Originally the Bulldog was bred to protect and bait bulls, the purpose of which was both practical (tenderising meat) and profitable (entertainment).

The earliest trace of the Bulldog can be found as far back as 50 AD, a fighting breed known as the Broad Mouthed Dog of Briton is documented.

The Romans were found to have taken a keen interest in these early Briton bulldogs, having selected and exported them from Briton to Rome, for entertainment in the Coliseum.

In 1066 England began training dogs for baiting, bears, horses and a variety of other species but most notably Bulls.This was the beginning of the development of the British Bulldog, a breed whose body and temperament well suited for this task. Bull baiting required the Bulldog to engage the bull by creeping upon its belly toward the bull, while the bull anticipating the dogs advances lowers its head ready to defend itself by tossing the dog with its horns, however before given the chance the Bulldog leaps and grabs the bull by the nostrils.

It wasn’t until 1631 that the word Bulldog was first mentioned in England and from original oil paintings it has been observed that in 1598 English Bulldogs were still relatively large.

Over the years Bulldogs have been described as Ugly or stubborn, yet no one could ever question the strength, courage or determination of the breed. In 1835 the sport of bull baiting was banned, yet the Bulldog had become so popular as a pet and so deeply ingrained as a part of the national identity that today more than 170 years after their initial purpose had been banned they are still as popular as ever, and now are identified around the world as uniquely British. It is said that even today the sight of a Bull particularly a red one infuriates the Bulldog.