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Bulldog History
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The Bulldog takes its name from the sport for which it was originally bred, bull baiting. Developed early in 13th century England, bull baiting was a blood sport in which dogs were pitted against a bull, maddening it by latching onto its nose; for this, the Bulldog’s recessed nose and unique, broad jaw helped it to stay attached to the bucking bull, and its tough personality and seeming disregard for physical pain came in quite handy as well. The Bulldog of the Middle Ages was quite different from today’s Bulldog, however. It was a bit larger, infinitely more vicious and aggressive, and had a less wrinkly and flat face.
In 1835 dog fighting was outlawed in England, and the Bulldog’s days as a matador were finished. Having outlived their original purpose Bulldogs began to decrease in number, and many assumed the breed would be extinct before the 19th century was out. But luckily for the Bulldog, its hundreds of years of faithful service did not go unnoticed, and fans of the breed began to recreate the dog as a peaceful companion. The Bulldog was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1886, and in the last hundred years the Bulldog has become even more popular as a loving pet than it was as a bull baiter. Year after year, the Bulldog is among the twenty most popular breeds in America.
