602 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



It is amazing that the Bulldog is as affectionate as he is 

 when we remember how the breed has been treated for gen- 

 erations past. Bred solely with a view to developing their 

 savagery, their viciousness, their blood-thirsty nature, con- 

 fined, hampered, and in many instances tantalized, purely 

 for the purpose of cultivating their savage instincts, it 

 would not have been strange had we seen them to-day 

 utterly uncontrollable, instead of the gentle, affectionate, 

 tractable creatures that they are. 



The Bulldog of to-day is faithful, and if brought up 

 properly is affectionate. He is not remarkably intelligent, 

 as his brain has never been developed. In his present uses 

 and occupations there is no occasion for mental qualities or 

 instincts of a high order, and it is not likely, therefore, that 

 these will ever be cultivated to any great extent; nor can 

 the present type, in my judgment, be much improved. His 

 traits and characteristics can be greatly improved, however, 

 by better treatment than that which is in many cases 

 accorded him. 



Many farmers and others who keep Bulldogs as senti- 

 nels and for handling stock, keep them chained day and 

 night. When a stranger enters the gate, the dog of course 

 ^ flies at him, and is only prevented from tearing him up by 

 the shortness and strength of his chain. Such treatment 

 always spoils a dog of any breed. If allowed his freedom 

 and treated with due kindness, this same Bulldog could 

 readily be trained not to molest visitors, other than 

 thieves, tramps, and peddlers, whom he would readily recog- 

 nize as his legitimate prey. 



The savage appearance of the Bulldog causes many 

 people who do not know his real nature to fear him, and 

 only when they see him securely anchored, with a chain 

 big enough to hold a ship, can they be induced to go into 

 the same field with him. 



This prejudice is readily removed when these people 

 learn to know the breed. Another reason why this breed 

 is ^unpopular is that every mongrel cur that has a short, 

 thick nose and an ugly face is popularly dubbed a Bulldog, 



