Bulldog popularity has surged in recent years. While on the surface this seems to be a positive development, (certainly the breeds who are considered endangered or even on the brink of extinction have their own serious problems), popularity has its own set of downfalls.
Bulldog popularity has increased the breed’s exposure both in pet ownership to the media through print ads, television and movies. The problem is that in keeping up with the huge demand for bulldog puppies, quality in many cases has really fallen, in the areas of health in particular, but also in conformation and temperament. People are breeding Bulldogs with nearly no regard for these important aspects and we are not even including the gimmick colors of the last few years, although they have added to the problem.
Veterinarian clinics have taken notice too. The increase in Bulldog ownership, particularly in regard to unhealthy dogs, has grown alarmingly. Problems that serious breeders consider severe have become common. To the point they are considered “normal for the breed”
Nothing is further from the truth.
The problems we face now are the animal rights groups who are increasing calls for the radical transformation of, or the total eradication of Bulldogs and other brachycephalic (short nosed) breeds and several veterinarians today are signing on to this. It is undoubtedly upsetting for veterinarians to see so many Bulldogs in such poor health. The natural response is to blame the breed standards and the breeders themselves.
The media has jumped on board with many damning exposes on the condition of the breed. These reports indicate that the breed is by design doomed to suffer just from its basic make up, again with the Official Standard taking the brunt of the “blame”.
Unfortunately, the data collected in the various Bulldog health-focused studies are based solely on dogs who are sick, i.e.; frequent visitors to vet clinics and universities.
As the leading experts on the breed, BCA has never been consulted in any of these “studies”. For example, the often quoted life-span “data” of 6-7 years (life span) differs significantly from our casual internal polling suggesting 10-14 years is a more typical life-span among correctly bred bulldogs in general (barring accidents, of course).
It is a very common observational discussion among BCA members and non-members who actively show their dogs (therefore actively breed towards our Official Standard) how infrequently their dogs need a veterinarian, outside basic wellness exams and the rare emergency.
A shocking statistic is that less than 6% of Bulldogs registered with AKC come from BCA members or breeders who actively show. This does not include the many dogs who are registered through alternative registries. That means that likely over 90% of Bulldogs are being bred with no regard for health or to the Standard at all.
BCA’S ever- expanding Ambassador for Health program continues to reward the highest accolades to top show dogs. Again, all bred towards the Official Standard.
Yet, bizarrely, the Standard is being “blamed” for the terrible health among poorly bred dogs bred by people who either have no knowledge of or no interest in our standard at all!
Frustrating? You bet!
It is essentially now so difficult to breed Bulldogs in some European countries due to the growing calls for the eradication of our breed (and other brachycephalic breeds) that breeding of high quality dogs has ground to a near halt. The only sources for Bulldogs now are very often through imports from countries with nearly no regulation or regard to dog welfare. And so the health of the mass-produced Bulldogs and the bulldogs produced with no thought to quality continues to be a serious issue.
Good breeders and their superior quality dogs are being forced out by the worse of the worse. Crazy, right?
This is what we are facing as a breed.
The words “rare” and “exotic” has been used way too often in the past several years to exploit strange colors never seen in the breed with severe, extreme and outlandish conformational features that is not at all consistent with what our Standard requires. Yet the rarest jewel among Bulldogs is the well-bred, health tested dogs from breeders who are true experts.
This is a disaster and a disservice to the welfare of our breed.
Well-meaning, but uninformed politicians are believing the side of the anti-purebred, anti-Bulldog groups. And why not? There are plenty of terrible dogs to support their “side”.
The big problem comes when you look at the true story. Well-bred dogs, those bred specifically with the Official Standard in mind, are among the healthiest, long-lived Bulldogs in existence. They are also the rarest. Unfortunately, very much off the radar of the media looking for the sensationalism of the narrative that the breed is in such terrible shape that they need to stop existing.
Again, not true. Just not interesting enough to cover “our side” of the story.
The Standard is being vilified and forced to change, when the worse dogs do not even follow it!
Insanity.
So, what to do?
For starters, we need to insist that breeders breed only dogs who are of superior health and temperament, and who are bred with the Standard in mind.
No health problem should ever be considered “normal for the breed”.
This thinking has essentially let people breed terrible quality dogs with absolutely no recourse.
Buyers should demand better. They need to do research. Find the best breeders. Not be so impulsive.
This wonderful breed has been in existence for centuries. We owe it to them and the breeders who came before us to do all we can to preserve and protect it for future generations to come.
Elizabeth Milam