Victorian Bulldog - Beautiful But Not So Popular Dog

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There are many brachycephalic dog breeds whose health has come into question in recent years. Lousy breeding practices and irresponsible breeders nearly destroyed some of the historic dog breeds. The English Bulldog is a breed that was heavily affected by that. Unfortunately, they are not the only breed affected by these problems; some of the breeds are:

• Boxers
• Affenpinschers
• Boston Terrier
• French Bulldog
• Dogue de Bordeaux
• Pugs
• Pekingese
• Lhasa Apso

There are plenty of breeders worried about the breathing problems and other health issues affecting brachycephalic breeds, and one man decided he wanted to save his favorite breed - the English Bulldog.

His name was Ken Mollet, and in 1985, he started a new breeding program whose goal was to eliminate health issues often associated with Bulldogs. The end result of that program is the Victorian Bulldog.

How was the Victorian Bulldog created?

Mr. Mollet was a huge Bulldog lover and enthusiast. He was deeply troubled by the breed’s failing health and firmly believed that something had to be done to help the troubling breed. He started researching old photos, illustrations, and descriptions with detailed depictions of the Bulldogs from Victorian-era England.

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He already knew that the old Bulldogs looked different from the modern-day breed we know and love today, but Mr. Mollet wanted specific details. He knew he had to do something about their athletic abilities, height, and most importantly - their flat face. After the research phase, Mr. Mollet created a breeding plan that included several other breeds be introduced to the breeding plan. Those breeds were:

• English Bulldogs
• Bullmastiffs
• Bull Terriers
• Staffordshire Bull Terriers

All of these breeds had specific traits he wanted to “reintroduce” to the modern-day Bulldogs. He tried to achieve a longer muzzle and legs, smaller heads, and a more athletic build. The end result would be a healthier dog with fewer genetic problems and an athletic appearance.  The question remains - Did he manage to do it?

Victorian vs. English Bulldog

The Victorian Bulldog is a powerful dog. It is slightly larger than the English Bulldog. The average height of a Victorian Bulldog is 16 - 19 inches, while the English Bulldog is on average, between 14 and 15 inches tall. Victorian Bulldogs are also more substantial and have more muscle mass. Their average weight is 55 - 75 pounds, depending on the sex of the dog. The English Bulldog weighs between 40 and 50 pounds.

The size is not the only difference; Victorian Bulldogs also have broader, longer snouts, bigger teeth, eyes set wider, and can have two types of ears - rose and button. There are also slight differences in colors; English Bulldogs come in piebald, red, fawn, white, or the brindle pattern. Victorian Bulldogs come in fawn, white, red, with or without brindling.

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Temperament of the Victorian Bulldog

One of the most important things Ken Mollet wanted to preserve is the family-friendly temperaments Bulldogs had. He tried to change some physical traits, but he also wanted to keep their temperaments intact. It’s safe to say he managed to do that as well.

Victorian Bulldogs are courageous, loyal, fearless, and have a protective instinct similar to the English Bulldog. They are also incredibly patient and affectionate with their families. The Victorian Bulldog gets along great with kids, so it isn’t a huge surprise that these dogs are popular among families.

Training and socialization

These dogs are relatively intelligent, so there is no doubt they can learn new things; the problem is - they can be pretty stubborn. Bulldogs are known to have a stubborn streak, especially in their “teenager” period. You should start training them as soon as possible and make sure they enjoy the process.

Luckily, Victorian Bulldogs are highly motivated by food. Like their English Bulldog predecessors, they will do anything for their favorite treats. They react well to praise, so if you include these two things in their training, you should see great results pretty fast.

Training is vital for all dogs, and here is an article that can tell you more about it - Obedience Training.

Socialization is another process that is vital for all dogs and dog breeds, especially for those that have a guarding instinct. If that part of their character is left unchecked, it can develop in the wrong direction. Make sure your Victorian Bulldog socializes as soon as they receive all the necessary shots.

If you are not sure how to do that, check out this article that could help you - Socialization tricks.

Health issues

The most important thing he wanted to improve is the Bulldog’s health. The main thing is Mr. Mollet managed to prolong their life. Victorian Bulldogs live on average 11 years, while English Bulldogs live on average 9 years. He nearly rooted out the brachycephalic syndrome by enlarging their muzzles.

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These dogs might have longer muzzles but are still considered short. They are still bad at handling hot weather and will need plenty of shade and fresh water to cool themselves. Some of the health issues that remain with the Victorian Bulldogs are:

• Hip dysplasia
• Skin issues
• Prone to obesity
• Eye problems

They will also need basic care like a bath every 8 - 12 weeks, brushing with a slick brush, ear control, skin folds hygiene, and teeth brushing at least 3 times a week.

These dogs are not registered by any major cynology association, so getting your hands on a Victorian Bulldog could be problematic. It would be best to ask the owner’s community for advice and breeders. The average price of a Victorian Bulldog puppy is $1.800. Still, dogs with excellent pedigrees can go for a lot more than that.

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World Dog Finder team