Olde English Bulldogge vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison

Sometimes referred to as the king of sheepdogs, the Beauceron is a French dog breed that happens to be an extraordinary herding dog too. He instinctively rounds up livestock without even being trained to do so. The dog is also known as Berger de Beauce, originating from the Beauce region in France and is closely related to the Briard or Berger de Brie.

This French breed’s origin goes back to the late 16th century, and the Beauceron was divided into two working types way back in 1863 - the dog with the long coat was known as Berger de Brie or Briard while the short-coated dog became known as Beauceron. It was in 1922 that a club for this dog breed was established, and the Beauceron Club of America was established in 1980, only recently receiving recognition by the American Kennel Club.

The Bulldog in general has undergone quite a few changes over the years and the Olde English Bulldogge was developed as a designer breed in the United States.

The dog was developed by David Leavitt in 1971, who crossed the English Bulldog with a Pitbull, American Bulldog and Bull Mastiff. Leavitt wanted a dog that would be free of the breathing problems bulldogs battle with. He also wanted the dog to be more nimble, more agile and more healthier.

Crossing the Bulldog, Bullmastiff, American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Bulldog, he developed the Olde English Bulldogge. The dog isn’t recognized as a breed by the AKC.

Intelligent and Alert

The Beauceron is an intelligent dog, just by looking at the alert, bright face. He is a muscular, large dog breed, standing up to 71cm in height and weighing in at up to 50kg. You’ll recognize him with his dark black coat with red markings, particularly around the feet, which interestingly gives this breed the French nickname Bas Rouge. It means red stockings. Harlequin, tri-coloured grey, black and tan is also recognized as a color.

A Foreboding Look but Tolerant Nature

The coat is rough, short and dense, the alert eyes dark brown and the ears are set high and can be cropped or natural. The natural ears are half pricked or drop ears and are fairly short. Looking similar to the Doberman and Rottweiler but with a long tail, this French Shepherd dog is somewhat slimmer but with a foreboding appearance. He is solid, well proportioned and well muscled and gives the impression of strength. He has a tolerant nature and will fit in well with a family when trained and socialized.

Olde English Bulldogges are purebred dogs. They are big boned, solid and muscular. They are medium sized dogs and stand at roughly between 40 and 51cm and weigh between 22 and 36kg.

They have big, broad head and a furrowed face. The ears are fairly small and are semi-erect, semi-floppy. The neck is thick and powerful, the legs short and stocky. The coat is short and is usually white and tan, white and grey, brindle or solid colors of fawn, red and black.

The Olde English Bulldogge is a healthier, more active, athletic dog. It was given this name to differentiate it from the modern English Bulldog.

Temperament:

Olde English Bulldogges are gentle and good natured, snorting around and just dying for his human family to tickle his tummy.

He has an easy-to-please temperament and being intelligent, he will respond well to training and socialization.

He is adaptable and can settle into life in the city or in the countryside. He has strength and stamina but will do better with a walk as opposed to running next to you as you cycle - this will exhaust him and be unhealthy for him.

The Olde English Bulldogge is a sweet, friendly, confident but gentle dog known for his strength and stamina. They are friendly and outgoing, even being social and friendly around strangers. They get on well with children and pets in the home too and will make a wonderful pet.

Strong, big, confident and good-looking the Beauceron makes an excellent watchdog, guarding the human family that he is so devoted too. He is a good friend and companion and is tolerant with children and other pets.

He is such a clever breed too, and its small wonder that he has always been sought after for hard work – herding, shepherding and even rescue work. When he’s not involved in working, at home, he’s just your big, devoted friend.

The Olde English Bulldogge is a gentle, sweet dog who just wants to be a loved member of your home. He wants to please, so training and socialization will do him the world of good as then he becomes obedient and responds easily to some basic commands.

He has a protective nature and will do what he can to guard and protect you. Such a wonderful 4-legged friend and companion deserves your unconditional love.

It’s such a nice strong, good-looking dog this, you can’t think of anything going wrong with him. His lifespan is anything from 10 to 14 years and the dog is pretty robust. Being a large breed and a pedigree, he is prone to some common ailments. When you suspect your beloved pet has any health issue, don’t hesitate to get him to the vet.

Some common illnesses

Hip Dysplasia

A painful disorder that affects larger dogs and brought about by an abnormal development in the joints.

Bloat

Also a painful condition where the stomach twists so that the blood supply is cut off. Large breeds with deep chests are more prone to developing the condition. Rapid breathing and signs of pain can be indicative of this ailment.

The Olde English Bulldogge can live to be 14 years old if he is looked after well. These dogs are prone to some of the typical dog ailments there are and bloat is one.

Bloat:

This ailment is also known as Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, a life-threatening disease regarded as a medical emergency. The stomach can twist, cutting off blood flow to the heart. It occurs more often in deep-chested dogs and you will notice the swollen stomach.

These dogs are considered to have less health issues than other brachycephalic breeds but still you need to keep an eye on their breathing. In fact, David Leavitt, who developed the dog says that this particular mix of dog doesn’t have the undesired negative health aspects of the dog’s relatives such as hip issues, difficult births and brachycephalic syndrome. They are also far more tolerant to heat and cold that other bulldog types.

Diet – Meeting his Energy Needs

This is a large, hard-working, energetic dog and he will need high-quality food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared. The best commercially manufactured dog foods produce foods with the right balance of minerals and vitamins in keeping with your dog’s age, his activities and his stage of life (illness, senior, puppy). If you’re unsure about what to feed your Beauceron, speak to your vet to be 100% that you are meeting his nutritional demands, and always ensure a bowl of cool, clean water is constantly available.

Grooming

You’re lucky with the Beauceron as he is a low shedding, low maintenance dog with his short coat. He doesn’t require any trimming but will need a good brush twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. Clean his teeth with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste to avoid plaque buildup. Never use human toothpaste. Clip his nails if he doesn’t wear them down naturally.

Exercise

This is a big, strong, energetic dog, and you owe it to him to ensure he gets lots of exercise – runs, walks and ball games. If you can’t be a responsible dog owner, don’t own a breed like this as he can become destructive if not kept active.

There are a number of things you can do to make sure your Old English Bulldogge settles down nicely into his new home.

Grooming:

With his short coat, he isn’t described as being hypoallergenic, but the coat is looked upon as not triggering allergies as much as some of the other dog breeds. He will simply require a brush twice a week.

Vaccinations:

Make sure to take your 8 week old puppy to the vet to check him over and to start with his first vaccines to avoid him getting some of the life-threatening illnesses there are. He will also be de-wormed. Later on as an adult, he or she will need to be neutered or spayed to prevent puppies.

Never leave your dog in a car on a hot day. It can kill him. Rather leave him at home.

Diet:

Feed your Olde English Bulldogge a balanced diet that provides him with the right amount of minerals and vitamins. The top ingredients of commercially manufactured pet food must be meat. You can add some home-made food into his kibble as a treat as well as some raw meat occasionally. Chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and vegetables such as spinach, sweet potato and carrots will be excellent for him. You can also look at the possibility of giving your dog a supplement. Make sure he has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.