New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-11
BULLDOGS.
SOME POPULAR IDEAS CORRECTED
THEY ARE GOOD NATURED. FOND OF CHILDREN
AID IN THIS COUNTRY ARE hEMARKAN1
FOR THEIR DELICATE HEA1FH

ance certainly far beauty IS concerned, y
against him. and to any one unacquainted with
the breed it seems the very incarnation OF
ferocity But in the latter respect 1t Is only one
of the many cases where the outward seeming Is
entirely at variance with the actual facts. The
bulldog, despite his savage-looking jaws. with
their projecting lower teeth, Is peaceful and kind
In disposition He Is brave but not aggressive:
and he Is actually rendered untrustworthy as q
watchdog just because Of his friendliness and
lack OF suspicion toward strangers. All OF the
men who are interested in bulldogs and who ex-
hibit every year at the various bench shows
treat their dogs as house pets. With children
they are admirably patient and good-tempered.
Another fact which Is not generally known
and would certainly never be suspected regard
ing this breed Is that II Is extremely delicate
and difficult to raise. BY far the great majority
OF the bulldog puppies born in this country die at
an early age and this despite the utmost carel
and attention on the part of their owners. IL
for instance, two be raised out of litter OF
nine, the owner considers that he is having good
luck. Not only are the puppies subject to al1
the ordinary dog diseases, but even the grown
dogs unable to withstand great hardship
and they do not rule live to an advanced
age. a bulldog of seven or eight years is olq
and practically at the end or his eXnlpltio1
career. There are, Of course, few eXceptlons}
but in most this holds true. In England
where the breed is centuries old, the stock Isl
better and stronger. Bulldogs are far more
numerous there and they more nearly approach
the ideal standard Of their species. All OF the
finest dogs here have been imported from Eng
land though now, through the efforts Of the Bull
dog Club Of America, the Improvement OF the
type Of the American-bred dog is being striven
for earnestly. The officers Of the club are:
President John H. Matthews, New-York; vice.
president, II. d. Kendall, Lowell, Mass; secre-
tary, E. A. Woodward, Chicago; treasurer, e. K.
Austin. New-York These with Renshaw MAJ
son Jones, of Newport; William Mariner, of Mill
waukee and Frank F. Dole of New-HaVen,
form the Executive Committee. (
The perfect bulldog should be of medium sz4
that is for mature dogs about fifty pounds
weight, and for mature bitches about forty
pounds-and the coat should be smooth An
fine The body is thckset and swung low, IN
head massive and short, the shoulders e.
tremely wide and the legs sturdy. The bu
dogs carriage is peculiar, his gait being a 100
jointed shutting motion, with the character
sdewise roll The color varies greatly D.
sometimes solid white or solid red, fawn, pi
bald any OF the many different xmas
brindles. Solid black is sometimes met VIII
but is not considered desirable The SKIN shoui I
be soft and loose. and should wrinkle heavily
about the head and face. AT the throat, from
the jaw to the chest, are the two deep-hanging
folds which form the dewlap.
The points of the head are important The
skull should be very large. the circumference
in front Of the ears measuring at least the
height of the dog at the shoulders The nose
should be broad and black, with its tip set well
back between the eyes. The ears should be
small and thin, and set high on the head. The
shape termed rose ear which is the most de-
sirable, folds inward at the back lower edge.
while the upper front edge curves outward and
backward, showing part Of the inside burr"
The Jaws should be strong and 'undershot."
In the body points great width and heaviness
OF the shoulders and short back, tapering IN
width from the shoulder to the oins. are the
most essential When there is a fall in the
back close behind the shoulders. followed by q
rise at the lons and another drop toward the
tail. the term roach back" is used. This is q
distinctive and desirable feature Of the breed.
The front legs. while they should be slightly
bowed. should not be too much so, and the feet
should not be too close together.
Probably the best two bulldogs In this coun-
try to-day Lord Yarmouth and Beaver
Brook Sultan. Each has beaten the other sew
eral times under different judges, and they
semble each other to an extraordinary degree,
which is the more remarkable because bulldogs
have strong Municipalities. Lord Yarmouth
who is owned by Bulkeey Wells of the Beau
maris Kennels. Manch ester Mass, born I'm
England in November 1854 and was imported
to this country last January. Since his arrival