BRICKFACED BULLDOG

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 82, 17 January 1928, Page 2

BRICKFACED BULLDOG

LONGER HEAD AND LIFE. Bulldogs of the future may have brick-shaped heads (says the London ‘Daily Chronicle”)- A theory has been put forward that if they had longer beads they would live longer, and the Bulldog Club proposed to 'breed them with longer heads—but not. longer faces, for that would spoil their looks. “The dog world would probably be i-evolutionised if we succeed in our oF ject.” Mr C. Roger Boulton, secretary of the Bulldog Club, said recently, discussing the proposal : “For years and' years we have been faced with the problem of how to lengthen the life of bulldogs. They are one or the shortestlived breeds of dogs. Their average age ranges from five to seven years. This is partly due to difficulty in breathing, caused fey the nose being set too far back in the head. We are now going to try to breed bulldogs with longer heads without lengthening the face, for that would spoil the look of the animal. The bulldog of the future will have a brick-shaped head, and, we hope, a longer expectation of life.” _ • Well-known London veterinary surgeons commended the idea of increasing the size of the bulldog’s head. One said: “Bulldogs have always been impaired by) their breathing, and many of these creatures are born with only a ‘dog’s chance’ of living more than a few years. If the club are successful they" will achieve something that is humane and necessary.”