Are Old English Bulldogs extinct?

The Olde English Bulldogge is the ancestor of the purebred Old English Bulldog, which is an extinct breed. In 1835, England passed the Cruelty to Animals Act that banned the bloody sport of bull-baiting, which decreased numbers of Old English Bulldogs until the breed disappeared.

David Leavitt created the modern Olde English Bulldogges by mixing the English Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff, and American Bulldog. The United Kennel Club dates the breed’s lineage back to 1971, and it became a recognized breed in 2014.

This mixed breed mimics the appearance and athleticism of the original Old English Bulldog breed. Olde English Bulldogges are still muscular but more agile, heavier, and much healthier. Another difference between English Bulldogs and Olde English Bulldogges is that Bulldogs are known for their large heads, medium size, and wrinkles. In comparison, Olde English Bulldogges have a more proportionate head size and are larger, with little to no wrinkles.