Olde English Bulldogge: Your Complete Guide
The Olde English bulldogge is a mix between the English bulldog, the American bulldog, and the American pitbull terrier. Some mastiff genes are also involved in the breed. They’re a historic dog breed with its roots in the Olde English bulldogges of the past, which were used for sporting events like bull baiting. While these dogs were popular in the past, they began to get phased out as sports like bull-baiting were phased out.
While these dogs were gone for a little while, Olde English bulldogges have made a comeback that started in the 1970s. Today, Olde English bulldogge has returned with a mild temperament, less aggressive tendencies, and a people-pleasing personality.
That said, there’s much to learn about the Older English bulldogge before you can know if they fit you, your home, or your family. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the Older English bulldogge.
Quick Look at the Olde English Bulldogge
Below is a glance at the Olde English bulldogge breed. We cover aspects of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 55-75 pounds, 15-20 inches |
| Coat Type | Short, rough, multiple colors |
| Grooming Needs |     |
| Shedding | |
| Temperament | Playful, affectionate, outgoing, alert, confident |
| Good With Kids | |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence | |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 9-14 years |
What Is the History of Olde English Bulldogges?
The history of Olde English bulldogges is an interesting one that’s based on a dog breed that was available during the 1800s. Olde English bulldogges were 18th-century dogs that were bred to play games like bull-baiting. While the breed was popular for a long time, it was phased out for modern dog breeds as sports like bull-baiting became less popular. That said, this all changed towards the end of the 20th century.
The Olde English bulldogge breed that you know today came into existence during the 1970s. It was created by David Leavitt, who was on a mission to recreate the Olde English bulldogges but with a better temperament. What’s even more interesting is how Leavitt created this dog breed. He started by using a method commonly used to breed cattle, known as the line breeding scheme. Dr. Fechimer came up with the idea at Ohio State University, and it’s used to breed close relatives to get desired genes.
Once Leavitt started the breed, he continued to breed the dog for years and formed the Olde English Bulldogge Association (OEBA). While Leavitt led the charge, he stopped breeding in 1993 and turned his work over to Working Dog Inc. It wasn’t until 2001 that the Olde English Bulldogges Kennel Club (OEBKC) was formed, and Leavitt was involved in the process of merging the association.
The last thing to note is that the Olde English bulldogge became a recognized breed by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2014. It’s still not a member of the American Kennel Club (AKC), but this may change in the future.
What Do Olde English Bulldogges Look Like?
Olde English bulldogges are short-haired and have short and stocky builds. They have strong shoulders, hips, and necks, as well as a flat face and broad head. This gives them an appearance that resembles most pitbull breeds, such as the American Pitbull and English Bulldog.
Their coat is usually a solid color, but it may have patches that include some other colors. You’ll find brown, tan, red, tan, and some white patches. The white patch is typically on their chest or face, but sometimes it covers both.
Ultimately, many of their traits come down to their parents.
What Size Is an Olde English bulldogge?
Olde English bulldogges aren’t the tallest dogs, but what they lack in height, they make up for in muscles and general stockiness. While only 15-20 inches tall, they can weigh up to 80 pounds. There are slight variations between males and females, but more in weight than height. For example, some females may only weigh around 50 pounds.
What Is an Olde English Bulldogge’s Coat Type and Length?
Olde English bulldogges have one layer of hair that’s short and tight. Some Olde English bulldogges may have medium-length coats, but this is rare. Their hair is usually rough, and may even feel hard to the touch.
What Is an Olde English Bulldogge’s Temperament?
Olde English Bulldogges might be intimidating, but they’re quite friendly. In fact, they’re affectionate, outgoing, and playful. Plus, they’re not standoffish to strangers or other animals if they have some socialization or training.
Aside from being friendly, they’re also bold and go to great lengths to please their owners. This makes olde English bulldogges easy to train for service dog work and even some agility training.
Are Olde English Bulldogges Good With Kids?
Olde English bulldogges are great with children, but socialization training is key. As long as you socialize them from a young age, you won’t have to worry about issues between an Olde English bulldogge and your children. In most cases, even without training, they’re loyal and protective over children.
That said, always keep an eye on your children if they’re playing with your Olde English bulldogges. While they’re usually good with kids, things can happen.
Are Olde English Bulldogges Good With Other Animals?
Olde English bulldogges are good with most animals. They won’t harm your cat and love to play with other dogs. Olde English bulldogges are also open to interacting playfully with dogs they’re unfamiliar with , so you can have fun at the dog park or in public places like breweries.
While most Olde English bulldogges are good with other animals, some may be aggressive towards dogs of the same gender. The best way to avoid this behavior is with early socialization.
Are Olde English Bulldogges Aggressive?
Olde English bulldogges are not like the Olde English bulldogges of the 18th century who used to participate in fighting sports. This breed was created to resemble the appearance of the Olde English bulldogge, but without aggression. Therefore, they’re loving and caring dogs that love to spend time with their family and other animals.
It’s still a good idea to keep an eye on their behavior. If you notice any behaviors you don’t like, training will help you fix them.
Do Olde English Bulldogges Bark?
Olde English bulldogges bark when it’s necessary. This makes them great watchdogs because they’ll alert you to danger or strangers approaching your home. Otherwise, Olde English bulldogges are more reserved and won’t bark randomly or at nothing. That said, their bark is loud. Living in spaces with noise restrictions can lead to trouble if you adopt an Olde English bulldogge and it starts barking.
Are Olde English Bulldogges Affectionate?
Olde English bulldogges are affectionate dogs. They love to spend time with their owners and can bond with entire families. You’ll find them in your bed at night or sitting next to you on the couch watching your favorite show.
This affection results in them forming deep bonds with their owners, so make sure you spend plenty of time with them. Failing to do so can result in potty accidents, tearing up furniture, and other problems.
Are Olde English Bulldogges Intelligent?
Olde English bulldogges are smart dogs. They’re smart enough to learn just about anything and love to explore their environment. Aside from their general intelligence, one of the best features of the Olde English bulldogge is that they’re also emotionally intelligent. They know when people are feeling down and can figure out the right buttons to push to cheer them up.
Olde English bulldogges are also smart enough to learn tricks, become service dogs, and much more.
Are Olde English Bulldogges Energetic?
Olde English bulldogges aren’t the most energetic breeds that you can find. They love to spend time on the couch and hanging out around the house. Letting them out in the yard a few times a day and taking them on a few long walks weekly is enough to manage their energy levels.
While they’re not high-energy dogs, taking them on walks and playing with them is important for their health. Making sure they exercise ensures that they live a long and healthy life.
Are Olde English Bulldogges Easy to Train?
Olde English bulldogges are easy to train. They love to please their owners and learn new commands quickly. Aside from basic obedience training and commands, they can be trained for service dog work, emotional support, and even as guard dogs. Ultimately, they’re moldable dogs that you can train to fit your needs.
When training an Olde English bulldogge, the only thing to note is that they might struggle with boredom. If you fail to reward them often or teach them repetitive tasks, they might become less receptive to training. So, make sure you keep your training routines engaging!
For advanced training, it’s a good idea to get a professional trainer.
Are Olde English Bulldogges Good Watchdogs?
Olde English bulldogges are great watchdogs. They are alert, outgoing, brave, and courageous, which are all traits of good watchdogs. These traits ensure that an olde English bulldogge will work hard to protect your family from danger and remain alert in case of strangers approach your home. Olde English bulldogges also have a loud and deep bark that’s strong enough to scare most intruders away.
Are Olde English Bulldogges Good Service Dogs?
Olde English bulldogges make good service dogs because of their high intelligence, willingness to train, and gentle temperament. You can train them to perform complex tasks that improve the lives of people with disabilities. Olde English bulldogges can be trained to perform physical tasks, like fetching items, or improve mental health through deep pressure therapy (DPT).
Olde English bulldogges also make great companions for nursing homes, schools, and hospitals. Dogs that roam the halls of these places to comfort large groups of people are known as therapy dogs, and the Older English bulldogge excels in this area because of their desire to make people happy.
The last thing to note is that Olde English bulldogges also make good emotional support animals (ESAs). While ESAs can’t follow you everywhere, they’re allowed in otherwise not pet-friendly apartments or homes. ESAs don’t require formal training but must relieve you of symptoms brought about by a mental health disorder.
How to Care for an Older English Bulldogge?
Olde English bulldogges are easy dogs to care for, even for novice pet owners. However, you have to take their grooming and exercise needs seriously. Their coats must be brushed often, and you need to bathe them a few times per month to avoid debris getting stuck in their coat. Furthermore, their nails need to be clipped or ground down, which can be done by you or a professional. Do this monthly for the best results.
Some other tips for caring for Olde English bulldogges include:
- Giving them plenty of exercise
- Avoid leaving them home alone for extended periods
- Feed them a diet for medium-sized dogs
- Brush their coats
- Take them to the vet for regular checkups
These are the most important factors to consider when caring for an Older English bulldogge.
Do You Need to Groom an Older English bulldogge?
Yes, you need to groom an Older English bulldogge. They require monthly baths, and it’s a good idea to brush their coat a few times per week. Ensure you trim their nails monthly and check their ears for signs of infection. Dental health is also important for their health, so give them plenty of treats that clean their teeth or brush them manually.
You don’t need a professional groomer for these tasks, but it can make the process easier.
Do Olde English Bulldogges Shed?
Olde English bulldogges shed all year round. Therefore, it’s important to brush their coat to reduce the amount of hair that piles up in your home. Bathing them on a regular basis can also reduce the amount of hair that ends up in your home. Also, shedding is more abundant in the spring and fall, so it’s important to brush their coats more often during these months.
What Health Problems Do Olde English Bulldogges Have?
Olde English bulldogges do have some health problems you need to be aware of. The most common problem they might experience is Brachycephalic Syndrome, which is common in flat-face dog breeds like the Olde English bulldogge. This condition results in breathing problems that can be fatal when they’re not treated properly. Problems may begin to develop later in life.
Some other health conditions to note include:
- Allergies: Some allergies may be the same as human allergies, which include problems with pollen, mold, and dust
- Hip Dysplasia: Hip issues are common in medium-size and large-size dog breeds, which results in walking problems and inflammation
- Heart Problems: As they age, Olde English bulldogges might experience irregular heartbeat and hypertension
Aside from these health problems, you might also notice issues that develop based on your dog’s specific situation. Regular trips to the vet and a healthy diet with an exercise routine can keep your dog healthy for years to come.
How Long Do Olde English Bulldogges Live?
The Olde English bulldogges have a longer lifespan than most flat-face dog breeds, like the American bulldog or English bulldog. They have a lifespan of around 9-14 years but have fewer breathing problems than similar breeds. Taking care of them and watching for signs of a decline in health can help you prevent any problems from getting worse.
What Should an Olde English bulldogge Eat?
Olde English bulldogges should eat a diet that’s designed for medium-sized dogs. You can choose between dry food or wet food, depending on preference. Regardless of the type of food, make sure their diet is high in protein, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. To get the right nutrients, it’s best to choose well-known food brands instead of store brands.
Also, don’t forget to give your Olde English bulldogge plenty of tasty treats like nibble sticks, bones, and other healthy snacks. You can supplement their diet with them, but don’t feed them too much to avoid illness.
Is an Olde English Bulldogge the Right Dog for Me?
The Olde English Bulldogge is the right breed for you if you have the time, space, and patience to care for them. It’s important to have a home with a backyard for them to play in or a location where you can walk them. Olde English Bulldogges love attention too, so having a family member who is home more often than not will prevent them from developing separation anxiety that results in damaged furniture. They may also be the right dog for you if you’re looking for a service dog, ESA, or therapy dog.
On the other hand, you might want to avoid this breed if you can’t meet their needs. They won’t be happy if you don’t have time to spend with them or enough space to help them exercise.
Overall, they’re great for most families, and even beginner dog owners can easily care for them.