Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Overview
The Bulldog is an ancient English breed whose history dates back to the Middle Ages. Originally, Bulldogs were used for bull-baiting — a brutal sport popular in England from the 13th to the 18th centuries. The breed’s name derives from this practice — bull dog, meaning “bull dog.” After bull-baiting was banned in 1835, the breed nearly disappeared but was preserved and transformed through the efforts of dedicated breeders. Modern Bulldogs have lost the aggression of their ancestors, becoming calm, balanced, and good-natured companions. They have retained their characteristic appearance — a powerful body, short muzzle, strong jaws, and proud, confident expression. Today, the Bulldog symbolizes courage, strength, and dignity, and remains one of the most recognizable breeds in the world.
General Appearance
The Bulldog is a sturdy, medium-sized, compact dog with a powerful build and broad shoulders. Its appearance reflects strength, determination, and composure. The head is large and broad, with a short, massive muzzle and characteristic wrinkles. The chest is deep, ribs well-rounded, and the back short and firm, rising slightly toward the loin. Limbs are short, strong, and heavily boned, providing solid support. The tail is short and low-set. The skin is elastic, forming wrinkles on the head and neck. The Bulldog moves steadily and confidently, with a distinctive heavy grace. Overall, the breed gives an impression of power, stability, and inner calm, combined with nobility and assurance.
Important Proportions
The Bulldog has a compact, well-balanced structure, emphasizing strength and stability. The height at the withers approximately equals the length from withers to tail base, giving a nearly square outline. The head is large and broad, its circumference roughly equal to the dog’s height at the withers. The muzzle is short, about one-third the total head length, with wide, open nostrils. The chest is broad and deep, the back short and strong, rising slightly to the loins. The limbs are heavy but not coarse, the front legs slightly shorter than the rear, giving a distinctive downward slope from shoulders to croup. All proportions emphasize compactness, strength, and solidity — key features of the breed.
Temperament and Character
The Bulldog is calm, stable, and confident, deeply attached to its owner. It is courageous, patient, and reliable. Despite its powerful appearance, the modern Bulldog is gentle, affectionate, and excellent with children. It possesses a balanced temperament and is not prone to unprovoked aggression. Deeply loyal to its family, the Bulldog dislikes solitude and seeks human companionship. It has a strong sense of dignity and persistence. Moderately active, it enjoys attention and affection, remaining composed even under stress. The Bulldog’s character combines strength, determination, and gentleness, making it an ideal companion and a loyal friend.
Head
The head is large, broad, and massive, proportional to the dog’s body. The skull is wide and slightly rounded, with a pronounced forehead and deep wrinkles above the eyes and across the nose. The stop is well defined. The muzzle is short, broad, and turned slightly upward, with powerful jaws and a slightly protruding chin. The nose is large, black, with wide-open nostrils. The lips are thick, the upper lip covering the lower jaw but not excessively pendulous. The cheeks are strong, emphasizing the head’s power. The overall expression is resolute and confident, yet kind, with typical folds and a short muzzle.
Facial Region
The facial part of the head is short, broad, and powerful, showing all typical breed features. The muzzle occupies about one-third of the head length, turned slightly upward with a marked fold above the nose. The nose is large, black, with open nostrils set low but not between the eyes. The lips are full and slightly drooping at the sides, completely covering the lower teeth. The lower jaw is broad and slightly undershot, giving the face its determined expression. The chin is strong but harmonious. The cheeks are rounded and well developed. The expression is confident, calm, and steady — a hallmark of the breed.
Eyes
Eyes are medium-sized, round, set low and wide apart, far from the ears. They face forward, neither protruding nor sunken, giving the dog an open, intelligent expression. The color is dark brown, the darker the better. The gaze is expressive, calm, intelligent, and kind, with a hint of seriousness. Eyelids are dark and tight-fitting. Light, oblique, or overly prominent eyes are faults. Proper eye shape and position create a soft yet confident look, reflecting the Bulldog’s balanced and noble character.
Ears
Ears are small, thin, and soft, set high and wide apart, emphasizing the head’s breadth. They are of the “rose” type — slightly folded back and outward, exposing part of the inner ear. This placement gives the Bulldog a noble and attentive look. At rest, the ears are neatly folded, neither drooping nor upright. Oversized, low-set, heavy, or fully pinned ears are undesirable. Correct ear shape and position maintain the breed’s compact, proportionate head and give the Bulldog its intelligent, confident appearance.
Neck
The neck is short, strong, and muscular, broadening toward the shoulders. It is slightly arched, giving the dog a proud posture and emphasizing its strength. The skin on the neck is soft and elastic, forming a slight dewlap, especially in males — a typical breed trait. The neck should be long enough so that the head does not appear sunk into the shoulders. The transition from neck to body is smooth and balanced. Too long, thin, or clumsy necks are undesirable. The strong, muscular neck ensures confident head carriage and completes the Bulldog’s impression of power and balance.
Body
The body is short, broad, and strong, giving an impression of mass and solidity. The chest is deep and broad, with well-sprung ribs. The back is short, broad, and straight up to the loins, which rise slightly toward the croup — a characteristic feature of the breed. The loin is strong and muscular, the croup slightly arched. The abdomen is moderately tucked up. The topline is smooth and balanced, creating a compact, yet powerful silhouette. Every part of the body emphasizes strength, stability, and confidence — the essence of the Bulldog’s noble appearance.
Tail
The tail is short, low-set, thick at the base, and tapering toward the tip. Ideally, it curves downward or slightly bends, but does not rise above the topline. At rest, it hangs naturally, without kinks or twists. The tail is covered with short, dense hair. A low-set tail emphasizes the solid croup and balanced proportions. Too high, short, or ingrown tails are faults. The correct tail completes the Bulldog’s silhouette, contributing to its power and breed-specific elegance.
Forequarters
The forelimbs are short, strong, and muscular, with a heavy bone structure ensuring stability. Shoulders are broad, sloping, and closely fitted to the body. The elbows are straight and firm, not turned inward or outward. The forearms are slightly curved — a breed-specific trait providing support and stability. Pasterns are short and strong, slightly inclined. Feet are round, compact, with thick pads and slightly turned-out toes. The forelimbs form a solid foundation, emphasizing the Bulldog’s power and breed type.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are strong, muscular, and slightly longer than the forequarters, giving the body its characteristic rise toward the loins. Thighs are broad and powerful, stifles well bent, and hocks low-set and firm. The legs are straight when viewed from behind. Feet are compact and slightly turned outward. The hindquarters provide strength, balance, and drive, giving the Bulldog its steady, heavy, yet graceful movement.
Gait and Movement
The Bulldog’s movement is heavy but steady and rhythmic, reflecting power and stability. Steps are short but strong. The front legs move freely, while the hind legs provide strong propulsion, producing a forward, rolling motion characteristic of the breed. The back remains firm and level; the tail is carried naturally. Movement should never be stiff or weak. Proper gait emphasizes the Bulldog’s solid frame, power, and proud carriage.
Coat
The coat is short, smooth, close-fitting, and glossy. It is soft, elastic, yet dense enough to protect the skin. There is little or no undercoat. The coat evenly covers the body, including the head, limbs, and tail. Sparse, harsh, or wavy hair is undesirable. The color should be pure, bright, and well defined. Acceptable patterns include solid, brindle, pied, and particolor. The coat highlights the Bulldog’s compact, muscular build and noble appearance.
Acceptable Colors
All classic Bulldog colors are allowed except solid black, black and tan, liver, and blue. Common colors include brindle, fawn, red, white, and pied combinations. Patches must be clear, well defined, and evenly distributed. White may predominate or be combined with other shades. Blurred or uneven markings are undesirable. Eye color and nose pigment should match the coat and remain dark. The correct color enhances the Bulldog’s strength, expressiveness, and typical breed appearance.
Size
The Bulldog is a medium-sized dog with a strong, compact, and powerful build. Height at the withers is 36–40 cm for males and 33–37 cm for females. Adult males weigh around 23–25 kg, females 20–22 kg. The proportions are balanced: body length roughly equals height at the withers, providing stability and compactness. The bone is heavy but not excessive, muscles well developed. The Bulldog should appear strong and proportionate without being overloaded or light.
Faults
Faults include any deviation from the breed standard or lack of balance. These include overly light or coarse structure, weak muscles, narrow chest, sagging back, or disproportional limbs. A small or elongated head, long muzzle, narrow nostrils, light or protruding eyes, long ears or tail are undesirable. Soft, sparse, or wavy coat, incorrect coloration, or irregular markings are faults. Behavioral faults include aggression, timidity, lethargy, or excessive stubbornness. Any deviation affecting health, movement, or overall balance lowers the evaluation.
Disqualifications
Serious defects that affect health, type, or behavior disqualify the dog. These include aggression, extreme shyness, deformities of the spine or limbs, incorrect bite (overshot or undershot beyond standard), abnormal tail position, blue or light eyes, pigment loss on the nose, and disallowed coat colors (solid black, black-and-tan, liver, or blue). Dogs showing hereditary diseases or lacking ICCF documentation verifying pedigree and purity are also disqualified.
Important Notes
In ICCF evaluation, special attention is given to correct proportions, head structure, and functional balance. The Bulldog must retain mobility and sound breathing despite its dense build. Open nostrils and proper airway function are essential. The temperament must remain calm, confident, and friendly. Only dogs with ICCF documents confirming pure origin and breed compliance may participate in shows or breeding programs.
Conclusion
The Bulldog embodies strength, stability, and loyalty, combining a powerful physique with a gentle and even temperament. It is a breed of courage, dignity, and devotion — a faithful companion and family guardian. Participation in exhibitions and breeding is allowed only for dogs with official ICCF documentation confirming pure origin and full compliance with the breed standard. Maintaining responsible breeding ensures the preservation of the Bulldog’s health, temperament, and noble character, recognized worldwide as a symbol of courage and pride.
