What types of bulldogs exist: a description of all varieties of the breed

About the history of the breed

The name of the breed group comes from the English “bulldog”, which means “bull dog”.

This name is a tribute to the past of these dogs, when they were used as baiting dogs. Bulldogs were released against bulls, bears, lions and other large animals. The main goal of such a competition for dogs was to capture the animal and hold it until it completely fell.

After the ban on such entertainment in the 19th century. dogs began to be used as a fighter in the arena against each other and representatives of other breeds.

By 1859, such entertainment was also banned, and the direction of selection shifted towards the eradication of aggressiveness and anger. Such dogs began to be used as companions.

Common features for all representatives of the group are:

Powerful body with good muscles;
Large round head with a flattened muzzle;
Squat build;
The presence of folds on the body and head.

Many breeds from this group are small in number or are on the verge of extinction. The reduction in the number of animals and the decline in popularity began with the ban on the participation of dogs in fights with other animals.

Alano

The breed is also known as the Spanish Bulldog, Alano Espanol and Spanish Alano . One of the oldest breeds of the group, presumably bred by the Assyrians, the first mentions date back to the 12th century. BC. The dogs are descendants of Molossians; the hypothesis about the presence of a Tibetan Great Dane in their ancestors is also accepted.

The name of the breed, according to one version, is translated as “bulldog”; according to another, it is given in honor of the “Alans” people, whose representatives bred the first dogs of this type. They were used to participate in battles, hunting, herding livestock, guarding, and pursuing Indians. Interest in Alanos fell after the ban on bloody competitions; at the moment, there are very few representatives of the species.

The breed is not recognized by the FCI, but is registered with the country's national kennel club. The standard requirements establish the following dimensions for dogs:

Males - 60-65 cm at the withers, 38-45 kg in weight;
Females are 56-61 cm in height, weight 33-38 kg.

The Alan has a large, rough head with a voluminous forehead and a rounded skull. muzzle is shortened, wide, and rounded towards the chin. The jaws are powerful, with a slight bite. The eyes are medium in size, from amber to brown in tone. Ears are often cropped, although a natural option is acceptable.

body is slightly elongated, with a powerful muscular back, tucked belly and deep chest. The skin forms a dewlap on the neck, fits tightly over the body, the folds on the muzzle are weakly expressed. The coat is short, up to 2.5 cm, often brindle in color with a different background tone, sometimes there is a dark mask on the face.

The Alano's character is tough, but without unjustified aggression. Dogs are very confident, independent and distrustful. Pets are attached to their owner and family, but are wary of strangers. The cost of a puppy is 20,000 -50,000 rubles.

Alapaha Bulldog

One of the rarest breeds of this group, there are no more than 150 individuals in the world. Representatives are also known by the names: otto, alapaha, alpaha, in English the name sounds like Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog . The ancestor of the breed is English bulldogs, although in appearance the dogs resemble the American type.

Breeding began as part of the restoration of the South Georgia dog in the 19th century. The first dog, named Otto, was remembered not only by his appearance, but also by his devotion to his owner, to whose grave the pet came after his death. The main development of the breed has since been organized by the relatives of the owner of the dog, the ancestor of the variety.

The breed is not recognized by the FCI, but there is a local standard that sets conformation requirements. It states that Alapaha are fairly large dogs:

The height of males is 51-61 cm, females are 46-56 cm.
Body weight for the former is 32-41 kg, for the latter – 25-34 kg.

body is wide, but not as loose as that of other bulldogs; they are characterized by a deep chest and powerful back. The head of the alapah is square in shape with a flattened top and a pronounced stop. The lower jaw is slightly undershot; the muzzle has well-developed jowls, which, however, do not hang down much. The coat is short, of different colors, including brindle, but tans and spots on the body are not allowed.

These are balanced, active, self-confident dogs, lovingly related to the owner and his children . Alapaha have a well-expressed territorial instinct; they do not tolerate encroachments on their area, which makes them good guards. They can be stubborn and self-willed. It is quite difficult to buy a puppy; you will have to travel abroad; the price for a pet starts from 65,000 rubles.

American Bulldog

One of the popular varieties of bulldogs comes from the USA. The first mention of the breed dates back to the 18th century, when settlers used dogs of a similar type on their farms to guard their homes, livestock and property. The breed is recognized by the FCI.

The standard establishes the following requirements for the size of a bulldog:

Males - 58-68 cm (ideally 63-65 cm), weighing 45-60 kg;
Females – 55-65 cm (preferably 58-60 cm), body weight – 35-50 kg.

These are large dogs, with a slightly elongated body, strong bones and a rough constitution. Americans have a large head , deep and voluminous in the skull area, with a slightly flattened forehead. The muzzle is shortened, wide at the base, with a pronounced stop and a brow furrow. The jaws are powerful, with a massive chin, and a dense undershot. Eyes can range from hazel to deep brown.

Neck with dewlap and well-defined occipital protuberance. The ears and tail of representatives of the breed are not docked. limbs are straight, the distance between the front ones is significantly greater than the back ones. The skin is thick, with folds on the neck and head, the fur is short, pure white, or with brindle or red spots, for example a pure brindle tone.

This is a very active dog with an independent character . American Bulldogs are courageous, family-friendly, and wary of strangers. They may exhibit dominant behavior towards other dogs and animals, but do not display overt and unreasonable aggression. A puppy can be bought for 15-80,000 rubles.

Appearance and standard

The dog has a muscular body. The muzzle is wide, sagging cheeks, convex forehead. Dogs weigh up to 27 kg. There is a certain squareness to their entire appearance. The back is short, the neck is strong and muscular. The high-set tail is docked. The high-set jaw gives the dog a rather menacing appearance, and the upturned snub nose reveals his cheerful disposition and makes the animal funny.

In accordance with the standard, dogs are red, brindle, tabby or yellowish-brown in color. Representatives of the breed have a black mask and white markings, which should not be more than 30%.

English bulldog

One of the most popular breeds among bulldogs, known since the 17th century . Initially, the dogs were used as a guard and baiting dog; after the ban on fighting, the direction of selection shifted towards exhibition work. English Bulldogs have become companions and national icons due to their personalities.

These dogs captivated aristocrats with their poise, sedateness, determination and courage.

Currently, the English are reliable pets, loyal to their owner, somewhat stubborn, but trainable. They are energetic, vigilant towards strangers, but peaceful in nature.

The breed is recognized by the FCI, the standard determines that the weight of dogs should be 23-25 kg , depending on gender, height at the withers is not established by the rules, but is usually 50-55 cm . These are squat dogs with a wide but compact body. back has a pronounced rise towards the lower back.

The head looks slightly disproportionate to the body, large in circumference, wide and square. The muzzle is short, blunt, upturned, with thick and deep jowls. The eyes of the English are wide-set, round, ears and tail are not docked. The front legs are slightly shorter than the hind legs, both pairs are powerful and muscular.

Bulldogs: breed varieties

A bulldog of any breed can be recognized only by its inherent traits. They all have the same ancestor. The purpose of their breeding was also the same - bull baiting. But each breed also has distinctive features.

French

Terriers: all breeds, what varieties there are

The French Bulldog is very compact. The height of the stocky man does not exceed 36 cm, and his weight is 14 kg. Such a baby is used as a pet, and not for protection and hunting. The French know how and love to communicate with family members. Very active and inventive. Some specimens may be stubborn and aggressive.

For your information! The ancestors of modern dogs are the Molossians of the Roman Empire. In France they have been bred since the 19th century.

Distinctive features of the breed and varieties of French bulldogs:

slightly elongated body;
square head;
a noticeable transition from the convex forehead to the muzzle;
snub nose;
transverse fold between the eyebrows;
the jaws are completely hidden by jowls;
dark, wide-set eyes;
erect round ears;
short tail;
short smooth coat;
The coat is light yellow and has brindle stripes or spots.

English

English varieties have been known since the 17th century. They were used to protect territories. Dogs also took part in battles. After the ban of the latter, selection took the path of reducing aggressiveness.

Note! Modern bulldogs are more of a family pet. They are balanced, courageous, peaceful and loyal. Their some stubbornness does not interfere with learning.

These dogs captivated aristocrats with their poise, sedateness, determination and courage.

According to ICF standards, the weight of an English bulldog can be 23-25 kg. Acceptable height at the withers is 50-55 cm.

Large Bulldog breed - English variety

External signs of the dog:

neat wide body;
back somewhat prominent in the lumbar region;
disproportionately large square head;
short muzzle with thick jowls;
oval erect ears;
short tail;
short front legs;
wide-set eyes;
the skin is wrinkled with a dewlap under the muzzle;
The color of the coat is varied, but tan, brown and black colors are undesirable.

American

The American Bulldog is the most popular of the family. One of the biggest dogs of the group. These dogs are brave, friendly, and active. They have been known since the 18th century. The ICF standard imposes the following requirements:

height at withers 55-68 cm;
body weight 35-60 kg;
powerful elongated body;
large head with a prominent skull;
slightly sloping forehead;
short muzzle with a noticeable transition from the forehead to the muzzle and a deep groove between the eyes;
heavy chin, turning into a powerful neck with dewlap;
the iris of the eyeball is hazel to brown;
classic jaws;
the tail and ears do not require docking;
paws are straight and of the same length;
the skin is highly folded;
The short coat is white, but brindle and spotted dogs are acceptable.

Campeiro

There is a very small group of bulldogs native to Brazil that is not recognized by the FCI . The first mention of the breed dates back to the 16th century; presumably the ancestors of the dogs were Old English dogs of this species, brought by settlers from Great Britain.

They were used as shepherds, capable of standing up to large ungulates alone. They make excellent guards and companions.

According to another version, Campeiro is the result of crossing Portuguese and Spanish mastiffs with the Old English Bulldog, which was brought to Brazil in the 19th century. With a change in the breeding and grazing scheme, the breed went into decline; only through the efforts of one of the breeders, R. Shane, who collected the remaining dogs of this type on farms, the dogs did not disappear completely.

This is a powerful dog with a heavy build . The height at the withers of males should be 50-56 cm , weight - 36-42 kg , height of females - 48-54 cm , weight - 31-37 kg . The body of the dogs is almost square, with massive bones, pronounced muscle mass and a deep sternum.

The head is large, with prominent cheeks. The skull is massive, rounded, the muzzle is short. It takes up no more than a third of the size of the head. The jaws are wide, square, capable of holding a bull in place, with a pronounced undershot. The ears and tail are not docked; the latter has a slightly curved shape.

The skin forms moderately noticeable folds, the lips are thick, hanging below the jaw line. The coat is short, any color except marble. Dogs have an independent character, they are moderately active, stubborn, courageous and vigilant.

They are devoted to their owner and treat children and animals well. It is difficult to buy a puppy, the price starts from 170,000 rubles, and you will have to travel abroad to purchase one.

Catahoula

A small breed bred in the USA . Currently not recognized by major dog breeding associations. The dogs are a cross between a Louisiana Catahoula leopard dog and an American bulldog (in the first generation the blood is 50:50, in subsequent generations it is 75:25).

The first representatives of the breed appeared, according to assumptions, as a result of crossing the Beauceron, the red wolf and local Indian dogs. They were used for hunting, but were unable to hold large prey. To enhance power and fighting skills, the blood of American bulldogs was mixed into the Catahoulas, resulting in a more squat and massive animal.

The height of dogs at the withers is 55-66 cm , body weight is 34-45 kg . The dog's body is massive, but not overloaded, muscular, with fairly high, straight legs. head is powerful with a wide skull. The muzzle is shortened, with a voluminous jaw. A typical scissor bite is characteristic. The skin is thick, with folds on the muzzle.

The ears are drooping and can be cropped. Eyes are brown, blue, amber or multi-colored. coat is short, smooth, and often has no undercoat. The color is inherited from the Catahoula leopard dog and can be merle gray, white, black or brown with brindle, tan, spots, and also a merle variant.

These are very hardy dogs, active, agile, with a pronounced hunting instinct. They are balanced, attached to their owner, distrustful of strangers, and protect their territory.

Buying a puppy is very difficult; the price is negotiated individually with the breeder.

Behavior and character

Representatives of this breed have a strong nervous system. They are confident, calm and balanced. Temper is of great importance and needs careful attention. This is a strong animal, whose strength should not be directed against its owners. However, the dog’s affection and loyalty to its owner and home, sensitivity and fearlessness, as well as the courage of the protector have been known since ancient times.

These dogs are very affectionate with their owners, but are very distrustful of strangers. When the dog plays ball, he is cheerful and carefree, and when attacking he is completely fearless. He learns very easily thanks to his willingness to obey. This is an unpretentious and clean creature, completely charming, honest and open.

Continental Bulldog

The dog breed, developed in Switzerland, does not currently have FCI recognition . Selection began after the country approved rules protecting animal health. Bulldog breeder I. Angern, guided by the new document, decided to recreate bulldogs that are close to the original Old English version, without problems with breathing and other vital systems.

In 2000, this direction of selection was approved by the state authorities of the country and the International Film Festival . I. Agern used her English bulldogs and the new type of Old English bulldogs brought from the USA to develop a new breed. In 2004, the breed was recognized by the Swiss Club, after which their conformation standard was approved.

Continental or Pickwick Bulldog , according to the requirements, must reach a height of 40-44 cm (for females) and 42-46 cm (for males). The body of dogs is square or slightly elongated, muscular, slightly sloping towards the tail, with a voluminous chest.

The neck of Pickwick Bulldogs is short, but does not create the appearance of its absence. The head is square, with a flat forehead, with a pronounced stop, which, however, is not as prominent as in the English variety. The muzzle is shortened, with a wide lower jaw and a powerful chin. There should be a small snack.

eyes are round and have brown irises. The ears are small, hanging, unlike the tail, not docked. The skin is practically wrinkle-free, the hair is short, any color is acceptable, but blue is undesirable. The character of dogs is self-confident, friendly, calm when communicating with loved ones. Timidity and aggression are considered vices. You can buy it mainly in Switzerland; a puppy costs from 160,000 rubles.

Video "English and French bulldogs"

From this video you will learn about the origin and difference between English and French bulldogs.

Old English Bulldog

It is a new breed developed in the USA. The goal of the selection was to produce a dog similar to the original Old English Bulldog that existed in the 19th century. Breeder D. Levitt used blood for this:

Bullmastiff;
Pit bull terrier;
English Bulldog;
American Bulldog.

The result of the crossing is not recognized in the FCI, but the standard is enshrined in the American Kennel Association. According to the rules of the organization, the height of dogs should be 43-51 cm (for males) and 40-48 cm (for females). The body weight of the former is 27-36 kg , the latter - 22-31 kg .

This is a powerful, somewhat squat dog, with a muscular body and massive, but not too heavy, bones. The line of the back is inclined towards the withers, the hind legs are slightly higher than the front legs.

The head is large, more proportional to the body than that of English bulldogs. The muzzle is shortened, but not too much, which makes breathing easier for pets. The ears are small, hanging, wide set. The skin is thick, with a moderate number of folds, the lips are slightly saggy. The coat is short, soft, and the color can be very different.

The dog is active, with character, but not aggressive. Dogs are self-confident, stubborn, but listen to their owner. You can buy a puppy for at least 120,000 rubles, but you will have to go to the USA to pick up the baby.

All rare types of bulldogs

Many dog breeders get themselves ordinary English dogs. However, there are several rare representatives of the breed that are not so common among dog breeders.

Alano is a popular dog in Spain.

Alano

This is a German-Spanish type of bulldog. Such dogs were used to protect the area and livestock. Alano is a huge bulldog, whose height reaches 60-65 centimeters. Despite its large size, this dog is quite kind and loyal.

Alapaha

The dog is very similar to the American Bulldog. It was also bred in the USA, but is quite rare there. Alapaha dogs have well-defined watchdog and service qualities. This black bulldog is quite large, growing up to 70 centimeters in height. The Alapaha dog has a calm character.

Continental

This is a Swiss breed that looks similar to Russian bulldogs. During the breeding of the continental blenny, Old English and English representatives of the breed were used.

Such dogs weigh 20-30 kilograms and grow up to 50 centimeters. The coat is colored brown or red.

Campeiro

This is a Brazilian breed bred specifically for agricultural use as shepherds and guard dogs. The dog is characterized by excellent intelligence, stable psyche and loyalty. Externally, campeiro are very beautiful. The coat is colored white, brown and reddish. Dogs grow up to 55 centimeters.

Catahoula

Catahoulas are excellent guard dogs.
These are Japanese bulldogs that are distinguished by obedience, composure and good intelligence. Catahoulas can be considered quite tall dogs. They grow up to 70 centimeters in height. Their coat is white or black with small reddish spots.

Important! Catahoulas have unusual eyes that can be blue or amber.

Old English

Adult Old English dogs grow to 30-45 centimeters. They weigh about 50 kilograms. These dogs have a calm character, they are very obedient and loyal. They get along well with children and get along with other animals in the apartment.

French

A small descendant of the Molossians of the Roman Empire, bred in France in the 19th century. The main purpose is a companion dog. This is a very active, sociable and lively pet. He always entertains his owners with his antics, plays with children, and is completely devoted to his family. He can be stubborn and self-willed, but does not show signs of aggression if raised correctly.

The FCI standard provides the following requirements for the dimensions of Frenchies:

In males, height is 26-36 cm , weight – 9-14 kg ;
In females, the height at the withers is 23-33 cm , body weight is 8-13 kg .

These are short, stocky, but slightly elongated dogs with a powerful build. The line of the back rises from the withers to the croup. The head is wide, square, with a convex forehead and flat on top. The transition to the muzzle is clearly visible, and the furrow between the eyes is also noticeable. The nose is upturned, with a wide nose. The muzzle is shortened, upturned, covered with symmetrical folds.

The jaws are undershot, the lower part is curved upward, the teeth are completely hidden by hanging thick jowls. The eyes are dark, low and wide set. The ears are fully erect and rounded. The tail is short from birth.

The coat is short, smooth, without undercoat. The color can be fawn, brindle or spotted, but without an abundance of specks. It is not difficult to find a puppy of this breed; the cost is 5,000 – 60,000 rubles.

The group of bulldogs is distinguished by a variety of sizes and colors, but also has common features. These are powerful dogs with a large head and short muzzle, characterized by self-confidence, activity and courageous behavior.