DOGS NEW ZEALAND WANT TO CHANGE THE BULLDOG BREED STANDARD

Sorry but we are having to ask again for your support whether you own a bulldog breed, thinking about it or support our clubs, but we are in the position again of having to make known our stand again to uphold the NZ British Bulldog Standard.  Dogs NZ is again trying to push for the NZ British Bulldog Standard to change to the current UK standard or FCI standard for the British Bulldog. Even though their submissions were clear last time that clubs and members did not support change. This time though we aren’t getting asked what we want. We are being told that we have to change our standard. This is not consultation, its dictatorship.

Dogs NZ seems more worried about public perception and getting on the right side of antagonists, stirrers and those that have a view that people should not have pets and that certain breeds like the bulldog should be banned and destroyed. Rather than listening to the views of the clubs and their members who are breeding healthy dogs to the NZ Bulldog Standard. Yet we all know that many adults and children alike have had the saving grace of a loving animal in their lives to uplift them in times of sorrow and pain. Well-bred bulldogs are in many homes around the country, loved and healthy.

At this stage, I would like to ask if you would vote for the combined Bulldog Clubs in New Zealand and their Task Force’s recommendation that we retain the NZ Bulldog Breed Standard as it is.

Our standard reflects the pre-1987 UK British Bulldog Standard.  The UK Bulldog Standard was revised in 2011 against the wishes of the UK Bulldog Clubs and ours. The changes were made to ward off the attacks of those who would ban our breeds, not for the benefit of them. The combined Bulldog Clubs in NZ have a Taskforce that is set up to work on United club initiatives and is actively involved in health testing and ongoing improvement of the health of the British Bulldog in New Zealand.  I myself have been involved with the development of the Bulldog Clubs British Bulldog health scheme. Having been involved with the bulldog breed for over 20 years I have seen massive changes in the bulldog; now you go to a show and you don’t see bulldogs breathing with great difficulty or laying on the ground breathing heavily - we can run around the ring with beautiful British Bulldogs staying the distance. Our big problem right now is Dogs NZ as they want to change our British Standard to the FCI or the 2011 UK British Standard changes which will do nothing but embolden those who believe our bulldogs should not be bred. That’s all it did in the UK. Its also why the Australian clubs opposed bringing those changes in there.

The Wellington Bulldog Club has been around since 1909, being, I believe, the first registered show dog club in NZ.

I will put up the petition that we had sent around under this paper.

 Please vote and show your support once again. Thank you in advance.

PETITION ………please support

 

Bulldog Breed Standard

Director Secretary

Private Bag 50903

PORIRUA 5240

secretary@dogsnz.org.nz

 

 

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE NZKC BULLDOG BREED STANDARD

Submission from: FRANK MUNCEY, PRESIDENT WELLINGTON BULLDOG CLUB INC

My main concerns are that the proposed changes to the Bulldog Breed Standard do not compromise or alter the key attributes of the Bulldog composition that give the Bulldog its distinctive characteristics.

I vote that we stay with the UK Standard (Pre 1987) and do not move to adopt the FCI standard.

In reading through the proposed changes to the NZKC Bulldog Breed Standard, I wish to raise the following issues:

GENERAL APPEARANCE:

Point 2.1: Description of the Head

The omission of the word “strikingly” is a point of concern. I believe that the word “strikingly” needs to remain – as it is an important point of clarification – to describe something as striking that indicates that it is something that takes your eye, grabs your attention. The head of the bulldog is something that should be striking – grabs your attention.

Point 5.1: Body Shape and structure

The change omits the point that the hindquarters “are rather lightly made in comparison with its heavily made foreparts” - This point needs to be maintained in the NZKC standard as it is an important characteristic that gives the bulldog its “pear-shaped” body. The bulldog should be heavier in the foreparts than in the hind to produce this distinctive body shape. On the stack, you should, therefore, be able to look through the front view and see the hind feet positioned clearly inside the front legs.

Point 6.1 Gait/Movement:

The change omits the clarifying point that the gait is peculiar heavy and constrained, the gait is similar to the manner of a horse cantering. This point gives the judge a visual example to relate to. It is impossible for the bulldog to roll and gait perfectly unless the dog has a pear-shaped body. It takes 4 things to give the dog its perfect gait: 1. big shoulders. 2. Roach 3. Back and fine hindquarters. 4. Cut up of loin. When watching the gait – you will see 4 legs when he is going away from you– as the dog is wider in the front and narrow in the back. When the dog is coming back to you, you will see only 2, as the dog is deep in brisket and so don’t see the hind legs.

HEAD AND SKULL:

Point 1.1 The change omits the clear descriptive, which again clarifies what a large skull equates to.

Point 7.1 “The Nose”. The change has omitted the point that the top of the nose should be deeply set back almost between the eyes. From the top of the lip of the underjaw to the top of the nose it should have a layback of 45 degrees and should be very large and the nostrils very wide. Then you go to the “STOP” which should be very deep and much lower than the tip of the nose. All of this was important to ensure that when the bulldog was latched on to the bull, the layback of 45 degrees would ensure that he would still be able to breathe through his nostrils since, with a mouthful of bull, he would not be able to breathe through his mouth!

If you were to lay a pencil in the flat line of the face of a Bulldog, the tip of the skull, the tip of the nose and the tip of the underjaw should be in a straight line – this is what is known as the layback in the breed.

Point 11.1 The Jaw; It is important to retain the descriptive about the turn-up and projection of the lower jaw as this effectively enabled the dog to be able to grab and hold onto the flesh of the bull.

If a centreline was drawn vertically through the head, each side should be a mirror of the other in its make and shape.

BODY:

Point 3.1 The change omits the point that the bulldog body is “comparatively narrow at the loins”. This point needs to be maintained in the NZKC standard as it is one of the distinctive characteristics that give the bulldog the pear-shaped body and enables the bulldog to drive from the front when moving, with the hindquarters gliding/following from behind. The word “comparatively” is important because too narrow/light will limit the strength required and result in a lack of balance.

Point 4.1 The description of the slight fall to the back close behind the shoulders (its lowest part), whence the spine should rise to the loins (the top of which should be higher than the top of the shoulders), thence curving up again more suddenly to the tail, forming an arch – a distinctive characteristic of the breed – termed “roach back”.

It is important that this descriptive remains in the standard, as it is one of the distinctive characteristics of the bulldog. Beware of the flat topline and the sway of camelbacks – both are indicative of lack of / incorrect roach.

Referring to the original purpose of the bulldog, the good arch of neck and roach turning right down to the tail, along with the tuck-up of loin and turn of stifle, is what enables the bulldog to do what it was designed to do – turn himself into a complete ball, once latched onto the bull. (the reason for this was so that he wouldn’t break his neck, back or legs when being tossed about by the bull!)

HINDQUARTERS:

Point 1.1 The change omits the point that the hind legs are longer in proportion to the forelegs so as to elevate the loins. With the bulldog’s original purpose of baiting and pulling down a bull in mind, correct elevation of the loins and length of hind legs enables the bulldog to tuck his hindquarters up and under his front when latched onto the bull. (as described below).

Point 3.1 The change omits the point that with the stifles turned slightly out from the body this results in the hocks slightly facing each other making the feet turn slightly out. The emphasis is on the word slightly! I think that this is important to retain the standard as it is an important point of clarification.

Again, referring back to the original design – When the bulldog gets hold of the bull, he turns himself into a complete ball. So when his hind legs turn under, the turn of stifle then fits inside the elbows and ribs, then his front legs turn back enabling him to wrap up into a very small parcel so that when the bull throws him around, it is impossible for him to break his neck, back or legs.

FEET:

Point 1.1: As clarified above with the hindquarters, stifles that are turned out slightly from the body will result in the hind feet also slightly turn outwards.

COLOUR:

Point 1.1 With regards to the undesirable colors: Dudley, black and black with tan, the change has used the words “extremely” undesirable to “highly” undesirable. The word “extremely” undesirable is important. Let’s not lighten the undesirability to highly undesirable.

In Summary, it is my view that with the number of omissions and subtle changes made to the UK standard, the FCI standard compromises some of the key attributes of the Bulldog’s composition and distinctive characteristics and by doing so is not a true or good representation of the Bulldog Breed standard. It is important to remember, that the Bulldog has very distinctive features that make the bulldog a bulldog and enables the bulldog to perform its traditional work which is what the Standard is there to maintain.