English Bulldog

Today, the English Bulldog is a popular breed of dogs, possessing a determined and self-assured yet docile and sweet temperament and unique appearance. These dogs originated in England, descending from old-time Mastiff-type butcher dogs. The Olde English Bulldogge is believed to be the direct ancestor of the modern English Bulldog.

The Olde English Bulldogge was much larger in size, and had a vicious temperament. Those early English Bulldogs were bred and trained to fight animals much larger than themselves, so breeders strove to cultivate a number of physical traits allowing the dog to withstand serious strains and sustain heavy blows and kicks. Therefore, those dogs were supposed to have broad heads, strong mandibles that would close in a death grip, and sturdy body built. With the outlawing of bull-baiting and dog-fighting in 1835, those dogs seemed to have lost their designation, and the breed disappeared by the late 1800s. However, breeders refused to put up with the loss of that unique breed and took efforts to revive it. They decided to make their dogs less aggressive, laying an emphasis on the dog’s companion’s qualities. As a result, a new version of the English Bulldog was developed.

The today’s English Bulldog stands 11-14 inches high at the withers, and weighs 53-55 lbs. He has a heavily-muscled body, featuring a broad and deep chest, short and powerful limbs and a very broad head with undershot lower jaw. The coat is short and smooth, and it comes in red, brindle, fawn, white, brown, or any combination of these colors. The teeth are very large and strong, the mandibles are powerful. The skin on the muzzle forms folds, and there are flews at the sides of the muzzle. The eyes are round and dark. The ears are small, folded or rose-shaped.

English Bulldogs are not long-lived, their life expectancy averaging 8-10 years. They are susceptible to a number of genetic diseases, such as hip dysplasia, cancer, epilepsy and intestinal problems. These dogs are very sensitive to cold and are extremely prone to overheating. Despite their external sturdiness, they are not very active and strain easily. For this reason, they should not be exposed to hard physical work or excessive exercise. Due to their large heads, English Bulldogs are susceptible to birth difficulties.

English Bulldogs are kind-hearted and people-oriented companion dogs. They are not vicious and can get on well with other pets, if socialized properly. English Bulldogs are great companions for well-behaved children. They like to play with people, and they hate boredom. Dogs that are often left alone for a long time tend to develop separation anxiety, which often results in extremely noisy and destructive behavior. The modern English Bulldog has nothing to do with any bloody sport like bull baiting or dog fighting.