Shepard Labrador vs Olde English Bulldogge - Breed Comparison

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.

The Labrador/German Shepherd mix, known as the Shepard Labrador was no doubt first bred in the United States from two very popular dog breeds - the Labrador and the German Shepherd.

Breeders of this dog were looking to bring about a dog that could be an exceptional companion with characteristics from both breeds.

Also referred to as the Sheprador, the dog will surely have an amazing temperament.

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.

With the Shepard Labrador, because the puppies come from two pure breeds – the Labrador and the German Shepherd, there is no really knowing how your pet will turn out. There is therefore no standard appearance.

Some will have floppy ears like the Labrador, some erect ears like the German Shepherd. The tail will always be long. The coat will always be thick and be short to medium in length. Some puppies will be born with a fawn shade and others will have the dark colors of the German Shepherd. Some will have a mix of colors.

They will be fairly large dogs standing at between 53 and 62m in height and weighing between 23 and 36kg.

Temperament:

Between two such splendid dog breeds, you’re guaranteed to get a wonderful temperament – after all, that's why the two breeds were brought together. Your Shepard Labrador will be friendly, playful, social,smart, courageous, loving, loyal and energetic, just loving to be around his human family.

These dogs get on well with children, and with training and socialization will get on well with other pets in the home. This dog really makes a splendid family pet.

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.

There are studies that show that dogs provide us with so many good things – companionship, comfort and relaxation.They provide us with entertainment too because some of them are so amusing with their antics.

The Shepard Labrador is like that – he is social, friendly, loving and devoted and by bringing him into your home, you’re signing up for 10 – 14 years of sheer pleasure, less stress and superb companionship.

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.

The Shepard Labrador is a healthy dog breed, and with the right nutrition and exercise can reach 10 to 14 years of age. There are always going to be those common dog illnesses that many dogs succumb to. Some of them are hip dysplasia, cancer, skin problems and parasites.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a condition where parts of the hip joints don’t fit properly together. This creates a situation where there is abnormal wear and tear on the joints. It can lead to arthritis even and pain for your dog.

Parasites – Tapeworm:

The tapeworm is a parasite spread to dogs but also to people, and it is through the ingestion of infected fleas. You can often detect this when you discover parts of the worm crawling in your dog’s bowel movements or they can be around the anus. You can suspect this when you see your pet losing weight and having diarrhea. Speak to your vet about how to control fleas with your dog.

Rabies:

This is a fatal disease where dogs are infected through bites from rabid animals. You’ll notice horrible behavioral changes in your dog. Unfortunately with this terrible disease, once symptoms appear, it is virtually too late for treatment.

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.

◆Brush the coat of your Shepard Labrador twice a week to rid the coat of loose hairs and to keep the coat shiny ad healthy. Many people add in the Omega 3/6 oils to the dog’s food to ensure a healthy skin and coat.

◆Check the ears and eyes for infection. Make sure there are no signs of redness and discharge.

◆Check the inside of your pet’s mouth He has no way of telling you that a rotten tooth in the mouth is causing hi tremendous pain and affecting the his health.

◆Feel for new and unusual lumps on your pet’s body.

◆Provide your pet with a warm, dry place to sleep. Make sure if he is outdoors that he has both sun and shade.

◆Keep your pet’s vaccines up to date to eliminate killer canine diseases.

◆Have your pet spayed or neutered to avoid unwanted puppies.

◆Feed your pet the best food there is. Your Shepard Labrador will no doubt be served commercially manufactured food. There are good and bad varieties. Make sure it is one of the better brands to ensure you don’t end up feeding your pet foods packed full of unhealthy ingredients such as colorants, preservative and fillers.

Try and include some home-made food to the diet. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet as it won’t upset your dog’s digestive system.

Also try and include some raw meat into the diet as this can help in fighting off skin problems. Ensure your Shepard Labrador always has access to a bowl of fresh, cool water.