Re: "Bulldog," since it is familiar from 20th c commercial recordings and stage performances, here's evidence of its 19th c use as a work-song.

“Running a Turtle in Exuma Sound.” _The Rod and Gun_ 6.26 (Sept. 25, 1875): 385, 396.

A White sportsman (unnamed) is in the Bahamas, living in a cottage on Great Exuma Island for nine months. It's 1867—he's remembering back. He goes out in a whaleboat with a crew of seven Black men, to hunt for turtle. The crew member named Solomon "[sets] the stroke to their favorite rowing song,

(Stroke): What dat bull-dog growlin’ about?
(Crew): Bull-dog, don’t bite me.

Refrain.— Oh, seize him, Tiger, seize him,
Bull-dog, don’t bite me;
Bow, wow, wow, wow."

Later, when they return from the hunt, the rowers sing,
“One dollar a day don't pay my time,
Chor. —Pay me five dollah down”