All About the English Bulldog

The English bulldog is now a loving pet that brings charm and warmth into many homes. However, this was not always the case! The bulldog was originally bred and trained to be used in Bullbaiting, a sport which was popular in England and most parts of Europe in the 1200s until the 1800s. The English bulldog had to be tough, strong and ferocious in order to survive the dangerous fights they were made to participate in. Through years of careful selection and deliberate breeding of strong survivors, one of the most popular breeds of dogs was created.

The English bulldog is perhaps one of the easiest breeds to identify, with its peculiar wrinkled face that can only be loved by a devoted parent or a true lover of dogs. The bulldog has a small stature, standing at about 12 to 15 inches tall, to the shoulder. However, they are quite heavy with the mature male weighing about 50 pounds and the females weighing about 40 pounds.

Temperament According to the American Kennel Club, the English bulldog’s disposition is expected to be “equable and kind, resolute and courageous (not vicious or aggressive), and demeanor should be pacific and dignified.” It is important to note that the temperament of the English bulldog will be influenced by a number of factors including but not limited to training, environment, socialization and heredity.

Generally, this dog is known for its courage (which makes it a good guard dog), occasional stubbornness, laziness and friendly nature. The bulldog is sociable and kind, and since their appearance easily scares intruders, they do not bark as much as other breeds. The English bulldog is not a lively dog and would rather sit beside you and observe the world than go running around in the yard. However, due to poor socialization, not all bulldogs have this nice temperament and such can be quite difficult to handle. Therefore, if you are considering getting a bulldog, it is best that you get a puppy with nice parents and do your best to bring your puppy up to have good social skills and to be a nice dog.

Energy Levels and Traits Generally, English bulldogs are laid back and are more likely to sleep than get into trouble. Also, they do not require much attention and they make good apartment pets since they do not need a lot of room to run around in. They have a daily exercise requirement of about 20 to 40 minutes and prefer to just eat and fall asleep right after the meal.

They have a high tendency to snore and drool; they are greedy eaters known to be prone to experiencing flatulence (ruh-roh!). They are very sensitive to weather conditions; they get cold easily and may experience breathing difficulties at high temperature. Therefore, they are best suited to temperate climates.

They have short coats which need little grooming and they do not shed as much as other dogs. They are prone to skin infections especially on the face.

According to statistics provided by the AKC, English bulldogs were the 5th most popular dog in the U.S in 2013. They are the most popular breed in Los Angeles.
A large percentage of bulldogs cannot swim.
Some English bulldogs can jump up to seven feet in the air.
The bulldog’s large head makes it difficult for them to give birth naturally, therefore most have to undertake caesarean section.
These dogs guard their food jealously. They should not be fed around children or other pets.
They do not like being teased, pinched or treated roughly.
The bulldog is a popular mascot of many sport teams.
Bulldogs are banned from many airline flights due to the fact that many of them die in flights because of their respiratory and heat regulation problems.
Bulldogs have a comic, cartoon-like swagger.
Bulldogs have average intelligence and can be trained to react to words.

Whether you currently have an English bulldog or are considering bringing one into your family, we hope this article gave you a little more insight into this unique breed! What’s your favorite breed of dog? We’d love to hear about it!