BULLDOG (for origin of name see below). A kind of dog which has existed as a distinct race in England for many centuries. It is regarded as a variety of the mastiff. or a cross beoveen the mastiff and some other breed. and seems to have originated in a variety of great courage and tenacity developed in boar-hunting. Short eared mastiffs. called 'alaunts' (Alan of heraldry), were so used in early English hoar-hunting: and modern bulldogs seem to have been developed out of them by the sport of baiting animals so prevalent from Norman times to the Eighteenth Century. The worrying of a bull in particular required a dog of ferocious courage, considerable weight, the instinetive habit of seizing the enemy by the nose, and indomitable strength and tenaci ty of jaw. These requirements were perfected by breeding. and the modern bulldog, which be gan to lie recognized and cultivated early in the Seventeenth Century, is the result.
Modern standards call for a dog of the form sl onn in the plate of Does. weighing about 30 pounds. He must have a compact. thiek-set, low-swung body. short and strong hi the back, the loins should be slightly (devated ahove the line of the withers upon muscular hind legs. The very wide shoulders and sturdy fore limbs characteristic of the breed must not be eariea torts] into uselessness. as is sometimes done: the
dog must be able to walk any reasonable distance without exhaustion. The very large head, in circumference before the ears equal to the dog's height. must have an extremely short. heavily wrinkled face. forming at the throat a dewlap in two loose folds; the teeth should show, and the eyes he round and dark, and the ears be of the 'rose' form—never erect. The small breeds, called toy bulldogs. must conform to the model. Colors are various, but solid black undesirable. Red or some other pure brindle is at present pre ferret]. and next to that solid white, red, fawn. or piebald.
These dogs were reared after the extinction of bull-baiting mainly for lighting in dog-pits, but latterly they hive been largely bred and sari ously Modified as watch-dogs and as pets, and their dispositions have been found no less faith ful and kindly than in the case of many other dogs gently treated.
The French bulldog is a small, compact breed of terrier form and pug-like face. having high, erect, bat-like ears. It originated in became fashionable as a pet in Franee. and first appeared at American shows in 1890, and has rapidly become popular as an interesting little house-dog of good disposition.