The
Victorian Bulldog is large headed
and thick boned, only to the point that
it does not impede vigor. It is broad
muzzled and short faced, but not so excessive
as to interfere with breathing. The hindquarters
are somewhat higher and not as heavy as
foreparts, but not so as to destroy the
symmetry of a muscular athlete. The head
should be large but not exaggerated out
of proportion to the body. The cheeks
are rounded and extended sideways beyond
the eyes. The face is measured from the
front of the cheek-bone to the tip of
the nose, long enough for unhindered breathing.
The muzzle is broad and turning up, undershot
but not to excess. The nostrils are large
and wide, black is preferred but dudley
acceptable. The flews are broad and hanging
over the lower jaw at the sides. The canine
teeth are large and wide apart. The eyes
from the front are set low and wide apart,
never bulging or sunken and never with
the haw be visible. The ears are either
rose or button and are never erect or
cropped. The neck is thick, strong and
arched, with loose skin forming dewlap
on each side. The shoulders are broad
and deep. The Victorian Bulldog has rounded
ribs with a wide chest narrowing towards
the loins without exaggeration. The forelegs
are muscular, straight and wide apart,
not bandy or curved. The hindlegs are
strong and muscular. The hocks are slightly
bent. The feet are round and compact and
either straight, turning down, or screwed.
The coat is smooth and short. Colors include
all brindles, solid white or pied, solid
red, fawn or fallow. Black or black and
tan is not acceptable.
Temperament
Victorian
Bulldogs are very loyal and absolutely
reliable. Although its appearance can
be somewhat intimidating, it is among
the gentlest of dogs. Just the same it
will see off any intruder. It is
described as a very affectionate and
dependable animal, gentle with children,
but known for its courage and its excellent
guarding abilities. Victorian Bulldogs
are very much a peoples dog seeking out
human attention and loving every bit it
can get!! Human attention is required
for the breed's happiness. They are nice
to all people. This breed is good with
family pets, but they can be scrappy with
strange dogs. Some snore very loudly,
and some have drool and slobber tendencies.
The
Victorian Bulldog has no inherited health
defects.
Living
Conditions
The
Victorian Bulldog is good for apartment
life. They are inactive indoors and should
at least have a small yard. This breed
is an indoor dog. Victorian Bulldogs do
best in temperate climates as the breed
can chill easily in cold weather and have
trouble cooling off in very hot weather.
Exercise
The
Victorian Bulldog can walk for miles,
in fact they demand good exercise and
would love a good run. They need to be
taken on a daily walk.
Grooming
The
smooth, fine, short-haired coat is easy
to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle
brush, and bathe only when necessary.
Wipe the face with a damp cloth every
day to clean inside the wrinkles. This
breed is an average shedder.
Origin
In
London in 1985 a breeding program began,
led by Mr. Ken Mollett. Mr. Mollett was
saddened to see so many unhealthy bulldogs
and wanted to bring back the original,
taller, healthier bulldog of the 1800's.
With the passing of the years, Graham
Woods and Ken Mollett's brother Derek,
both early partners in the program, gave
up or sought other goals, but Ken persisted.
Using only bull-breeds registered with
the Kennel Club of Great Britainand anchoring
his program firmly on the modern bulldog,
he set about crossing Staffords, Bullmastiffs,
Dogue de Bordeaux and
the healthiest Bulldogs he could find.
Mollett selected carefully and every animal
used was the best available. In the late
1980's the dog's being produced and bred
by Derreck Mollett and Steve Barnett were
utilized and used, by Ken Mollet as the
direct foundation dogs to his Victorian
Bulldogs. Working to old photographs,
statues, written descriptions and engravings,
he set out to remake the dog pictured
in Victorian times. He called this dog
the Victorian Bulldog. Today the type
is fixed and the dogs are breeding regularly
to that type. Ken Mollett insists, however,
that since the health of his dogs is more
important than their looks, the standard
should not be viewed as a straight jacket.
Similar to what happened in the USA to
the Olde English Bulldogge of Mr. David
Leavitt, where breeders of alternative
strains bred Bulldog types together and
wrongly used the name Olde English Bulldogge
for its popularity, so can be seen with
Mollet’s Victorian Bulldog. Mr. Mollett
named his strains Victorian Bulldogs.
As the Victorian Bulldog became popular,
other breeders started to create their
own strain of Bulldogs and called their
dogs Victorian Bulldogs when the dogs
were not related to Mollets strains at
all. Some Bulldogs using the name Victorian
Bulldogs are just first or second generation
crosses. Only Victorian Bulldogs registered
with the Victorian Bulldog Society (VBS)
of Great Britain or the Victorian Bulldog
Foundation (VBF) must be regarded as true
Victorian Bulldogs, and if you buy a puppy
from parents not registered at the VBS
or VBF you will not get a true Victorian
Bulldog. Dogs called Victorian Bulldogs
which are not register with the VBS or
VBF, are not necessarily "Bad" dogs, but
they are simply not the true Victorian
Bulldog of Mr. Mollett.
