3 86 BRITISH DOGS 



that termed ' pinning and holding,' which was to seize the bull by 

 the muzzle ' and not leave it ' ; the bull's nose being his most 

 tender part, he was, when seized by it, rendered helpless. The bull 

 in fighting naturally lowers his head to use his horns, and was often 

 provided with a hole in which to bury his nose ; some veterans 

 (' game ' bulls), not so indulged, would scrape one for themselves. 

 It was therefore necessary for the dog to keep his own head close 

 to the ground, or, as it was termed, to ' play low ' ; the larger dogs 

 were obliged to crawl on their bellies to avoid being above the bull's 

 horns ; hence the smallest dog of the kind capable of accomplishing 

 the object required was selected, it being useless to sacrifice large 

 dogs when smaller and more active, though equally courageous, 

 animals answered the purpose better. The dog found to be the best 

 suited to the requirements, and actually used by our ancestors until 

 the cessation of bull-baiting, was from 1401. to i8in. high, weighing 

 4olb. or 5olb., very broad, muscular, and compact, as shown in pic- 

 tures still extant, notably in an engraving dated 1734, from a picture 

 by Morland, of three Bulldogs of exactly the same type as that of 

 the purest bred dogs of the present day Crib and Rosa (1817), 

 Lucy (1834) 'Mr. Howard and his Pets,' 'The Bull Loose, 

 and others. 



On the suppression of bull-baiting by Act of Parliament in 

 the early part of the last century, the Bulldog lost its peculiar 

 occupation, but was preserved from extinction in the families of 

 some of its admirers, and bred in all its purity." 



For a man or a woman the Bulldog as we know him to-day is 

 an ideal companion. His size is not obtrusive, as with St. Bernards, 

 Great Danes, and Newfoundlands, nor is he noisily inclined, as are 

 the various types of Terriers. Cleanliness can easily be inculcated 

 into his mind. Furthermore, he is to be trusted with children, 

 and, if healthy, is as active a little dog as any of his weight in the 

 land, and equal to any walk that his master can perform. 



On account of its evil associations in the dark days, the Bulldog 

 was for a long time under a cloud so far as popularity was concerned 

 and it was not until the fanciers of the early sixties seriously took 

 it in hand that it emerged therefrom. The emergence, however, 

 was gradual, and many years elapsed before the breed was raised 

 to anything like the status that it has enjoyed in latter years. At 

 first its patrons were largely of the middle and working classes, and 

 to these pioneers really belong the credit for making the breed. 

 Exhibitions and the spirit of friendly rivalry they engendered soon 

 began to tell, although many of the sharp practices that almost 

 invariably follow in the train of an enhanced market value were 

 prevalent to a marked degree. Gradually the breed got into better 

 hands, and the notorious and sometimes cruel practices that were 



