Olde English Bulldogge
The Olde English Bulldogge was deliberately created in the 1970s by David Leavitt of Pennsylvania with the explicit goal of recreating the 18th-century working bulldogge — more athletic and healthier than the modern English Bulldog, which had been selectively bred to such extreme conformational traits that it could no longer breathe, move, or reproduce naturally.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Origin
United States
Lifespan
9–14 years
Weight
27–45 kg (60–100 lbs)
Height
38–48 cm (15–19 in)
Exercise
30 to 45 min/day
Diet
Omnivore — high-quality large breed food. Moderate portions — prone to weight gain.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
The Story
The Olde English Bulldogge was deliberately created in the 1970s by David Leavitt of Pennsylvania with the explicit goal of recreating the 18th-century working bulldogge — more athletic and healthier than the modern English Bulldog, which had been selectively bred to such extreme conformational traits that it could no longer breathe, move, or reproduce naturally. Leavitt crossed English Bulldogs with American Bulldogs, APBT, and Mastiffs to produce a dog that retained the Bulldog appearance while restoring the athleticism and health of the historical type. The Olde English Bulldogge can breathe naturally, give birth without C-section, and exercise normally — in direct contrast to the modern English Bulldog.
Also Known As
Quick Facts
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Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
Resembles a more athletic, moderate version of the English Bulldog — same heavy wrinkled face, wide shoulders, and rolling gait, but taller, leaner, and with a slightly longer muzzle that allows normal breathing. Less extreme than the modern English Bulldog in every respect.
Grooming
Low
Shedding
Moderate
Brushing
1x-Weekly
Bathing
Every-4-6-Weeks
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Confident, loyal, and friendly — same personality as the English Bulldog but with more energy and athletic ability. Gets on well with families. Less of the extreme stubbornness of the modern English Bulldog.
Personality Scores
Adaptability
4/5Attention Need
4/5Friendliness
5/5Playfulness
4/5Protectiveness
3/5Living Profile
Ideal Space
House-Small-Garden
Daily Exercise
30 to 45 min/day
Ideal Weather
10°C to 28°C
Cognitive Benchmarks
Adaptability
40%
Attention
40%
Playfulness
40%
Communication Style
Stress Signals
excessive panting, drooling, stubbornness, destructive chewing
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •1–1.5 hours exercise daily — significantly more than the modern English Bulldog due to better respiratory function. Low grooming. Wrinkle cleaning daily. The improved breathing means heat tolerance is better than the modern Bulldog but still limited.
Nutrition Notes
Deliberately bred to be healthier than English Bulldog — can breathe, exercise, and breed naturally. Still monitor for bloat. Joint supplements. Moderate portions.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Senior Care
Hip dysplasia. Bloat. Heart disease. Skin allergies. Created by David Leavitt in 1971 to recreate the healthier 18th-century Bulldog. CAN breathe normally, exercise, and free-whelp — unlike modern English Bulldogs. An ethical recreation breed. 9-14 years — much longer than English Bulldog.
Wellbeing Activities
Nutrition & Sustenance
Daily Calories (Adult)
1300 kcal
Daily Calories (Young)
900 kcal
Recommended Foods
Foods to Avoid
Health Overview
Significantly healthier than the modern English Bulldog — can breathe, breed, and exercise naturally in most individuals. Hip dysplasia can occur. Some residual brachycephalic features. Generally much longer-lived than the modern English Bulldog.
Common Conditions
Price Estimates
Pricing Guide
Average estimates as of 2025
Ethical alternative to English Bulldog — can breathe, exercise, breed naturally. India: rare but moderate climate fit.
Purchase Price
$1,500 to $3,500
Adoption Fee
$100 to $500
Data from 2025
Fun Facts
The Olde English Bulldogge's creator David Leavitt described his motivation as "wanting to create a dog that looked like an old bulldog but could function like one" — the modern English Bulldog, he noted, could barely walk, could not breathe normally, and required C-sections for birth. The OEB was his answer.
The Olde English Bulldogge can be considered an ethical response to the modern English Bulldog's welfare crisis — the same impulse that led to the Traditional Persian in cats led to the OEB in dogs.
