When we first announced the launch of our on line Magazine on the message boards through out this vast Bulldog Universe we have out there, one of the first people to contact me was Mrs. Sharon Nunley. She was curious as to what we were all about. Little did she know that we would hit her up to help us out with our First or as we like to say Premier issue. The theme we decided early on would be “beginnings” for our first issue, enter Sharon Nunley.
From our initial e mail contacts to our telephone conversation, I found Sharon to be very nice and more than willing to help us out all she could with our new venture. We would like to take this opportunity to Thank her publicly for putting up with all the emails and for her willingness to help when called upon.
I guess you could say that Sharon Nunley is an “Olde” hand when it comes to Bulldogs, The Olde English Bulldogge that is. Nunley Ranch began its Olde program in 1985, the following is a handout given to her adoptive families when her pups go to their new homes. It pretty much sums up what an OEB was originally bred for and the qualities that she feels should stay with the breed.
The Olde English Bulldogge (OEB) is a bull baiter type... Bull baiting was a sport that certainly came from the running of the bulls. It was finally outlawed in 1835, but didn't really end until the mid to late 1800's. In bull baiting a bull was tethered to a post on a long rope,. Or put in large arena The purpose of this sport was for the dog to get the bull “wore down” or to the ground.[bet won] a certain type or structure was needed. The dogs would approach the bulls head on. A bull will put its head to the ground so it can use its horns to defend itself or gore its attacker. The dog needed to be able to get low to the ground so that the bull could not get a horn under him and flip him away and still be able to move in all directions quickly..They would then charge the bull and latch onto the soft nose area.. so to wear the bull down. Also the bulldogs weight would be as an anchor. So if the dog could hang on long enough, he could wear down the bull...
Structure of dog needed..... a wide dog with its body slung between its front legs with tight round feet is going to be able to move low to the ground and maneuver out of reach of the bulls horns better .The roach on the OEB also helps contribute to this maneuverability as does weight. Also, the heads of the bull baiter are special. The bull baiter has a layback to the nose and has moderate wrinkles on his muzzle...[muzzle is approximately 1 to 3 inch.. Or a 1/3 muzzle..] they have these features because they all served a needed purpose in bull baiting .when the dogs grab the bull by the nose., An undershot bite is more of a holding bite than a scissor bite.. A 1/3 or short muzzle puts more holding power in a more concentrated area.. the layback of the nose is what allowed the dog to hang on and still breath without the bulls soft nose smothering him ..and wrinkles,[are more than just cute] of course, there would be blood spurting in the dogs face. The wrinkles would allow the blood to drain off and not get in the dogs eyes so they could see.. When it comes to courage, in all the books I've read. And what I have seen from the dogs we have loved ,[and loved us], this quote still stands true!,"the mental qualities of the bulldog may be highly cultivated, & in brute courage and unyielding tenacity of purpose he stands unrivaled ...and,[with the single exception of the game-cock], he has no parallel in these respects in the brute creation"... They always make their attack at the head , they don't let go their hold, and they don't bark a warning of attack , but if family or friend is threatened, they will defend with their lives!! ,without even estimating the comparative weight and powers of their attackers".. Although ''bullbaiting" was a cruel sport to all animals concerned,. its what formed the bulldog ..... As slated by the sportsmen of the books I read :"Though bull baiting may not be capable of extenuation, to them we owe the keeping up of this breed in all its purity; it’s the function that created the look we love".. I am sure others will see also, that the Bulldogge is not only the most courageous dog, but the most Courageous Animal in the World"!!.........
With Sharon's great love and dedication to her OEB's, she decided in the year 2000 to do something. That something is now called the NBA (National Bulldogge Association). The NBA goals are clear, to preserve the Olde to a standard the NBA has established. The NBA now holds shows, registers dogs, and is a source of information for people new to the breed.
There are many fine Olde Registries, each one a little different from the other, but the one thing they all have in common is the dedication that it takes for a "Rare Breed" like the Olde English Bulldogge to be preserved for the next generation of OEB enthusiasts.
