The White English Bulldog is a very old and rare breed of dog, originating in early Spanish Florida, originally bred as war dogs to defend the forts and homesteads against Indians, wolves, panthers, and bears. Farmers today use them to control unruly cattle and swine, but primarily, for the defense of livestock and family, especially children. Other names include: Old English White, English White, and White English. 

History

  The White English Bulldog developed in the early pioneer days in Spanish La Florida. Florida was settled by the Spanish military, rather than citizens. The Spanish Conquistadores started to conquer present day Florida in 1513 and were met by hostile tribes, quite unlike other areas of the new world. Though cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, chickens, and dogs were brought to the New World, Florida remained a hostile environment. Dogs required to defend the forts and homesteads were war dogs used in defense of Indians, wolves, panthers, and bears. Various dogs of Alaunt type, including the Spanish Alano, a few French, Italian, Portuguese, and English Alaunts all first brought by the Spanish to the Americas, were employed in the task of defense, thus the English name White English, as these dogs were later referred to by English speaking peoples. Defense type dogs, known as Perro de Ayuda, became even more urgent in Spanish Florida as the English pushed for war. The first attack on St. Augustine, by the English was in 1702. The Spanish military set cattle in the moat to defend the fort. The cattle were smaller, athletic, and agile with long sharp horns, the predecessor of the Texas Longhorns. War raged off and on for over a hundred years between La Florida and the new major English military settlements in Savannah, Georgia. However, it was the US that drove out the Spanish in 1819. The Spanish settlers dispersed into all directions into frontier lands from lower Florida to middle Georgia. As the English moved in, the cattle industry flourished and as well, the Bulldogs of the newer English bull-baiting type were introduced into the area. While one can compare the amalgamation of breeds behind the WEB to the melting pot of the human races, separation of breed type can be identified, although the origins of the White English as well as the early history of the Spanish in Florida have long been forgotten. The White English still represent the Alaunt of the butchers, (Alaunt de Boucherie) type, rather than the Bulldog as developed in England. Farmers today use them to control unruly cattle and swine, but most importantly, for the defense of livestock and family, especially children. The White English are being repopulated by the White English Bulldog Preservation Society for use by farmers, ranchers, and open range grazers of livestock for serious predator eradication.

Appearance and Size

The White English Bulldog is a family and livestock protection dog. Controller and retriever of the roughest livestock, even in wetlands. Suffices as an all around hunter from treeing squirrels to bears. The WEB is not bred to be a hunting dog, though it suffices adequately. A very old and extremely rare breed in its true form, the WEB is a medium to large dog bred as an all around farm and stock dog, specifically protection of such. A moderate agile bodied dog standing on moderate but powerful legs of average bone. The neck should be solid; shoulders should be well muscled and well defined. Elbows should be in line with the dog's shoulders and feet. The musculature is not extreme or bulging as to allow for agility, quickness, and endurance. The coat is coarse with slight feathering on back of hind legs. Coat colors include white, with or without patches of color, shades of red brown, all shades of brindle; never covering more than 25% of body. Black only pigmentation and spotting which is found on the skin, around the eyes, on the nose and lips, and the genitalia. The head is square with noticeable or moderate stop. Supra-orbital arches pronounced with a center crease between the eyes to the back of the head. Muzzle square and broad, half brick 2 1/2" to 3 1/2". Bite: Scissor, reverse scissor to 1" under at most. The ears are rolled, flapped, or cropped. The eyes can be any shade of brown, amber, blue is a fault and considered an indication of crossbreeding. The feet are round and compact with noticeable webbing between toes. When the tail is not docked, it is thick at the base and feathered at the end. Extremely agile and feline in movement, the breed has great body strength, jaw strength, and endurance. The WEB is not an American Bulldog, (Old) Southern White, (Old) Country White, (Old) Country Bulldog, AKC English Bulldog, Old Time Southern Bulldog, Plantation Bulldog, Antebellum Bulldog, Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, or the Altman White English Bulldog, etc. Rather, the WEB is the foundation breed for these modern bull-breeds, with the exception of the AKC English Bulldog. 

Personality

Loyal and fiercely protective of its master, the master's family, property, livestock and especially the children. A non-dominant dog that does not require a firm handed master, the WEB is submissive to its master and master's family, especially children. The WEB is aloof with and untrusting of strangers, does not require much attention or activity, often appearing lazy. Highly intelligent and intuitive, the WEB requires little to no training. 

Wikipedia and GNU

The content of this entry is from the Wikipedia article "White English Bulldog" licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.