Continental bulldog

Standard No…………../15.01.2011/E – Translation of the German Version as approved by the Central Committee of the Swiss Kennel Club

CONTINENTAL BULLDOG

Short historical summary

The European Convention for breeding and keeping domestic animals as well as the new Swiss laws for animal protection (Art. 10.) were the decisive factors to start a new breeding program. Goal of these experiments was to create a medium sized bulldog which meets all the requirements established by the animal protection laws for a healthy dog which however maintains the valued temperament of the English Bulldog that is so well liked. The cross-breeds with English Bulldogs and Old English Bulldogs – with the permission of and under the leadership of the Swiss Kennel Club – however, showed very soon that the program eventually led to the creation of a new breed, a breed that comes fairly close to the original Bulldog type. In order to clearly distinguish the new breed from the English Bulldog, the name “Continental Bulldog” was chosen. The decisions and measures in connection with the creation of the new breed were made in accordance with FCI (representatives of the Standard and Scientific Commissions) The fact that so far no middle-sized, resilient family dog of the molosser type exists but is very much in demand, is confirmed by the many testimonials from enthusiastic owners of the young breed. The Continental Bulldog is ready to fulfil this gap.

ORIGIN: Switzerland.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID STANDARD: 30.03.2022.
UTILIZATION: Companion dog, Family dog
FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer
Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs.
Section 2.1 Molossian type, Mastiff
type.
Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: The goal was to create a medium sized molossoid type dog. The cross-breeds with English Bulldogs and Old English Bulldogs showed very soon that the program eventually led to the creation of a new breed, a breed that comes fairly close to the original Bulldog type. In order to clearly distinguish the new breed from the English Bulldog, the name “Continental Bulldog” was chosen.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: A smooth coated, almost square, medium-sized bull-type dog of athletic build. Despite his compact body, the Continental Bulldog is active and powerful; his respiration even at full speed is noiseless. His weight, depending on his height is between 20 and 30 kg. Sexual dimorphism should be clearly defined.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
Height at withers Depth of chest 2:1
Height at withers Length of body 1:1,2
Length from the point of insertion of the neck to body up to the
base of tail 1:1

These measurements and proportions are understood as guidelines, decisive factor is always the general impression of the dog, the bulldog-type must be preserved.

BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT: Attentive, self-confident, friendly, neither aggressive nor shy.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION: The circumference measured in front of the ears shall not surpass the height at withers by more than 10%. Viewed from front the head appears to be almost square with the zygomatic arch slightly bulging.
Skull: The forehead is flat to slightly arched, wrinkles existing but not too distinct. From the stop a furrow appears broad but rather flat extending to the middle of the skull.
Stop: Distinctive but not too pronounced.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Tip of nose broad. Nostrils big and wide open. Nose always completely black.
Muzzle: Broad, viewed from front almost square. Ridge of muzzle is straight, neither turned upwards nor downwards. In relation to the overall length of the head it is 1:3 (tolerance 1:4) Skin folds on both sides of the ridge of muzzle not too thick. Lower jaw including chin is broad and square. Neither tongue nor teeth may be visible when mouth is closed. Distinctive seen from the front underjaw, is not covered by the upper flews.
Lips: Shall be thick, well closed and pigmentation should be black and as complete as possible. Flews of the upper jaw shall be hanging completely over lower jaw at the sides. Flews of the lower jaw as tightly fitting as possible.
Jaws/Teeth: Lower jaw projection 1-5 mm, tolerance up to 10 mm, upper and lower teeth must be in straight line and parallel. Strong teeth. 6 regular and well developed incisors placed between the widely set apart canines. The absence of PM1 is permissible, M3 are not taken in consideration. A complete set of teeth however is always preferred.

Cheeks: Tight and well rounded.
EYES: Round, quite in front of the head and wide apart, neither sunken nor bulging. The eyelids shall be tightly fitting and as fully pigmented as possible. No white (sclera) may be visible when the dog looks straight ahead. The iris is dark brown.
EARS: Set high, small and thin; the front inner edge of each ear forms a straight line with the top line of the skull. Either rose- or folding ear is allowed. Rose ear means folded inwards at the back side and laid back; the front part of the edge of ear falls out- and back-wards, the inside of the outer ear is partly visible. Folding ear means the ear is tilting forward when the dog is attentive so that the tip of the ear is more or less in line with the outer corner of the eyes. When resting, the ear is placed closely at the sides of the head. All other ear forms are to be regarded as fault
NECK: Quite short and strong but not as short as to give the impression that the head sits directly on the shoulders. Well arched neck line. Slight skin folds in the area of the throat are permissible.
BODY: The height at withers is slightly higher than the loins.
Top line: as straight as possible.
Withers: Length of back measured from the withers to the root of tail corresponds to the height at withers
Back: short and strong,
Loin: Viewed from above they are only slightly narrower than the chest.
Croup: slightly sloping.
Chest: Depth of chest reaches down to the elbows and corresponds ideally at a ratio of 1/2 to the height at the withers. Ribs rounded and thorax spacious.
Underline and belly: Belly moderately tucked up.
TAIL: Set low, strong; thick at the root and tapering off continuously, thickly coated but free of fringe. Ideally it should extend down to the hocks and be either straight or slightly curved.

When resting it falls down, during movement raised but never carried in a roll above the back.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
General appearance: Legs viewed from front straight, very stout and strong.
Shoulder: Broad, slanting and well muscled. The shoulder blade shall be closely fitting to the thorax.
Upper arm: Close fitting to the body and with good angulation towards the shoulder blade.
Elbow: Firmly fitting to the body.
Pastern: Short and strong, only slightly sloping.
Fore feet: Thick and compact, neither turning inwards nor outwards.
Nails: Short and desirably dark
HINDQUARTERS:
General appearance: Hindlegs with strong bones and well muscled, parallel if viewed from back.
Stifle (Knee): Well angulated, not turned outwards.
Hock joint: Well angulated, neither turning inwards, nor outwards.
Metatarsus (Rear pastern) Short and strong
Hind feet: Thick and compact, neither turning inwards nor outwards.
Nails: Short and desirably dark
GAIT / MOVEMENT: Regular and fluid movement, good reaching of the forelegs, strong thrust of the hindquarters.
SKIN: Elastic without wrinkles on body or legs.
COAT
Hair: the top hair short, close, flat, glossy, not wiry. The undercoat short, close and of fine texture. The absence of undercoat is permissible.

Colour: All colours which are accompanied by a black nose are allowed. Self coloured, brindled or in combination with white, with or without black mask. A distinctive pattern of patches is not sought after. The colour blue and brown are not allowed.
SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at the withers: Males: 42-50 cm Females: 40-48 cm
Weight: Males: 30 kg Females: 25 kg
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Too low to ground
Circumference of head surpasses the height at shoulder by 10 to 20%
Not well developed teeth
Undershot between 11-15 mm
Uneven carriage of ears
Short and/or slightly deformed tail
Not enough coat density
Shorter or taller in height (within the tolerance) of an otherwise correct dog
Pacing or paws grinding over the ground

SEVERE FAULTS:

Circumference of head surpasses the height at shoulder by more than 20%
Skin folds overlapping line of layback
Nose roll too big
standing ears
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.
Breathing noises in action or when standing still
Blue and/or wall eye
Entropion/Ectropium