The History of the English Bulldog

The English Bulldog is an affectionate, loyal and loving companion dog. These animals are generally calm, docile and child-friendly. However, their earliest ancestors were anything but gentle. They were bred to be fierce fighters.

  1. Early Bulldog Ancestry

    • A mastiff-like breed of dog called Molossians were developed in Central Asia. These dogs were exported to Britain, where they became the earliest ancestors of the English bulldog.

    Middle Ages

    • Bull-baiting, a sport where a dog was pitted against a bull, was a popular pastime during the Middle Ages. The English bulldog was developed from the Molossian line to fight bulls.

    19th Century

    • Bull-baiting was declared illegal in 1835 and bull-baiting dogs were no longer necessary. Breeders stopped breeding purebred bulldogs.

    Breed Preservation

    • Some breeders worked to keep the physical traits of the English bulldog intact while eradicating its aggressive tendencies. The American Kennel Club indicates that it took several generations of breeding to accomplish the goal of a fierce-looking dog with a gentle disposition.

    Breed Recognition

    • The Kennel Club of England was established in 1873. One of the first breeds to earn recognition was the English bulldog.