Stansell: Better breathing is the most important improvement, plus better move- ment, healthier tails and skin. Zalud: Less coarse, overdone dogs and better breathers are in the ring today.
explain love and devotion” even when we don’t deserve it. Explain the Bulldog’s gait: Hugo-Milam: Our standard reads: “ Th e style and carriage are peculiar, his gait being a loose-jointed, shu ffl ing, side- wise motion, giving the characteristic ‘roll’. Th e action must, however, be unrestrained, free and vigorous”. Th e roll as I understand it is the motion of the skin over the ribs as the dog is moving along. Front legs natu- rally move wider than the rear legs based entirely on the dog’s shape (provided he is wider up front than in the rear, as the standard describes). “Peculiar” does not mean “unsound”. Stansell: Th e characteristic rolling gait is created by two distinct features. Th e fi rst being the rear legs that are longer than the front legs and the pear shaped body that is the result of wide shoulders and a narrower rear. Th is geo- metric di ff erence in width and height is compensated by the longer rear legs moving forward in an “arc” toward the center line of the dog rather than straight forward. Th is “roll” permits the dog to move forward without side winding, crabbing or overreaching. Explain the Bulldog’s topline: Cardello: Th e topline should have a dip at the shoulder rising at the loins. Viewed from side, the head should be level with the top of the loins, forming what’s called a wheel back going into a decidedly low tail set with downward carriage. Newcomb: Time and again, I see judges appear to fault dogs with the prop- er topline. I once had a judge say, “I just can’t stand that curve in the back.” Th e Standard says it all about the topline. All breeders and judges should reread it at least annually. Stansell: Bull-baiting required agility. Th e unique topline with the dip behind the shoulders, the “wheel” over the loin, the longer rear legs permitted strength and fl exibility that were required for the Bulldog’s survival. Th is topline should be a smooth, fl owing line that contin- ues from the withers to the low-set tail without abrupt angles. Th e placement of
GENERAL PROPERTIES
Proportion & Symmetry
5 3 2 3 3 2 4 5 2 4 3 5 5 6 2 5 2 3 2 5 3 3 2 2 5 4 3 3 4
Attitude
Expression
Gait Size Coat
What do breeders still need to improve?
Cardello: Stick with the standard. It’s being proven in the show ring that healthy dogs can and do conform to the standard. Newcomb: Don’t breed dogs with health issues or serious faults or to stud dogs with either. Take part in the BCA health testing programs. Sickle: Breeding better dogs is an unending challenge. Continued atten- tion to improving conformation, health and temperament will ensure that our breed continues to make strides in the future. Th e best show Bulldogs make the best pets, and they look good, too! Zalud: Work on our own faults f irst. Examine our consciousness to see what is our real motive for doing a breeding. If we breed only with integrity and not self-glorif ication/personal gain, Bull- dogs will have a better chance at lead- ing the healthy happy lives they deserve. What do you consider to be the most important features of the Bulldog? Newcomb: If I was to name one fea- ture as most important, it would be Bal- ance. No feature of the dog should be out of proportion with the other features. Th e word “must” is only used three times in the Standard, two are: “the perfect Bulldog must be of medium size and smooth coat” and “ Th e tail must be short, hung low with decided downward carriage, thick root and fi ne tip” (emphasis added). Stansell: Th e features that contribute to the dog’s health and maintain the breed type are critical. Th ese include the nose, eyes, skull, jaws, shoulders, proportion and symmetry, back and chest. Zalud: From a judge’s point of view I value the overall balance of the dog with each part complimenting the oth- er. From an owners point of view, their most important feature is their “hard to
Color of Coat
22
HEAD
Skull
Cheeks
Stop
Eyes & Eyelids
Ears
Wrinkle
Nose
Chops
Jaws
Teeth
39
BODY, LEGS, ETC.
Neck
Dewlap
Shoulders
Chest
Ribs
Brisket
Belly Back
Forelegs & Elbows
Hind Legs
Feet Tail
39
TOTAL
100
the “wheel” over the loin is critical. Too far forward causes the faulty camel back and too far to the rear is the result of anincorrect croup. Explain the Bulldog’s neck: Cardello: Th e neck should be moder- ate in length with an arch similar to what is seen in a bull. Th is will come with maturity. Stansell: A long graceful neck would not have had the strength to grasp and hold the angry bull’s nose. Th e correct neck is short, thick, and strong yet long enough to be arched in the back.
t4 )08 4 *()5 . "(";*/& 0 $50#&3
Powered by FlippingBook