The OLDE ENGLISH BULLDOGGE STANDARD

Not gonna lie, the OEB is all over the place when it comes to standards and community for that matter. We believe this standard is a great start.

Moving forward we can crack this open, we can tweak and add “types” so every style is addressed, for now, the best, most descriptive, and informative OEB standard is an adaptation of existing standards. Vague standards have been a disservice to the breed so the more description the more greater the interpretation.

General Description

The Olde English Bulldogge is a loyal, courageous dog, with a very stable temperament. They are medium height with large size, large strong head, and stout muscular body. Olde English Bulldogges are athletic and most importantly of very good health. The Olde English Bulldogge is a brachycephalic breed an although can breath better than a traditional bulldog, caution should be taken during exertion and excessive breathing. A wonderful companion, protector, and family member. they are very trainable, thrive on pleasing their owners and do well inside or out. Life span averages 10 to 14 yrs.

TEMPERAMENT

“The Olde English Bulldogge may display a variation of drives, from high drive to laid back depending on the bloodlines they come from. They are loyal, eager to please, courageous, and protective but not vicious. It is a breed that makes an excellent family pet. Expect them to be aloof and standoffish with strangers – and should be viewed as a visual deterrent.

The breed requires firm, consistent handling to match its determined nature.

As with any breed, both owner and pet will benefit from proper obedience. The knowledgeable handler will be the one to get the most enjoyment from their dog.”

SIZE

 Height: 17 in – 20 in at wither

 Weight Range: proportionate to body size of variances between 65-95lbs.

       In a comparison of males and females – due allowance is given to the female, as they are not expected to bare the breed characteristics to the same degree of excellence as the males.

Although height and weight above the standard is to be discouraged, there is no penalty,
as long as the dog is well proportioned, otherwise correct, and balanced.

 Smooth, short, tight coat. Any color is accepted however, color is to be the last consideration when choosing a breeding specimen or pair.

The coat should be straight, short, flat, and smooth. (No fringe, feather, or curl) Long Coat Disqualified or any evidence of altering coat length. Skin should be soft and loose, especially at the head, neck shoulder.

Pigmentation:

Full pigmentation is desired around the eyes, on the nose, and lips.

COAT + COLOR

HEAD

The size of the head is determined by the square created between both legs, chest, and ground, and it should fit neatly inside the square.

The Head of an Olde English Bulldogge is a hallmark of the breed and should not appear weak, small or too terrier or hound-like but should appear a bulldog through and through.

The Bulldogge head was designed to grip and hold, it should be strong and powerful, and it should have that appearance. The head is large, with a broad skull, wide-set eyes, moderately sunken between the eyes (medial furrow), and a short, broad muzzle. The circumference of the head should be equal to or greater than the dog's height at the shoulder. A narrow head or one that appears too small for the body is a serious fault.

Muzzle

The muzzle has a distinct stop and moderately pendulous lips. It is broad, deep, and short with moderate wrinkling. The bite is undershot, the lower jaw protruding beyond the upper and curving slightly upward. The incisor teeth of the lower jaw are in a straight line, with the canines preferably up front in the same line to give the jaw the greatest possible width. The upper jaw is broad where attached to the skull and maintains this breadth, except for a very slight tapering to the front. The lips, which complete the formation of the muzzle, should meet evenly in front. The upper lip is thick and padded; filling out the frontal space created by the projection of the lower jaw, and laterally is supported by the canines of the lower jaw. Therefore, these canines must stand far apart and be of good length so that the front surface of the muzzle is broad and squarish and, when viewed from the side, shows moderate layback. A rounded or ice cream scoop appearance of the mandible is undesirable. The muzzle should be at least one [1] inch. Not more than three [3] inches. Muzzle too long (more than 3 inches), scissor bite, even bite, wry jaws, snipey or too small in proportion to the size of head are serious faults.

Nose

The Nose should be large, broad, and a solid color with well-open nostrils (nares). The nose should not be pushed up between the eyes. From the stop to the end of the nose must be at least one inch, but less than 3 inches. Lacking pigment is a major fault. 

EARS

The ears should be set high on the head, the front inner edge of each ear joining the outline of the skull at the top back corner, so as to place them as very wide apart, and as high as possible. In size, they should be small and thin. The preferred ear shape is rose. The rose ear folds inward at its back lower edge, the upper front edge curving over, outward, and backward, showing part of the inside of the burr. Dropped ears are acceptable and should fold into a nice triangle, and not be hound-like. The ears should not be carried erect or prick-eared, and should never be cropped. Cropped and Prick-ears are a fault. 

EYES

The eyes should be low down on the skull, as far from the ears as possible, and the corners should be in a straight line at right angles with the stop. They should be quite in front of the head, as wide apart as possible, provided their outer corners are within the outline of the cheeks when viewed from the front. They should be oval in form, round and almond are acceptable. Eyes should be moderate size. and not sunken or bulging. Crossed eyes or non-symmetrically shaped eyes are a disqualifying fault. And any color is acceptable. The lid should show no haw. Pigment around the eyes, or "eyeliner" is preferred. 

NECK

Neck should be short, thick, muscular, and Powerful. and well arched at the back. The length should not excessive nor should the head just rest on the shoulders. 

CHEST + FOREQUARTERS 

The properly proportioned chest will create a square between the legs and come down level with elbows, portraying a shorter appearance.

The chest should be very broad, deep, and full.

Underline: The body should be well ribbed up behind with the belly tucked up and not rotund. legs are to the outside of the body to allow the dog to maneuver low to the ground with well-developed forearms they can present a rather bowed outline, but the bones of the legs should be large and straight. Excessive differences in the chest and rear size, or to narrow of hips is not desirable, and can restrict good movement.

Shoulders are wide for stability and power. Should also have excellent muscle definition.

BODY

The body was designed for power and agility and should be shaped to allow good movement. The Bulldogge should be medium to large sized, well-muscled, very strong, with a wide deep chest. The brisket and body should be very capacious, with full sides, well-rounded ribs, and very deep from the shoulders down to its lowest part, where it joins the chest. It should be well let down between the shoulders and forelegs, giving the dog a broad, low, short-legged appearance.

Topline: There should be a slight fall in the back, close behind the shoulders (its 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 down the croupe to the tail, forming an arch (a very distinctive feature of the breed), termed "roach back" or, more correctly, "wheel-back."

FEET

Feet should be compact, turning neither in nor out, with well-arched toes. Splayed feet a fault.

HINDQUARTERS 

A minor bend in the hock, hind legs are slightly longer than for legs and as a result position the loins above the shoulders. From the loin to the hock should be long and muscular.

Hindquarters of the dog should be slightly less wide than the shoulders.The hindquarters are strongly muscled, The thighs are broad and curved. Straight or “posty” rear legs are a serious fault. 

When looking at the dog from behind the tip of the hock should point straight back from the dog.

 MOVEMENT 

Ground covering stride with a powerful drive emanating from a freely operating rear. The dog should move fluidly, light on it’s feet with front feet moving on the same track as the back feet. Gait will narrow to a near single track with speed. Dogs’ legs should not cross or wing when gaiting. The line from the shoulder down through the leg should remain straight although not necessarily perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, The hind feet should dig in and track relatively true with the front. The Bulldogge's gait should always appear smooth and powerful, never stilted or inefficient. Pacing or crabbing is a serious fault.

TAIL

NATURAL PUMP HANDLE TAIL PREFERRED with a strong broad base tapering to a point before the hock. A tail length that reaches the hock is undesireable. A docked tail is acceptable but tailset should not be overlooked Tail should be carried low, although tail may stand up when at attention, a gay tail is undesireable.