|
| |
H I S T O R Y
The Bulldog, should not be confused with the American Pit
Bull Terrier (banned in the UK) is a very old and rare breed of dog, it as a
very colourful background with many twists and turns. In its homeland it is
gaining popularity at a good rate due to its great family and guarding
ability.
It is said that the breed is the original or nearest to the original
working Bulldog that left the British shores in the 17th when the pilgrims
headed for the Americas on the ship called Anne in 1733, settling in the
south-eastern states. There the Bulldog took on a new task, it was utilised
as a farm stock dog also to guard the farm and its master from wild animals
and anything else out there to cause harm including humans.
The Bulldog as been known by various names over the years, Old Fashioned
Whites, Southern Whites, Georgia Giants and plain old Bulldog to name a few.
To date there are quite a few breeders of this wonderful breed of dog here
in the UK of the different strains.
To people out there who do not know what a Bulldog is, just rent to the
movie Homeward Bound 1 & 2, the dog called Chance in the film is an American
Bulldog, you will see him as a fun loving, family oriented dog always
wanting to please. In the first movie Chance is played by a well known dog
called Rattler, he is in some pedigree's here in the UK.
A man named John D Johnson, of Summerville, Georgia, USA, saved the breed
from extinction. Mr. Johnson is known as the granddaddy of the breed, when
John came back from World War 2, he began the search for more quality
Bulldogs to go with the ones he already had, he began his breeding program.
At this point I think we should all say a big thank you to Mr & Mrs Johnson
for all their life long dedication to the breed, if was not for them we
would have lost this breed for ever. True people bred these dogs out in the
hills, but it was Mr & Mrs Johnson who brought this breed to the attention
of the general public. THANK YOU.
There are a few Bulldog lines around the most well known ones are, Johnson,
the big Bully, thick boned boned Bulldogs, then there's Scott, Painter and
Hines, these lines are lighter framed and slightly longer muzzled Bulldogs.
Most of the other lines can trace back to Johnson dogs in their pedigrees.
The Johnson lines are now called or Johnson Bulldogs.
The Bulldog is not recognised by our Kennel Club but as of the first of
1999, the UKC (United Kennel Club) in the USA accepted the breed. The UKC
are the fastest growing body for the breed with shows growing all the time,
they are the second biggest Kennel Club in the USA.
The Breed has been registered by a number of registry's, these been, NKC
(National Kennel Club) ABA (American Bulldog Association) JDJBRA (John D
Johnson Bulldog Registry & Archives) to name a few BUT the main registry in
my eyes and many in the USA, of Johnson dogs today is the ARF (Animal
Research Foundation) this organisation have been registering the breed (all
strains) since 1972, many registries have tried to copy the ARF but a failed
miserable.
Thanks to Georgia Summerville Kennels for this part of our website. |
|
