est. 2015

Olde English Bulldogge Standard

Recognized by the AMA in 2015

Background: At the start of the 1970’s in the United States of America a resurgence of the original “Regency-Period” bulldog was being created. Dr. Fechimer of Ohio State and others selectively bred for the more athletic, agile, healthy bulldog using a cattle line breeding scheme. Today’s Olde English Bulldogge has the general appearance of its earlier “Regency-Period” ancestor while also being athletic and healthy. They possess the ability to perform in various working venues with their strong nerve and balanced drive. They are loyal family companions that are capable of enjoying outdoor activities.  

General Appearance: The Olde English Bulldogee should generate the impression of great strength and agility with a stout body and powerful head. They are well balanced and proportioned. Olde English Bulldogge’s are clean breathers that are capable to perform in either heat or cold.
Disqualifications: unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism

Disposition: Alert, outgoing and friendly with a self-assured attitude. Some aloofness with strangers and assertiveness toward other dogs is not considered a fault.
Disqualifications: viciousness or extreme shyness

Size: The height and weight should be balanced and proportional.

          Males: 17-20 inches tall at the withers and 60-90lbs.
          Females: 16-19 inches tall at the withers and 50-80lbs.

Head: Large and well-proportioned to the body of the dog. Defined furrow from stop to occiput. The circumference of the head should be equal or slightly larger than the height of dog at the withers.
Serious faults: narrow skull

Eyes: Medium in size, wide set, and level with the top of the muzzle. Dark brown preferred but other colors acceptable. The haw should not be visible. Full pigmented eye rims preferred.

Cosmetic faults: pink eye rims, eyes that do not match in color.
Disqualifications: cracked eyes, crossed eyes, divergent strabismus (wall-eyed)

Muzzle/Bite: The muzzle is short in length, square and broad with a strong wide underjaw. The distance from the tip of the nose to the back of the occiput should be no more than 1/3 of the total length of the muzzle. Lips should be full and semi pendulous. The lower jaw bone is moderately curved from front to back. The bite is reverse scissor or undershot with ¼ to ½ inch preferred. The teeth and or tongue should not be visible with a closed mouth. An Olde English Bulldogge should have full dentition with 42-44 teeth. Due to it being a working breed broken, chipped or extracted teeth should not be faulted.
Serious faults: more than ½ inch undershot, teeth and or tongue showing when the mouth is closed
Disqualifications: wry mouth, any bite that is not reverse scissor or undershot  
          
Nose: Black, liver, or blue are accepted with no preference. The nares should be large and open.
Serious fault: Pinched nares, lacking pigmentation
Disqualifications: dudley nose

Ears:  Rose ears are preferred. Small drop ears are acceptable. The ears should be uniform, in size, and sit high and wide to the back outer edge of the head.
Serious faults: full prick ears that stand up on the top of the head.
Disqualifications: unilateral or bilateral deafness
          
Neck: Muscular, medium in length, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to head. The neck is slightly smaller than the head. Loose from the jaw to the chest forming a dewlap. Serious faults: necks that are short, long or thin

Shoulders: Very muscular with wide sloping blades. The shoulders set so elbows are not angled out. The shoulders should be moderately laid back with the upper arm and shoulder blade roughly the same length.
Serious faults: shoulders that are too steep without a lay back

Chest, Back and Loin: The chest should be deep and moderately wide without being excessively wide as to throw the shoulders out. The back should be short in length, strong and broad. Loins should be slightly tucked which corresponds to a slight roach in the back which slopes to the croup.
Serious faults: sway back, narrow or shallow chest, lack of tuck up, excessive roach.

Hindquarters: Broad, well-muscled, straight and parallel when viewed from the rear and in proportion to the shoulders. The hindquarters should have moderate angulation.
Serious faults: narrow hips, cow hocked, sickled hocked, twisted hocked, well let down hocks, under angulation, over angulation

Legs: Strong and straight with heavy bone. Front legs should not set too close together or too far apart. Rear legs should have a visible angulation of the stifle joint.
Serious faults: In at the elbows, excessively bowlegged, fiddle chested

Feet: Toes are of medium length, well arched and close together, not splayed. Pasterns should be strong, straight and upright.
Serious faults: hare foot, paper foot, splayed foot, crocked toes

Tail: Pump handle tail preferred. The tail should be thick at the root, tapering to a point to the top of the hock. Tail should not curl over back. The natural tail is preferred but a docked tail is acceptable.
Serious faults: screw tails, kinked tails, a tail that comes to a complete curl

Coat: Short, close, stiff to the touch, not long and/or fuzzy with no feathering.
Disqualifications: a coat longer than ½ inch

Color: Any color, except merle, is acceptable with no preference for one over another.

Disqualifications: merle, albinism  

Movement: The gait is balanced and smooth, powerful and unhindered suggesting agility with ease. The gait should show driving action in the hind quarters with corresponding reach in front. As speed increases the feet move toward the center line of the body to maintain balance. Ideally the dog should single-track. The top line remains firm and level, parallel to the line of motion. A slight roll to the gait should not be faulted. Head and tail carriage should reflect that of a proud, confident and alert animal. Movement faults: Any suggestion of clumsiness, crossing or interference of front or rear legs, short or stilted steps, twisting joints, pacing, paddling, or weaving. Similar movement faults are to be penalized according to the degree to which they interfere with the ability of the dog to work.

Disqualifications:
-Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism
-Viciousness or extreme shyness
-Cracked eyes
-Crossed eyes
-Divergent strabismus (Wall-Eyed)
-A bite that is not reverse scissor or undershot
-Wry mouth
-Dudley Nose
-Unilateral or bilateral deafness
-A coat longer than ½ inch
-Merle
-Albinism

Fault Degrees:
A cosmetic fault is one of a minor nature. A fault not specified as cosmetic has to do with structure as it relates to a working dog. In a show or other evaluation, the dog is to be penalized in direct proportion to the degree of the fault. Any fault, which is extreme, should be considered a serious fault and should be penalized appropriately.

Olde English Bulldogge