Bulldog, English Bulldog
Tuesday, October 17th, 2006
Bulldog Appearance: The Bulldog, or English Bulldog is a small to medium sized dog breed that has a wide and stocky appearance. It has a big head and short muzzle. They have a black nose and big nostrils and smaller ears that fold back. The skin on their head is wrinkled and falls down and gives them a frowning expression. They have a short tail that lays low. The coat of the Bulldog is short, straight and smooth and has a color of red, red brindle, piebald, fawn, brindle, white, fallow, light yellow or a combination of two or more of these colors. The Bulldog has short, stocky legs and a muscular body and has an average height of 12 to 16 inches. Because of the stocky nature of the Bulldog, they tend to waddle when the walk.
Bulldog Temperament: When you think of a Bulldog, you might think of a very intimidating breed that will chase you down and attack you. This is not the case with the Bulldog. Despite the intimidating look it has, the Bulldog is a very gentle dog breed and an excellent companion. They are good with children and other pets they have been brought up with, although they may have problems with pets they do not know well. The Bulldog loves human attention but does not need a lot of exercise compared to other dog breeds. The Bulldog makes an excellent companion and is loyal, dependable, affectionate and makes a great watch dog as well.
Bulldog Health: The Bulldog has a weight range from 40 to 55 pounds and has a life expectancy of 8 to 10 years. Because of the flat face of the Bulldog, it is prone to breathing problems. The Bulldog is sensitive to heat and cold, so use some common sense in this area. Skin infections can be an issue because of the wrinkles on the Bulldog’s face - keep the wrinkles clean and dry to minimize this problem. Bulldog puppies are usually delivered by Caesarean section due to their large heads. Bulldogs have a pretty active digestive system, so keep this in mind if your nose is sensitive (if ya know what I mean). Other health concerns include eye problems,
hip and knee problems, CHD, KCS and elongated soft palate.
History of the Bulldog: The English Bulldog, or Bulldog descended from the Asiatic mastiff and was developed in Great Britain. In the past, the Bulldog was used in the cruel sport called bull-baiting, in which bulls, bears and other animals were tied up while Bulldogs attacked them. Thankfully, the sport of bull-baiting was outlawed in the ninteenth century. After bull-baiting was outlawed, the breed became quite scarce, but fanciers of the breed wanted to keep the breed around and decided to make a much nicer Bulldog by selective breeding. Today the Bulldog is a very nice and friendly dog breed. A lot of people that are unfamiliar with Bulldogs may be intimidated by them as they are often portrayed as symbols of agression. The bulldog is a mascot for the U.S. Marines, Yale University and the University of Georgia.
Bulldog Breed Group: Mastiff, AKC Non-Sporting
Bulldog Video: Check out Tyson, the skateboarding bulldog!
Are you the proud owner of a Bulldog? Please leave a comment below to add your thoughts about this dog breed. Also, if you have a web site or video featuring your Bulldog, leave that as well.