BULLDOG STANDARD

I have adapted the Bulldog Standard information from the book, "The Book Of The Bulldog" by Joan McDonald Brearley. I highly recommend this book especially to individuals new to owning a Bulldog. In adapting this information I have tried to make it easy to read and understand, providing definitions to anyone entering into the world of Bulldogs.

General Appearance: The perfect Bulldog must be of medium size with a smooth coat, heavy, thick-set, low-swung body, massive, short-faced head, wide shoulders and sturdy limbs. The Gait (manner of walking) should be a loose-jointed, shuffling, sidewise motion, giving the characteristic 'roll'. The style must be unrestrained, free and vigorous.

Here are the Proportions and Symmetry (the 'points' this is important when evaluating the overall dog - such as for the show ring or breedable qualities). Also below is a illustration showing what and how the points are distributed. All features on the dog should be distributed and in good relation to the other. Note: If showing a Bulldog in the AKC ring, it is NOT acceptable to have any surgical alteration done on the dog.

Size: The size for a mature dog is approximately 50 to 55 pounds. The height at shoulders should be within 12 to 16 inches (all depending on gender).

Coat: This should be straight, short, flat, close of fine texture, smooth and glossy. The various colors found are as follows: Red, Red Brindle, All other Brindles, Piebald, Fawn or Fallow, and solid white. Note: Growing in popularity is Black and the various colors associated with it. Although in my humble opinion, this is a attractive color on the Bulldog but, currently it is NOT a acceptable color in the show rings.

Skin: Should be soft and loose, especially at the head, neck and shoulders.

Wrinkles and Dewlaps: (a dewlap is a pendulous fold of skin under the throat) The head and face should be covered with heavy (many) wrinkles, and the throat, from jaw to chest, there should be two loose pendulous (hanging down loosely-swinging freely), forming the dewlap.

Skull: The skull should be very large and in circumference, in front of the ears, should measure at least the height of the dog at the shoulders. When viewed from the front, it should appear very high from the corner of the lower jaw to the apex of the skull. It should be very broad and square. When a straight edge is placed against the head in the furrow (groovelike or trenchlike depression in a surface) between the eyes, it should touch the tip of the lower lip, tip of the nose, and top of the head. This is called the 'layback' in Bulldogs and should be at a 45* angle.

Forehead: Should be flat (not rounded or domed) Not to be too prominent nor overhanging the face.

Face & Muzzle: When measured from the front of the cheekbone to the tip of the nose, should be extremely short, the muzzle being very short & broad, turned upward and very deep from the corner of the eye to the corner of the mouth.

Eyes: When seen from the front should be situated low down in the skull, as far from the ears as possible and their corners should be in a straight line at right angles with the stop (area between the eyes). They should be wide apart as possible, provided their outer corners are within the outline of the cheeks. They should be round in form, of moderate size (not sunken or bulging), and very dark in color. The lids should cover the white of the eyeball, when the dog is looking directly forward, and the lid should not show the haw (the thin, protective membrane at the inner corner of the eyelid on a dog).

Cheeks: Should be well rounded, protruding sideways and outward beyond the eyes.

Stop: (The depression between the muzzle and top of the skull) The stop should be both broad and deep extending up the middle of the forehead, dividing the head vertically being traceable to the top of the skull.

Nose: The nose should be large, broad and black. Its tip being set back deeply between the eyes. The distance from the bottom of stop, between the eyes, to the tip of nose should be as short as possible and not exceed the length from the tip of nose to the edge of under lip. The nose is to slant back closely following the contour of the head, not to be perpendicular from it. The nostrils should be wide, large and black with a well defined line between them. Any nose color other than black is considered objectionable and may be disqualified. Note: The nose holds 6 points - more than any other feature.

Flews: (Chops or Lips) should be thick, broad, pendant and very deep, completely overhanging the lower jaw at each side. They join the underlip in front and almost cover the teeth, which should be scarcely noticeable when the mouth is closed.

Jaws: The jaws should be massive, very broad, square and 'undershot,' the lower jaw projecting considerable in front of the upper jaw and turning up (should come out far enough to present an inverted 'U'). The correct jaw should have a upward thrust while retaining the curve throughout.

Teeth: Should be large and strong, with the canine teeth or tusks wide apart, and the six small teeth in the front (between the canines) are to be in an even level row. The bottom teeth should be well in front of the top teeth and parallel.

Ears: Should be set high in the head, the front inner edge of each ear joining the outline of the skull at the top back corner of skull, 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, "Rose Ear" (shape of a rose pedal) is most desirable. When viewed from the front, top of ears should be level with the top outline of the skull with the burr partially exposed and the entire front edge of the ear visible.

Neck: The neck should be short, very thick, deep, strong and well arched at the back.

Shoulders: The shoulders should be muscular, very heavy, wide-spread and slanting outward, giving stability and great power.

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

Underline: (the area after the forelegs to the belly) The body should be well ribbed up behind with belly tucked up and not rotund.

Topline: (area over or above the loins) There should be a slight fall in the back, close behind the shoulders (toplines lowest part) where the spine should rise to the loins (the top should be higher than the top of the shoulders) curving again more suddenly to the tail thus forming a arch (this is often termed, 'roach back or wheel-back').

Body: The brisket (chest) and body should be very capacious (spacious & roomy), 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 thus giving the dog a broad, low, short legged appearance.

Back: The back should be short, strong, very broad at the shoulders and comparatively narrow at the loins. This gives the Bulldog a 'pear shape' when viewed from the top.

Tail: The acceptable tail may either be straight or screwed (kinda resembles a 'S' shape). In either type the tail must be short, hung low, heading downward with a thick root and fine tip.

Forelegs: The forelegs (front legs) should be short, stout, straight, muscular, set wide apart with well developed calves, presenting a bowed outline.

Elbows: The elbows should be low and stand well out and loose from the body.

Legs: The hind legs should be strong and muscular. Longer than the forelegs, so as to elevate the loins above the shoulders. Hocks (the joint in the hind leg) should be slightly bent and well let down, to give length and strength from the loins to hock. The lower leg should be short, straight and strong with the stifles (the joint between the femur and the tibia) turned slightly outward and away from the body. The hocks are thereby made to approach each other and the hind feet to turn outward.

Feet: (Front and Hind) Should be moderate in size, compact and firmly set. Toes compact, well split up, with high knuckles and short stubby nails. The front feet may be straight or slightly out-turned but the hind feet should be pointed well outward.

Disposition: (Temperament) The disposition should be equable and kind, resolute and courageous (NOT vicious or aggressive) and demeanor should be pacific and dignified. These attributes should be countenanced by the expression and behavior. The Bulldog should have a marvelous disposition and personality, wonderful with children, friendly and companionable, while possessing intelligence, kindness and dignity.