The term "bulldog" was first used around
1568 and might have been applied to other various ancestors of modern bulldog breeds before adorning the breed we recognize today. The Bulldog was believed to come from its ancestors, the Molossian dog, from Phonetician traders. The Bulldog had its origin in the British Isles. The name "bull" was applied because of the dog's use in the sport of bull baiting. The original Bulldog had to be very ferocious and so savage and courageous as to be almost insensitive to pain. In 1835 dog fighting as a sport became illegal in England. Therefore, the English Bulldog had outlived his usefulness and his days were numbered. However, there were dog lovers who felt deep disappointment at the passing of the breed, and they set themselves the task of preserving it. They proceeded to eliminate the undesirable fierce characteristics and to preserve and accentuate the finer qualities. Within a few generations, the English Bulldog became one of the finest physical specimens, minus its original viciousness.
It has been theorized that bulldogs were bred in England as a cross between the
Mastiff and the
Pug, though their genetic origin is debated
[7]. Since the pug did not arrive in Europe until the late
16th century, it is unlikely that the breed is an original progenitor of the Bulldog. The Bulldog and the Mastiff are widely thought to have common roots in the ancient
Pugnaces Britanniae of
Great Britain[8].
In the 1600s, bulldogs were used for
bullbaiting (as well as
bearbaiting)—a
gambling sport popular in the 17th century with wagers laid while trained bulldogs leapt at a bull lashed to a post. The bulldog's typical means of attack included latching onto the animal's snout and attempting to suffocate it.
[9]
However, the bulldog's early role was not limited to sport. In mid-17th century New York, bulldogs were used as a part of a city-wide round-up effort led by governor
Richard Nicolls. Because cornering and leading wild bulls was dangerous, bulldogs were trained to seize a bull by its nose long enough for a rope to be secured around its neck.
[10]. The use of dogs for fighting with other dogs or other animals was banned in the
United Kingdom by the
Cruelty to Animals Act 1835, but Bulldogs as pets were continually promoted by dog dealer
Bill George[11].
In time, the original
Old English Bulldog was crossed with the pug. The outcome was a shorter, wider dog with a
brachycephalic skull.
Though today's bulldog looks tough, he cannot perform the job he was originally created for, as he cannot withstand the rigors of running and being thrown from a bull, and cannot grip with such a short muzzle.
Αλλα δεν κραταω κακια και περιμενω να μου πεις σε ποιες ακριβως αποψεις μου αναφερεσαι 
