EngAm Bulldog

With the ancient Mastiff as an ancestor The English Bulldog is often described as a dignified and sensitive canine. In fact, one can call him distinguished and of noble appearance. He had his beginnings in the 13th century and was often depicted in many historical works. Originally put to work in the bull-baiting ring, the Bulldog (both American and English are now the happy mascots of no less that 40 universities in the United States.  Now known as a calm and loving breed, his ferocious side has long since been bred out. The American Bulldog is the closest relative of the English Bulldog in the United States, having arrived in the 1800’s with immigrants to the country who brought their dogs with them. In the Americas, this line of Bulldog was popular as a working dog for farmers and ranchers in the deep South. During the war, the breed almost died out, with those dogs surviving kept on farms mainly in the south-east where they protected the farm and worked as cattle and livestock dogs. John D. Johnson of Summerville, Georgia was the main person responsible for keeping the breed from becoming extinct by rounding up and breeding the best examples of the breed he could find.