Banter Bulldogs

images (3)Description:

The Banter Bulldog should be a powerfully built, athletic, and muscular medium-sized dog, with a minimal amount of white. This breed is a strong working dog with a bully build, yet it maintains a well-proportioned structure, with its legs positioned beneath its body. They typically weigh between 50 to 85 pounds, staying within the weight range that the Brabanter Bullenbeisser was believed to have had when it existed. Banter Bulldogs have a slight underbite and are mostly solid in color.

They are reminiscent of the old Molosser-type dogs from the Brabant region, known as the Brabanter Bullenbeisser. Above all, Banter Bulldogs remain a working breed and should be tested in working roles whenever possible. The head is square and muscular, with a pronounced stop between the skull and muzzle. The top of the skull is mostly flat, and the breed has strong, muscular jaws.

Fault: The muzzle should be neither narrow nor long. It should have strong, well-formed teeth with impressive canines. The muzzle must not be upturned, allowing for unrestricted breathing.

Fault: The muzzle should not be too long, and a scissor bite or even bite is preferred. The eyes are rounded or almond-shaped, wide-set with a wrinkled brow, giving an expression of intense concentration; any eye color is acceptable. The nose is balanced with the muzzle, clean, and allows for free breathing, typically black or dark red.

Fault: A completely pink nose is undesirable, though a small amount of pink is acceptable. The neck is well-muscled, thick, and high, blending into very muscular, strong forelimbs. The chest is impressive and strong, extending down to meet the elbows. It should appear square, but not overly exaggerated. The chest should have a spring to it, allowing for a heavy intake of air.

Fault: The chest should not be too narrow. The back should have a slight arch with a high-set tail. It should be well-muscled above the shoulders. The legs should not be “stubby” or “lanky,” but instead should have a nice balance of height compared to the length of the body to maintain the breed’s “performance.” The front legs should be muscular and well-defined. The rear legs should be very muscular, providing strong bouncing leaps and superior pulling power. The rear legs should be slightly shorter than the body is long, and the rear should appear square.

Fault: The feet should be compact and round, with strong pasterns. There should be no bowing or turning out, as this would result in poor movement.

Fault: The feet should not be down in the pasterns or splayed. Colors include fawn, black, red, and brindle of all types, with or without a black mask. All colors can possess various amounts of white, up to 30%. The coat should be short and smooth. Ears are short, either drop or rose-shaped. Ears may be cropped, but this is not of major importance. The tail should be set high, naturally reaching near the hock. It is preferred to be docked, but this is also not of major importance.

Temperament

The Banter Bulldogge is easy to train and very obedient. It should be excellent with children and always loyal to its family. As a good watchdog, it will bark to alert its owners of danger or to scare off trespassers. Always ready to protect if necessary, it has a lower energy level indoors than outdoors. However, Banter Bulldogges do need a good daily workout; otherwise, their energy can build up. It is a rough-and-tough dog while playing and is fine with other dogs as long as it has been properly socialized. A fun dog with its family, it is always eager for playtime and smart enough to know when playtime is over. Owners should display natural authority over the dog—calm, firm, confident, and consistent. Problems may arise if the dog is allowed to believe it is the alpha over humans. Understanding canine instincts and treating the dog accordingly is key to a successful relationship.

Height, Weight

Height: Males 21 – 24 inches
Females 20 – 23 inches
Weight: Males 50 – 85 pounds
Females 50 – 75 pounds

Living Conditions:

The Banter Bulldogge will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are fairly active indoors and do best with at least an average-sized yard.

Exercise: Banter Bulldogs need daily exercise, including a long brisk walk, as well as play sessions such as fetching a ball. They also make good jogging companions.

Life Expectancy

About 12-13 years.

Grooming

The close, smooth coat of the Banter Bulldogs is easy to groom. Occasional combing and brushing will help remove dead hairs. Bathe only when necessary, as frequent bathing can strip the skin of its natural oils. The ears should be checked regularly and kept clean. Banter Bulldogs are average shedders.

Origin

The Banter Bulldogge was developed by Mr. Todd Tripp of southeast Ohio in the late 1990s. Mr. Tripp’s goal was to recreate the Brabanter Bullenbeisser of the 1700s, a breed found in the central Belgian province of Brabant. A strong working dog with a bully build, its legs well-placed beneath its body, the Banter Bulldogge ranges from 50 to 85 lbs. It typically has a slight underbite and is mostly solid in color, with minimal white markings. Mr. Tripp’s foundation stock consisted of dogs that were a mix of Boxer and various other working bull breeds. The most important aspect of his breeding program was the regular use of Boxer blood in the foundation stock. He was very selective when choosing dogs to form the basis of the Banter Bulldogge breed, ensuring that a great deal of research, thought, and careful breeding went into reaching the final goal.

The Brabanter Bullenbeisser was a smaller, bully-type mastiff from the 1700s and early 1800s, known for being both a family and working dog. This breed was one of the contributors to the development of the modern-day Boxer, alongside larger Bavarian mastiffs and the infusion of “Old Time English Bulldogs.” It is also widely believed that the Brabanter Bullenbeisser carried very little, if any, white until the 1830s, when the first English-type Bulldogs were imported into Germany. Today, Banter Bulldogges are used for weight pulling, working, hunting, guarding, and companionship.

These are the Bulldogs and Mastiffs we breed and sell.

The pictures on each page are for identification purposes and OldBulldogs.com does not own every animal pictured. These pages are informational and intended to describe the standards of each breed.