|
Those unwilling to accept the truth will never find it. WEBPS Information
Breed Information
History
Contact Information # 384 Hwy. 341 S. - Hawkinsville, Georgia 31036 478-783-2535 (9:00am - 6:00pm ET) or 662-562-6144 Arkabutla, Mississippi
|
Southern References and Accounts
"That instant there was a bark which I recognized as Sam, the collie, and then a heavier, churning kind of bark which was Bully, and I saw a streak of white as Bully tore round the corner of the back porch and headed out for the man. Bully was a big, bone-white bulldog, the kind of dog that they used to call a farm bulldog but that you don't see anymore, heavy chested and heavy headed, but with pretty long legs. He could take a fence as light as a hound. He had just cleared the white paling fence towards the woods when my mother ran out to the back porch and began calling, "here you, Bully! here you." Bully stopped in the path waiting for the man, but he gave a few more of those deep, gargling, savage barks that reminded you of something down a stone-lined well. The red-clay mud, I saw, was splashed up over his white chest and looked exciting, like blood. The man, however, had not stopped walking even when Bully took the fence and started at him. He had kept right on coming. All he had done was to switch a little paper parcel which he carried from the right hand to the left, and then reach into his pants pocket to get something. Then I saw the glitter and knew that he had a knife in his hand, probably the kind of mean knife just made for devilment and nothing else, with a blade as long as the blade of a frog-sticker, which will snap out ready when you press a button in the handle. That knife must have had a button in the handle, or else how could he have had the blade out glittering so quick and with just one hand? Pulling his knife against the dogs was a funny thing to do, for Bully was a big, powerful brute and fast, and Sam was all right. If those dogs had meant business, they might have knocked him down and ripped him before he got a stroke in. He ought to have picked up a heavy stick, something to take a swipe at them with and something which they could see and respect when they came at him. But he apparently did not know much about dogs. He just held the knife blade close against the right leg, low down, and kept on moving down the path. Then my mother had called, and Bully had stopped. So the man let the blade of the knife snap back into the handle, and dropped it into his pocket, and kept on coming. Many women would have been afraid with the strange man who they knew had that knife in his pocket. That is, if they were alone in the house with nobody but a nine-year-old boy. And my mother was alone, for my father had gone off, and Dellie, the cook, was down at her cabin because she wasn’t feeling well. But my mother wasn’t afraid. She stood on the back porch and watched the man enter the back gate, where the dogs, (Bully had leaped back into the yard), were dancing and muttering and giving sidelong glances back to my mother to see if she meant what she had said." Blackberry Winter Robert Penn Warren pub. 1946
"One can still find dogs referred to as "White English" among countrymen that have never heard about Mr. Scott or Mr. Johnson. This is a term for the original country bulldogs that are not descended from any of the modern lines; i.e. breed strains with no infusion of blood from the common American Bulldog lines. The reverse is in fact the truth." The Bulldog Information Library "De patroller wus mi'ty hard on de run a way slaves. Dey wud run my pappy wid dem dogs like dey run rabbits an' some time dey wud ketch my pappy; some times pappy wud out run dem but he dasent go home, cause dey wud come dar to hunt him. She made me stay in de house an' I slept right on de floor in de corner uf her room an' she had a big bull dog dat stayed in dar wid us an' no body better not come bout us to hurt us." From the WPA Slave Narratives: Lewis Jefferson Here, the mention of dogs running down slaves makes no mention of the type of dog used. But he does specify that a bulldog slept in the room with them for protection; thus "no body better not come bout us to hurt us." The bulldog was used for protection and not the running down of slaves in this reference.
"One former slave asserted that a man from his plantation lived fifteen years in hiding. Such a person might arm himself with a scythe and bulldog for protection." Slavery Remembered Paul D. Escott Why not a hound for protection? Because the bulldog was a guard dog and the hound a hunter. "The dogs used on Bayou Boeuf for hunting slaves are a kind of bloodhound, but a far more savage breed than is found in the northern states. They will attack a negro at his master's bidding, and cling to him as a common bulldog with cling to a four-footed animal." Twelve Years as a Slave Solomon Northrup "Dogs used for hunting are a kind of bloodhound." "As a common bulldog will cling to a four-footed animal." Why is the bulldog not used in the hunt? Because the hound is a more effective hunter, and the choice dog for the hunt. Why is the bulldog mentioned in reference to clinging to a "four-footed animal"? Why does it mention clinging to as opposed to hunting a "four-footed animal"? Because these four-footed animals are livestock. These animals need to be held while they are tended to by ranchers and farmers. Bulldogs were the dogs of choice for holding livestock, while the hound was the choice dog for the hunt in this reference. The dog of choice for hunting with intent to maim and or kill was the Cuban Bloodhound, a bloodhound and bulldog cross. Even then, the benefits of crossing the hunting dog and bulldog was obvious, as it created a highly aggressive, extremely powerful dog with the combined attributes of the scenting powers and animal aggression of the hunting dog along with the invincible determination and holding ability of the bulldog; a perfect killing machine, that due to it's combined instincts, required little training. "Foushee left after spending most of the night at Marster's. As he went out into the yard, when leaving, Marster's bulldog growled at him and he shot him dead." When I was a Slave Interview of Boston Blackwell, former slave; Franklin County, Georgia The bulldog is referenced as a watch dog here. "Bill
Pickett (1860-1932) born in Texas and reared in the range country, Pickett
became one of the best known American cowboys.
As a young man, Pickett began to notice a *bulldog that followed the
herd.
*see
WEB working traits. When an unruly steer went astray, the dog could control the steer by
biting its lip.
The daring cowboy tried biting the steer's lip and at the same time
grasping the horns and twisting its neck, forcing the steer to the ground.
Thus, the art (or sport) of "bulldogging" was born."
Afro-American History Unit Information
compiled by: Mr. Hopkins "Bill Pickett was born near Taylor, Texas in 1870. Bill left school in the 5th grade to become a ranch hand, and soon he began to ride horses and watch the long horn steers of his native Texas. It was known among cattlemen that, with the help of a trained bulldog, a stray steer could be caught. The bulldog would rescue the steer by using its strong grip on that steer with its teeth perched into the steer's sensitive nerve tender in the upper nose and lip. Bill Pickett had seen this happen on many occasions. He also thought that if a bulldog could do this feat, so could he. Bill Pickett practiced his stunt by riding hard and springing from his horse and wrestling the steer to the ground. He then would bite and hold the steer's sensitive nose and lip - until the steer held still. This act coined Bill Pickett the stunt name of the "Bulldogger." reference Legendary cowboy, Bill Pickett learned his "Bulldogging" technique by watching a bulldog working cattle. "Known among cattlemen, that with the help of a trained bulldog, a stray steer could be caught." Here we see an absolute, undeniable reference to the bulldog being used to work a herd of cattle, and to catch a stray steer, aka livestock. As well we see that it was common knowledge that the bulldog was used as a stock dog. "Some had a little hound in them and a little bull [dog]. ....." Traditional Cattle-Herding Practices in Southern Florida. John Solomon Otto. The Journal of American Folklore "Cow dogs, wiry mongrels with a strong serving of bull dog in them were indispensable in bringing cattle out of the scrubs and swamps. Old time cattle were wild and the cow puncher often had to sic the dogs on the meaner ones to hold them until the roper could arrive." THE CRACKERS Gene Barber "Dogs also became essential to the work of Florida cowmen. There were several breeds of cow dogs, but most were mixed-blooded. Some mixes included hound and bulldog." reference "Bully was a big, bone-white bulldog, the kind of dog that they used to call a farm bulldog but that you don't see anymore, heavy chested and heavy headed, but with pretty long legs." Blackberry Winter Robert Penn Warren pub. 1946 "The first bitch I got was obtained from J.M. Ashley who John D refers to as Sales Ashley. But he was Mr. J. M. Cell Ashley. I got my first one from him and I got a lot of these others from him. And he was an old CATCH MAN! That's what he did. He farmed and he caught wild cattle for a living. Mac the Masher came from him. Big Dixie Belle and Little Dixie Belle came from him. Bailey's Gigantic Jim came from him. Me and John D and Louie Hegwood bred every bitch that came in heat (to Mac) from the time I owned Mac to the time he died because we wanted to get every pup, every specimen we could get out of that old bastard before he died." Alan Scott interview VAA: Were most American Bulldogs of your youth white? JDJ: There were more white than there were colored dogs. I think people liked them to be white for some reason. They always had some with color with a patch or two on the body or on the head. Things changed and people started liking more color. VAA: "Mr. Johnson most American Bulldog enthusiasts have read your last interview with Dr. David Jackson, so they know your father had American Bulldogs, and that because of your father you obtain your first American Bulldog at an early age. What I would like to know is what was the American Bulldog used for in your father's day? What reason would a farmer or rancher have for keeping one of these dogs?" JDJ: "Well, in the olden times there wasn't real good fences, when any of your livestock would get out you needed a dog that was powerful enough and had the grit to catch. I know dad would always tell me a story of when he was a boy, that his mother was out there in their field, she was going to get some sweet potatoes, she was out there digging them and didn't see that their big Jersey bull had gotten out and was heading straight for her. Their bulldog saw it and my dad saw it and headed in the house to fetch his gun, when he came out with his gun he saw his dog had met the bull before it got to his mother, and was fighting him good and finally whipped that bull away from her. Throwing a big bull that was one thing they were needed for, they also needed them for protection of the family and home. They also caught wild hogs with them there where a lot of wild hogs back then, that's were they got lots of their meat was from wild hogs. I also remember a story he told me about a female bulldog they had once and she had puppies there one time, she would always go to the fields where they worked. Well one day they were working and she picked up and started for home, they just thought she was going home to check on her puppies, but there was a boy in the house stealing meal, corn meal, of course nobody had much to steal back then. Well when they came home they found corn meal and blood all over the kitchen, she had ate that boy up real bad. He made it home and his daddy came down and told my granddaddy about it, he explained to him what happened. Granddaddy said when the boy gets healed send him back. He said "No sir, he won't be back here at all. None of us will. It took that boy two weeks before he could get out of bed. That was what the bulldog was used for, such as that, to protect you, your property and to catch with. Some people even used them for hunting and treeing or even retrieve like a Labrador. They were useful in killing wild predators or wild dogs that may be after any animal that you owned. That's where they got the term gangbuster. They were a general all-purpose dog. Whatever you needed, they were willing to do it. My father also told me that a lot of men pit fought them in his day, although he never did anything like that with his dogs." "They were tall up on legs they had length, they had a square bulldog head, but back then they had to do things they don't have to do today. They had to be big strong and active enough. The dogs had to run from 25 to 30 mph to catch those wild dogs or catch bulls. So they had to be big to do what they were doing and more or less if you found some that were smaller they would be in town, people wanted them more as just pets. But the old working bulldog was big." Interview with John D. Johnson by: Vito Alu Dr. J.: "I know you raised prize-winning Angus cattle for years. Did you use your American Bulldogs in raising cattle?" John D.: "Yes, I used them frequently. Mildred used Black Jack to help herd the cattle into the barn, but the dogs instinctively will go for the bull's nose and are very useful in catching and holding an unruly bull or steer. Other neighboring farmers would sometimes request that I use my bulldogs in helping them catch and hold an unruly bull, and I remember one instance in which it took three bulldogs to pin him, one on his nose, one on his tongue, and one holding onto his ear." Interview with JDJ by: David Jackson MD F.A.C.S. General References and Accounts "Q. Are American Bulldogs, Olde English Bulldogge, Hermes Bulldog, Alapaha Bluebloods, Old English Whites, the same breed? A. No, they are not the same breed although they may share common ancestors." The American Bulldog UK American Bulldog Facts
"Although it resembles the pit bull type, the American Bulldog is not a pit bull breed. It is related to the Old English Bulldog, a breed developed in England to herd cattle in the butcher’s yard and then used as a bull-baiting dog. After bull-baiting was outlawed in England, the English Bulldog apparently took three paths: some remained as all-around farm dogs, and these continued their careers in the US and became the American Bulldog; some morphed into the short, squat English Bulldog of today; and some were used to create the bull-and-terrier breeds that include the breeds and mixes banned in Cincinnati." New Mexico Senate Bill 188 2005 "Lafayette
told him that in France they had a breed of shepherd-dogs, very large, of great
sagacity, which were used in driving and protecting their flocks.
“Old a country as France is, and strange as you may think it,” said
Lafayette, “our mountains are infested with wolves which commit depredations
upon our sheep. I will send you a
pair for breeding.” In due time
they came, and were quite prolific. They
were a noble species, white with generally golden-hued spots; resembled the
English mastiff, and were found extremely useful, but in time run out by mongrel
associates. "I am reminded that I have not yet mentioned "Blucher"; Blucher was a dog. Before leaving Minneapolis for the wilderness, as I expected to encounter bears, wolves and other wild animals, I determined to buy a dog. My inquiries were soon met with a large, noble bull dog, for which I paid fifteen dollars, and at once named him Blucher. I found him a very useful companion in Hutchinson. At one time I was driving cattle across the Crow River, but after they got into the water, they refused to come out, notwithstanding my pleading and yelling. In this emergency I called Blucher, and addressed him somewhat like this: "Blucher, you see the predicament I am in; you see those cattle in the stream; now, I want you to go into the water after them and bring them to this side; but I do not want you to bite at them or bark at them; simply drive them out of the river." Blucher seemed to comprehend this appeal to his intelligence, and he started. He obeyed instructions to the letter, except an occasional growl at an unruly animal; and he brought all of the cattle out of the river as requested. Blucher remained faithful to every duty required of him for the year and a half of his life at Hutchinson, at one time singling out a heifer he was directed to get and holding her from the herd, and at another time seizing a dangerous ox, in protection of his master, but he finally came to an untimely end in my absence, by being shot for having visited the original log-cabin home, which I have mentioned. I had turned it over to an emigrant family, and small-pox broke out among them. My noble Blucher, through the fear of spreading the disease, thus became a sacrifice for the good of mankind. It cost me sixty dollars for his keeping one winter. The man who boarded him for me had to bake Indian cakes, and break them up for his food." Story of the Hutchinsons, 1855 Vol. 1: Notes by Alan Lewis "Another writer remarks that, if the mastiff and English bulldog had formerly been as distinct as they are at the present time (i.e. 1828), so accurate an observer as the poet Gay (who was the author of 'Rural Sports' in 1711) would have spoken in his Fable of the Bull and the bulldog, and not of the Bull and the Mastiff." Charles Darwin
|
©