English Bulldog Breed Standard
General Temperament of a Bulldog
Conveys impression of determination, strength and activity. Alert, bold, loyal, dependable, courageous, fierce in appearance, but possessed of affectionate nature. Courageous (not vicious or aggressive), and demeanor should be pacific and dignified. These attributes should be countenanced by the expression and behavior.
General Appearance
The perfect Bulldog is of medium size and smooth coat. Heavy, thick-set, rather low-swung body type, with a massive short-faced head, wide shoulders and sturdy limbs. General appearance and attitude suggesting great stability, vigor and strength. The Bulldog disposition should be equable and sweet, resolute and courageous (not aggressive or vicious), and demeanor should be pacific and dignified. The attributes will be countenanced by the expression and behavior.
Proportion, Symmetry
Proportion: The circumference of the skull in front of the ears should measure at least the height of the dog at the shoulders.
Symmetry: The points should be well distributed and bear good relation to each other, no feature being in such prominence from either too much or not enough of quality that the animal appears deformed or ill-proportioned. In comparison of Bulldogs of different sex, due allowance should be made in favor of the females, which do not bear the characteristics of the breed to the same degree of perfection and grandeur as do the males.
Head
- Skull: Large in circumference; very broad and square.
- Stop: Deep, wide indentation between eyes; facial features balanced.
- Nose: Large, broad and black, with wide, open nostrils.
- Muzzle: Short, broad, turned upwards and very deep.
- Lips: Thick, broad, pendant and deep, covering the teeth.
- Jaws / Teeth: Broad, massive and square; lower jaw projecting in front of upper jaw.
- Cheeks: Well-rounded and extended sideways beyond eyes.
- Eyes: Low-set, wide apart, round, moderate in size and very dark.
- Ears: Set high, small and thin; rose ear is correct.
- Neck: Moderate in length, very thick, deep and strong.
Body
- Topline: Slight fall behind shoulders, rising to the loins and curving to the tail to form an arch.
- Back: Short, strong and broad at shoulders, comparatively narrower at loins.
- Chest: Wide, round, prominent and deep; body well-ribbed.
- Belly: Tucked up and not pendulous.
- Tail: Set low, rather short, thick at root and tapering to a fine point; carried downward.
Limbs & Movement
- Forequarters: Very stout, strong, muscular and set wide apart.
- Shoulders: Broad, sloping, deep and powerful.
- Elbows: Low and standing well away from ribs.
- Pasterns: Short, straight and strong.
- Hindquarters: Large and muscular, with strong lower legs.
- Stifles: Round and turned slightly outwards.
- Hocks: Slightly bent and well let down.
- Feet: Compact, thick and moderately round.
- Gait / Movement: Loose-jointed, shuffling, sidewise motion; action should be unrestrained, free and vigorous.
Coat & Colour
Hair: Fine texture, short, close and smooth.
Colour: The supplied standard lists red brindle, other brindles, solid white, solid red, fawn or fallow, and piebald. It notes that solid black is very undesirable.
Bitches: 40 lbs
Scale of Points
| General Properties | Points | Head | Points | Body, Legs, etc. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proportion & Symmetry | 5 | Skull | 5 | Neck | 3 |
| Attitude | 3 | Cheeks | 2 | Dewlap | 2 |
| Expression | 2 | Stop | 4 | Shoulders | 5 |
| Gait | 3 | Eyes & eyelids | 3 | Chest | 3 |
| Size | 3 | Ears | 5 | Ribs | 2 |
| Coat | 2 | Wrinkle | 5 | Brisket | 3 |
| Color of coat | 4 | Nose | 6 | Belly | 2 |
| 22 | Chops | 2 | Forelegs & elbows | 4 | |
| Jaws | 5 | Hind Legs | 3 | ||
| Teeth | 2 | Feet | 3 | ||
| 39 | Tail | 4 | |||
| 39 | |||||
| TOTAL | 100 | ||||
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