Olde English Bulldogge

Olde English Bulldogge

UKC Olde English Bulldogge male
Common nicknames	OEB, English Bulldog, Bulldog
Origin	United States
Traits Weight Male 22–30 kg (49–66 lb) Female 20–27 kg (44–60 lb) Height Male 44–48 cm (16–19 in) Female 38–44 cm (14–16 in) Coat Short, tight and medium to short Color Brindle of red, fawn or black; either solid or pied. White, fawn or red; solid color or pied Litter size 3–12 pups Life span 9–14 years
Classification / standards UKC Guardian Dog standard
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The Olde English Bulldogge is a recently created American dog breed. In the 1970s David Leavitt created a true-breeding lineage as a re-creation of the healthier working bulldog from early nineteenth century England. Using a breeding scheme developed for cattle, Leavitt crossed English bulldogs with American Bulldogs, American Pit Bull Terriers and Bull Mastiffs. The result was an athletic breed that looks similar to the bulldogs of 1820 but also has a friendly temperament.

The Olde English Bulldogge was an attempt to recreate the "Regency Period Bull Baiter" and was developed in the early 1970s by David Leavitt, of Coatesville, PA. Leavitt began his project in 1971 utilizing the cattle line breeding scheme of Dr. Fechimer from Ohio State University. The goal was to create a dog with the look, health, and athleticism of the original bull-baiting dogs, but with a much less aggressive temperament. The foundation crosses consisted of ½ English Bulldog, and 1/6th American Bulldog, 1/6th American Pit Bull Terrier and 1/6th Bull Mastiff. After many planned crosses, the Olde English Bulldogge emerged and began to breed true.

Leavitt formed the Olde English Bulldogge Association (OEBA) to maintain the breed's stud book and issue registration papers to future offspring. During the 1980s Ben and Karen Campetti from Sandisfield, Massachusetts worked closely with Leavitt in breeding the Olde English Bulldogge. In 1993 Leavitt stopped breeding and turned the OEBA registry as well as his personal over to Working Dog Inc. which was owned and operated by Michael Walz of Pennsylvania.

In 2001 the Olde English Bulldogge Kennel Club (OEBKC) was formed, and in 2005 David Leavitt was involved with merging the Olde English Bulldogge Association's registry with that of the OEBKC's. The Olde English Bulldogge was enrolled with the Canine Developmental Health and Performance Registry (CDHPR) in August 2008 in order to evaluate the breed for recognition within the UKC as a purebred breed of dog and in 2013 the UKC announced that the Olde English Bulldogge would become a fully recognized breed as of January 1, 2014. The OEBKC is currently the recognized Parent Club for the breed with the United Kennel Club (UKC).

The Olde English Bulldogge is a muscular, medium-sized dog of great strength, and possesser of fluid, agile movement. He is well balanced and proportioned, while appearing capable of performing without any breathing restrictions in either heat or in cold. Serious Faults: Excessive wrinkle, lack of pigment around eyes, nose or mouth.