Distinctive features of the pre-war bulldog, the reasons for its creation and the history of the progenitors: features, application, territory of distribution. Recognition of the species and position. Antebellum bulldogs, or Antebellum bulldog, are muscular white dogs and resemble American Bulldogs in appearance, but are varieties of Antebellum. Dogs have larger and more folded heads. They are also slightly taller than their progenitors, and their longer snouts prevent them from experiencing some of the breathing problems common to different types of bulldogs. The growing offspring should have a strong, well-developed body and large paws. Usually these dogs have brown eyes, but blue or multi-colored ones are also not uncommon. Also, animals have slightly wrinkled muzzles.
Ears and tails of pre-war bulldogs should remain uncut. Docking them is prohibited according to the breed standard. Therefore, these characteristics of the dog should be left in their natural, natural state. These canines have a short and coarse coat that is predominantly white in color. Various markings are also allowed, including those showing a tiger pattern, or brown mottled spots. However, these colored spots should not cover a larger percentage of the dog's coat.
Pre-war Bulldogs are a good choice for the whole family. These easy-going pets will have a great time with their loved ones. But, this temperamental breed should be carefully controlled when playing around small children. Large dogs can accidentally harm a baby simply by being too playful. They need a place to spend their energy, and therefore it is better to keep the dogs in a house with a backyard. They don't always treat cats and small pets well, but proper early socialization will increase the dog's chances of adopting them. Trained dogs conscientiously and constantly obey their owners.
The reasons for the creation of the pre-war bulldog and the history of the progenitors
Although the pre-war Bulldog was only recently bred, the idea behind its creation was to recreate a much older breed. The history of this canine species can be traced back to the history of the Old English Bulldog, the progenitor of the modern English Bulldog. The Old English Bulldog was originally developed to participate in a sporting activity called bull baiting.
This bloody activity involved chasing and baiting a bull - a fierce battle between a dog and a cloven-hoofed animal. An old English bulldog, biting the bull's nose and holding the animal until the bull surrenders. The bout process often took more than one hour and usually resulted in the death of one or both of the participants. The sport evolved from the agricultural needs of bull and pig catching, where Malossian dogs were used to catch and hold semi-feral bulls and pigs.
The Old English Bulldog became a fearless and ferocious animal and was well known throughout Britain, where bull baiting was one of the most popular pastimes for centuries. The old English Bulldog eventually became the last dog to catch animals. The short, wide muzzle gave these canines as much area as possible to bite and hold the beast. The relatively short body meant that the dog had a low center of gravity, which was used to the advantage of countering the strength of the enraged bull. And, the huge muscles provided the necessary power.
The breed also became extremely aggressive, tenacious in achieving goals until death, incredibly tolerant of pain, and extremely decisive in its actions. These qualities also helped the Old English Bulldog to cope well with other occupations. And, the protective nature and immense courage of the bulldog also made him popular in this type of activity such as the protection and protection of animals. It is precisely this part of the history of the Old English and English Bulldogs - the progenitors of the pre-war bulldog, which is directly and most closely related to its recreation.
The use of the ancestors of the pre-war bulldog in America
Old English Bulldogs have been imported into the New World since the earliest days of British settlement in North America. These dogs proved to be extremely valuable for the activities of farmers living in the British colonies, especially in the southernmost parts of the American continent. When the Spanish discovered and subsequently established Florida and Texas, pigs and cattle were brought in to provide future settlers with food and leather. Unfortunately, these animals have returned to their wild state and their population has increased significantly. The beasts were also not limited to the territory of the Spanish settlers, but very quickly spread and began to move north and east to the controlled lands of the British colonists.
Meanwhile, British settlers developed a heavy agricultural economy. For a variety of economic, environmental, and social reasons, the plantation labor system came to dominate the economies of Virginia, Carolina, and Georgia. Under this system, massive estates, on which slaves or employees worked, received a single harvest. Wild pigs and cattle came to these territories and began to feed on the crops that people raised. Animals caused colossal losses, which would probably be estimated in the millions today.
Plantation owners and their workers, in their torture to remove these marauding animals, risked serious injury or death. Because these aggressive and powerful animals possessed sharp horns and tusks, as well as hard hooves, with the help of which they skillfully defended themselves, taking care of their survival. Bulldogs were an excellent and obvious solution to this problem, and were used by the late 1600s in what is now the American South.
The territory of origin and distribution of the ancestors of the pre-war bulldog
There is one specific area where bulldogs were especially common. Namely, along the Altamaha River, which flows through the center of Georgia. Although cotton is generally considered the primary crop, dozens of other plants were grown using the plantation system, and in some areas other crops were significantly more important than cotton. So it was with the crops near the Altamaha River, which specialized in rice production. The area near this waterway became one of the main areas of rice production in the colonies and then in the United States of America.
Situated very close to Spanish Florida, the area around this river has had a major problem with wild pig invasions, mainly since the British first settled in the region. An average herd of these animals can destroy a year's work on a rice crop in just a couple of hours. As in other countries of the South, Old English Bulldogs were originally used to catch pigs and hold them in place until hunters came to kill them.
Decades of localized breeding meant that the bulldogs kept and used on the plantations of the Altamaha River had a special appearance. They became somewhat larger and taller than those found in other regions, and also had larger and more powerful heads. Also, these dogs began to differ mainly in white coat color.
The reasons for the sharp decline in the number of progenitors of the pre-war bulldog
The Bulldogs of the Altamaha plantations served their masters loyally and loyally for over a century and were well known in the region throughout the pre-war period. This is a time period that lasted from the American Revolution to the American Civil War.
The civil war changed the economy of the Altamaha region forever. After the war, slavery and forced labor were outlawed and the plantation economy collapsed. In addition, many farms and plantations in the region were burned to the ground by the American politician and military leader, General Sherman, on his march to the Atlantic coast under his leadership.
Perhaps at the time, rice was of great, or even the most important, importance. It was important mainly because it was often used to feed slaves. But when slavery was abolished, he lost some of his value. Then, mainly logging and timber industry, replaced the rice plantations along Altamakha. Since pigs are much less harmful to wood than rice, then the content of bulldogs was needed in fewer quantities.
Because of this, the number of breed livestock began to decline sharply. But, these dogs still continued to be kept by the local population, for recreational pig hunting, work on farms, protection and communication. Despite this, such canines were encountered less and less. Beginning in the 1840s, the breed also faced stiff competition from American Pit Bull Terriers. The American Pit Bull Terrier is a descendant of the British canines. It comes from a cross between an Old English Bulldog and different types of English Terriers.
Although these dogs were originally bred for dog fighting, American farmers and hunters have found that the animals also have excellent hunting instincts. Many experts and their fans around the world claim that American Pit Bull Terriers are the best pig hunters in the world. As the old-style bulldogs that lived and used for decades became more rare, American Pit Bull Terriers became more common.
The history of the creation of the pre-war bulldog breed
By the early twentieth century, the most distinctive localized varieties of working southern bulldogs, such as those found along the Altamaha River, were either completely extinct or extremely rare. By the end of World War II, the situation was dire. Two breeders, Dr. John D. Johnson and Alan Scott, have worked hard to save these dogs. Now these people are considered the fathers of the American Bulldog breed. The number of American Bulldogs increased dramatically, especially in the 1990s and the first decade of the 20th century.
This interest coincided with a massive increase in the popularity of Malossian-type dogs in general, especially the English Bulldog, English Mastiff and American Pit Bull Terrier. Due to a marked preference for the American Bulldog and the American Pit Bull Terrier, most modern molossians were no longer able to perform the job functions for which they were originally bred. These canines were often very different in their external parameters from the original breed. Over the past three decades, numerous attempts have been made to recreate the older type of working Malossian dog.
At the end of the 20th century, Cole Maxwell took up such activities. Maxwell's great-grandfather rafted trees on Altamakh. He transported the logs from where they were cut upstream to the point of arrival. His constant companion was a large, white bulldog, which resembled the type of dogs from the Altamaha plantations. He was probably one of the last purebred dogs. Throughout Maxwell's childhood and adolescence, his grandmother told him many stories about such dogs.
When Cole became an adult, he was fired up with the idea of recreating this breed, making sure that it is capable of being a wonderful hunting dog and a devoted family companion. Maxwell wanted the animal to be significantly larger than the American Bulldog, able to fight pigs when necessary, be physically tough to work for long hours, and be able to handle the hot climate of Georgia.
Breeds that participated in the selection of the pre-war bulldog and the purpose of its breeding
Initially, Maxwell chose a dog that was tall at the withers, which he considered an excellent base, as well as eight other dogs. He began working with the Animal Research Foundation (ARF), a registry of all dog breeds. Dr. and Johnson first collaborated with this organization when he revived the American Bulldog.
Over the past several decades, Cole Maxwell and his sons have continued to breed their line of Bulldogs. They called their dogs dogs from the Altamaha plantation, although they preferred the name to the pre-war bulldog. The Maxwell family pooled a number of different breeds together in an attempt to recreate the original Altamaha plantation bulldog, which disappeared in the early decades of the 20th century.
American Bulldog lines, bred by Scott and Johnson, figure most prominently in the Maxwells' work. Because these breeds are considered the closest in form, function and genetics and resemble both the old English bulldog and the Altamakh plantation bulldog.
Other species that have entered their ranks include the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog. These are yet another relict working Southern Bulldogs believed to be closely related to American Bulldogs, American Staffordshire Terriers, Catahula Bulldogs (a mixture of the Catahula leopard dog and American Bulldog), Great Danes and Canary Dogs.
These crosses and careful selection resulted in very large, but not massive, working bulldogs that were predominantly white in color and had a much smaller brachycephalic type (deep, shortened and wide muzzle) than most modern bulldog varieties.
The Maxwells set themselves the original goal of breeding not only able-bodied animals, but also excellent family companions. Therefore, amateur breeders selected only those dogs that have a temperament that satisfies both requirements.
Recognition of the American Bulldog and the current position of the breed
Since the pre-war bulldog was only recently bred, it occupies the position of a very rare breed. Cole Maxwell and his sons remain the primary breeders of this breed of bulldog, and their numbers are growing steadily. Current estimates put the estimated pre-war bulldog population at around 100. Antebellum bulldog, currently recognized by the ARF, is also the main breed representative on the registry.
In the future, there are plans for the breed to be recognized by other large canine organizations. But, for today, the number of breed representatives is too low, and therefore it will not be so easy to do this. Unlike most modern breeds, a high percentage of pre-war Bulldogs remain working dogs, although many others are mostly kept for companionship. The long-term future of the revived pre-war Bulldog remains shaky, and it remains to be seen what will become of the breed when the Maxwell family stops breeding them.
