Are wrinkles on a bulldog's face there to channel blood?

[DawnStorm]

I've heard this bandied about lately--I'm looking at you Dogs 101--but it just sounds stupid. I've seen older photos/lithographs of bulldogs fighting bulls and they not only look a bit taller, but also less smashed up in the face and therefore less wrinkley. (thank you Llewtrah for introducing me to the MessyBeast site!)
Am I right in thinking that the whole wrinkles-are-there-to-help-channel-blood-away-from-the-face is a bunch of hooey? IMO it's a lame answer given to cover up the fact that modern bulldogs are horribly bred.

[Sister Ray]

The wrinkles are there because when bulldogs were used for bull baiting, the excess skin could be attacked first and thus divert injury to the bulldog.

Sister "does that make any sense?" Ray

[NotYouMe]

Although I have to admit that there's a part of me that finds them cute, you're correct that modern English bulldogs are tragically bred. When you look at the old drawings and whatnot, what stands out is just how much healthier and robust the dogs were. Today's bulldogs are bred in such a way that things like breathing problems aren't just common, but nearly inevitable. The fact that the large head they've been bred for requires c-section at birth is a pretty good indicator that a healthy breed wouldn't end up this way...

As for the folds, I've heard that they were to reduce fighting/baiting injury, but only in regard to the Shar Pei... It doesn't seem unlikely that the same reasoning is behind both, although the Shar Pei is a very old breed from a different part of the world.

[Lgreywolf]

Originally Posted by Sister Ray

The wrinkles are there because when bulldogs were used for bull baiting, the excess skin could be attacked first and thus divert injury to the bulldog.

Sister "does that make any sense?" Ray

Yes, it does make sense. For the same reason that Shar-Peis are heavily wrinkled (since they were traditionally fighting dogs from what I understand.) A dog who is attacking will get a mouthful of loose skin, and not damage the underlying muscle or bone as much.

[Dutch Angua]

That, and the fact that soft tissue 'shrinks' more slowly during the breeding process than bone.
This gives the problem that while the hard palate is very short, the soft palate (palatum molle) is still long, and it often gives breathing difficulties because it tends to block the airway.

[DawnStorm]

Originally Posted by Sister Ray

The wrinkles are there because when bulldogs were used for bull baiting, the excess skin could be attacked first and thus divert injury to the bulldog.

Sister "does that make any sense?" Ray

Yes it does. More sense than the channeling blood away from the face line.