteen the shoulders and forelegs, giving the dog a broad, low, short
legged appearance. Chest-- The chest should be very broad, deep and
full. Underline-- The body should be well-ribbed-up behind with the
belly tucked up and not rotund. Back and Loin-- The back should be
short and strong, very broad at the shoulders and comparitively narrow
at the loins. Tail-- The tail may be either straight or "screwed" (but
never curved or curly), and in any case must be short, hung low, with
decided downward carriage, thick root and fine tip. If straight, the
tail should be cylindrical and of uniform taper. If "screwed", the
bends or kinks should be well-defined, and they may be abrupt and even
knotty, but no portion of the member should be elevated above the base
or root.
Forequarters-- Shoulders-- Should be muscular, very heavy, widespread
and slanting outward, giving stability and great power. Forelegs-- The
forelegs should be short, very stout, straight and muscular, set wide
apart, with well-developed calves, presenting a bowed outline, but the
bones of the legs should not be curved or bandy, nor the feet brought
too close together. Elbows-- The elbows should be low and stand well
out and loose from the body. Feet The feet should be moderate in size,
compact and firmly set. Toes compact, well-split-up, with high nuckles
and very short stubby nails. The front feet may be straight or
slightly out-turned.
Hindquarters-- Legs--Hind legs should be strong and muscular and
longer than forelegs, so as to elevate loins above shoulders. Hocks
should be slightly bent and well-let-down, so as to give length and
strength from loins to hock. Lower leg should be short, straight and
strong, with stifles turned slightly outward and away from the body.
Hocks are thereby made to approach each other, and the hind feet to
turn outward. Feet-- Should be moderate in size, compact and firmly
set. Toes compact, well-split-up, with high nuckles and short stubby
nails. Hind feet should be pointed well-outward.
Coat and Skin-- Coat-- Should be straight, short, flat, close, of fine
texture, smooth and glossy. (No fringe, feather or curl). Skin-- The
skin should be soft and loose, especially at the head, neck and
shoulders. Wrinkles and dewlap-- The head and face should be covered
with heavy wrinkles, and at the throat, from jaw to chest, there
should be two loose pendulous folds, forming the dewlap.
Color of Coat-- The color of coat should be uniform, pure of its kind
and brilliant. The various colors found in the breed are to be
preferred in the following order: 1.) red brindle; 2.) all other
brindles; 3.) solid white; 4.) solid red, fawn or fallow; 5.) piebald;
6.) inferior qualities of all the foregoing.
Note: A perfect piebald is preferable to a muddy brindle or defective
solid color. Solid black is very undesireable, but not so
objectionable if occuring to a moderate degree in piebald patches. The
brindles to be perfect should have a fine, even and equal distribution
of the composite colors. In brindles and solid colors a small white
patch on the chest is not considered detrimental. In piebalds the
color patches should be well-defined, of pure color and symmetrically
distributed.
Gait-- The style and carriage are peculiar, his gait being a
loose-jointed, shuffling, sidewise motion, giving the characteristic
"roll". The action must be, however, be unrestrained, free and
vigorous.
Temperment-- 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.
Scale of Points
GENERAL PROPERTIES
Proportion and symmetry...................5
Attitude..................................3
Expression................................2
Gait......................................3
Size......................................3
Coat......................................2
Color of coat.............................4 22
HEAD
Skull.....................................5
Cheeks....................................2
Stop......................................4
Eyes and eyelids..........................3
Ears......................................5
Wrinkle...................................5
Nose......................................6
Chops.....................................2
Jaws......................................5
Teeth.....................................2 39
BODY, LEGS, ETC
Neck......................................3
Dewlap....................................2
Shoulders.................................5
Chest.....................................3
Ribs......................................3
Brisket...................................2
Belly.....................................2
Back......................................5
Forelegs and elbows.......................4
Hind legs.................................3
Feet......................................3
Tail......................................4 39
TOTAL..................................... 100
DISQUALIFICATION-- A brown or liver-colored nose.
11. HEALTH ISSUES
Elbow Dysplasia, and Patellar Dysplasia should be screened for before
breeding. Very few Bulldogs have ever been OFA rated (for hip
displasia) and a good Bulldog hip is generally poorly rated by OFA.
Only a tiny tiny number of Bulldogs have ever been OFA rated, and none
have been considered excellent.
Cherry eye (or "haw"), entropian and extropian, is common in Bulldogs
and surgery may be required to fix the problem. Breeding stock should
be screened. Cherry Eye is a swelling of a gland in the inner eye lid.
This is usually treated by cutting the gland out depending on how
often the swelling occurs. Entropian/extropian is the folding in or
out of the eye lids, which bring the eyelashes in contact with the eye
lense. This causes scratching, ulcers and eventually blindness. It is
surgically corrected by putting a "tuck" (ask someone who sews) in the
offending eye lid. Requires a delicate touch and experience not to put
too much tuck and distort the look of the eye.
Other popular maladies include demodectic skin mites ("mange") which
appears to have a genetic basis. Births via C-section are typically
required as mentioned above (see Q13).
Skin allergies or "rashes" are relatively common as well.
Yes, Bulldogs can be expensive dogs. If you decide to opt for a
Bulldog, ensure you purchase one from a reputable breeder with a
history of producing healthy dogs. Saving $100 to $500 and obtaining a
poor quality dog will most likely cost you ALOT more money in the long
haul.
And no, not all Bulldogs have all these health problem.
12. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q1. Are Bulldogs really the greatest dogs in the whole wide world?
A1. Yes, unquestionably.
Q2. Do Bulldogs wear those goofy Moose Antlers or are they above that?
A2. Anything is OK _except_ moose antlers. Mooses are sacrosanct.
Tutus, sunglasses, leather jackets, Georgia Bulldog T-shirts, Tuxedos,
Mack Truck T-shirts, etc., etc.,... are all OK.
Q3. Why are Bulldogs used so often as mascots?
A3. See Q1 above.
Q4. What is the difference between English (or British) Bulldogs and
Bulldogs? What about the French Bulldog ?? What's this I hear about
the 'Olde English Bulldogge' ?
A4. There is no such thing as an English or British Bulldog. Members
of the breed are simply called Bulldogs, as in _The_ Bulldog.
On the French bulldog (by Jack Segall):
The French Bulldog, incidentally, derived from minature or dwarf
Bulldogs sent to France by the English who did not want them...this in
the late 1800's... The genes for mininature still exist in the Bulldog
line, and I own one who is a perfectly proportioned 30 pound dog.
Before the late '50's, Bulldogs were shown at AKC shows in Under and
Over 40 pound weight classes, so small dogs have been around until
fairly recently.
On the 'Olde English Bulldogge'
(by Aaron Dial)
Developed in the 1970s, the Olde English Bulldogge is a recreation of
the 18th-century bulldog. The breed's creator, David Leavitt, was
heavily involved with the AKC show-type Bulldog at the time,
thoroughly loving the bulldog nature, but not so enamored with their
breathing and breeding problems. Armed with considerable knowledge of
bulldog history and canine genetics, Leavitt used a linebreeding
scheme involving the present-day Bulldog, the Bullmastiff, the
American Pit Bull Terrier, and American Bulldogs. Though the "Oldie's"
bloodlines are strongly steeped in combat stock, Leavitt deemed
aggressiveness a fault. He sought instead to recreate the original
bulldog's tenacity, fierce appearance, power, and athleticism, but in
the guise of an over-all friendly fellow. Considered intelligent,
clownish, and loyal, the Olde English Bulldogges are quickly going
"over the top," and are increasingly present at rare breed shows all
over the North America. Dogs should weigh at least 60 lbs. and stand
at least 19" at the withers. Bitches should weigh at least 50 lbs and
stand 17" tall. The moderately wrinkled head is large in proportion to
the body with the skull deeply sunken between the eyes, extending up
the forehead. The muzzle is short (though not as short as the AKC
Bulldog) and broad. The coat is short, close, and medium fine.
Acceptable colors are the brindles (red, grey, or black), solid white,
fawn, red, or black.
For more information, or breeder referrals, on the Olde English
Bulldogges, contact Standing Stones Olde English Bulldogges in the US
at (203) 379-0378.
Q5. OK, OK, then what is the difference between the American Bulldog
and the Bulldog?
A5. Well, (and maybe a AB aficianado can help me here), ABs were bred
for Big Game Hunting and they use a little more force to bring their
(smaller) prey down. (See also Q6 below).
[From Aaron Dial, with a little editing by wilf]:
The AB (indigenous to the sourthern US) was bred as a farm guardian to
protect livestock. It resembles the basic bulldog description (wide
chest, big head, etc.) but a good working AB should weigh 90 lbs
(according to the boar hunters, ABs much more than 100 lbs are too
slow), and its muzzle should be a bit longer than the Bulldog's for
hot-weather work. Its bite should be undershot to maintain a hold, as
fiercer prey can do considerable damage given the opportunity. A
scissor bite would not be suitable. An athletic AB is quite popular
for boar hunting, a sport that has taken the lives of many good dogs.
However, a good AB is something to behold in this bloody endeavor,
which is why they are emerging as the dog of choice for the task.
There is great argument within the fancy just now as to what direction
the breed should take, i.e. athleticism versus bigger is better and
biggest is best. [All hunting flames cheerfully forwarded to
rec.hunting]. [Again, the American Bulldog is more of a 'performance'
dog, whereas the Bulldog is more of a couch potato].
Q6. How did those relatively small Bulldogs of bygone days bring down
Bulls. Were Bulls smaller back then or were Bulldogs bigger?
A6. Some people think Bulldogs were bigger (95 lb range) and some
think they were about the same size as today's variety. However,
Bulldogs were more like a flea on a bull's nose than a massive dog
which would fight with the bulls. They would grab onto the bull's nose
and hold on until the bull was so tired it couldn't fight anymore. It
must be remembered that although Bulldogs may look strange to some,
everything about them (their short stature to avoid being `hooked' by
the bull, their short snout to allow them to breathe while holding on
to the bull, etc.) was bred for bullbaiting. The dogs didn't always
win. The bull was also restrained by a tether (with a rope about its
neck, approximately 4 or 5 yards long).
Q6.1 Why are their faces all wrinkly?
A6.1 So the bull's blood would flow down the Bulldog's face, under its
chin and down, rather than into the dog's eyes. Their noses are tipped
back so they can still breath while keeping ahold of their mouthful.
Doesn't conjure up a pretty mental picture, does it?
Q6.2 Why do they have such a short jaw?
A6.2 Easier to hold on, and not let go.
Q6.3 Why is all their weight near their head?
A6.3 So when the Bull shakes it would be less likely that the dog's
back would be broken. In physical terms, this moves the center of
gravity nearer the axis of rotation in order to minimize the angular
moment of inertia...
Q6.4 I heard that they have jaws that lock, is this true?
A6.4 No. They are just very strong, and stubborn (tenacious), and if
they don't want to let go, they won't.
Q6.5 Were only Bulldogs used for this sport?
A6.5 No, originally the forerunners to the Bulldog were used along
with Mastiffs and Bull Terriers. Bull Terriers and Mastiffs were
considered too large and slow in the ring.
Q6.6 Were animals other than Bulls `baited?'
A6.6 Yes. Bears, badgers, and even monkeys were occasionally the
first-round draft choices of the blood sport promoters.
Q6.7 This is disgusting. This was sport?
A6.7 Yes and yes. But remember that the fighting "rings" were the
forerunners of the show "rings". Not that this makes it any better.
[In fact, it kinda smacks of kickboxing, a sport not without promoters
today...]
Q6.8 So I bet a Bulldog would be a good hunter, no ?
A6.8 HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAA !!!!!! Sure, they are quite
capable at hunting dust bunnies, but that's about it.
Q7. Wow, they must be mean little dogs!
A7. No. Most, if not all, the fighting spirit has been bred out. They
are still pretty stubborn in general, but very loveable. (To quote the
Book of the Bulldog, "They won't start very many fights, but they may
finish a few"). Generally, they have a lot of patience, and they are
very tough. This is why they are good with kids; they can take reams
of abuse. They tend to be meatheads, and might harm a child by
accident, so supervision is still recommended. They even have a
reputation of being particularly good with cats [Craig: My Bulldog pup
has established a particularly good relationship with my marmalade
tabby Duncan, the King Kong of the feline world. Wilf: Yeah, my
bulldog *loves* my cat and my cat (an old grumpy 11 year old) even
likes my bulldog!!]
Q8. Are Bulldogs the same as "Pit Bulls" ?
A8. No. Although it is often unclear what people mean when they say
"Pit Bull". They could mean American Pit Bull Terrier, or just a dog
which was originally bred for pit fighting (and has bulldog-X blood)
or most likely they really don't know what they are talking about. The
press usually defines "Pit Bull" as a dog that bites.
Terriers and Bulldogs were crossed to yield the Bull and Terrier which
then led to the Bull Terrier and the so-called "Pit Bull". (Well, even
this is debatable. Some people believe there is no Terrier in the
American Pit Bull Terrier. Some people believe that the Pit Bull is
closer in looks and character to the original Bull baiting dog. The
general feeling of most Bulldog lovers is a cheery "who cares" ?)
Bulldogs were used for pit fighting (historically) but any aggressive
nature (or gameness) has been (in general) bred out. They are still
stubborn, singleminded and rather impervious to pain.
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