"History of The Bulldog"

	Just the name "Bulldog" conjures up an image of a real tough guy, and when you put a picture of the dog with the name, you get an image of a real tough Dog. Bulldogs are stocky, sturdy dogs with a solid, foursquare stance and a face that says, "Bring it on, I can take it." All those wrinkles and that pushed-in nose give an impression of gruffiness and a ready-to-fight attitude. No wonder the Bulldog is the mascot of the United States Marines!
	The English Bulldog was unofficially adopted as the Marine Corps mascot during World War I, when the German army reportedly nicknamed the attacking Marines Teufelhunden, meaning "Devil Dogs."
	Yet in spite of that face and sturdy body, today's Bulldog is a sweetie - a real softie with no hard feelings towards anyone.
	Bulldogs weren't always big softies. Originally, the Bulldog was bred for the sport of bull-baiting in England. The fanciers of the sport molded a Bulldog to perform specifically for the bull-baiting.
	The Bulldog who fought a bull in the ring needed to be a certain build and to have fighting qualities. Breeders worked diligently to mold the fighter that became the bull baiter. The fanciers wanted a dog built low to the ground to make it harder for the bull to get his horns underneath the dog. If the bull lifted the Bulldog on his horns, the dog would be thrown across the stadium.
	Plus the dog needed to be sturdy and well muscled to withstand the occasional toss. Many early Bulldogs were smaller and lighter than the Bullies of today. The nose needed to be set back from the front of the muzzle and needed to turn up, so that when the dog had a good grip on the bull's nose, the dog's nose wouldn't be buried in the bull's face. The dog would be able to breathe without ever letting go of the bull. The Bulldog's distinctive wrinkles were a sought-after feature because they channeled the bull's blood away from the dog's eyes and nose.
	The breeders also wanted a dog who was determined and wouldn't quit. In bull-baiting, people placed bets on how long the dog would face the bull. Horrible stories circulated about handlers who maimed their dogs to show that the dogs, even on two or three legs, would keep going after the bull.
	When bull-baiting was finally outlawed, the Bulldog's future looked grim. But fortunately, many people admired the Bulldog's temperment, and breeders set out to preserce and perfect the Bulldog by breeding out any viciousness but keeping the tenacious side of the dog's personality.
	The result is todays Bulldog - fierce looking on the outside and a marshmallow on the inside. But remember that your Bully's marshmallow interior can turn to granite if you ask him to do something he doesn't want to do. A Bulldog has retained his spirit of determination and steadfastness. You can't argue with a Bulldog!