One might think that the information on this page should be on the history page but we believe it should be on  the "standards" page for the passionate student bulldogger to comprehend how the standard shapes the breed, a fact well understood by KC managers but not by the rank and file bulldoggers and true lovers of the breed worldwide ,who just want todays' bulldog to remain as he is today. (June 2009)

In our opinion any breeder, judge or just a lover of the breed must read up on the history of this exclusive breed  and especially read , digest and thoroughly understand the first, very thorough and comprehensive ,dog standard which was compiled by men who truly were matching form to function and were extremely careful in their choice of words while understanding that dogs do not come off a perfect production line and thus words like "could" "should" or "must" demonstrably conveys the thoroughness of their use of the English language by the authors of the time in describing this most quintessential British breed which appears to be in danger of being changed beyond recognition by the very organisation formed to encourage and promote the breeding of Pedigree dogs of the true type .

The Bulldog Club Inc. Original Bulldog Standard

copied from the 1903 rule book of the Birmingham and Midland Counties Bulldog Club.

STANDARD DESCRIPTION OF THE CORRECT APPEARANCE AND THE SEVERAL POINTS IN DETAIL OF THE PERFECT BULLDOG

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The following description of the Pure-bred Bulldog has been compiled and adopted by "The BULLDOG CLUB (Incorporated) as the correct standard type of excellence in the breed after carefully comparing all obtainable opinions                                            

  -In forming a judgement on any specimen of the breed ,the general appearance ,which is the first impression a dog makes as a whole on the eye of the Judge, should first be considered.                                                                                                                                         

Secondly, should be noticed it’s size, shape and make, or rather it’s proportions in the relation they bear to each other. (No point should be so much in excess of others as to destroy the general symmetry or make the dog appear deformed, or interfere with it’s powers of motion etc.)                                                                                                                                    

Thirdly, his style, carriage, gait, temper and his several points should be considered separately in detail, as follows, due allowance being made for the bitch, which is not so grand or as well developed as the dog.                                                                                              

(1)The general appearance of the Bulldog is that of a smooth-coated, thick-set dog, rather low in stature but broad, powerful and compact. It's head strikingly massive and large in proportion to the dog’s size. It's face extremely short. It's muzzle very broad, blunt and inclined upwards . It's body short and well knit, the limbs stout and muscular. It's hindquarters high and strong but rather lightly made in comparison with it’s heavily made fore parts. The dog should convey an impression of determination , strength and activity, similar to that suggested by the appearance of a thick-set Ayrshire Bull                                                                                                      

(2). The skull should be very large-the larger the better- and in circumference should measure (round in front of the ears ) at least the height of the dog at the shoulders. Viewed from the front it should appear very high from the corner of the lower jaw to the apex of the skull and also very broad and square. The cheeks should be well rounded and extended sideways beyond the eyes. Viewed at the side ,the head should appear very high, and very, short from it’s back to the point of the nose. The forehead should be flat, neither prominent nor overhanging the face: the skin upon it and about the head very loose and well wrinkled                                               

  (3)The projections of the frontal bones should be very prominent , broad, square and high, causing a deep and wide indentation between the eyes , termed the “stop”. From the “stop” a furrow both broad and deep should extend up to the middle of the skull, being traceable to the apex.                                                                                                                                     

(4)The eyes seen from the front should be situated low down in the skull, as far from the ears as possible. The eyes and “stop” should be in the same straight line, which should be at right angles to the furrow. They should be as wide apart as possible, provided their outer corners are within the outline of the cheeks . They should be quite round in shape of moderate size, neither sunken nor prominent , and in colour should be very dark - almost, if not quite black, showing no white when looking directly forward.                                                                                                                                                   

(5)-The ears should be set high on the head- i.e. the front inner edge of each ear should (as viewed from the front) join the outline of the skull at the top corner of such outline, so as to place them as wide apart and as high and as far from the eyes as possible. In size they should be small and thin, The shape termed “rose ear” is correct and folds inwards at it’s back, the upper or front edge curving over outwards and backwards, showing part of the inside of the burr.                                                                        

(6)The face, measured from the front of the cheekbone to the nose, should be as short as possible, and it’s skin should be deeply and closely wrinkled . The muzzle should be short, broad turned upwards and very deep from the corner of the eye to the corner of the mouth. The nose should be large, broad and black it’s top should be deeply set back almost between the eyes . The distance from the inner corner of the eye (or from the centre of the “stop” between the eyes) to the extreme tip of the nose should not exceed the length from the tip of the nose to the tip of the underlip. The nostrils should be large, wide, and black with a well defined ,vertical straight line between them.                                                                                                                                                                                                        

(7)The flews ,called the “chop” should be thick, broad, pendant and very deep hanging completely over the lower jaw at the sides (not in front) They should join the under lip in front and quite cover the teeth which should not be seen when the mouth is closed             

  (8)The jaw should be broad ,massive  and square, the canine teeth or tusks ,wide apart .The  lower jaw should project considerably in front of the upper and turn up. It should be broad and square, an have the six small front teeth between the canines in an even row. The teeth should be large and strong.                                                                                                                                                                                           

(9) The neck should be moderate in length (rather short than long), very thick, deep and strong.  It should be well arched at the back , with much loose, thick and wrinkled skin about the throat, forming a dewlap on each side from the lower jaw to the chest. The chest should be very wide latterly, round, prominent, and deep, making the dog appear very broad and short legged in front                        

(10) The shoulders should be broad, sloping and deep, very powerful and muscular, and giving the appearance of having been “tacked on” to the body.                                                                                                                                                  

(11)The brisket should be capacious, round and very deep from the top of the shoulders to the lowest part where it joins the chest, and be well let down between the forelegs. It should be large in diameter and round behind the forelegs (not flat sided, the ribs being well rounded)                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

(12)The back should be short and strong, very broad at the shoulders and comparatively narrow at the loins. There should be a slight fall to the back close behind the shoulders (it’s lowest part), whence the spine should rise to the loins (the top of which should be higher than the top of the shoulders ). Thence curving again more suddenly to the tail , forming an arch- a distinctive characteristic of the breed-termed “roach back”                                                                                                                                                                                       

(13)The forelegs should be very stout and strong, set wide apart, thick , muscular and straight, with well developed forearms, presenting a rather bowed outline but the bones of the leg should be large and straight, not bandy or curved. They should be rather short in proportion to the hind legs, but not as short as to make the back appear long, or detract from the dog’s activity, and so cripple him. The elbows should be low and stand well away from the ribs The pasterns should be short , straight and strong. The forefeet should be straight, and turn very slightly outwards, of medium size and moderately round. The toes compact and thick ,being well split up ,making the knuckles prominent and high.                                                                                                                                       

(14)The hind legs should be large and muscular, and longer in proportion than the forelegs, so as to elevate the loins. The hocks should be slightly bent and well let down, so as to be long and muscular from the loins to the point of hock. The lower part of the leg should be short, straight and strong The stifles should be round and turned slightly outwards away from the body. The hocks are thereby made to approach each other and the hind feet to turn outwards. The latter , like the forefeet, should be round and compact with the toes well split up and the knuckles prominent. From its formation the dog ha a peculiar , heavy and constrained gait , appearing to walk with short , quick , steps on the tip of its toes, its hind feet not being lifted high, but appearing to skim the ground and running with the right shoulder  rather advanced ,similar to the manner of a horse in cantering.                                            

(15) The most desirable size for the bulldog is about 50 lbs. (this was later amended to 50lbs for a bitch and 55lb for a dog)                  

(16) The tail, termed the “stern” should be set on low, jut out rather straight, then turn downwards. It should be round , smooth and devoid of fringe or coarse hair. It should be moderate in length- rather short than long- thick at the root and tapering quickly to a fine point. It should have a downward carriage (not having a decided upward curve at the end), and the dog should not be able to raise it over it’s back.                                                                                                                                                                         

(17) The coat should be fine in texture, short, close and smooth (hard only from the shortness and closeness, not wiry) Its colour should be whole or smut (that is, a whole colour with a black mask or muzzle). The only colours (which should be brilliant and pure of their sort ) are whole colours, viz; brindles ,reds (with their varieties), fawns, fallows, etc., white and also pied (i.e. a combination of white with any other of the foregoing colours).  (added later was Dudley, black and black with tan are extremely undesirable colours.)

The following 100 points show the relative value of the properties mentioned in the foregoing Standard Description.

Total                                                                                                                                                                                                     100

The above 1875 standard was initially adopted by the Kennel Club who then "modernised" and somewhat amended it in 1987 and later, with input from The Bulldog Breed Council emphasising health requirements ,  further amendments were implemented  in 2003 .

THE KENNEL CLUB STANDARD (2003)

GENERAL APPEARANCE  -Smooth -Coated, thick set, rather low in stature, broad, powerful and compact Head` 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 it’s powers of motion. Face short, muzzle broad, blunt and inclined upwards. Dogs showing respiratory distress highly undesirable. 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 the 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 finely 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 cheekbone 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 , wide and open with defined vertical straight line between. Flews (chops) thick, broad. pendant and very deep , hanging completely over lower jaw at sides, not in front , joining under lip in front and quite covering teeth. Jaws broad, massive and square, lower jaw projecting in front of upper and turning up. Nose roll , if present, should not interfere with line of layback. 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 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. Free from obvious eye problems.                                                                                                                                                                 

  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 at 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 , latterly 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 t 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.  Soundness of movement of the utmost importance.                                                                                                                                           

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 colours (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 colours ).Dudley, Black and Black with Tan highly undesirable.                                                                                     

SIZE-Dogs 25 kg  (55 lbs ) Bitches 22.7 kg ( 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.                                                                                                                 

NOTE- Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

DOUBLE CLICK TO MAXIMISE DRAWING    

The Breed Council  fully approved the above but requested in early 2008 that the following be included in  literature for aspiring Judges and stated it equally applies to breeders:

u    There has been intensive public debate over several years about the health of pedigree dogs and in our case BULLDOGS. Both breeders and judges have a share in the responsibility of ENSURING that our dogs are at their peak of physical and mental health.

u    As a judge ,you can of course only have a share of this responsibility exercised when you go over the dogs presented to you. The Breed Council asks you to be very conscious of this responsibility when you judge.

u    It is a fact that highly prized dogs are used for breeding more often so it is important  to be very careful  not to give awards to dogs showing any evidence of serious defects or other faults that may affect their welfare or their descendants if used for breeding.

u    We cannot emphasize enough how you as a Judge can significantly contribute to the breeds future welfare by awarding prizes only to evidently healthy specimens  

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On the 3rd  December 2008 The Kennel Club sent a letter  ,without warning or consultation despite ongoing dialogue with the Breed Council informing all bulldog clubs of its intention to amend the standard as follows:

Kennel Club Letter of 3rd December 2008 Proposing to change the standard.

Any proposed changes to the breed standard will appear below                                                             [Amendments Red and underlined, deletions Blue in brackets]

Bulldog

General Appearance Smooth-coated, fairly thick set, rather low in stature, broad, powerful and compact. Head, 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 relatively short, muzzle broad, blunt and inclined slightly upwards. Dogs showing respiratory distress highly undesirable. Body fairly short, well knit, limbs stout, well muscled and in hard condition with no tendency towards obesity. Hindquarters high and strong.  [Delete ‘but somewhat lighter in comparison with heavy foreparts’]. Bitches not so grand or well developed as dogs.

Head and Skull Skull relatively large in circumference. Viewed from front appears [delete – very] high from corner of lower jaw to apex of skull; also [Delete ‘very’] broad and square. Cheeks well rounded and extended sideways beyond eyes. Viewed from side, head appears very high and moderately short from back to point of nose. Forehead flat with skin on and about head, slightly loose and may be finely wrinkled, neither prominent nor overhanging face. [Delete ‘Projections of frontal bones prominent, broad, square and high; deep, wide indentation between eyes’]. From defined stop, a furrow [Delete ‘both broad and deep’] extending to middle of skull being traceable to apex. Face from front of cheek bone to nose, relatively short, skin may be slightly wrinkled. Muzzle short, broad, turned upwards and [Delete ‘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; [Delete ‘top set back towards eyes’]. [Delete ‘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 underlip’]. Nostrils large, wide and open, with well defined vertical straight line between. Flews (chops) thick, broad, [delete ‘pendant and very’] and deep, covering [delete ‘hanging completely over’] lower jaws at sides, [delete ‘not in front’] but joining underlip in front. [Delete ‘and quite covering’] Teeth not visible. Jaws broad, strong, [delete – massive] and square, lower jaw slightly projecting in front of upper,  with moderate turn up.  [delete - and turning up]. Over nose wrinkle, if present, whole or broken, must never adversely affect or obscure eyes or nose. Pinched nostrils and heavy over nose wrinkle are unacceptable and should be heavily penalised. [Delete ‘Nose roll must not interfere with the line of layback’]. 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 [delete ‘in shape’], of moderate size, neither sunken nor prominent, in colour very dark – almost black – showing no white when looking directly forward. Free from obvious eye problems.

Neck Moderate in length, [Delete ‘very’] thick, deep and strong. Well arched at back, with some loose [delete ‘thick and wrinkled’] skin about throat, forming slight dewlap on each side. [Delete ‘from lower jaw to chest’].

Forequarters Shoulders broad, sloping and deep, very powerful and muscular giving appearance of being ’tacked on‘ body. Brisket [delete ‘capacious’], round and [delete ‘very’] deep [delete ‘from top of shoulders to lowest part where it joins chest’]. Well let down between forelegs. [Delete ‘Large in diameter, round behind forelegs’]. Ribs not flat-sided but well rounded). Forelegs very stout and strong, well developed, set wide apart, thick, muscular and straight, [Delete ‘presenting rather bowed outline, but’] bones of legs large and straight, not bandy nor curved and short in proportion to hindlegs, but not so short as to make back appear long, or detract from dog’s activity. [Delete ‘and so cripple him’]. Elbows low and standing well away from ribs. Pasterns short, straight and strong.

Body Chest wide, [delete ‘laterally round’] prominent and deep. Back short, strong, broad at shoulders [delete ‘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 slight arch [delete ‘(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, slightly longer in proportion than forelegs, [delete ‘so as to elevate loins’]. Hocks slightly bent, well let down; legs long and muscular from loins to hock. [delete ‘short, straight, strong lower part’] Stifles [delete ‘round and’] turned very slightly outwards away from body. [Delete ‘Hocks thereby made to approach each other and hind feet to turn outwards’]

Gait/Movement
[Delete ‘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. Soundness of movement of the utmost importance.

Characteristics, Temperament, Ears, Mouth, Feet, Tail, Coat Colour Size, Faults, Note no change.

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The initial reaction from the Bulldog club members of the Breed Council was to write to the KC and reject the changes asking for a scientific reason be provided as to how these changes will improve the health of the Bulldog (this was never provided) and asking that a meeting of Breed Council delegates be held with the KC . The reply received from the Kennel Club was that was not possible as the proposed amendments would be presented to the General Committee by the 6th January 2009 for approval unless written alternatives were received from the Breed Council by the 5th January2009 

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