Chronicling the White English Bulldog

1. The Alaunt comes with the Alani tribes into Gaul, i.e. Spain, England, France, Germany during the 4th century AD. The Alaunt is the progenitor of the Mastiff. 

The Alaunt

2. The Alaunt is developed by these respective countries into "their" own Alaunts. The French develop 3 Mastiff types, as do the Germans, English, and Spanish, from the ancient Alaunt, specifically the Alaunt of the Butcher, which was the heaviest of the 3 Alaunt types.

3. In England, the Alaunt of the Butcher becomes the (heavy), Mastiff as well as the (intermediate), Bulldog Proper; In Spain this same ancient Alaunt becomes the (heavy), Spanish Mastiff and the (intermediate), Alano; In Germany it becomes the (heavy), German Mastiff, (, and the (intermediate), German Bulldog, (Bullenbeisser); and in France it becomes the the (heavy), Dogue or Doguin d'Aquitaine and the (intermediate), (Dogue de Bordeaux). Remember that these intermediate Mastiffs of the said countries are all described as a Mastiff like Bulldog; a bull-mastiff type.

 Bulldog Proper, Alano, Dogue de Bordeaux.

4. In Spain, the intermediate Alano, (the same basic type as the English Bulldog Proper), was being used as a butcher's dog, as well as a livestock dog and farm dog for various purposes. The same can be said of the English Bulldog Proper at virtually the same point in time. Though in Spain, these dogs were being used in Bullfighting, not bull-baiting yet, but the dogs allowed what was called "the dogs turn" at the bullfight. The Spanish began imported the English BP into Spain for use in the bullfight. The English soon began baiting bulls with their BP as well as those imported from Spain. 

5. The English began development of the Pit Bulldog by crossing the BP with native Terriers, resulting in the Pit Bulldog. The English BP is virtually lost in England, however, the Alano Proper remains in Spain. "Since there is no breed known as "the Pit Bull", the definition of what dog comprises a pit bull is cause for much controversy. The term derives from the Pit Bulldog of the nineteenth century, those dogs of bull and terrier blood which were used in the sport of bull baiting." Canine Lexicon

The Pit Bulldog

6. The Spanish Conquistadores sail for the New World, bringing their war dogs; the Spanish Mastiff, the Alano, and an Alaunt Gentil, (or Greyhound type), They conquer much of the southern U.S., Cuba and surrounding islands, Mexico, and much of Central and South America, specifically Argentina.

7. After the Spanish conquest, colonization begins by Spanish settlers in these same areas of conquered lands. Farms and cattle ranches spread while Spanish forts  and missions remain and slowly begin to dwindle. The need for ferocious war dogs declines and they are developed from killer dogs into excellent cattle and protection dogs. 

8. The English began to colonize the Northeastern territory of the U.S. nearly 150 years after the Spanish first began. By this time, the Spanish have a functional bulldog that they have developed from the war dogs that were originally brought with them. The English bring their Pit Bulldogs into the U.S. as the old Bulldog Proper of English no longer exists.

9. The English push south into Spanish Territory and began to colonize, bringing with them their Pit Bulldogs. Because these territories were still considered frontier land and hostile from both the Spanish and the Natives, their bulldogs were no longer used for pit fighting, but rather for protection of the family, farm, and livestock. As their dogs were killed off by the many threats they faced, the settlers found that the bulldogs left by the Spanish were ideal for their needs. Their Pit Bulldogs were crossed with the bulldogs developed in Florida by the Spanish.

10. The Pit Bulldogs in the north were also used as farm dogs. As the north was quickly settled and was no longer considered frontier as was the south, very soon the northern colonists began fighting them once again, as the southern colonists were more concerned with surviving, they had no time for such blood sports and the dogs remained farm dogs.

11. The Pit Bulldogs in the north were used in the development of the APBT, a more tenacious fighter, as well as the Boston Terrier, also bred for fighting. In the south, farmers were using their bulldogs in backyard brawls as it was not as organized a sport as in the north. 

12. Today, this Spanish bulldog developed in Florida by Spanish cattlemen remains, now known as the WEB. The Pit Bulldogs remain as well. 

Above: Dick the Bruiser, a traditional Pit Bulldog and Lady, a Carr WE.

Above: Early English Pit Bulldog and Spanish Alanos of the 18th century. Compare the types of these dogs to the types of Dick the Bruiser and Lady above.

Above: Modern Spanish Alanos.  Compare the Alano type to the modern WEB type on the far right. Compare type, not markings. 

Tracing the Blood line of the WEB

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