"Bulldogs Of Integrity"
Marcia and Mark Willette ~ Ocala, Florida
352-680-9225
Alaco Bulldogs
Click to Wake up the sleeping
Bulldog below and enter our site
Our Passion is the Bulldog
and only the Bulldog!
HISTORY AND FACTS ABOUT THE BULLDOG
As with most breeds of dog, the actual origin of the Bulldog is questionable, at best. It is believed the Bulldog originated in England. It is one of the few breeds of dog that is symbolic of a nation - that nation being Merry Old England! There is little doubt, however, that the earliest canine species resembling the Bulldog came into existence in the 1500's.
The Bulldog was bred for a most inhumane sport called "bull-baiting". Because of their courage and capacity to endure pain, Bulldogs were exploited for many years in the sports of bull-baiting, bear baiting and dog fighting. The dog was bred and trained to chase, catch and hold the bull by the bull's nose. Once the bulldog had grabbed the bull's nose, he would hold on for dear life until the Bulldog brought the bull down. Thank goodness, bull baiting became illegal in England in 1835. Eventually, dog fighting of any sort was prohibited, resulting in a steady decline in the Bulldog breed. However, the beginning of the dog show era in 1859 saved this fine old breed from extinction.
Because of the interest and untiring efforts of a small group of sincere, experienced fanciers, this small number of Bulldogs served as a nucleus for the Bulldogs of today. Fortunately, this group of fanciers was determined to preserve the fine characteristics and just as determined and dedicated to eliminate all fights and viciousness from the breed forever. The first written Bulldog standard was drafted in 1864. A Standard of Perfection was formulated and published in England in 1875.
Below are the key attributes of Bulldog conformation as seen from a side view of the Bulldog. Other illustrations and great information about the Bulldog can be seen and read in their entirety by clicking on the link below:
Below are 2 pictures that show the great differences between the Bulldog of 1817 and the Bulldog of today.
Crib and Rosa, 1817
The 21st Century Bulldog
CHARACTER: The Bulldog loves people and the attention people give him. He has an enduring love of children and all his family members. If Bulldogs are raised with other pets, he will get along very well with cats, other dogs and most other pets.
A Bulldog does best in a loving and caring environment, free from fear and neglect. They are at their happiest when there are people around. Left alone, a Bulldog (like most any other breed) can be destructive. The Bulldog is a docile, even-tempered dog. However, he must be taught proper manners and behavior. He is not born knowing manners nor automatically knowing how he is to behave - he must be taught properly by his owner(s). He is a very intelligent and competent dog with his own mind. Sometimes, he will do exactly what you ask of him and other times, he won't, simply because he does not want to.
You cannot imagine the tons of affection a Bulldog can bestow on his master and family members. The Bulldog has a special intuition in knowing when his loved ones are happy, sad, angry or just feeling blue. He will come to you and rest his head on your knee to give you consolation. When he senses you are sad, he will find some totally hilarious behavior he can do to bring a smile to your face. And, when you are happy, the Bulldog could not be happier for you and will express his feelings very openly.
HEAT STROKE: The Bulldog is not for those who are turned on by running, jogging, biking or doing other strenuous forms of exercise. The Bulldog has long been called, "the lazy man's dog". He gets a thrill just from sleeping at your feet, lying on the sofa or in his bed for many hours during the day. He does enjoy rides in the car as long as he has the air conditioner blowing full force in his face, in the heat of summer or the heat making the car all nice and toasty for him in the dead of winter. Bulldogs absolutely CANNOT take extremes of heat or cold. They are very prone to heat strokes in summer or the chance of a heat stroke when temperatures climb to 70 degrees and above. Bulldogs can also suffer from hypothermia. When the temperatures drop below 50 degrees, Bulldogs can become chilled very quickly and will need Veterinary attention.
The Bulldog sheds a LOT - heavier in Spring and Fall, so if you get upset with a few stray hairs on your nice black slacks or pants, you will not be happy living with a Bulldog. For more information about the heath and care of the Bulldog, please visit their web site by clicking below:
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