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Belonging to the mastiff group, the Dorset Old Tyme Bulldogge as it is sometimes spelt is an attempt by an enthusiast to recreate the 'ideal' Bulldog from the Victorian era. It is a relatively new breed of dog, by the standards of many dog breeds.
In the 1980's Bulldog aficionado Mr Steve Barnett set himself a goal - to recreate his idea of the old type, Victorian era Bulldog. Trawling historical writings, pictures and sculptures, Steve had found his ideal and desired Bulldog template and in the late 1980's, set about a breeding programme using stock from a fellow Bulldog breeder, Mr K Mollett and Bulldogs he had bred himself, his aim was an interesting one, but not easy.
Mr Barnett himself recently quoted he wanted, 'to produce a national bulldogge, a dog which is brought out into the show or ring with pride, to stand besides your dog knowing that he is an athlete, capable of non-stop energy, worthy of the name gladiator, a true bulldog both in appearance and traditional bulldog temperament. Not a nuisance around animals and other dogs, but with a inbred fire if needed, or called upon, a dog that would grace the arena of any show in any country any were in the world, and be gazed upon with true spirit and real national pride, not shown amongst the fruit and veg in a wheel barrow like the KC dogs of today'.
This quote captures his desire to produce a dog in the mould of the ones used by Kings and Queens spanning the centuries to hunt and bait bears and bulls - a noble dog with the traditional Bulldog character. Being a new breed, most owners of this dog can trace the blood lines of their pet. The British Kennel Club has not yet recognised this dog as a pedigree breed.
Average height to withers: Males and females between 19-21 inches.
Average weight: 27-41kg for both sexes.
This medium sized dog displays all the tone of muscle, shape and bulk you would expect to see in a Bulldog, but slightly taller than other Bulldogs making it stand out from the crowd with its athletic poise. A muscular neck and shoulder flow into straight legs which are set well apart. The hind legs are powerful and give this breed its drive and ease of movement. The tail should be straight; however, curled or corkscrew ones are often found and are not considered a fault in the breed.
The large head and prominent brow are the main features of this dog. The muzzle has been kept deliberately longer, but still wide, as so to not hinder breathing as in found in many other brachycephalic (short nosed) Bulldog breeds with the selected undershot jaw. The nostrils are open and the ears are set high and wide and can either be 'rose' or 'button' shaped. There are some wrinkles and folds of skin on the head and face, but not as many as seen in other Bulldog breeds. The coat is fine in texture, glossy, short, smooth and flat. In colour, any is acceptable. Dorset's are bred in variations of brindle, variations of black and white, black and slate gray/ blue. The slate gray/blue colour is known as Dorset Blue Poole in reference to the area in Dorset it was bred.
People who know and love these dogs regularly report that they are a perfect family member being loyal, even tempered and patient. If they are socialised from an early age, they can happily live with children and other pets, and while they can have a typical stubborn Bulldog streak, they are intelligent, full of character and can be trained relatively easily, so long as the trainer is firm, patient and commands the dogs respect. Any attempt at bullying or harsh training will not be tolerated by this breed and it will simply ignore what it is being asked to do.
They are moderately active and are happy with a walk per day but will also like to be played with in the garden on a regular basis. The main issue for this dog is simply being with its family. Not happy when left alone for prolonged periods, this dog makes for a good companion and family protector, being wary of strangers but full of life and happiness once trust with a person is established.
There is very little data or research available about the overall health of this breed, but since its inception in the 1980's it does appear to be a healthy breed. On average, they will live up to 14 years of age.
Grooming as far as brushing goes is minimal, and often the best way to care for the coat of this breed is to wipe it over with a damp cloth, paying attention to any wrinkles and folds of skin on the body and head. Make sure these are clean and free of any detritus, before, wiping with a clean dry cloth to make sure the area is as dry as possible.
