History and Development

The original idea for the development of this breed comes from the desire of owners who want to be able to keep a dog small in size, but not on looks or personality. More and more people are living in apartments, condominiums and crowded subdivisions, where space is definitely a factor. While "cute and fluffy’ certainly has its appeal among small dog fanciers, there are those who love their big, burly dogs and want the next best thing – a Bonsai Bulldogge! While researching miniature and toy Bulldogs on-line, I discovered a photo of an 1800’s Toy Bulldog that greatly resembled one of the dogs in my Bonsai program. .

I am inspired by this to create more with a similar appearance. Yes, there are French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers and Pugs for those who fancy them, but the health and reproduction of these breeds can still be problematic of not done with care. Through the careful crossing of these breeds and a few others, we have developed a line that has been extremely healthy to date. Though no breed is perfect by any means, we wish to maintain the highest quality possible and will continue to use only the best breeding stock in the further development of our lineage.

Lady Kathleen Pilkington 1905

1896 Toy Bulls - Little Jemmima & Ch Pere Boojom

Toy Bulldogs of the 1800’s

Because of the industrial revolution, from about 1850 to 1860 the English textile and clothing industries were in turmoil. Cottage industries in the English Midlands were being abandoned. The lace-makers of Nottingham who worked by hand no longer had jobs. Many of these lace-makers migrated to the coastal towns of Normandy and in particular to Brittany and Calais where the old traditional work continued. Nottingham was a great center for British Bulldogs including the toy or miniature bulldogs. Many of these small dogs were taken to France by these workmen because of the dogs’ size, companionship and because they were good ratters. Living conditions were cramped in the small houses in which workers lived, so it made sense to downsize their dogs. The miniature bulldogs are thought to have been crossed with terriers and pugs and as a result, the French Bulldog evolved. Lack of records frustrated the researches of breed historians and it seems unlikely that more will emerge. Many of the locals are not even aware of their existence.
Marie George & her husband with their Toy Bulldogs	King Eddie
1862 Toy Bulldog - Puppilion	1849 Toy Bulldog - Nottingham Frank