Home of the Mountain Line
Mountain Line History
The reason we refer to our bulldogge family as the Mountain Line is because it all started in the early 1980's in the coastal mountains of northern California. I was introduced to the centuries old method of hunting wild boar with dogs on some ranches in private areas where catch dogs were needed. The boar population was rampant and causing damage and environmental concerns. I had acquired a Catahoula, a Plott Hound and a very eager to please American Pit Bull Terrier named Suss.
With the goal of finding a capable working bulldog without the high "dog aggression" and terrier influence, Suss was bred to a friends' "foundation" Olde English Bulldogge purchased from Dave Leavitt. this dogges name was Ellettes Brewster. He was out of Bullmead's Spike and Bullmead's Georgia and was a grandson to Westchamps High Hopes. I bred Suss to him and got some great farm and utility type bulldogs at least one of which lived to be sixteen years old. At this time, 1987, it was a year wait for another Leavitt bulldogge. I knew of no other Olde English in existance so I researched and bought a Dogue de Bourdeaux from the healthiest lines I could find, she was number 47 with the U.S. Bourdeaux Club. I started using the Fitzmer line breeding scheme Dave Leavitt was using to start my line of farm utility type bulldogges with a much higher "stimulus threshold" and the original Elizabethan "Bear Baiter" or "Bull runners" physique. I registered them with the Animal Research Foundation as Mountain Bulldogs and sold a few through their magazine.* The ARF for short, was established in 1947 as a working stock dog registry, it put out a small cow dog magazine for over 30 years and was one of the earliest to register both the American bulldog and the Olde English Bulldogge as well as the Catahoula Leopard and the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog and many other breeds.
In 1991 We bought a stock farm and moved back to Missouri, with relatively few dogs, and a serious goal of consistency, breeding selection became difficult and frustrating. Much of the stock I obtained was not breedable because of insufficient screening and single registering to many English bulldogs, bringing back defects that were in the process of being purged. Over time the goal of finding the right function, structure and temperament with the right "Type" became a priority. By the turn of the 21st century several lines had started to evolve but with more genetics to select from there was also a lot more to watch out for and breeding selection became and of course still is paramount.
BULLRUN Claire
Foundation Mountain Bulldog.
BULLRUN Claire, Rufus, Mag, and Peg
Mountain Bulldog puppies
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS OF INTEREST
Original Mountain bulldogs at BULLRUN 1987. BULLRUN Rufus (phase1) and BULLRUN Peg. ARF Registered,
After the passing of the of the late, great Tom D. Stodghill the ARF COWDOG MAGAZINE Published a Fall 1989 SPECIAL MEMORIAL EDITION.
On Page 29 is an Early List of ARF Certified Breeders. We are listed in the BULLDOGS (Various Types) column.
John D. Johnson Interview
Although an American bulldog interview, it is relevant to the working bulldog in general
John D. Johnson, Known to many as the Father of the American Bulldog, makes reference to the Mountain Bull in a May 11, 1997 interview conducted at J.D. Johnson's farm by noted breed historian Vito Alu. Following is an excerpt (the 25th question) from that interview:
"VAA: Could you answer for me what the term bulldoggy means, is it a dog that would resemble a long legged AKC English Bulldog. how could this dog have worked long hard hours in the hot South catching -herding -and guarding?"
"JDJ: Well a dog of that type cannot, an AKC English Bulldog cannot even run across your yard on a warm day to play with their owners. Their nose is too short and compact so they can't take the heat. David Leavitt called the dog he created the Olde English Bulldogge, I don't know if that is where that came from it's just a name. It doesn't matter what you call it Bulldoggy, Mastiffy, Hog Dog, Mountain bull, whatever. If they don't show pure old time southern Bulldog, if they look like a White Pit Bull, hound or mongrel they may be good working dogs to some. If they keep breeding for english looks with short legs he cannot run, which a shortlegged dog can't run like a longer-legged dog, it can't catch at all and it can overheat. That is not a farm utility dog. an English bulldog of today is only good as a pet to sit in your lap and to be a pet. A dog with any exaggeration like a short nose, or extreme wide low slung body, he is not correct the dog should be proportionate all over. If peaple keep breeding smaller to smaller, shorter to shorter, wider to wider, smash-faced to smash faced then it won't be long that they will have an AKC English Bulldog. I hope that never happens. In the old days it couldn't happen because if your dog didn't work it wasn't around for long. We need to watch this very close."
