Bulldog
Standard
Bulldog Breed Standard
General Appearance
Smooth-coated, thick set, rather low in stature, broad, powerful and compact.
Head massive, fairly large in proportion to size but no point so much in excess
of others as to destroy the general symmetry, or make the dog appear deformed,
or interfere with its powers of motion. Face short, muzzle broad, blunt and
inclined upwards. Body short, well knit, limbs stout, well muscled and in
hard condition. Hindquarters high and strong but somewhat lighter in comparison
with heavy foreparts. Bitches not so grand or well developed as dogs.
Characteristics
Conveys impression of determination, strength and activity.
Temperament
Alert, bold, loyal, dependable, courageous, fierce in appearance, but possessed
of affectionate nature.
Head and Skull
Skull large in circumference. Viewed from front appears very high from corner
of lower jaw to apex of skull; also very broad and square. Cheeks well rounded
and extended sideways beyond eyes. Viewed from side, head appears very high
and short from back to point of nose. Forehead flat with skin upon and about
head, loose and wrinkled, neither prominent nor overhanging face. Projections
of frontal bones prominent, broad, square and high; deep, wide indentation
between eyes. From stop, a furrow, both broad and deep extending to middle
of skull being traceable to apex. Face from front of cheek bone to nose, short,
skin wrinkled. Muzzle short, broad, turned upwards and very deep from corner
of eye to corner of mouth. Nose and nostrils large, broad and black, under
no circumstances liver colour, red or brown; top set back towards eyes. Distance
from inner corner of eye (or from centre of stop between eyes) to extreme
tip of nose not exceeding length from tip of nose to edge of under lip. Nostrils
large and wide with well defined vertical straight line between. Flews (chops)
thick, broad, pendant and very deep, hanging completely over lower jaws at
sides, not in front, joining under lip in front and quite covering teeth.
Jaws broad, massive and square, lower jaw projecting considerably in front
of upper and turning up. Viewed from front, the various properties of the
face must be equally balanced on either side of an imaginary line down centre.
Eyes
Seen from front, situated low down in skull, well away from ears. Eyes and
stop in same straight line, at right angles to furrow. Wide apart, but outer
corners within the outline of cheeks. Round in shape, of moderate size, neither
sunken nor prominent, in colour very dark – almost black – showing
no white when looking directly forward.
Ears
Set high – i.e. front edge of each ear (as viewed from front) joins outline
of skull at top corner of such outline, so as to place them as wide apart,
as high and as far from eyes as possible. Small and thin. ’Rose ear‘
correct, i.e. folding inwards back, upper or front inner edge curving outwards
and backwards, showing part of inside of burr.
Mouth
Jaws broad and square with six small front teeth between canines in an even
row. Canines wide apart. Teeth large and strong, not seen when mouth closed.
When viewed from front under jaw directly under upper jaw and parallel.
Neck
Moderate in length (rather short than long), very thick, deep and strong.
Well arched at back, with much loose, thick and wrinkled skin about throat,
forming dewlap on each side, from lower jaw to chest.
Forequarters
Shoulders broad, sloping and deep, very powerful and muscular giving appearance
of being ’tacked on‘ body. Brisket capacious, round and very deep
from top of shoulders to lowest part where it joins chest. Well let down between
forelegs. Large in diameter, round behind forelegs (not flat-sided, ribs well
rounded). Forelegs very stout and strong, well developed, set wide apart,
thick, muscular and straight, presenting rather bowed outline, but bones of
legs large and straight, not bandy nor curved and short in proportion to hind
legs, but not so short as to make back appear long, or detract from dog’s
activity and so cripple him. Elbows low and standing well away from ribs.
Pasterns short, straight and strong.
Body
Chest wide, laterally round, prominent and deep. Back short, strong, broad
at shoulders, comparatively narrower at loins. Slight fall to back close behind
shoulders (lowest part) whence spine should rise to loins (top higher than
top of shoulder), curving again more suddenly to tail, forming arch (termed
roach back) – a distinctive characteristic of breed. Body well ribbed
up behind with belly tucked up and not pendulous.
Hindquarters
Legs large and muscular, longer in proportion than forelegs, so as to elevate
loins. Hocks slightly bent, well let down; legs long and muscular from loins
to hock; short, straight, strong lower part. Stifles round and turned slightly
outwards away from body. Hocks thereby made to approach each other and hind
feet to turn outwards.
Feet
Fore, straight and turning very slightly outward; of medium size and moderately
round. Hind, round and compact. Toes compact and thick, well split up, making
knuckles prominent and high.
Tail
Set on low, jutting out rather straight and then turning downwards. Round,
smooth and devoid of fringe or coarse hair. Moderate in length – rather
short than long – thick at root, tapering quickly to a fine point. Downward
carriage (not having a decided upward curve at end) and never carried above
back.
Gait/Movement
Peculiarly heavy and constrained, appearing to walk with short, quick steps
on tips of toes, hind feet not lifted high, appearing to skim ground, running
with one or other shoulder rather advanced.
Coat
Fine texture, short, close and smooth (hard only from shortness and closeness,
not wiry).
Colour
Whole or smut, (i.e. whole colour with black mask or muzzle). Only whole colour's
(which should be brilliant and pure of their sort) viz., brindles, reds with
their various shades, fawns, fallows etc., white and pied (i.e. combination
of white with any of the foregoing colour's). Dudley, black and black with
tan highly undesirable.
Size
Dogs: 25 kgs (55 lbs); bitches: 23 kgs (50 lbs).
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the
seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion
to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into
the scrotum.
Bulldog History
once upon a time this beautifully ugly and cuddly breed existed to bait bulls. Today's bulldog bears little resemblance in structure or temperament to the fierce war-dog that gave the breed its name.
The early origins of the bulldog are somewhat obscure, with most dog historians agreeing to differ.The bulldog is one of the oldest breeds, and first appeared in literature in 1500, when he was called the "Bonddogge", "Boldogge", or "Bulldogge". Later in that century the name "Bandogge" was mentioned by William Shakespeare in his play king Henry VI Part II, and in 1585, William Harrison described the breed in Description of England (1585) Many bulldogs were bound up with chains and bonds in those days to make them more savage when released. They were bred and trained to fight and kill. They had great courage as they had to bait bears, lions and bulls.
Dogue de Bordeaux Standard
General Appearance :
Typical concave
lined brachycephalic molossoid. The Dogue de Bordeaux is a very powerful dog,
with a very muscular body yet retaining a harmonious general outline. He is
built rather close to the ground, the distance sternum-ground being slightly
less than the depth of the chest.
Stocky, athletic, imposing, he has a very dissuasive aspect.
Important Proportions :
The length of
the body, measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock,
is superior to the height at the withers, in the proportion of 11/10.
The depth of the chest is more than half the height at the withers.
The maximum length of the muzzle is equal to one third of the length of the
head.
The minimum length of the muzzle is equal to one quarter of the length of
the head.
In the male, the perimeter of the skull corresponds more or less to the height
at the withers.
Behavior / Temperament :
An ancient fighting
dog, the Dogue de Bordeaux is gifted for guarding, which he assumes with vigilance
and great courage but without aggressiveness. A good companion, very attached
to his master and very affectionate. Calm, balanced with a high stimulus threshold.
The male normally has a dominant character.
Head :
Voluminous, angular,
broad, rather short, trapezoid when viewed from above and in front.
Cranial Region :
- In the male
: the perimeter of the skull measured at the level of its greatest width corresponds
roughly to the height at the withers.
- In bitches : it may be slightly less.
Its volume and shape are the consequences of the very important development
of the temporals, supra-orbital arches, zygomatic arches and the spacing of
the branches of the lower jaw. The upper region of the skull is slightly convex
from one side to the other.
Fronto-nasal depression or stop is very pronounced, almost forming a right
angle with the muzzle (95 to 100).
The frontal groove is deep, diminishing towards the posterior end of the head.
The forehead dominates the face. However it is still wider than high.
The head is furrowed with symmetrical wrinkles, each side of the median groove.
These deep ropes of wrinkle are mobile depending on whether the dog is attentive
or not.
Facial Region :
Nose : Broad,
well opened nostrils, well pigmented according to the mask. Upturned nose
(snubbed) permissible but not if it is set back towards the face.
Muzzle : Powerful, broad, thick, but not fleshy below the eyes, rather short,
upper profile very slightly concave, with moderately obvious folds. Its width
hardly decreasing towards the tip to the muzzle, when viewed from above it
has the general shape of a square. In relation to the upper region of the
skull, the line of the muzzle forms a very obtuse angle upwards. When the
head is held horizontally the tip of the muzzle, truncated, thick and broad
at the base, is in front of a vertical tangent to the anterior face of the
nose. Its perimeter is almost two thirds of that of the head. Its length varies
between one third and one quarter of the total length of the head, from the
nose to the occipital crest. The limits stated (maximum one third and minimum
one quarter of the total length of the head) are permissible but not sought
after, the ideal length of the muzzle being between these two extremes.
Jaws : Very powerful, broad. Undershot (the undershot condition being a characteristic
of the breed).
The back of the lower incisors is in front of and not in contact with the
front face of the upper incisors.
The lower jaw curves upwards. The chin is well marked and must neither overlap
the upper lip exaggeratedly nor be covered by it.
Teeth : Strong, particularly the canines. Lower canines set wide apart and
slightly curved. Incisors well aligned especially in the lower jaw where they
form an apparently straight line.
Upper lip : Thick, moderately pendulous, retractile. When viewed in profile
it shows a rounded lower line. It covers the lower jaw on the sides. In front
the edge of the upper lip is in contact with the lower lip, then drops on
either side thus forming a reversed wide V.
Cheeks : Prominent, due to the very strong development of the muscles.
Eyes : Oval, set wide apart. The space between the two inner angles of the
eyelids is equal to about twice the length of the eye (eye opening). Frank
expression. The haw must not be visible.
Colour : hazel to dark brown for a dog with a black mask, lighter colour tolerated
but not sought after in dogs with either a brown mask or without a mask.
Ears : Relatively small, of a slightly darker colour than the coat. At its
set on the front of the base of the ear is slightly raised. They must fall
back, but not hang limply, the front edge being close to the cheek when the
dog is attentive. The tip of the ear is slightly rounded ; it must not reach
beyond the eye. Set rather high, at the level of the upper line of the skull,
thus appearing to accentuate its width even more.
Neck : Very strong, muscular, almost cylindrical. The skin is supple, ample
and loose. The average circumference almost equals that of the head. It is
separated from the head by a slightly accentuated transversal furrow, slightly
curved. Its upper edge is slightly convex. The well defined dewlap starts
at the level of the throat forming folds down to the chest, without hanging
exaggeratedly. The neck, very broad at its base, merges smoothly with the
shoulders.
Body :
Top line : Solid
with a broad and muscular back, withers well marked, broad loin, rather short
and solid.
Croup : Moderately sloping down to the root of the tail.
Chest : Powerful, long, deep, broad, let down lower than the elbows. Broad
and powerful breast whose lower line (inter-axillae) is convex towards the
bottom. Ribs well let down and well sprung but not barrel shaped. The circumference
of the chest must be between 0,25 to 0,30 m greater than the height at the
withers.
Underline : Curved, from the deep brisket to the rather tucked up, firm abdomen,
being neither pendulous nor whippety.
Tail : Very thick at the base. Its tip preferably reaching the hock and not
below. Carried low, it is neither broken nor kinked but supple. Hanging when
the dog is in repose, generally rising by 90 to 120 from that position when
the dog is in action, without curving over the back or being curled.
Limbs :
Forequarters
: Strong bone structure, legs very muscular.
Shoulders : Powerful, prominent muscles. Slant of shoulder-blade medium (about
45 to the horizontal), angle of the scapular-humeral articulation a little
more than 90.
Arms : Very muscular.
Elbows : In the axis of the body, neither too close to the thoracic wall nor
turned out.
Forearms : Viewed from the front, straight or inclining slightly inwards thus
getting closer to the median plane, especially in dogs with a very broad chest.
Viewed in profile, vertical.
Metacarpal region : Powerful. Viewed in profile, slightly sloping. Viewed
from the front sometimes slightly outwards thus compensating for the slight
inclination of the forearm inwards.
Feet : Strong. Toes tight, nails curved and strong, pads well developed and
supple : the dogue is well up on his toes despite his weight.
Hindquarters : Robust legs with strong bone structure ; well angulated. When
viewed from behind the hindquarters are parallel and vertical thus giving
an impression of power even though the hindquarters are not quite as broad
as the forequarters.
Thigh : Very developed and thick with visible muscles.
Stifle : In a parallel plane to the median plane or slightly out.
Second Thigh : Relatively short, muscled, descending low.
Hock : Short, sinewy, angle of the hock joint moderately open.
Metatarsus : Robust, no dew claws.
Hind feet : Slightly longer than the front feet, toes tight.
Movement :
Quite supple
for a molossoid. When walking the movement is free, supple, close to the ground.
Good drive from the hindquarters, good extension of the forelegs, especially
when trotting, which is the preferred gait. When the trot quickens, the head
tends to drop, the top line inclines towards the front, and the front feet
get closer to the median plane while striding out with a long reaching movement
of the front legs. Short gallop with vertical movement rather important. Capable
of great speed over short distances by bolting along close to the ground.
Skin : Thick and sufficiently loose fitting.
Coat :
Hair : Fine,
short and soft to the touch.
Colour : Self-colored, in all shades of fawn, from mahogany to isabella. A
good pigmentation is desirable. Limited white patches are permissible on the
chest and the extremities of the limbs.
Mask :
1. Black mask
: the mask is often only slightly spread out and must not invade the cranial
region. There may be slight black shading on the skull, ears, neck and top
of body. The nose is then black.
2. Brown mask (used to be called red or bistre) : the nose is then brown ;
the eye rims are also brown.
3. No mask : the coat is fawn : the skin appears red (also formerly called
" red mask "). The nose is then reddish or pink.
Size :
- Height should
more or less correspond to the perimeter of the skull.
- Dogs : 60-68 cm at the withers
- Bitches : 58-66 cm at the withers.
- 1 cm under and 2 cm over will be tolerated.
Weight :
- Dogs : at least
50 kg
- Bitches : at least 45 kg.
- Bitches : Identical characteristics but less prominent.
Faults :
History of Dogue de Bordeaux
The Dogue's history
is believed to predate the Bull mastiff and the Bulldog. It is said that the
Dogue can be found in the background of the Bull mastiff, and other claim
the the Dogue and the Bull mastiff breeds were both being accomplished at
the same time. Some believe that the Bulldog is the building block of the
Dogue, and again, another group believes that the Bulldog was used in the
breeding programs further down the line. Another theory, is that it originates
from the Tibetan Mastiff.
Dr. Raymond Triquet is quoted as saying: "It is often said that the common stem of all European Dogues was a big dog coming from the confines of India and China, more than 3000 years ago, and by stages would have gone from Thibet to Mesopotamia, there, where begins the history of men, then to Epire, small kingdom of ancient Molosse; then to Rome and from there to Gaule. He would have made this long journey by the side of conquerors, warriors, and merchants. It is possible that this prestigious connections part true, but let us not forget the fact, maybe preponderant, that archeologists have found in the land that would become France, bones of dogs dating from prehistory, bones that were those of a Dogue."
There are notions that the Dogue has ties to the Alano, an extinct dog of Spain, similar in many ways to the Bordeaux. It is said that this dog was brought to Europe by the Alans, an Oriental tribe. It is also said the Bordeaux is related to the Greco-Roman mollosids used for war, as there was a breed similar to the Dogue de Bordeaux in Rome at the time of Julius Caesar's reign. This would make the Dogue a cousin to the Neapolitan Mastiff. Yet another theory suggests that the Dogue is a descendent of a breed which existed in France a long time ago.
In France, the Dogues were bred depending on the region and jobs they were required to do. The general appearance was inconsistent, the Dogue had various colors and varieties of coat, they had scissors bites in some regions, undershot in others, but they all had a general type similar to today's Dogues.
We do know the Dogue de Bordeaux was used as a guardian, a hunter, and a fighter. They were trained to bait bulls, bears, and jaguars; hunt boars; heard cattle; and protect the homes, butcher shops and vineyards of their masters. The Dogue de Bordeaux were prized as protectors and were often found in the home of the noble and wealthy of France.
