23/05/2020
Repairing the English Bulldog: The Renaissance Bulldog, a
Superior Bulldog to Bulldog Outcross.
The English Bulldog, when bred pure to another
English Bulldog, has a relatively high likelihood of
Congenital Heart Disease, Brachycephalic Upper-Airway
Syndrome, and a host of other serious problems. BUT if
an English Bulldog is bred to an American Bulldog,
resulting in a new, emerging breed known as a
Renaissance Bulldog, the odds of the puppies having
Congenital Heart Disease or Brachycephalic Upper-
Airway Syndrome is dramatically lowered, as are the
likelihood of most other known English Bulldog
diseases. Why? Because the American Bulldog has a
much lower likelihood of these diseases than the
English Bulldog; thus, when bred, the puppies have
lower mathematical odds of inheriting such diseases.
This practice, coupled with genetic testing, could
conceivably almost entirely eliminate such diseases
from a particular bloodline. We know it in this day and
age, and yet, few breeders make the effort, preferring
instead to breed "healthy," versions of the English
Bulldog, as if the supposed "healthy dog" is not
nonetheless likely to carry the trait recessively and pass
it on to its pups. Further, such crossbred dogs typically
exhibit hybrid vigor or heterosis, the dramatically more
healthful and vigorous quality of crossbred animals,
obtained exclusively by the crossing of dogs of two
different breeds.
Renaissance Bulldogs (also sometimes spelled
Renascence Bulldogges), though very rare, are now
being developed by conscienteous breeders who love
the English Bulldog and wish to address its many
problems. Anyone also loving the English Bulldog, but
having previously been concerned about the associated
health costs, should give this dog serious consideration.
The Renaissance Bulldog, especially if finding a true,
first generation, F1 hybrid, is a dramatically healthier,
more robust and capable dog than the English Bulldog,
yet still retains much of the English Bulldog's
characteristic look.
Renaissance Bulldogs are only free breeders, which is
by itself a big deal over its typically English Bulldog
father, who was very likely "birthed" from his mother
through surgical intervention. Add to that 20 to 30
pounds or more, and a dramatically reduced risk of
genetic diseases, plus the fact that they also tend to be
clear breathers (with a nasal cavity that no longer
opens directly onto their brains ), and what you have is
yet another example of highly successful "hybrid
breeding." The first example for many of us is that mutt
we had as kids, who never ran out of energy, was
never sick, and whom we remember being so special.
The mutt that many of us remember was a dog likely
exhibiting heterosis, the hybrid vigor typified by mixed-
breed dogs.
