The English Bulldog

The English Bulldog is easily recognized and has a huge fan base!

This calm, confident and extremely cuddly breed makes a great family pet.

Bulldogs have been around for a long time, and have changed a lot over the centuries.

Once referred to as 'Bulldogges', they existed in England as early as the 16th century when they were used during the 'sport' of bull-baiting (and more rarely bear-baiting).

This practice was outlawed in 1835 and with his 'job' no longer viable, the breed needed to evolve to avoid disappearing altogether. 

Breeders concentrated on eliminating the fierce, aggressive characteristics of the original dogs and also changed the physical 'look' by mixing in other bloodlines and breeds such as the Pug.

Luckily for all all of us, they did a wonderful job and produced a steady, calm and confident dog who is also loving, affectionate, loyal and gentle. The perfect combination.

English Bulldog Stats

Consistently found in the top ten most popular breeds here in the USA, this is a compact, sturdy dog.

Placid and loving, but still retaining a stubborn, tenacious streak and the tendency to be a bit bull-headed at times :)

As an original 'working breed', the English Bulldog should be strong and athletic although due to their heavy bone structure, and shortened muzzles even the fittest dog can't tolerate much in the way of heat or vigorous exercise.

English bulldogs are often very protective of their family members.

As the breeds physical characteristics have changed, some of them have become a liability for the poor dogs.

Excessively heavy bodies with overly short legs, muzzles that are so short that the tongue won't stay inside the mouth, and skin that is so wrinkled that it's prone to chronic infections are not compatible with good health and quality of life.

When choosing an English Bulldog to join your family, choosing one with less extreme muzzles, and a well-balanced body will make for a healthier and happier pet... and save you money on veterinary bills.

There are various other variations of the basic bulldog breed today, including a move towards making contemporary dogs more athletic and healthier as shown in the Olde English Bulldogge which is becoming more well known and popular.

Other variations include (but aren't limited to) the American, French, Alapaha and Victorian types.

AKC Group: Non-sporting

Country of Origin: England

Size: Medium - Large

Height: No official height according to the AKC, but somewhere between 12 and 18 inches is common.

Weight: Up to approximately 50lbs for males, and about 40lbs for females

Color: Solid or brindle colors, with the brightness and clear demarcation between colors being important. White, fawn, brown, red, fallow or piebald.

Temperament: Courageous but calm and steady. Gentle, loving, loyal - with a tendency to be stubborn at times. Will protect and guard his family with tenacity. Can be comical and has a sense of humor.

Activity Level: Low - but they do need at least a daily walk to keep them fit and prevent excessive weight gain. In dogs who haven't been 'overbred' to the point where they're unhealthy, you might be surprised at how fast and agile they can be in short bursts, and over short distances.

Grooming: The short,fine coat is easy to keep well-groomed with a good brushing every few days. Average amount of shedding. The wrinkled skin needs more care than the coat - and it's important to keep the folds of skin clean and dry (especially on the face).

Special Needs: Socialization, training, protection from heat and strenous activity.

Possible Health Problems: Breathing problems, allergies, eye problems, soft palate and/or trachea problems, hip dyspasia, obesity, breeding/whelping issues.

These dogs LOVE to be with their people and are fantastic with children of all ages. They generally don't object to being cuddled or dressed up... and love to be loved-on.

Of course, no dog will tolerate being harassed, teased or man-handled, but this breed's calm temperament and high tolerance for pain makes them a child-friendly choice.

Their gentle personalities and sweet, perpetually sad expressions make them absolutely irresistible and if you own an one of these dogs chances are he (or she) is going to be sharing your sofa, bed, lap - or most likely all three!

you might also like...