Report from the Kennel Club

Report from the Kennel Club/
British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee
Summary results of the Purebred Dog Health Survey for British Bulldogs

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/1527/hsbulldog.pdf

CONSIDERAZIONI CLINICO-RADIOGRAFICHE SULLA DISPLASIA DELL'ANCA

CONSIDERAZIONI CLINICO-RADIOGRAFICHE SULLA DISPLASIA DELL'ANCA NEL CANE DI RAZZA BULLDOG INGLESE: INDAGINE PRELIMINARE

http://www.vet.unipi.it/clinica/2005sicv/lavoridef/Volta.pdf

Gus

Gus - world's ugliest dog
http://www.sonoma-marinfair.org/uglydogcontest.shtml

ANASARCA

HEREDITARY AND PATHOHISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF ANASARCA (CONGENITAL EDEMA) IN HUNGARIAN ENGLISH BULLDOG POPULATION
Demand for high quality breeding stock is continously increasing among dog breeders and requires familiarity with genetic disorders and their control. In preventive veterinary medicine genetic counceling is of gaining importance. In the offsprings of eight British Bulldog stud dogs the prevalance of generalized edema was studied (Figure 1 and 2). As a result of test matings with randomly selected bitches only two males were declared free of the inborn disorder (Table 2). In one male (number7) a high grade affectedness (48% anasarca, 24% palatoschisis) was found. In the Hungarian Bulldog population the ratio of animals with genetic disorders is high. Among the offsprings of the studied males 42 puppies were subjected to pathological examination. Out of 42 puppies 35 died of anasarca including 27 females and 8 males. The body weight of the puppies varied between 250–710 g. The combined weight of lungs and heart was 4.4–14.2 g, while kidneys weighted 1.9–4.4 g (Table 3). Autopsy and histopathological examination showed multiple factors in developing anasarca. In the hearts muscle hypoplasia and inborn defects, ventricular stenosis, aorta stenosis, truncus pulmonalis stenosis, Fallot tetralogy, valve defects were found. In the lungs and the kidneys hypoplasia was diagnosed (Figure 3). In some cases of anasarca hypofunction of thyroid gland was also diagnosed (Figure 4). Apart from the above mentioned developmental abnormalities in 14 cases other developmental disorders were seen in the puppies (8 palatoschisis, 4 laryngal hypoplasia, 2 hypoplasia of the epiglottis). The similar phenotypic (as general edema) expression of different organ (heart and kidneys) defects and organ systems support the heterogenetic nature of anasarca. The general edema might be a result of more recessive gene mutations or structural chromosomal abberations. The reults support the inborn nature of anasarca, but further studies (karyotype and DNA analysis) are needed to find the mode of inheritance.

http://www.univet.hu/mal/2001/06e.htm

Swimmer syndrome

Swimmer syndrome in a Devon rex kitten and an English bulldog puppy.

Verhoeven G, de Rooster H, Risselada M, Wiemer P, Scheire L, van Bree H.

Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Salisburrylaan 133, 9130 Merelbeke, Belgium.

A three-week-old Devon rex kitten and a four-week-old English bulldog puppy were presented with "swimmer syndrome". The owners consulted several veterinarians who suggested euthanasia as the only possible solution for this condition. Physiotherapy in the puppy, and physiotherapy and bandaging in the kitten led to the resolution of the clinical signs and resulted in normal ambulation after several weeks. The authors concluded that intensive physiotherapy and dedication of the owner can lead to success.

su ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Quantitative measurement of cerebral ventricle volume

Quantitative measurement of cerebral ventricle volume of eight English bulldogs was performed using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The mean ventricular volume was 14.8 ml. with a range of 8.6 m1.-38.1 ml. The mean ventricular volume of two beagles was 2.2 ml with a range of 0.7 m1.3.7 ml. The percent of intracranial volume occupied by ventricle was found to be significantly larger in bulldogs (14.0%; S.D. = 7.9%) than in beagles (Range = 1.048%). The relationship between the percent of intracranial volume occupied by ventricle and measurements of body weight, age, sex, and various measures of skull anatomy of the bulldog was also determined. The relationship between ventricular volume and neurologic dysfunction was examined. There was a possible trend between high percent of intracranial volume occupied by ventricle and low body weight. This study will serve as a pilot study for examining the relationship between ventricular volume and neurologic disease in bulldogs.

su .blackwell-synergy.com

Vet Recommendation for possible hip dyslplasia?

Vet Recommendation for possible hip dyslplasia?

http://engbulldog.meetup.com/

Cor triatriatum dexter

Cor triatriatum dexter in an English Bulldog puppy: case report and literature review Robert B. Duncan, Jr., Larry E. Freeman, Jeryl Jones, Martha Moon

A 3.5-month-old male English Bulldog was presented to a referral veterinary practice with a primary complaint of abdominal distention. The dog was previously presented to the same practice with a complaint of cyanosis when nursing at 3 weeks of age. Clinical examination at that time did not reveal any defects of the hard or soft palate and the puppy was bright, alert, and responsive...
read all on http://jvdi.org/cgi/reprint/11/4/361.pdf

rectourethral fistula in a dog

Radiographic diagnosis of a rectourethral fistula in a dog - AM Silverstone and WM Adams

An English bulldog was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital-University of Wisconsin (VMTH-UW) for re-evaluation of an 8-year history of chronic, recurrent prostatitis and cystitis. The patient was first referred to the VMTH-UW at 11 months of age with a history of antibiotic-responsive hematuria and stranguria. Four urinary tract contrast studies were performed during the 8-year time span; however, a rectourethral fistula was not diagnosed until the fourth study. The article presents a literature review of rectourethral fistula, describes the case management of the dog in this study, and provides an explanation as to the potential reasons the fistula was not diagnosed on the three previous imaging studies.

full article on jaaha.org
The American Animal Hospital Association

a bulldog with focal alopecia

Valerie, a 4-year-old intact female English bulldog, presented with a nine-month history of nonpruritic bilateral alopecia and hyperpigmentation of her flanks. The owners reported that the same pattern of hair loss had occurred in the early summer of the two previous years, but oral antibiotic therapy had seemed to resolve the problem. Antibiotic therapy for this year's recurrence resulted in no improvement.
The physical examination revealed a patchy, irregular symmetrical alopecia and hyperpigmentation on both flanks. The skin was normotonic, and the hair around the areas did not epilate easily

a bulldog with focal alopecia

nonpruritic dermatitis - What diagnostic tests should be performed?

Juliet, a 4-month-old female English bulldog, was presented for evaluation of generalized nonpruritic dermatitis that had progressively worsened over the last several weeks. The physical examination revealed skin lesions including papules, erythema, alopecia, and crusts on her face, trunk, and extremities. The most severe lesions were on her face, especially in the skin folds. Based on the history and physical examination findings, what are the most likely differential diagnoses? What diagnostic tests should be performed?

a bulldog with worsening dermatitis

a natural model of sleep-disordered breathing

The English bulldog: a natural model of sleep-disordered breathing

J. C. Hendricks, L. R. Kline, R. J. Kovalski, J. A. O'Brien, A. R. Morrison and A. I. Pack Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.

su jap.physiology.org

La Scelta dell' Allevatore

Un grande Allevatore, a mio parere, non ha molto interesse nella vendita del Cucciolo, conoscendone le qualità, non le decanta, ma più facilmente descrive, mentre lo osserva, i pregi e ne sottolinea i difetti, cercando di comprenderne la ragione e comunicando gli eventuali rimedi, in ogni caso parla solo di Cani e di Morfologia, non parla di risultati espositivi, potrebbe dire: "L' ho allevato io" , oppure "Ho dormito con lui fino a..", oppure "E' il figlio del mio Bulldog", i massimi risultati, a suo giudizio, ottenibili.

The Bulldog International Research Center

http://www.the-bulldog.com/

Definition of Bulldog

1 : any of a breed of compact muscular short-haired dogs having widely separated forelegs and an undershot lower jaw that were developed in England to fight bulls

2 : a handgun with a thick usually short barrel

3 : a proctor's attendant at an English university

http://www.the-bulldog.com/

Family Molossidae - free-tailed bats

Molossids are known as free-tailed bats, because their bony tail extends to the end of a well-developed tail membrane (uropatagium) and considerably beyond. They often crawl backwards when on the ground, using their tail as a sort of "feeler." Molossids are small to moderately large bats, with forearms ranging from around 27 mm to approximately 86 mm in length. Their muzzles are usually short and broad, and they often have wide, fleshy lips that may have folds or creases. Many have a distinctive pad over their noses; this pad is often endowed with odd bristles with spatulate tips. Most free-tailed bats have relatively short but broad ears. The tragus is tiny, but opposite it, an antitragus is unusually well developed. All species have long, narrow wings, apparently adapted for fast but relatively unmanueverable flight in open places. Their wing and tail membranes are unusually tough and leathery. Molossids also have short, strong legs and broad feet. Like their nose pads, molossids' feet are well endowed with sensory bristles (also with spatulate tips). They are excellent climbers, perhaps because they launch themselves for flight from a considerable height above the ground. Because of their long, narrow wings, they must attain considerable speed before they can develop enough lift to fly. They accomplish this by falling some distance from their roost or take-off point.
Molossids generally have short, even velvety fur. Most are black or brown, and many species have distinctive reddish and brownish or blackish color phases.Molossids are found in the New World from the central United States south to southern Argentina. In the Old World, they occur in southern Europe and Africa, eastward through tropical and subtropical Asia to Australia. All members of the family are insectivorous, catching their prey on the wing. Their roosting habits range from solitary to living in immense colonies of millions of bats, usually in caves. In the neighborhood of these large colonies, molossids may consume enormous numbers of insects. Approximately 85 species of molossids are placed in around 12 genera.
Technically, molossids can be recognized by a combination of the following characters:
long tail, tip of tail free of uropatagium
tragus tiny, antitragus conspicuous
no noseleaf
3rd phalanx of the 3rd finger is cartilaginous for most of its length
no postorbital processes
premaxillae with or without palatal branches
dilambdodont teeth
dental formula 1/1-3, 1/1, 1-2/2, 2-3/3
The fossil record of the Molossidae extends to the late Eocene.
Technical characters (skull)
Technical characters (body)

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Molossidae.html

Family Noctilionidae - bulldog bats

Two species (placed in a single genus) make up this family, the members of which are called bull-dog or mastiff bats. Noctilionids are medium-sized bats, often brightly colored (varying from bright rufous in males to drab gray-brown in females). The region around the mouth is distinctive. The lips are full and form cheek pouches, in which the bats store food as they feed while flying. A uropatagium extends somewhat beyond the knees. The tail of bulldog bats runs through the uropatagium for about half the length of the membrane, then exits dorsally, and the terminal part of the tail is free. The feet and claws range from relatively large (Noctilio albiventris) to relatively enormous (Noctilio leporinus) in size, and the legs are proportionately longer than in most other bats. The ears are moderately large and a tragus is present.
Bulldog bats have a pungent odor, described by some investigators as "fishy."
In the skull, the premaxillae are fused with each other and with the maxillae, and both nasal and palatal branches of the premaxillae are present (the latter very small and indistinct in adults). The auditory bullae are small. Postorbital processes, found in many other kinds of bats, are completely lacking. The dental formula of noctilionids is 2/2, 1/1, 1/2, 3/3 = 34; and the molars are dilambdodont.
Both species of noctilionids feed on insects, and N. leporinus takes fish, frogs, and crustaceans as well. To capture fish, these bats use their echolocation to locate exposed fins or ripples made by fish swimming near the surface. They then drag their claws through these ripples. Their hind claws are unusually large and sharp and serve as efficient gaffs. Once out of the water, the fish is carried to a perch, where it is eaten by the bat. Noctilio leporinus may also capture insects and crustaceans on the surface of the water.
These bats usually roost near water, often in hollow trees or in deep cracks in rocks.
Bulldog bats are a Neotropical group, found from northern Mexico, through Central America, south to Paraguay and northern Argentina. Few fossils are available, and those that are known are from the Pleistocene. Bulldog bats may be related to two other New World families, Phyllostomidae and Mormoopidae.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Noctilionidae.html

Bulldog Types

Molti Allevatori hanno cercato di ricostituire l' Original Purebred Bulldog, con risultati scientificamente discutibili, partendo, infatti, dal presupposto che questo fosse geneticamente estinto in UK. La ipotesi del The Bulldog International Research Center, era, al contrario, che le ultime tracce genetiche fossero ancora presenti nelle migliori linee di sangue Bulldog del Regno Unito.

The Bulldog International Research Center
http://www.the-bulldog.com/

Sul Comportamento del Bulldog Inglese

Alcuni testi affermano che nel 1860 iniziarono le selezioni per addolcire il carattere ( incroci col Carlino, Dogue de Bordeaux e Mastiff ) del Bulldog Inglese e che queste selezioni ne causarono la estinzione per avere, pero, oggi un cane veramente buono e mansueto. Questa ipotesi piacerebbe molto a Gianni Rodari e ad Edmondo de Amicis, ma si dimostra molto superficiale e poco supportata dai fatti:

1) Il Bulldog era considerato un cane coraggioso almeno fino a quando io ero bambino e questo posso testimoniarlo, i Bulldog erano rarissimi e incutavano molto timore.

2 ) Ritengo che gli allevatori inglesi siano sempre stati , chi lo possedeva, orgogliosi del loro bulldog.

3) Gli ultimi studi hanno dimostrato che sono proprio i cani di piccola taglia quelli potenzialmente piu aggressivi ( Carlino).

4)Allo stesso tempo il Dogue de Bordeaux e il Mastiff, hanno una Storia secolare nei Combattimenti e hanno spiccate propensioni alla Guardia, di certo non sono i cani indicati per ottenere un Cane da Compagnia.

5) I cani sono tutti cani e obbediscono agli stessi istinti all' interno di un comportamento influenzato dall' indole, ma non secondariamente da fattori ambientali come le dinamiche che si determinano all' interno della Cucciolata, lo Stile di vita del cane, il Comportamento del padrone,l'esempio degli altri cani, come la madre, etc .

6) Un cane a cui e stato assegnato il compito di proteggere il branco dalle aggressioni esterne non puo non andare incontro al pericolo per aggredire il potenziale aggressore ( ad esempio un altro maschio ).

7) Nessuno volle ottenere un Cane da Compagnia con una struttura fisica come il Bulldog, sarebbe stato un controsenso, vietati i combattimenti il Bulldog venne evidentemente utilizzato per la Guardia.

8 ) Nell' Ottocento l' Inghilterra era un paese prevalentemente rurale e non esisteva ancora la figura del Milanese col Porsche Cayenne e il Bulldoghino, i cani venivano utilizzati per scopi precisi secondo la taglia e le attitudini, infatti in Inghilterra il Bulldog e classificato come un Utility Dog.

9) Il Bulldog aveva fama di essere il Cane migliore del Mondo, veniva venduto a caro prezzo e fu per questo sottoposto a notevoli esportazioni proprio nella seconda meta dell' Ottocento, di conseguenza chi lo incrocio con altre razze non disse niente a nessuno, almeno in un primo momento.

10 ) Il Bulldog divenne il simbolo dell'Inghilterra e raggiunse una grande popolarita durante un periodo bellico, la seconda guerra mondiale, come simbolo di quelle qualita che sono evidentemente necessarie per vincere una guerra, quasi cento anni dopo queste ormai leggendarie selezioni effettuate per addolcirne il carattere.

11) Il Bulldog era classificato come cane da Combattimento fino a qualche anno fa e solo adesso viene classificato come cane da Guardia e da Compagnia.

12 ) I cani da Compagnia di solito sono di piccola taglia non sono dei molossoidi che possono arrivare al peso di 40 kilogrammi, ben difficili da gestire, quindi, anche i questo caso non ci sono prove che avvalorino la tesi delle selezioni mirate per ottenere un cane da Compagnia.

13) Il Bulldog incute, tuttora, molto timore, in particolare nelle donne, le persone tendenzialmente si spostano quando passa un Bulldog, anche questa non e una caratteristica da Cane da Compagnia o da Salotto.

14 ) La mia esperienza personale indica che io lascio i miei cuccioli da soli con il Bulldog Originale, mentre non li lascio da soli con il Bulldog Classico, quindi non credo che ci siano voluti 150 anni di selezioni mirate da parte dei migliori allevatori del mondo e l' estinzione di una razza per arrivare a questo.

15 ) Gli Inglesi rispettano gli animali e nell' ottocento era realmente di moda in Inghilterra possedere gli animali più strani provenienti dalle regioni più disparate del mondo, non penso che in questo clima di apertura e rispetto, quasi sacro, verso tutto il mondo animale, insetti e rettili, acquisito direttamente dall' India, la colonia più importante e conosciuta in quel periodo, se la andassero a prendere, a livello da deciderne pubblicamente la estinzione, contro il povero Bulldog Inglese, razza autoctona, il migliore amico dell'uomo.

16) Concludendo, compiendo una valutazione oggettiva, dovremmo dire che il carattere del Bulldog Inglese è rimasto, in fin dei conti, nel 2006, quasi immutato e che queste mitiche opere di selezione cosi drasticamente supermirate, anche a costo di estinzioni o di incroci con altre razze sono iniziate quasi duecento anni orsono e, di questo passo, potranno, tra qualche secolo essere definite Eterne, o, quanto meno, La Opera Umana più Lunga della Storia dell' Uomo, più delle Piramidi, della Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano o del cantiere per la costruzione della Basilica di San Pietro, forse perchè in Inghilterra chi l' ha posseduto è stato sempre contento e orgoglioso del suo Bulldog Inglese e non ha mai pensato di cambiarlo.

http://www.the-bulldog.com

THE EXTINCTION OF THE ORIGINAL BULLDOG.

Premetto che questa è un' analisi storica ed in quanto tale cerca di essere aderente ai fatti.Premetto che, con ogni probabilità, l' unico che conosce realmente la Storia dell' Original Pure Breed Bulldog sia il grandissimo Mr. Les Thorpe e che le mie sono, comunque, solo supposizioni. Tra i fattori che potrebbero averne causato l' estinzione, a mio avviso, possiamo ravvisare: la persecuzione scatenata nei suoi confronti durante il 19° secolo, le oggettive difficoltà prodotte dal suo allevamento, le richieste del mercato di bulldog ipertipici,la necessità di ottenere un maggior numero di cuccioli, anche se non purissimi. Purtroppo anche in questo caso le informazioni che giungono sopra il Bulldog Inglese sono piuttosto contradditorie. Più profondamente non credo che movimenti di opinione sicuramente circoscritti riguardanti la eccessiva aggressività del Bulldog ( la tendenza a colpire la faccia, ad attaccare altri cani e la sua nota abilità nel prendere e uccidere i gatti, anche quelli del vicino di casa ), oppure le sue antiche origine asiatiche ( fermenti nazionalisti di fine '800), possano giustificarne la scomparsa anche perchè il Bulldog Classico del 20° secolo cerca , senza riuscirci, di colpire in faccia, cerca, senza riuscirci, di prendere il gatto, e spesso il maschio è litigioso con altri maschi. Inoltre il Bulldog, osservando i dipinti dell' epoca, non sembra un cane di per sè incontrollabile o troppo aggressivo, ad esempio quando non è raffigurato con l'uomo. Infatti, in molti disegni dei combattimenti possiamo notare che l'uomo è il vero protagonista, con la sua eccitazione, del dipinto e del combattimento. Era quindi necessario portare il Bulldog in uno stato di eccitazione assolutamente esasperata per costringerlo a combattere. Il Bulldog, di conseguenza, non doveva essere un cane cattivo, insensibile o incontrollabile, anzi..., però doveva essere facilmente eccitabile e soprattutto doveva essere molto sensibile alla eccitazione del suo padrone. Quindi non direi che ci sia stato un reale sforzo di trasformazione dell' Original Purebred Bulldog da parte degli eccezionali Allevatori Inglesi, che, di solito , raggiungono rapidamente e scientificamente i loro obiettivi. Invece, il Bulldog era classificato come razza da combattimento fino a pochissimi anni or sono. Effettuando una ipotesi molto personale possiamo dire, per certo, che nel 1835 divennero illegali i combattimenti e che l' evoluzione della razza verso un cane sempre più performante subì una brusca interruzione. Sappiamo che Philo Kuon preoccupato per questa rapida involuzione, anche numerica, cercò di fissare le caratteristiche del Bulldog Originale di Razza Pura utilizzando due famosi dipinti antecedenti il 1835. Sappiamo, inoltre, che, al contrario, il Bulldog era un cane leggendario e che era richiesto in tutto il mondo proprio per la sua abilità nel combattimento e nel lavoro, a tal punto che formando nuove razze, per essere sicuri del risultato veniva quasi sempre introdotto il migliore sangue Bulldog, come ad esempio nel Boxer. A questo punto risulta più plausibile cercare di comprendere le ragioni che portarono, in una tale situazione di mercato, con intense esportazioni, a rimanere, infine, con pochi Riproduttori di valore ( questi non dovevano più superare il probante esame del combattimento dove veniva realmente misurata la capacità di performance così come le medicine introdotte da Philo Kuon: lo Standard di Razza, le Esposizioni Canine e i Giudizi dei Giudici, troppo mutevoli, inadeguate o addirittura inattuabili, si rivelarono, invece, una lama a doppio taglio ) e, soprattutto, ad avere troppo poche femmine che assomigliassero a Rosa. In questa condizione critica potrebbe, a mio giudizio, essersi reso necessario, utilizzare altre fattrici, meno pure oppure di Carlino, Dogue de Bordeuax o Mastiff non con l'obiettivo di trasformare l' antico combattente ( considerato il migliore cane del mondo ), ma al contrario nel tentativo di modificarlo il meno possibile riuscendo a produrre un numero adeguato di cuccioli. Anche per questa per tendenza, a mio avviso, degli abilissimi Allevatori Inglesi il Bulldog Classico non è così differente dal Bulldog Originale come sembrerebbe, nonostante siano passati due secoli. Riassumendo: questa ipotesi di ragionamento individua nel mercato dei Riproduttori e , soprattutto, nelle Esposizioni Canine le principali cause della apparente scomparsa dell' Original Pure Breed Bulldog. Le ipotesi sul perchè e sul per come potrebbero essere infinite, però, l' unico dato storicamente accertabile, purtroppo, è che dopo 700 anni di Storia con combattimenti, invasioni barbariche, carestie, guerre e malattie furono sufficienti 20 anni di Esposizioni Canine, durante i quali non ci furono nè guerre e nè malattie, per determinarne la estinzione. Magari a Londra qualcuno voleva sottolineare il potere della capitale sul resto dell' Impero, oppure si resero semplicemente conto che il Bulldog rappresentava un ottimo business, ma avendo già venduto i riproduttori di qualità e le fattrici simili a Rosa, non rinunciarono al facile guadagno, a discapito degli allevatori delle contee rurali e dei cinofili, strumentalizzando le Esposizioni Canine e lo Standard di Razza, introducendo rapidamente quello che definirei il Bulldog di Londra, esteticamente un bellissimo cane( teoricamente avrebbe dovuto essere nei limiti del possibile assomigliante al Bulldog Originale, per batterlo in Esposizione senza destare sospetti, e, poi, modificare lievemente lo Standard, ma i due cani diventavano sempre più diversi), però era un Bulldog sostitutivo, con un futuro incerto, frutto di una selezione improvvisata o forzatamente affrettata, in definitiva, non abbastanza testato ( perchè dar credito ad un cane poco testato se si possiede il cane più testato del mondo? ), e con un carattere simile. Non a caso il Bulldog di Londra si è vantato fino a pochi anni fa di essere l'unico cane ad avere mantenuto lo stesso spirito e coraggio del Bulldog Originale. Quest' ultimo, battuto e offeso( le Esposizione Canine sancirono la ineluttabile vittoria del Bulldog di Londra e conclusero la Storia del Cane Migliore del Mondo per il quale le stesse erano state create, unitamente allo Standard di Razza), dalla sua stessa brutta copia, essendo colpevole di appartenere agli allevatori delle contee rurali o a qualche cinofilo, si rifugiò nel Lincolnshire ( una regione pianeggiante e molto ventilata), dove la Tradizione ne garantiva la sopravvivenza, dove era incominciata la sua lunga Storia, nel 13° secolo, lontano da Londra, dal Business e dalle Esposizioni Canine.

http://www.the-bulldog.com/

INBREEDING

Per inbreeding si intende l' accoppiamento tra riproduttori legati da rapporti di parentela diretta: genitori e figli o fratelli. Premetto che vi sono casi in cui non sono state riscontrate conseguenze negative con l'uso prolungato dell' inbreeding. Questo esercita comunque un effetto sulle frequenze genotipiche portando alla progressiva eliminazione dei soggetti eterozigoti, riduce, inoltre la variabilità genetica entro la popolazione che quindi può risultare meno suscettibile ad una azione di miglioramento genetico. Ad esempio la cucciolata realmente eccezionale prodotta da Tuffnuts Snow Angel con Ch Ocobo Pearly Boy, era perfettamente eterogenea: aveva prodotto quattro Campioni tutti profondamente diversi (fenotipo) l'uno dall' altro ma con un eccezionale numero di qualità equamente ripartite, era, quindi molto facile ottenere un miglioramento genetico nella direzione desiderata. L' eccessivo utilizzo dell' inbreeding viene segnalato da un fenomeno chiamato depressione da inbreeding che potrebbe essere evidenziata dal declino della fertilità, dall' aumento della mortalità neonatale e giovanile o da un alto grado di cancri o malattie.Comunque gli animali “inbred” tollerano i trapianti reciproci di tessuto e sono fondamentali per lo studio dell’immunologia dei trapianti, questa tecnica è utile anche nelle sperimentazioni per ottenere una popolazione omogenea. Le razze canine sono state create con questo strumento ed, in ogni caso, un certo grado di consanguineità è necessario per poter fissare i caratteri al punto che l'incrocio tra due cani della stessa razza dovrebbe essere comunque considerato un inbreeding, avendo evidentemente un patrimonio genetico comune oltre che fenotipicamente simile: la razza stessa per mantenere se stessa opera costantemente sulla omozigosi dei soggetti. L' importante, a mio avviso è controllare il grado di questa omozigosi e cercare cucciolate in cui siano presenti il maggior numero di qualità o caratteristiche omogeneamente suddivise; potrebbe, inoltre, essere prudente effettuare qualche cucciolata in inbreeding, ogni tanto, per verificare lo stato del proprio allevamento e dei riproduttori.

http://www.the-bulldog.com

Code of Ethics of The Bulldog Club of America

It is in this spirit that the Bulldog Club of America expects adherence to the Code of Ethics.


Members of the BCA have an obligation to protect the welfare and the best interests of their breed by conducting themselves in a manner designed to reflect credit to themselves, their breed and the BCA.
Members who exhibit are expected to observe the highest standards of sportsmanship; conduct themselves in such a manner as to reflect positively on the sport of showing dogs; and exhibit goodwill at all shows and obedience trials.
Members who contemplate breeding a litter, or who allow the use of their stud dog for the same purpose shall direct their efforts toward producing dogs of quality, of even temperament, vigorous and free of health problems. They shall be familiar with the bulldog breed and its BCA/AKC approved standard and breed only those specimens which conform to it.
Members shall not engage in false or misleading advertising or misrepresentation of their breed, nor shall they malign their competition by making false or misleading statements regarding their competitors dogs, breeding practice or person.

Blatant disregard for the standards set out in this code shall be considered unacceptable behavior and not supported by the Bulldog Club of America.

http://thebca.org/

Bulldog scappa con l'auto del padrone ma si schianta contro un furgone

A quell'appuntamento con il veterinario proprio non ci voleva andare. Così Harvey, un bulldog di pochi anni, ha pensato di darsela a gambe non appena il padrone, Johnny Vaughan, divo della televisione britannica, si fosse distratto. L'occasione per svignarsela è giunta proprio quando Vaughan è sceso dall'auto per far scendere il proprio cucciolone e portarlo alla visita medica di routine.
"Ero in macchina con Harvey - ha spiegato il presentatore Tv - e lui era seduto al mio fianco. Ho lasciato il motore acceso e sono sceso, passando dal lato del passeggero per aprire la portiera e farlo scendere. Ma lui si è lanciato al posto di guida, ha spostato il cambio in marcia, ha girato il volante e poi ha schiacciato l'acceleratore".
La fuga del cane è stata però molto breve. La sua tipica guida da cane gli è stata infatti fatale. Harvey, a bordo di una Maserati 3200GT da 100mila sterline, si è schiantato contro un furgone parcheggiato poco distante. "Non è colpa mia - ha detto Vaughan ai poliziotti giunti sul luogo dell'incidente - è stato il mio cane a guidare l'automobile e a provocare l'incidente".
Gli agenti, compresa l'insolita situazione, si sono limitati a constatare l'incidente e a fare un piccolo verbale al proprietario del cane. Per quanto riguarda la Maserati, secondo la perizia dell'assicuratore, avrebbe riportato danni per un totale di 11mila sterline che Vaughan però dovrà sborsare di propria tasca.
La compagnia assicurativa, infatti, ha risposto picche alla richiesta di risarcimento. Il motivo? "Harvey non ha la patente", pertanto l'assicurazione non pagherà una sola sterlina.

http://notizie2.tiscali.it/stranomavero/articoli/2005/cane_scappa_con_auto.html

Video:skate boarding bulldog

The Canadian Kennel Club

· The Canadian Kennel Club supports dangerous and vicious dog legislation in order to provide the most appropriate protection for the general public and the innocent dog owner. We are opposed to breed-specific legislation in any form, anywhere in this country or internationally. It is both short-sighted and unacceptable, anywhere.
The Canada Safety Council:
· The Canada Safety Council does not recommend breed bans.
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association:
· The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) supports dangerous dog legislation provided that it does not refer to specific breeds.
The Centers for Disease Control:
· Breed-specific approaches to the control of dog bites do not address the issue that many breeds are involved in the problem and that most of the factors contributing to dog bites are related to the level of responsibility exercised by dog owners.
· Tethered dogs are more likely to bite than untethered dogs.
JAVMA (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association):
· Because of difficulties inherent in determining a dog’s breed with certainty, enforcement of breed-specific ordinances raises constitutional and practical issues.
· Many practical alternatives to breed-specific ordinances exist and hold promise for prevention of dog bites.
The American Kennel Club:
· The American Kennel Club strongly opposes any legislation that determines a dog to be "dangerous" based on specific breeds or phenotypic classes of dogs.

http://www.goodpooch.com/bsl.htm#BSLsupport

Canadian Breed Specific Legislation

Note: We've been researching incidents of dog bite related fatalities within Canada, and have made some interesting discoveries.
There is, on average, about one dog bite related fatality per year, in Canada. (There are approximately 5,000,000 dogs in Canada.)
Every recent dog-related fatality in Canada involved dogs and victims (usually children left unsupervised with the dogs) who reside within the same home. This is also the case for the vast majority of dog biting incidents, as well.
We have not yet confirmed an unprovoked dog-related fatality officially attributed to a 'pit bull' in Canada.

http://www.goodpooch.com/BSL/governments.htm

Breed Specific Legislation Around The World

Part of responsible dog ownership is being aware of the issues facing dogs. Around the world, communities (and even whole governments) are enacting laws based on the misguided belief that a dog’s breed is responsible for its behaviour.

Experts know that dog breeds are identical to human races. When we assume negative things about all members of a race, we call that racism. Breed Specific Legislation is the canine version of racism. It is discrimination based on ignorance.

What we do know about dog breeds is this: some are favoured over others for specific purposes. People wanting a herding dog, for example, will usually look at the herding breeds, even though it is entirely possible to find good herding dogs amongst other breeds. Similarly, those who hope their dogs will be “good guard dogs” are more likely to buy larger dogs with guarding or fighting histories. They’re also more likely to encourage behaviours which lead to aggression, under the spurious assumption that an aggressive dog is the same as a protection-trained dog.
No reputable agencies support breed bans.
Any dog can be encouraged to be aggressive. No breed of dog is without its fair share of biting incidents. Even fatal dog attacks include a member from every group of dog breeds. (Yes. Even Toy breeds.)

http://www.goodpooch.com/BSL/governments.htm

14 Breeds Recognized as "Ancient"

New Breakthrough in Dog Genetics

When reading about the new research published in May 2004 on the "genetic fingerprints" of 85 popular purebred dogs, I decided to update the material that I posted on Sibernet-L on April 5, 2004, responding to a question about whether Siberian Huskies are "closer to wolves" than any other breed of dog. The article below is important to breeders and fanciers of all 14 breeds listed as "ancient," given the worldwide publicity this new study is receiving.
An important breakthrough in understanding purebred dogs occurred this month with researchers announcing that what are essentially “genetic fingerprints” for 85 pure breeds of dogs have been determined with a high level of accuracy, thus establishing pure breeds of dogs as “distinct genetic units.”
The research, supported in part by the AKC Canine Health Foundation, was done by analyzing various distinctive elements of the nuclear DNA of the dog genome.
This article is of special interest to owners of these breeds: · Afghan Hound· Akita· Alaskan Malamute· Basenji· Chow Chow· Lhasa Apso· Pekingese· Saluki· Samoyed· Shar-pei· Shiba Inu· Shih Tzu· Siberian Husky· Tibetian Terrier.
Researchers reported their findings in the article “Genetic Structure of the Purebred Domestic Dog” in the journal Science, Volume 304, on May 21, 2004.
The findings are expected to be valuable for further research on both canine and human health, the researchers say, since different breeds of dogs experience many of the same diseases that people do.
One aspect of the study is especially fascinating for those who breed and own any of the 14 breeds determined to be in an "ancient" group. The so-called genetic fingerprints of these breeds show considerable similarity to those of the wolves included in the study. These 14 breeds now believed to be very old range from the Pekingese to the Saluki to the Siberian Husky.
On the one hand, this outcome supports the theories that the dog was domesticated in East Asia and spread out from there across Eurasia and into Africa and the Americas.
Of the 14 breeds grouped as "ancient" in the new study, 10 have homelands in Asia, including China, for the Chow Chow, for example; in Japan, for the Akita; or in Siberia, for the Samoyed and Siberian Husky. In addition, the Alaskan Malamute is shown to be very closely related to the Siberian Husky, and its place of origin is far western Alaska, across the Bering Strait from the homeland of the Siberian Husky’s ancestors. Finally, several breeds in the group of 14 are associated with Africa, namely the Basenji, or with western Asia, namely the Afghan Hound and Saluki.
Seeing these ancestral relations among these breeds provides breakthough insights for those doing breed histories based on scientific as well as traditional historical research, including myself.
The 14 dog breeds with "genetic fingerprints" said to be similar to those of wolves are: · Afghan Hound · Akita · Alaskan Malamute · Basenji · Chow Chow · Lhasa Apso · Pekingese
· Saluki· Samoyed· Shar-pei· Shiba Inu· Shih Tzu· Siberian Husky· Tibetian Terrier

http://www.workingdogweb.com/RSH-2004-2.htm

'Ugly dog' Sam dies at 14

SANTA BARBARA, California (AP) -- Sam, the dog whose ugliness earned him TV appearances, limousine rides and even a meeting with millionaire Donald Trump, has died, the Santa Barbara News-Press reported Tuesday.
The pooch with the hairless body, crooked teeth and sparse tuft of hair atop his knobby head died Friday, just short of his 15th birthday, said his owner, Susie Lockheed.
"I don't think there'll ever be another Sam," she said, adding wryly, "Some people would think that's a good thing."

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/11/22/ugly.dog.ap/

John e Byron

High price of puppy love

As Gordon Gekko, the ruthless stockbroker in the 1987 movie Wall Street, said: "If you need a friend, get a dog."
An investment in that "friend" is likely to cost thousands, depending on the type of canine companion you're looking to get.
On average, dog owners can expect to shell out $2,127 in one-time costs, including $646 in purchase or adoption fees, $160 for spaying or neutering and $631 in emergency veterinary visits, according to the American Kennel Club. Annual expenses like food, regular vet care, grooming, pet sitting, toys and treats, are about $2,489, the group said.
A $2 goldfish, which won't require a walk in mid-January when it's two degrees outside and snowing, costs just $35 in the first year, the ASPCA estimates. The cost of a 3-gallon tank brings the total to about $70. To be fair, though, Nemo's a lot harder to hug than Lassie.
Purebred pooches usually have the steepest start-up fees, and, like the latest Birkin bag, trendy, in-demand dog breeds can fetch sky-high prices. The squat, bat-eared, so-ugly-it's-cute French Bulldog - the current "It Dog" of Manhattan's canine set - can cost from $1,500 to $3,000, said American Kennel Club spokeswoman Gina Lash.
A puppy's pedigree helps set the price. The offspring of, say, "Ch. Kan-Point's VJK Autumn Roses," the German Shorthaired Pointer (nicknamed "Carlee") who won the top award at this year's Westminster Kennel Club show, will cost more than a dog whose parents are any random "Buddy" or "Fifi," Lash said.
If you're thinking that a smaller dog will come with a smaller price tag, think again. Mini-dogs like Chihuahuas, Pugs and Pomeranians may only have two to three puppies each time. Big dogs, like Great Danes, Dobermans and Golden Retrievers can have eight to 10 puppies per litter.
That smaller supply of puppies means breeders can jack up prices.
Per pound of lovable fluff, a French bulldog on average will cost you at least $75 per pound, and a Chihuahua, often priced at $1,000 or more, can easily cost $300 per pound (not that you'd buy them the same way you would cold cuts).
A Golden Retriever, a breed that starts at around $1,000 for a "pet-quality" purebred pup, will cost only about $15 per pound.
"If there are fewer out there, and they're harder to find, they're more expensive," Lash said. "Just like a rare car is more expensive than a regular car."
Besides the initial cost of purchasing exclusive breeds, they can cost more to maintain.
The long locks of a Maltese, a Shih Tzu or an Old English Sheepdog can cost plenty of time and money. At Le Chien Pet Salon on the upper East Side, getting your Maltese groomed (which includes a hot oil treatment) will set you back $120. With monthly visits, you could rack up a bill of $1,440 a year.
Short-haired dogs may not be as low-maintenance as they look. "People make the mistake of thinking they don't have to wash Bulldogs as much," said Edward Alva, Le Chien's business manager. Because of their wrinkles, Bulldogs without regular cleaning are prone to irritation and bacterial infections in their skin folds, he said.
Another cost to consider is doggie day care.
Keeping two medium-sized dogs at the New York Dog Spa & Hotel five days a week will total more than $20,000 annually - nearing the $26,680 a year it could cost to send your Kindergartner to the tony private school Dalton.
Joel Limenes bought Poncho for $700 through an advertisement on Craig's List. Just four months later, the Pug needed a $1,600 operation for an ulcer on his cornea. "We knew these dogs have trouble with their eyes sometimes," the 37-year-old trade consultant said. Limenes' $29-a-month pet insurance covered only about a quarter of the vet fees. "He has cost more than I ever expected."
But investing in a dog may yield a return that's more than financial. In 1999, a researcher at the State University of New York in Buffalo studying hypertensive New York stockbrokers found that those with dogs were more likely to keep their blood pressure down in stressful situations than their petless peers.
And dog owners say you can't put a price tag on what their pets give back.
Restaurant owner Galila Huff said she spends thousands of dollars a month on Chi, her $1,500 Chihuahua, buying things like $69 gumball-sized booties. "It's a lot of money, but who cares?" Huff said as Chi raced around her in an upper West Side dog run. "It's love."
Hot dogs
Prices for most popular canine companions.
1. Dachshund: Standard (12-32 pounds) - $900 to $1,000; Miniature (under 11 pounds) - $1,200 to $1,500.
2. Labrador Retriever: $1,000 to $1,500.
3. Poodle: Standard-$2,000; Miniature-$1,500; Toy-$1,000 to $1,500.
4. Golden Retriever: $1,000 to $2,000.
5. Yorkshire Terrier: $800 to $1,200.
6. Bulldog: $2,500 to $2,800.
Source: American Kennel Club, and area breeders Originally published on November 10, 2005


http://www.nydailynews.com/business/story/364467p-310323c.html

Trapiantati neuroni sul midollo lesionato di cani

Cellule nervose prelevate dal cervello e iniettate nella parte di midollo spinale lesionata hanno migliorato la condizione di paralisi di nove cani reduci da incidenti. A dare la notizia Nick Jeffery della University of Cambridge sul magazine New Scientist. E mentre l'esperto e' fiducioso che la stessa pratica possa funzionare sull'uomo e conta di iniziare delle sperimentazioni cliniche nel giro di due anni, dall'Australia giunge la notizia che altri ricercatori ci stanno gia' provando e pubblicheranno i loro risultati clinici entro il 2007.Le cellule trasferite nella porzione di midollo lesionata sono parte della glia di rivestimento olfattorio, si trovano alla base del naso e sono le uniche cellule nervose in continua rigenerazione. I ricercatori le hanno estratte aprendo il cranio degli animali e poi le hanno moltiplicate in laboratorio, infine le hanno iniettate nel midollo spinale dei loro pazienti a quattro zampe.Alcuni dei cani hanno mostrato di riacquistare una sia pure parziale capacita' di movimento, almeno tre cani sembravano aver riacquistato coscienza della loro necessita' di urinare.Anche se sono solo piccoli passi, ha riferito Jeffery, questo esperimento e' molto pertinente alla situazione umana. Certo, ha ammesso l'esperto, e' necessario trovare una fonte alternativa di queste cellule nervose per evitare l'intervento di estrazione eseguito in questo lavoro, che potrebbe avere effetti collaterali. A tal proposito i ricercatori stanno studiando al momento un nuovo tipo di cellule staminali individuate nella mucosa nasale che potrebbero fare al caso loro, ovvero potrebbero essere trasformate in laboratorio nelle cellule di cui loro hanno bisogno per riparare il midollo spinale.

http://staminali.aduc.it/php_newsshow_0_4319.html

La scelta del cucciolo del Bulldog Inglese/ English Bulldog: how to choice a puppy.

Secondo il mio punto di vista, valutando che l' allevamento Tuffnuts Snow Angel, in fin dei conti, è l' espressione di un esperto giudice, il migliore, Mr. Les Thorpe, il Presidente del British Bulldog Club, sembra ovvio, dare priorità assoluta nella selezione al dinamismo, al movimento e allo stato di salute, senza trascurare l' importanza della testa e delle proporzioni. In questo senso, oltre a selezionare il classico bulldog ipertipico, ricerco, nelle mie cucciolate, il vero bulldog inglese con tipo normale, in grado di muoversi, di accoppiarsi, di partorire e di vivere normalmente. Inoltre, secondo me, un cane con un eccezionale dinamismo dotato di un movimento eccezionale è un cane in piena salute ed è, morfologicamente, molto corretto. A mio avviso, quindi, non essendo, o non essendo stato, un eccezionale allevatore, non potendo effettuare una scelta per "riconoscimento", esperienza, scegliendo il cucciolo dotato del miglior movimento non si sbaglia, quasi, mai. Se poi consideriamo che nella razza Bulldog sono frequenti i disturbi articolari la scelta rimane, pressochè, obbligata.

Tuffnuts Snow Angel Bulldogs

Plight of scorched puppies touches dog lovers' hearts

Monday's story in The News-Times about the two 11-week-old male puppies who survived a fire and needed homes had the Brookfield High School teacher reaching for the phone.
The English teacher even told her class about it and showed the story to the students.
"They're very excited," Bonavita said Thursday. "I'd love to be considered. We already have two pugs and a retired Labrador retriever guiding eye dog, but my son has always wanted a bulldog."
The Bonavitas aren't alone.
In all, more than 100 prospective owners have called in since the Plumtrees Animal Hospital in Danbury first reported the puppies' plight.
The pups, one a boxer and the other an English bulldog, were taken to the hospital for treatment last month and are still recovering from surgery to repair skin damaged by the fire.
"We're not going to release either dog until we know for sure whether any further surgery is required," said hospital owner and veterinarian Dr. Fred Baff. "We're talking about 10 days to two weeks. We want to be sure all the skin is going to heal."
Still, in spite of their injuries, Baff said both dogs have been eating and sleeping well and his prognosis remains favorable.
Baff's staff has aptly named the boxer Barbecue and the bulldog A-1.
Barbecue and A-1 were among 59 puppies and five kittens inside the American Breeders pet store in Mohegan Lake, N.Y., when the building caught fire Nov.14.
They, and 46 other puppies and kittens, survived after being rescued by firefighters. Two puppies died from smoke inhalation and several more had to be euthanized. In all, a dozen animals died.

The Bulldog is the most common mascot / Texas

English professor Paul Ruffin coordinated the semester-long project.
Ruffin's students got a list of schools from the Texas Education Agency and wrote each school a note to explain the project.
Their finished work includes a list of more than a thousand schools.
According to their research, the Bulldog is the most common mascot, claimed by 81 Texas high schools.
Eagles are next, with 77.

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/1963202.html

Bulldog Marine Corps Mascot: (excerpt from Warrior Culture of the U.S. Marines, copyright 2001 Marion F. Sturkey)

Thanks to the German Army, the U.S. Marine Corps has an unofficial mascot. During World War I many German reports had called the attacking Marines "teufel-hunden," meaning Devil-Dogs. Teufel-hunden were the vicious, wild, and ferocious mountain dogs of Bavarian folklore.
Soon afterward a U.S. Marine recruiting poster depicted a snarling English Bulldog wearing a Marine Corps helmet. Because of the tenacity and demeanor of the breed, the image took root with both the Marines and the public. The Marines soon unofficially adopted the English Bulldog as their mascot.
At the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia, the Marines obtained a registered English Bulldog, King Bulwark. In a formal ceremony on 14 October 1922, BGen. Smedley D. Butler signed documents enlisting the bulldog, renamed Jiggs, for the "term of life." Pvt. Jiggs then began his official duties in the U.S. Marine Corps.
A hard-charging Marine, Pvt. Jiggs did not remain a private for long. Within three months he was wearing corporal chevrons on his custom-made uniform. On New Years Day 1924, Jiggs was promoted to Sergeant. And in a meteoric rise, he got promoted again -- this time to Sergeant Major -- seven months later.
SgtMaj. Jiggs' death on 9 January 1927 was mourned throughout the Corps. His satin-lined coffin lay in state in a hangar at Quantico, surrounded by flowers from hundreds of Corps admirers. He was interred with full military honors.
But, a replacement was on the way. Former heavyweight boxing champion, James J. "Gene" Tunney, who had fought with the Marines in France, donated his English Bulldog. Renamed as Jiggs II, he stepped into the role of his predecessor.
Big problem! No discipline! Jiggs chased people, he bit people. He showed a total lack of respect for authority. The new Jiggs would have likely made an outstanding combat Marine, but barracks life did not suit him. After one of his many rampages, he died of heat exhaustion on 1928. Nonetheless, other bulldogs followed. During the 1930s, 1940s, and early 1950s they were all named Smedley, a tribute to Gen. Butler.
In the late 1950s the Marine Barracks in Washington, the oldest post in the Corps, became the new home for the Corps' mascot. Renamed Chesty to honor the legendary LtGen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller Jr., the mascot made his first formal public appearance at the Evening Parade on 5 July 1957. In his canine Dress Blues, Chesty became an immediate media darling, a smash hit!
After the demise of the original Chesty, the replacement was named Chesty II. He became an instant renegade. You name it, he did it. He even escaped and went AWOL once. Two days later he was returned in a police paddy wagon. About the only thing he ever managed to do correctly was to sire a replacement.
In contrast to his father, Chesty III proved to be a model Marine. He even became a favorite of neighborhood children, for which he was awarded a Good Conduct Medal. Other bulldogs would follow Chesty III (bulldogs don't live long). When Chesty VI died after an Evening Parade, a Marine detachment in Tennessee called Washington. Their local bulldog mascot, LCpl. Bodacious Little, was standing by for PCS orders to Washington, they reported.
Upon arrival at the Marine Barracks in Washington, LCpl. Little got ceremoniously renamed Chesty VII. He and the English Bulldogs who followed him epitomize the fighting spirit of the U.S. Marines. Tough, muscular, aggressive, fearless, and often arrogant, they are the ultimate canine warriors.
English Bulldogs. Teufel-hunden. Devil Dogs. They symbolize the ethos of the Warrior Culture of the U.S. Marines.

http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/marine_corps_mascot.htm

Child killed by family's pet dog / BBC news

A one-year-old boy died from neck injuries after being attacked by the family's bulldog, an inquest was told.
A verdict of accidental death was recorded on Liam Eames, who died in hospital after the attack in July.
The Leeds coroner was told by a vet the American Bulldog bitch may have been having a phantom pregnancy at the time.
She clamped her jaws around Liam and his mother could only pull him away after the family's other dog became involved, the inquest heard.
Rescue dogs
The child's father Christopher, who was at work when the incident happened, said he had brought the dogs inside their home in Woodnook Road, Leeds, because it was an intensely hot day.
He said his wife was sitting with Liam about 7ft away from the two dogs, which were both sprawled on the floor.
Mr Eames said the four-year-old bulldog, called Missy, then suddenly grabbed Liam as the baby began crawling towards her.
Missy had been in the household less than a year and had a "nervous" temperament, although Mr Eames said she had never shown signs of aggression towards Liam and his other son, Ben, aged five.
The dog behaved in the only way it could and guarded its personal space
Trevor Turner, Crufts Chief Vet
Trevor Turner - chief veterinary officer of Crufts and a vet with 40 years' experience - told the inquest it was probable Missy was suffering from a phantom pregnancy at the time of the attack and wrongly believed she had puppies.
He said: "The approach of Liam crawling towards her would be perceived as a threat and there would be a natural reaction.
"The dog behaved in the only way it could and guarded its personal space."
Powerful jaws
Mr Turner stressed Missy was an American Bulldog, not an American Pit Bull, and therefore not subject to the controls outlined in the Dangerous Dogs Act.
He said Missy had extremely powerful jaws with a bite pressure eight to 10 times that of a human.
Mr Turner said he would not advise any family to take in a large rescue dog without fully checking its history, and also giving it at least a year to settle in before introducing another dog.
West Yorkshire Coroner David Hinchliff told the court: "This is the time of the year people will acquire pets.
"I think the advice is that, though it's laudable to get rescue animals, it may be the younger the better so the child and the dog grow up together."
Mr Hinchliff said parents should also get as much information as possible about rescue dogs' backgrounds before buying them.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/4500566.stm

CANI AGGRESSIVI: SCENDONO A 17 LE RAZZE PERICOLOSE

(ANSA) - ROMA, 2 dic - Scendono a 17, rispetto alle 18 indicate lo scorso anno, le razze di cani ritenuti pericolosi e per i quali si conferma il divieto di addestramento al fine di esaltarne l'aggressivita'. Dalla categoria dei cani pericolosi e' infatti stato escluso il mastino napoletano. Lo stabilisce la nuova ordinanza in materia firmata dal ministro della Salute Francesco Storace.Dell'elenco delle razze canine e dei loro incroci a rischio di maggiore aggressivita' fanno parte: american bulldog, cane da pastore di Charplanina, cane da pastore dell'Anatolia, cane da pastore dell'Asia centrale, cane da pastore del Caucaso, canme da Serra da Estreilla, dogo argentino, fila brazileiro, perro da canapo majoero, perro da presa canario, perro da presa Mallorquin, pit bull, pitt bull mastiff, pit bull terrier, rafeiro do alentejo, rottweiler, tosa inu.L'ordinanza, che avra' valore di un anno, vieta l'addestramento teso ad esaltare il rischio di maggiore aggressivita' dei cani pitbull e delle altre razze indicate, oltre che pratiche di doping e qualsiasi operazione di selezione o di incrocio tra razze di cani con lo scopo di svilupparne l'aggresivita'. Nel provvedimento si specifica, inoltre, che i proprietari hanno l'obbligo di applicare la museruola o il guinzaglio ai cani quando si trovano nelle vie o in altri luoghi aperti al pubblico, nei locali pubblici e nei pubblici mezzi di trasporto. E' tra l'altro fatto divieto di possedere cani a chi e' sottoposto a misura di prevenzione o di sicurezza personale, a chi abbia riportato condanna per delitto non colposo contro la persona o contro il patrimonio, ai minori di 18 anni e agli interdetti per infermita'. Chiunque possegga cani ha poi l'obbligo di stipulare una polizza di assicurazione di responsabilita' civile per danni causati dal proprio cane contro terzi. Da tali obblighi, si precisa infine nell'ordinanza, sono esclusi i cani in dotazione alle Forze armate, di Polizia, di Protezione civile e dei Vigili del fuoco. (ANSA).

The Beatles / Hey Bulldog

Sheepdog
standing in the rain,
Bullfrog
doing it again
Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles
What makes you think you're something special when you smile
Child-like
No one understands,
Jack knife
In your sweaty hands,
Some kind of innocence is measured out in years
You don't know what it's like to listen to your fears
You can talk to me,
You can talk to me,
You can talk to me, if you're lonely you can talk to me
Big man
Walking in the park
Whigwam
Frightened of the dark
Some kind of solitude is measured out in you
You think you know me but you haven't got a clue
You can talk to me,
You can talk to me,
You can talk to me, if you're lonely you can talk to me
Hey bulldog! Hey bulldog!
Hey bulldog! Hey bulldog!
Hey bulldog!

(Lennon/McCartney)
Recorded: February 11, 1968, Abbey Road Studios, London

robin hood

striker e tullina

tommy e jubi

SNOW ANGEL BULLDOGS

snow angel bulldogs

http://www.the-bulldog.com

bulldog SNOW ANGEL

allevamento amatoriale BULLDOG INGLESE
http://www.the-bulldog.com