Bulldog
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What is a Bulldog?
The Bulldog, also known as the English or British Bulldog, originated in 13th-century England for bull-baiting. Although once known for its courage and viciousness, the breed was saved by enthusiasts who bred out its aggressive tendencies after dogfighting was outlawed in 1835.
Today's Bulldog is considered peace-loving, gentle, and good with children and other animals, though it retains some stubbornness. The Bulldog is a stocky, medium-sized dog with a large head, short muzzle, and loose, wrinkled skin. Bulldogs typically stand 13–15 inches tall, weigh 40–50 pounds, and have a life span of 8–10 years. They require special care due to their facial structure and are prone to overheating. The Bulldog is a symbol of Great Britain and was often associated with Winston Churchill.
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What does a Bulldog look like?
The Bulldog, nicknamed "sourmug," is a stocky dog with a rolling gait. They typically stand 13–15 inches (33–38 cm) tall and weigh 40–50 pounds (18–23 kg).
Characteristically, the Bulldog has a large head, folded ears, a short muzzle, and a protruding lower jaw. Loose skin forms wrinkles on the head and face. Their short, fine coat comes in tan, white, reddish-brown, brindle, or piebald.
Bulldogs require special care because their short muzzle and flattened face can cause health problems. They are prone to overheating and brachycephalic syndrome, which obstructs airflow. Most Bulldogs can't swim and require monitoring near open water. Wrinkles should be kept clean and dry to prevent skin infections.
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What is the personality of a Bulldog?
The modern Bulldog is known to be peace-loving and mild-mannered, especially towards children, seniors, and other animals. Selective breeding has created a jovial and comical companion that loves to entertain. While affectionate, they show it through wiggling and jumping rather than licking or snuggling.
Bulldogs are intelligent and learn easily, even performing tricks like skateboarding. They enjoy playing with toys, but aren't great at retrieving. Although they spend a lot of time resting, they can enjoy short bursts of activity. Bulldogs are not reliable guard dogs, and their fierce expression might scare intruders, but they are more likely to sleep through a break-in.
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What are Bulldogs commonly used for?
Originally bred for bull-baiting in England, Bulldogs were known for their courage and tenacity. After bull-baiting was outlawed in 1835, breeders worked to eliminate the breed's ferocity, and today, the Bulldog is typically gentle and reliable.
Modern Bulldogs are good-natured companions, known to be gentle with children and other animals, though they can be stubborn. They can learn tricks and enjoy playing with toys, but they don't require much exercise and make unreliable guard dogs. The Bulldog is a symbol of Great Britain and was often associated with Winston Churchill.
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How should you care for a Bulldog?
Bulldogs need more care than many other breeds due to their short muzzle and flattened face, which can cause health issues. To prevent overheating, keep your bulldog in air conditioning at home and in the car. When traveling during the summer, bring along fans and ice packs in case of a vehicle breakdown.
Their wrinkles should be kept clean and dry to prevent skin infections and bad odors. Bulldogs require little exercise; a short daily walk or a robust play session is often sufficient. In warm weather, limit outings or move exercise sessions to cooler times of the day. Because most cannot swim, they should be watched closely near open water.
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What health issues are common in Bulldogs?
Bulldogs are prone to several health issues because of their short muzzle and flattened face. They are susceptible to brachycephalic syndrome, where small nostrils, an elongated soft palate, and airway tissue block airflow. This can cause overheating, especially in warm environments.
Extra care is needed when giving Bulldogs anesthesia, as they cannot maintain passive respiration. Most cannot swim and can easily drown, so they should be watched closely near open water. Bulldogs can also get hip dysplasia; high-quality dog food can help lower this risk. The wrinkles on Bulldogs require regular cleaning to prevent skin infections.
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Bulldog, breed of dog developed centuries ago in England for use in fighting bulls (bullbaiting). Characteristically powerful and courageous, often vicious, and to a great extent unaware of pain, the Bulldog nearly disappeared when dogfighting was outlawed in 1835. Fanciers of the breed, however, saved it and bred out its ferocity. Nicknamed the “sourmug,” the Bulldog is a stocky dog that moves with a rolling gait. It has a large head, folded ears, a short muzzle, a protruding lower jaw, and loose skin that forms wrinkles on the head and face. See also French Bulldog.
The Bulldog has a short fine coat that is colored tan, white, reddish brown, brindle, or piebald. Typically gentle and reliable, it is placed in the Nonsporting group of the American Kennel Club, which officially recognized the breed in 1886. Several other breeds are known colloquially as Bulldogs, including various pit bull varieties, the French Bulldog, and the American Bulldog.
Care and upkeep
Bulldogs require more care than most breeds. They are prone to more health problems than most breeds due to their short muzzle and flattened facial structure. Bulldogs are prone to overheating, especially in warm environments and under circumstances where they can overexert themselves. The Bulldog’s shortened muzzle makes the breed especially prone to brachycephalic syndrome—a condition in which the nostril openings (nares) are too small, the soft palate is elongated, and tissue in the airway may partially obstruct airflow. When the dog pants, these tissues can swell, further obstructing airflow and reducing the dog’s ability to cool itself. To prevent overheating, Bulldog owners should provide air conditioning in the home and car and travel with fans and ice packs in summer in case of a vehicle breakdown.
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- Also called: English Bulldog, British Bulldog, Sourmug
- Area of origin: 13th-century England
- Breed group: Nonsporting
- Height at withers: 13–15 inches (33–38 cm)
- Weight: 40–50 pounds (18–23 kg)
- Life span: 8-10 years
- Did you know?: The Bulldog is considered a symbol of Great Britain, and it is frequently associated with Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who was known as the “British Bulldog.” Winston and Churchill are the two of the most popular names for Bulldogs. Churchill himself owned a Bulldog named Dodo.
Extra care must also be taken when placing Bulldogs under anesthesia. Unlike other breeds, Bulldogs are unable to maintain passive respiration, so other measures must be used, such as stimulating the Bulldog’s upper airway muscles to maintain the animal’s breathing rate. Bulldogs should be monitored near open water, since most of them cannot swim, and they can drown easily.
Maintaining a Bulldog’s coat, however, is simple and requires only occasional brushing and bathing. Since the folds of skin within the wrinkles can remain damp, they can facilitate bacteria and yeast infections. These wrinkles should be kept clean and dry to prevent skin infections and bad odors.
A Bulldog requires little exercise. A short daily walk or a robust play session in the house or yard may be all that is needed. In warm weather, owners should curtail outings or shift exercise sessions to cooler times of the day. The Bulldog is a medium-size breed, albeit a heavy, thickset one that should be fed a high-quality dog food appropriate for the breed’s size and age. Research has shown that such foods result in a slower growth rate, which is associated with a reduced risk of hip dysplasia and possibly other joint disorders.
Temperament
Despite its bullbaiting roots, the modern Bulldog is considered to be a peace-loving breed. Many generations of selective breeding have created a mild-mannered companion that is gentle with both children and seniors, good with other animals, and generally (but not always) good with other dogs. It does, however, retain the stubbornness and bravery born from its bullbaiting past. The modern Bulldog is a jovial, even comical, dog that loves to entertain an audience. While affectionate, it is more likely to demonstrate its affection by wiggling and jumping rather than by licking or snuggling.
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The breed learns easily, and it can be taught to perform tricks, including skateboarding. It enjoys balls and other toys, but it is not much of a retriever. Despite spending much of its day lazing about, the Bulldog can enjoy brief, but not sustained, bursts of activity. It makes an unreliable guard dog or watchdog. It is not generally a barker, and, whereas its fierce expression may scare off intruders, it is likely to sleep through a break-in.
These are well established and widely accepted generalizations about the breed. Individual dogs may differ in behavior and temperament.