9781422279304

Bull baiting While the origins of the Bulldog are shrouded in antiquity, his- torians do agree that the name comes from the fact that these dogs were used to control and bait bulls. It was once believed that bait- ing a bull before slaughter improved the meat, so butchers kept these dogs. Bull baiting eventually became a popular sport, as well, and a variety of Molosser-type dogs were bred for this purpose. But soon fans realized that a smaller dog who could fly at the bull’s head and grab his nose, or any part of his face, in his powerful jaws could bring a bull down and pin it. Eventually, there were bull rings in all the major market towns in Britain. Big crowds came to view the spectacle and gambling was fierce. The Bulldog’s courage was legendary.

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