A ‘Head Breed’ – Not to the Exclusion of Everything Else!

This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, August 2021 issue.

A ‘Head Breed’ – Not to the Exclusion of Everything Else!

The Bulldog is a ‘Head Breed.’ We hear this comment often, but what does it actually mean? Several breeds can and do lay claim to being a “Head Breed” and for each, the description might mean something slightly different. I am fairly confident, however, that in all or nearly all of them, Bulldogs included, it also means: “Not to the exclusion of everything else!” We are certainly familiar with this term in our Bulldog world. We have been hearing it as a breed description for decades. But how accurate is that statement? If you refer to the BCA point scale offered within the Standard, head properties (22 points) and body properties (22 points) don’t offer a clear conclusion. Remember, there are those critical body points in the breed that you could successfully argue would make the Bulldog also a “Front-End Breed” or a “Topline Breed.”

That being said, a full 39 points on head alone is extremely significant. Our standard offers this passage in the opening ”Symmetry” statement: “…no feature being in such prominence from either excess or lack of quality that the animal appears deformed or ill-proportioned.” This caution reminds us that a Bulldog cannot be so strong in only one feature to the exclusion of all else. Rather, all features are within the context of the breed. The Bulldog is a breed that has clear definitions of just what is considered correct, some of which stress features that are definitely impressive in their natural, ideal proportions. A quote I’ve grown to love in describing this part of our standard is: “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” In other words, we don’t want to “moderate” the breed out of its own unique existence. And if you are the “head hunter” type, please be sure that you are choosing the correct heads! A Bulldog head is not only about the jaw.

It is not only about large size. The breed’s head is a complex feature that has several key points that are critical towards making up a head that can truly be considered correct or, even better—ideal! The Official Standard has a very precise description of head properties. If you are seeking clarification on any of these points, please contact an experienced Bulldogger to help explain.