The English bulldog is a dog with an unmistakable appearance. Robust and short, he has a fierce appearance (due to his origins), although his character is usually affectionate and calm They are ideal for those families in which they are dedicated special attention to pets, since it is a dog that needs to be in constant contact with its owners.
Furthermore, the dogs of this breed are considered very faithful because it is very difficult to make an English bulldog change owners, but they are also characterized by being quite possessive with food or toys, so if you want to adopt one of these little animals, on our site we show you their main characteristics so that you can get to know them a little better.
Origin of the English bulldog
The English bulldog is descended from dogs that were used to drive, corral and attack bulls and cows in Great Britain. These customs gave rise to dog fighting with bulls and other large animals, but fortunately this cruel "sport" was banned as early as the 19th century.
When dogfighting with bulls was banned, the bulldog lost popularity among the English and gradually disappeared. Some English immigrants living in the United States maintained the breed with few changes, giving rise to the ancestors of the American bulldog. However, in England, the original bulldog was crossed with smaller and less aggressive dogs, modifying its form to the one it has today.
Today's English bulldog is not the aggressive dog capable of dealing with bulls, but an animal that, although fierce in appearance, is a companion. His current size and morphology do not allow him to do intense work, and his affectionate nature has earned him the position of pet in thousands of homes where he is one of the family.
Characteristics of the English bulldog
The breed standard does not indicate a predetermined size, but the bulldog usually has a height at the withers close to 40 centimeters. The weight, which is indicated in the standard, is around 25 kilograms for males and 23 kilograms for females.
This is a dog of heavy build, short stature and short hair At first glance you can see that it is a broad, powerful and compact. The bulldog's head is large in proportion to its body and features subtle wrinkles on both the forehead and cheeks. The stop is deep and wide. The neck, thick and strong, has abundant dewlap. The face of the English bulldog is without a doubt its most distinctive feature. It is short and has a broad blunt snout, sloping upwards with obvious prognathism. In theory, this morphology helps the dog to bite without letting go of the prey, but it is unlikely to be the case and, in fact, it is not a common morphology in natural predators. Either way, the myth lives on. The round, medium-sized eyes are set well apart from each other and are very dark, almost black. They should not be sunken or protruding. On the other hand, the high set ears are small, thin and rose-shaped. The English bulldog's lips hang to the sides, but not in the front. The nose is wide and black. The jaws are wide, very strong and square, with the lower one extending in front of the upper one and turning up.
The short and well-structured body must not show a tendency to obesity. The posterior region is tall and strong, but clearly lighter than the anterior region, which is very robust. The chest is broad, rounded and deep, continuing into a retracted, never hanging abdomen. The limbs are strong, muscular and robust. Females are less developed than males. The top line forms a smooth arch, the loin being higher than the withers. It is called cockroach back and is typical of this breed. The low-set tail is of moderate to short length, rounded, thick at the base and ending in a fine point. The bulldog generally carries it low, and should never carry it above the level of the top line.
The fine, short, close-fitting, straight coat of these dogs may be solid in color (whole body one color) or sooty (whole body the same color, but with a black mask and muzzle), brindle, bay, fawn, red, white, or split (white with a combination of the above colors).
The movement of the English bulldog is also very characteristic. The ride is heavy, with short, quick steps on the tips of the fingers. The rear feet barely rise and seem to brush the ground. According to the breed standard "no part of the bulldog's body should be excessive in size in relation to the others, thus breaking the overall symmetry, making the dog look deformed or interfering with its ability to move", but this is debatable. Although the English bulldog is a morphologically symmetrical dog, its structure can be considered by many as deformed and can impair the ability to move to a certain extent.
English bulldog character
The bulldog is a determined, strong, alert, brave and loyal dog. According to the breed standard, it must also be an active animal, but adult bulldogs are usually calm. This dog demands a lot of attention and is not an animal that should be left alone for long periods. It forms intense bonds with its human family and it is difficult (although not impossible) for it to change hands.
His fierce appearance often gives the wrong impression. These dogs tend to be affectionate, calm and quiet, but they are also tenacious when they want something. They are usually very patient with children and generally make excellent pets, but they are not very active dogs. Of course, it is not necessary to think that by the mere fact of belonging to the breed, a dog will have all these characteristics. The character is variable from one individual to another and depends a lot on the conditions in which the dog lives and has lived.
When the bulldog gets angry though, he is an animal to be feared. When defending his territory, his family or his possessions, he is a brave dog and capable of causing a lot of damage. For this reason, it is very important to socialize it from a puppy and educate it in good manners and canine obedience. One of the things that can trigger bulldog aggression is competition for food and toys. These dogs have a tendency to be possessive, so they must be prevented from becoming guardians of resources. Obedience training and especially self-control exercises help a lot in this. On the other hand, this characteristic can be used to make the English bulldog a good guardian of the house. Not being a compulsive barker, this dog can raise the alarm when really needed, and his appearance can deter many. However, its very physical structure makes it not an ideal protection dog.
As an adult, the bulldog can be aggressive with other dogs, especially if they are of the same sex, and with other pets. However, when properly socialized, he can get along with other dogs and other pets. Either way, many owners of this breed prefer to have their dogs spayed to reduce the chance of fighting.
English bulldog care
Heat is a he alth risk for the English bulldog. The extremely flattened face has an effect on the dog's respiratory tract and makes breathing difficult when the bulldog is agitated and, consequently, when it is very hot. Moderate exercise is good for your bulldog to keep fit, but intense exercise can be a risk factor, especially in hot weather. Of course, never leave a bulldog or other dog in a closed car because of the risk of thermal shock. This is not a dog for intense exercise. You are not going to win an agility championship with your English bulldog… unless only dogs of this breed compete. However, he does need daily walks to exercise and socialize with people and other dogs. On the other hand, the bulldog is not a dog to live in the garden. It does not resist climatic variations well, so it must live inside the house. In addition, its great need for company makes it unsuitable for living in the garden. The good news is that he is a cleaner dog than other breeds and is not very active. The bad news is that can be very slimy
This dog sheds regularly, so it needs to be brushed frequently. However, his coat is easy to maintain. brushing two or three times a week is usually enough. In addition, the wrinkles and folds that form on the face, neck and tail should be cleaned with a soft, damp cloth or a soft damp sponge. Then you have to dry with a dry and soft cloth.
English bulldog education
The English Bulldog learns easily when trained using positive methods, such as clicker training. However, when dog training is based on traditional techniques and dominance theory, a lot of conflict is created and the dog does not respond well. Regardless of the method used to train him, do not expect the bulldog to respond as quickly to commands as a more athletic dog (a boxer or Belgian Malinois, for example).
English Bulldog He alth
Due to the intense and poorly planned artificial selection to which it has been subjected, this breed presents many hereditary diseases and other problems of He alth. Among the diseases that are common in the English bulldog are hip and elbow dysplasia, keratoconjunctivitis, respiratory problems, entropion, ectropion, cataracts, elongated palate, inverted tail, skin problems and gastric torsion. Of course, other dog diseases can also occur, depending on the care each animal receives and its particular genotype.
A relatively frequent problem, derived from the flattened face of the English bulldog, is respiratory distress. The exaggerated shortening of the face has led many current bulldogs to have respiratory problems, even though the standard indicates that this is undesirable.
On the other hand, the difference in mass between females and males, added to the fact that the back of the body is light while the front is heavy, makes it difficult for these dogs to reproduce. Human assistance is often required both during mating and during delivery.
