the old english bulldog was compact, broad and muscular, as reflected in the well-known depiction "crib and rosa". through john scott's engraving, this painting became the best-known and most reproduced painting of dogs from that period. as described in the philo-kuon standard from 1865, the average height was approximately , and they weighed about . a particular characteristic of the breed was the lower jaw that projected considerably in front of the upper jaw, which made possible a strong, vise-like grip.