Olde English Bulldogge History

Olde English Bulldogge History

The Olde English Bulldogge originated in England between 1600 and 1700. These were the early ancestors to many of the bull breeds that exist today, including the English Bulldog and the American Bulldog. They were bred to participate in blood sports like bull baiting. Bull baiting primarily consisted of staking out a bull and allowing several bulldogges to attack it. A dog of great courage and agility was needed for bull baiting. Around 1835, laws were passed in England prohibiting bull baiting and the Olde English Bulldogges main purpose of existence vanished. Within a decade the numbers of bulldogges declined drastically, almost to extinction.

The modern Olde English Bulldogge is a reconstruction of the original Olde Bulldogge of the 17th and 18th century. The foundation of most of today’s Olde English Bulldogges can be traced to the English Bulldog, American Bulldog, APBT, and Mastiff. These dogs were used very selectively in various combinations to obtain the desired physical and mental traits of the original Olde English Bulldogge. The result has been a good looking Bulldogge of great athletic ability that’s much healthier and physically fit without most or all of the problems that plague today’s modern English Bulldogs. The goal of all Olde English Breeders should be to produce genetically healthier Bulldogges that are free breathers, free breeders, and free whelpers.