Commonly tied to the 17th-century practice of bull-baiting, the bulldog may have roots that reach further back into history. Bulldog evolution reveals how they have changed over the centuries while offering insights into human motives and techniques for manipulating the breed.
As a mascot, a companion, and a beloved family pet, bulldogs have long represented strength, but numerous aesthetic changes have altered their health and lifespan. By looking at where the bulldog has been, you may be able to see just where the breed will go next.
Ancient Romans Supposedly Used Animals Resembling Early Bulldogs
After the Romans conquered Britain in the first century, dogs were one of the many resources they imported from the isle. Possibly related to a mastiff, Pugnaces Britanniae may have been the ancestor to modern bulldogs.
The dogs were used in combat in amphitheaters. According to the 3rd-century Roman poet Nemesianus, "sundered Britain sends us a swift sort, adapted to hunting-tasks in our world." The dogs were supposedly so strong that, in the words of 4th-century poet Claudian, "they [could] break the backs of mighty bulls."
Bulldogs Used To Be Slimmer And Have Longer Snouts
Early bulldogs (the ones used for baiting) were called "Mastyne" or "Bandogge" during the late 16th century. They were described as "vast, huge, stubborn, ugly, and eager." Though smaller than modern bulldogs, they possessed longer jaws and bigger ears. During the 1700s, they averaged 40 to 50 pounds and sported "a heavy and burdensome body."
Often tasked with keeping watch over farms and households, these bulldog predecessors were "serviceable against the fox, and the badger" and could "drive wild and tame swine out of meadows." They could also "take the bull by the ear, when occasion requireth."
According to contemporary accounts, one or two bulldogs were allegedly sufficient to handle a bull. Three could handle a bear and four was a good number to deal with a lion.
Bulldogs Were Specifically Bred For Use In Bull-Baiting
Because bulldogs were strong and brave, they began to be used and trained specifically for bull-baiting. One 16th-century author wrote that men would "teach their dogs to bait the bear; to bait the bull, and other like cruel and bloody beasts... without any collar to defend their throats." This training involved fighting a human armed with "either a pikestaff, a club, or sword" for their own safety.
Soon, training wasn't enough. Because bull-baiting was a betting sport, people began looking for stronger and larger dogs. They began breeding dogs to make their heads and jaws stronger, while simultaneously making their temperaments more ferocious. At the height of the bull-baiting craze in England, bulldogs weighed as much as 80 to 100 pounds. The practice ended in 1835.
Mastiffs and Bulldogs Weren't Clearly Distinguished Until The 17th Century
In 1631, a Spaniard wrote to his colleague in England to request "a good Mastive dog, a case of liquor and I beg you to get for me some good bulldoggs." This is the first clear delineation between mastiffs and bulldogs in recorded history.
In Johannes Caius's description of the breeds some five years earlier, they seem to be interchangeable in terms of strength, size, and use. What led to the distinction remains unclear, but it coincided with changing attitudes about dogs in general.
While many dogs remained work animals, increased urbanization and aristocratic distinctions made dog ownership more of a recreational pastime. For example, fox hunting dogs were increasingly tied to social rank.
After Bull-Baiting Was Banned In England, Bulldogs Were Exported And New Breeds Developed
Exportation of bulldogs to Spain began during the 1600s and continued for centuries. By the time bull-baiting ended in England, "very few thoroughbred examples existed" and the interchange of bulldogs among cultures had further blurred the bloodlines.
After 1835, the exportation of bulldogs to the United States and Germany resulted in more cross-breeding, with boxers developing in the latter. When Germans bred a Brabanter Bullenbeiser with an English Bulldog, the boxer was born.
The Victorian Demand For Purebred Dogs Likely Saved The Breed
Within England, bulldogs survived thanks to individuals who wanted to revisit the calmer, smaller characteristics of the breed.
With the founding of the Bulldog Club in the 1870s, standards were established for English Bulldogs. According to the description adopted by the club, bulldogs were to be considered based on first impressions of their shape, size, proportion, style, gait, and temper. The ideal weight for an English Bulldog was 50 lbs.
By holding to a standard absent Spanish and other influences, Victorian breeders assured English Bulldogs maintained their distinct appearance.
