Renascence Bulldogge – Finally a Healthy Bulldog (again)?

If you’re active on social media, you may have stumbled over pictures of the Bulldog’s leaner cousin – the Renascence Bulldogge.

This cross is a relatively new attempt at creating a dog breed that resembles the working Bulldog from the 1800s instead of looking like shambling frog-like creatures.

But what exactly is the purpose of this cross?

The Renascence Bulldogge is supposed to be of working-class with a leaner build, less respiratory issues, and more responsiveness in training.

So far so good.

Of course, every dog that is supposed to work profits from a healthy athletic frame instead of being overly bulky.

Respiratory issues are also a huge problem in any Bulldog breed (from the French Bulldog to the Bully mixes nowadays).

Furthermore, everybody wants a dog who is responsive during training – at least to some degree.

While the plethora of information may puzzle anybody interested in this breed, I’m doing my best to explain this breed’s origins, standard, and whether or not it was a successful attempt.

What Is a Renascence Bulldogge?

The Renascence Bulldogge is a mix between English Bulldog, Hermes OEB (Olde English Bulldogge), American Bulldog, Bullmastiff, and Bandog (English Mastiff crossed with Pitbull).

Let’s dive deeper into some terms like “Bandog”, what Pitbulls exactly contributed to this crossbreed and what type of American Bulldog played a role.

Technically speaking, some people consider Bandogs anything from Molosser mixes to more specifically Mastiff Pitbull mixes.

Neither Mastiffs nor Pitbulls are further specified but for the sense of this crossbreed, we’re talking about English Mastiffs and American Pit Bull Terriers.

We’re not talking about other Bully-type dogs such as the American Bully.

In addition to that, it’s known that the Pitbulls come from the “Old Family Red-Nosed” and so-called “Sorrel” lines.

Fun fact: The Sorrel Pitbull line is what gives some Renascence Bulldogs the black and tan color, contrary to the assumption of a Doberman or Rottweiler crossed in due to the color.

When it comes to the American Bulldog, both the stocky Johnson type and the leaner Scott type could’ve contributed to the Renascence Bulldogge.

There’s not a lot of pedigree history, or at least I couldn’t find a good compilation tracing back several generations.

After all, this is intended as a working breed and pedigree may not be the deciding factor but it’s still essential, especially if you want to avoid puppy scams (more on that below) and establish credibility.

Renascence Bulldogge Breed Standard

I’ve compiled some information about the Renascence Bulldogge below.

That being said, this is not the exact wording of the real breed standard.

Despite the fact that a kennel club is dedicated to the creation of this breed, there’s not much credible information, meaning you won’t be able to pin down that one specific resource.

When I originally wrote this article, there was a link to the RBKC which doesn’t seem to be up anymore.

Here’s what I found out.

Weight and height: Male and female Renascence Bulldogges should weigh between 60-90 pounds (27 kg-41 kg) with a height at the withers of 17 to 22 inches (43 cm-56 cm).

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Since this crossbreed is not recognized by the AKC or any other major kennel club, it’s hard to pin down the exact measurements without having them approved in say, a confirmation show.

60-90 pounds is quite a big range, but I suppose while they’re not strictly defined, females should be on the lower end (60-75 pounds) and males on the higher end (75-90 pounds).

A dog with a height on the lower end and weight on the higher end probably ends up resembling the current (mostly poorly bred) Bulldogs.

A Renascence Bulldogge should be a medium-sized dog with a symmetrical body and healthy proportions as well as an athletic frame.

Temperament: Friendly and outgoing with familiar people while being reserved or even unfriendly (which is apparently not viewed as a defect) with strangers. Fearless protector of his family.

Coat: Short length, smooth

Colors: Black and tan or chocolate, Brindles as well as brindled or “chocolate” spots on white dogs are confirmed alongside some other quite rare (at least in terms of what I could identify) colors such as Solid white or black.

Body: Neck should be short and nearly as wide as the head. Very broad and muscular shoulders. Front legs may be slightly bowed or straight.

Ribs well rounded and chest wide and deep. Back short, slightly roached and strong. Belly well tucked up.

Thighs very muscular. Rear legs neither pigeon-toed nor cow-hocked. Fluid movement is of the highest concern.

Head: Large in proportion to the body and square. Deeply sunken between the eyes, extending up the forehead.

Moderately wrinkled. Jaw muscles large. Lower jaw turned up and protruding. Bite squared, but undershot. Large tusks. Eyes low and wide set. Forehead flat.

Muzzle short and broad. The muzzle should be 1/4 to 1/3 the total length of the head. Flews semi-pendulous.

Ears may be either rose or button and should be set high and wide. Dewlap will have two folds.

Who Developed the Renascence Bulldogge?

The creation of the Renascence Bulldogge is attributed to Chadde JoliCoeur in the 1990s due to a desire to create a healthier Bulldog by selectively crossbreeding.

Was the attempt successful?

Whether the creation of a “new breed” is successful or not can only be said after decades of effortful breeding and strict documentation to oversee the progress.

Since it’s hard to pin down more information, it’s safe to assume that this breed still isn’t widely spread and maybe it’s not intended to be that way.

Nowadays English Bulldogs, stocky American Bulldogs, and even Frenchies need a more diverse and healthier gene pool.

This can only be achieved by properly planning pairings because otherwise, the popularity of flat-nosed dogs will drown out any noise created by well-meaning efforts.

But then again, maybe that’s the wrong approach.

Flat-nosed puppies only sell too well because potential dog owners like the look and either don’t know or don’t care about the dreadful health implications.

This breeding program may only serve a select few and we still have a long way at making these Bulldog breeds healthier again but every effort can be a good start if it entails a well-thought-out plan.

Where Can You Buy a Renascence Bulldogge Puppy?

It’s kinda hard to say where you can buy one since the documentation on the website of the breed’s creator ended many years ago and Youtube videos are mostly a couple of years old too.

One thing is for sure: There are many puppy scammers claiming to sell you a Renascence Bulldogge.

Some puppy scammers are even so smug as to call their dog just Bulldog and upon your query, the dogs will be whatever you ask the dogs could be.

Only buy if you have proof of the ancestors and keep my general puppy breeder advice in mind.

I’ve stumbled over many dog owners on social media claiming to have a Renascence Bulldogge even though their dogs definitely don’t look like one.

Often, you can weed out any dishonest sellers when asking specific questions about the breed, who created it, how long they’ve been breeding them, and so on.

If you’re buying a puppy, health testing is absolutely essential.

In case you’re unsure about a puppy’s health, why not go to rescues directly?

Ethical breeders should always advance the breed which means only breeding healthy dogs.

Health testing includes hip x-rays to rule out hip dysplasia, eye and heart exams, and – specific to Renascence Bulldogge – a clean medical history in terms of respiratory issues.

Disclaimer: This blog post does not substitute veterinary attention and does not intend to do so. I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist. If your dog shows any sign of illness, call your vet.