What has happened so far
 

Already for quite some time, the renowned breeder of English Bulldogs, Imelda Angehrn, was not convinced any more that its development was headed in the right direction and when at the beginning of the present century the discussion about more severe laws for the protection of animals and provisions for breeding intensified, she decided, after a number of consultations with highly knowledgeable personalities in the dog scene to seek permission to cross breed the English Bulldog with another breed.

The Swiss Kennel Club gave its permission for this trial breeding and in Summer 2001, the Pickwick Kennel of Imelda Angehrn saw the first litter of this cross breed English Bulldog x Olde English Bulldogge coming to life. More information can be obtained from the website www.pickwick-bulldogs.ch In the following these dogs were recorded under the denomination of Pickwick Bulldogs Old Type (PBOT)

The following pictures show the bitch 

During the course of time it became evident that a renewed outcrossing with the English Bulldog would not be feasible. On the other hand the new breeding program was a thorough success as the dogs emanating from it found ready acceptance and all their owners were fascinated by the unique character, the agility and flexibility.

Soon a group of representatives of the committee for the development of breeding aspects was put together which worked closely with Imelda Angehrn with the aim to obtain the recognition of the new type of bulldog. More than 70 dogs were examined by a veterinary and judge and their registration in the appendix of the Swiss Kennel Club Registration Book (SHSB A) was applied for.

As a consequence the central committee of the Swiss Kennel Club (SKG) got involved in the project and on September 15, 2004 it accepted the application by the above mentioned group by giving the green light to further the breeding program with the goal of creating a new breed under the denomination Continental Bulldog. The Standard, the Breed and Selection Regulations and the By-laws of the newly founded breed club were approved by the central committee of SKG in 2005.

Above all for the breeder, Imelda Angehrn, this recognition was a wonderful reward for her immense engagement not only financially - just to take into account the number of trips to the USA and to England in order to buy first-class animals for this breeding program - but also for the huge amount of work involved and last but not least because it had not been an easy time due to the many hostile actions and the animosity from left and right she had to cope with.

With this action by the SKG the first hurdle was overcome and the Conti as he was quickly named by their owners will have Switzerland as country of origin once the Fédération Cynologique International (FCI) will accord provisional recognition.

In any case, it was most exciting and gave much pleasure to assist in the creation of a new breed and the committee of the club and the increasing number of new breeders are very enthusiastic to meet this great challenge. The many positive reactions upon the official recognition by the Swiss Kennel Club was very encouraging for everybody involved in this work but provided especially for Imelda Angehrn the necessary confidence to carry on with her big task and the high responsibility it demanded.