The Olde English Bulldogge - OEB for short - is a medium-sized, athletic, working-style bulldog rebuilt in the 1970s to look and act like the bulldogs of 200 years ago, before the show ring shortened the muzzle, narrowed the hips, and traded structural soundness for a face that couldn't breathe.
The OEB is not the English Bulldog. It is not the American Bulldog. It is its own recognized breed, with its own active registries, its own breed standard, and a growing community of breeders committed to a healthier, more functional working bulldog.
Quick facts. Adult height 16–20 inches at the withers. Weight 50–80 pounds. Lifespan 9–14 years. Short coat in any color or pattern. Confident, friendly, courageous; alert but not aggressive without provocation. Recognized by OBBA, IOEBA, UKC (since 2014), and several other registries.
Where the breed came from
The original English Bulldog of the 1700s and early 1800s was a working dog. It baited bulls, bears, and badgers. It was tall, muscular, athletic, and dangerous. When bull-baiting was banned in 1835, the breed lost its job and started being bred for the show ring. Over the next 130 years, breeders selected for shorter muzzles, wider chests, and exaggerated head shapes, until the modern English Bulldog couldn't breathe well, couldn't whelp without surgery, and couldn't tolerate exercise on a warm day.
In 1971, David Leavitt of Pennsylvania set out to recreate the original. He used a mixture of English Bulldog, American Bulldog, Bullmastiff, and a small amount of pit bull to rebuild a longer-legged, longer-muzzled, healthier bulldog. He called it the Olde English Bulldogge. The breed was off the ground by the late 1970s, and other breeders picked it up and refined it through the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
Today, multiple registries register Olde English Bulldogges, including OBBA (founded 2008), IOEBA (1995), OEBKC (2001), UKC (recognized OEB in 2014), and Leavitt's own Leavitt Bulldog Association. There is some disagreement between registries about which dogs are "true" OEBs - some accept any pedigreed OEB, others only Leavitt-foundation stock. Compare the registries.
What an Olde English Bulldogge looks like
A well-bred OEB is muscular and powerful but proportioned. The head is large and broad but the muzzle is functional - long enough to breathe through. The chest is deep but not so wide that it strains the shoulders. The legs are straight and long enough to allow a free, athletic gait. The back is short and strong. The tail can be a natural pump-handle or a corkscrew but is never docked.
Coat is short, close, and glossy. All colors and patterns are acceptable, including solid, brindle, piebald, and combinations. There are no disqualifying colors in the OBBA standard, though some other registries differ.
Read the full OBBA breed standard for the structural details, faults, and disqualifications.
How they act
Confident. Friendly. Alert. Courageous when needed but stable in temperament around family, kids, and other dogs when properly socialized. The OEB is a protective dog without being a sharp one - they read people well and rarely overreact.
They are working dogs in disposition. They like jobs. They thrive on training and structured exercise. A bored OEB is a destructive OEB. They are not couch dogs, despite the marketing. Read the full temperament breakdown.
How they do health-wise
The OEB was specifically bred to fix the health problems of the modern English Bulldog, and on most measures the project succeeded. OEBs typically have functional airways, can free-whelp without C-sections, can exercise in moderate heat, and live longer than their over-typed cousins. Hip and elbow soundness, allergies, cherry eye, and skin-fold dermatitis are still concerns. Heart conditions show up in some bloodlines.
OBBA does not require breeders to health-test. We trust breeders to make their own decisions and we trust buyers to ask. A short list of questions every buyer should ask a breeder is in the 25 Questions to Ask a Breeder guide.
Who an Olde English Bulldogge is for
People who want a bulldog with the personality and presence of the breed but without the breathing problems and surgery dependence of the modern English Bulldog. People with active households, willing to train and exercise. People who want a family dog that can also be protective. People who can pay $1,500–$3,500 for a quality puppy from an OBBA-registered breeder.
Not for: apartment dwellers without an exercise plan, first-time owners who want a low-maintenance dog, households where nobody is home during the day, or buyers who want the cheapest puppy on Craigslist.
Where to go from here
History & Origin
From the working bulldog of 1700s England to David Leavitt's 1971 re-creation to the modern OEB.
Breed Standard
The OBBA breed standard with illustrated faults and disqualifications.
Temperament
Personality, family suitability, drive, and what to expect at home.
Size & Weight
Adult size, growth chart, and how to predict size from parents.
Colors & Patterns
Brindle, fawn, white, piebald, dilute - accepted, disqualifying, and the genetics behind them.
Coat Care
Short coat care, shedding, grooming, and skin-fold maintenance.
Lifespan
How long Olde English Bulldogges live, and what extends or shortens that.
Intelligence & Trainability
Working ability, trainability, and what they were rebuilt to do.
Personality Traits
Loyalty, protectiveness, social needs, and the OEB's working temperament.
Famous OEBs
Foundation dogs, modern champions, and the bloodlines that built the breed.
Looking to buy? Start with Buying an Olde English Bulldogge. Looking to breed? Start with Breeding the Olde English Bulldogge. Want to register a dog or litter? OBBA registration is here.