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Although the origin of the Bulldog today is not known exactly, it is
thought that the Bulldog comes from an ancient, fierce mastiff-like
breed which was used to restrain wild oxen and to hunt wild boar.
The word Bulldog was first used in a 1598 description of a
bullbaiting contest. However, it is generally thought that the
Bulldog was a well-known breed in England long before. Bandogs,
Bonddoggess, and Bolddogges were repeatedly mentioned in English
literature beginning around 1200, when the sport of bullbaiting
first became popular in England. These dogs were bred and trained to
bite and hang on to the noses, ears and necks of bulls.
During bullbaiting the Bulldog had to bite the bull in the nose and
hang on, without ever letting go of his hold on the bull. These dogs
could retain their hold even after their entrails had been torn out.
The dogs often bled to death from wounds received from the bull.
Enthusiasts in the early bull and bearbaiting contests included all
classes of people. In 1559, Queen Elizabeth was noted to be an
enthusiast and often hosted grand social gatherings centered on
bullbaiting. At that time, almost every village in England had its
own bullring and huge amounts of money were spent on sport related
wagers. Therefore the dogs were selectively bred for power, courage
and tenacity.
In 1835, bullbaiting contests were forbidden in England by an act of
Parliament. After the abolishment the number of purebred Bulldogs
declined greatly. This was due to the growing popularity of the
sport of dog fighting, which replaced bullbaiting as a favourite
public entertainment in the late nineteenth century in England.
Breeders began crossbreeding bulldogs with terrier-type breeds to
develop a much more agile fighter.
Around 1840 the existing Bulldog breed was bred to become a smaller,
gentler dog in order to create a more domesticated housedog. The
Bulldog thus evolved from a sporting dog into a gentler companion,
and its existence was preserved by fanciers of the breed in England
to serve as a household companion and pet. Ironically, the Bulldog
today, because of its extraordinary calm, kind and sweet temperament
and disposition, is very different from his ferocious and vicious
ancestor. |
