There are even those who dispute why he is called Bulldog. Is it the shape of the head or is it because of his use in the barbaric sports of bull-baiting, bear-baiting and dog fighting.

Whatever the name or the origin, there is little doubt that centuries ago there was a canine resembling our present day Bulldog.
Lighter boned and higher on leg, but with the courage, tenacity, and determination that still exists today. Over the years other breeds have crossed with the Bulldog to give these traits to their breeds, perhaps the best known being the Greyhound.

After bull-baiting, bear-baiting and dog fighting were prohibited in England in 1835, a few dedicated fanciers worked diligently to breed out the aggressive, vicious tendencies and to modify the Bulldog to look more like we see him today, shorter faced and heavier in structure.

The first Bulldog Standard in England was drafted in 1864 and adopted in1875. The Bulldog Club of America was formed in 1890 utilizing the English standard. In 1896 a standard was adopted by the Bulldog Club of America. It was revised in 1914 to declare the Dudley nose a disqualification. In 1976 the Dudley nose disqualification was redefined as a "brown or liver colored nose". The standard was reformatted in 1990 with no changes in wording.