Red Branch Bulldogges

It should be noted that at Red Branch, we do not breed AKC English Bulldogs.  The English Bulldogs, although a good breed, are often riddled with health problems like cherry eye, hip dysplasia, allergies and breathing problems.  And that doesn't even touch on the daily maintenance involved with most English Bulldogs.  The Olde English Bulldogge has been re-created with eliminating these problems in mind. 

The Olde English Bulldogge originated in England between 1600 and 1700.  They were bred to participate in blood sports like bull baiting.  A dog of great courage, agility and medium size was needed for these sports.

Around 1835, laws were passed in England prohibiting bull baiting and the Olde English Bulldogges main purpose of existence vanished.  Within a decade the numbers of bulldogs declined drastically almost to extinction.  Dog show fanciers eventually decided to reconstruct the breed, but without the aggressive temperament of the original Olde English Bulldogge.  They crossed the remnants of the existing stock with the pug and over the years that followed they developed the modern English Bulldog.  Unfortunately though, this modern dog is wrought with all kinds of genetic health problems.

The modern Olde English Bulldogge is a reconstruction of the original Olde Bulldogge of the 17th and 18th century. Various genetic crosses have been used in carefully and thoughtfully planned breeding programs to obtain this goal.  The foundation of most of today's Olde English Bulldogges can be traced to English Bulldog, American Bulldog, APBT and Mastiff.

These dogs were used very selectively in various combinations to obtain the desired physical and mental traits of the original Olde English Bulldogge.  The result has been a good looking Bulldogge of great athletic ability that is much healthier and physically fit without most or all of the problems that plague today's modern English Bulldogs.  The goal of all Olde English Bulldogge breeders should be to produce genetically healthier Bulldogges that are free breathers, free breeders, and free whelpers.

Historical Pictures:

Historical Pictures 1800 - 1900