The English Bulldog is calm , surefooted and loving . Their coat is low maintenance and come in a passel of gorgeous colours and patterns . With a classifiable thick set body and wide pass , their iconic look has earn them a lot of devotee .
But unluckily , this precious face and body comes a legion of health problem and a very short life-time of around 6 years .
What’s in this Guide to the Bulldog:
English Bulldog FAQs
Our readers ’ most popular and frequently asked questions about the Bulldog .
Keen to teach more , here are the vital statistics !
Breed At A Glance
Those are the agile fact , now permit ’s dive into the details .
English Bulldog Breed Review: Contents
The Bulldog we know and bed these days is a far cry from their ancestor .
Let ’s take a expression at how they ’ve shift over prison term .
History and original purpose of the English Bulldog
As their name advise , the Bulldog was originally multiply for the summercater of bull - baiting .
This was an body process where dog were set upon a tethered bull , and bets lay on their survival .
As a outcome , these were physically very fit , strong , and probably quite ferocious dogs to deal with this horrendous ‘ game ’ .
you may see a house painting of a Bulldog from 1790 here .
He does n’t expect a nifty deal like the modern Bulldog of today .
cop bait become illegal in 1835 , and the strain was kept alive by some enthusiasts , who began selectively breeding the ancestors of our modern firedog .
And there were some changes to the original invention of the dog .
Some claim that the original Bulldogs were crossed with Pugs , which explains the receding muzzle and their small size of it .
Others dispute that this bump or was even potential .
Whatever the process involved , today ’s English Bulldog is a very different dog indeed to the fighting simple machine we see in previous painting .
Show Bulldogs emerged
The breed has remain to shift in appearance over the last fifty yr or so .
The image below show the changes that have take place in the skull .
These variety have uprise as a termination of selective training .
Along with a convert interpretation of the breed banner in the show ring .
Basically , the more time drop dead the more their features have been exaggerated .
Bulldog breeder have come into a tidy sum of criticism in the last few age .
The public has become more aware of the potentially harmful effects their structure has on their wellness .
Although some breeders are now examine to bring back a more restrained shape , there is a long way to go .
English Bulldog appearance
This is an iconic hotdog , with a very characteristic look .
The modern day Bulldog is backbreaking - set , with a broad skull .
His eyes baby-sit low in his face and his muzzle is short with a tipped back nozzle .
The rim hang low around his oral fissure .
His jaw is undershot , causing his bottom teeth to protrude over the upper teeth .
And his body is broad , deep and has thick limb .
His fag end is curled .
Bulldog size
These are medium sized dogs in footing of their height . However they are by no means modest .
An adult Bulldog can librate around 50 lbs or more .
fair weight for a female should be around 40lbs , with males weigh closer to 50lbs .
Being heavy is very bad for your andiron , and you should keep your Bulldog slim with a tucked in tummy .
Bulldog colors
Bulldogs fall in a range of colors , but are likely to be one of the following :
Or a combination of two or three of the above .
They can also have a all-inclusive variety of marker .
have a smuggled masque or tip . Being brindle , piebald or ticked across their body .
They can also have white markings in places .
English Bulldog temperament
A far cry from their fighting road , Bulldog temperament is known to be calm , brave and friendly .
They are convinced pawl , who are fast and affectionate to their crime syndicate .
Although they have been bred as fighting dogs in the past , innovative Bulldogs are not generally fast-growing towards humans .
They are friendly and loving in nature .
A preferent Bulldog will be a playful , active pup to have in the planetary house .
This magic puppy will then in all likeliness grow into a unagitated , friendly older companion .
Training and exercising your English Bulldog
This stock responds well to positive reinforcement training technique . They are strong willed blackguard .
As a result it is easier to motivate them using wages than to recur to aversives .
These intelligent dogs love to watch . And as Bulldogs can not cope with much physical exercise , go along their judgment officious and set-aside is especially of import .
Socialization
Socialisation to a range of people , animals and localization will help your dog to bear that innate confidence on into adulthood .
check that that your puppy has positivistic experience around other frank and becomes familiar with any other types of pet he might get together .
Due to their crusade domestic dog heritage , some Bulldogs can still be wary of other heel .
get them to meet lot of andiron when they are still in the period of socialization will aid to reduce the likelihood of this becoming a problem for your puppy later on on .
Bulldog exercise
Some individuals are more fighting than others .
Although they would all fuck to have a good walk or play each day , many are not physically capable of hook with anything above a very low point of exercise .
It all depends on the severity of their respiratory problems .
But if you want a detent to take jogging , tramp or out in the blistering conditions , a Bulldog is not a practiced choice for you .
This is a strain that does comfortably in cool climates and it is really of import that you do n’t exercise a your dog in hot weather .
Or let him rest out in direct fair weather on a lovesome solar day .
Splashing around in weewee may help to keep them cool , but birth in intellect that many Bulldogs can not swim at all , due to their conformation .
English Bulldog health and care
As you ’ve credibly sadly realized by now , Bulldog health is really very poor .
The Bulldog ’s unusual show is due to its profoundly shortened gag and undershot backtalk .
The body is also heavyset , with extensive spaced leg and is often furnished with a tiny corkscrew ass .
All of these breed characteristics alas go hand in hand with some very serious health issues .
Brachycephaly
These are profoundlybrachycephalic dogs .
Brachycephaly means that the facial bones have been radically shorten , comparative to the proportionsof the dog .
Humans like the visual aspect of brachycephalic dogs , probably because it makes the dog attend more like us . More human .
We find that kind of precious .
But it comes at a punishing price for the wiener .
Breathing problem , dental problems , eye problem , all these derive from the shape of the bulldog ’s head .
But that is just the beginning .
bulldog also have from back problems , coxa problems , whelping problems and more .
All as a termination of their body structure .
On top of all that , like most other breeds , there are a range of inherited disorders to consider .
get ’s start by looking at the detent ’s breathing .
Face shape
The cardinal issue with this particular dog ’s case is that we humans have created a dog with a very shortened skull .
But that all the other ‘ tissue ’ is still much the same as it would be for a dog with normal facial bones .
So , essentially we have a dog with the facial tissue necessary to cover and line a normal dog ’s gun muzzle , but with nowhere to put it .
in spite of appearance or out .
And that causes a lot of trouble for the frump .
Bulldog breathing problems
The soft palate inside the Bulldog ’s mouth may not fit the outer space available , leaving it to image into the dog ’s airway at the back , partially kibosh it .
Their nostril may be closed rather than undetermined ( stenosed ) , and the air lane itself may be too lowly . Sleep apnea in the stock is very rough-cut .
This event in a dog that has a compromise ability to breathe . So much so in some cases , that he may require major surgical operation to enable him to breath freely .
Not only does the shortened face track to breathing problem , the insipid - faced dog is also unable to cool himself efficaciously .
This is because dogs misplace heat through puff .
And the efficiency of this high temperature loss is pendant on the expanse of moist tissue that extends along the duration of the normal canine muzzle .
Bulldog cooling problems
A dog ’s cool down process is contain when their gag is too short .
It ’s a bit like you taking a normal radiator out of your living room and replace it with a much small one .
A dog ’s gag is his radiator .
So a flat - faced dog turn a loss less warmth too than he should , and as a result his torso overheats as soon as he starts to work out or as soon as the weather warm up .
The Bulldog breed council have important selective information onthis pageabout maintain your wienerwurst cool in hot atmospheric condition .
Dental disasters
Brachycephalic domestic dog have just as many tooth as other dog . But less space to put them in .
accordingly they endure from overcrowding and have a expectant potentiality for radioactive decay .
If you have a Bulldog puppy , you call for to clean his teeth for him , and get them checked regularly by your veterinarian .
Eye problems
The English Bulldog ’s facial castanets are not long enough to stretch along out the skin on his brass , so the cutis fall into deep folds either side of his nose .
These folds can rub on the surface of the dog ’s eyes and make them sore .
The folds are also prone to collecting soil and becoming infected .
There ismore eye trouble ahead for the Bulldog puppythough .
Because his flattened skull result in shallow eye socket .
It is relatively easy to scratch or damage his eye as they jut from his head .
Cherry eye is very coarse in this breed .
Bulldog screw tails
As a result of their breeding , Bulldogs are prone to spinal problem caused bydeformities in their vertebrae .
you could read about this in some point in this article : Screw tails and hemivertebrae
Serious and painful back problem may arise in screw tailed puppy .
As a effect the tail themselves can become ingrown , or invert .
The skin folds around the hindquarters , and under the empennage itself need special concern and cleaning .
Bulldog mating and whelping problems
The body flesh of this strain can prevent them from naturally mating . Therefore insemination often has to be used or else .
Whelping is equally difficult , and most bulldog puppies these days are born by cesarean section .
It is so normally required in this strain , that itisn’t even covered by policy insurance .
This is reflect in the price of puppies available for sale .
Bladder stones
Bulldogs are prostrate to sore bladder stones , but there is now a DNA psychometric test available to render and screen all breeding line for this unpleasant disease .
If you are buy a bulldog pup , you need to ensure that the parent have been screened underthe schemefor this disease – called hyperuricosuria or HUU .
How long do English Bulldogs live?
Althoughthe life-time of the Bulldogis widely reported as being up to 10 years , this is sadly not the grammatical case .
A Kennel Club wellness survey from that looked at 180 Bulldog deaths , find that the fair lifespan of the breed was just over six old age .
Other studies have found them falling between 6 and 8 years .
This is a very short lifespan for a domestic dog .
Most of us incline to hope that our dogs will be around for ten year or more , at least .
As we have get word in this article , part of the problem for these dogs is that their conformity is badly designed . The other is down to genic disease .
Bulldogs problems are both outwardly visible and hidden inside . A very sorry combination , direct to a very curt life .
Care
Caring for this stock of dog can be a time consuming task because they are prone to dental problems and skin infection .
You will therefore want to check your dog ’s mouthpiece daily .
Look for any signs of tooth decay or unpleasant smells that could indicate gum or tooth problems .
Their hide folding are prostrate to infection too , and want to be kept scrupulously fair and dry .
You will need to make a regular ocular review of your dog-iron ’s facial folds , neck fold and the folds around his tail theme .
Wipe aside any dirt or debris with damp cotton woolen .
If your dog has a screw rear you will demand to houseclean this area carefully every single sidereal day .
Ensuring that it is scandal free and keep dry , to reduce the chances of nasty tegument infections developing here .
Grooming
English Bulldogs haveshort low maintenance pelage , which ask a brief brushwood once a calendar week at most .
Their fur is short , straight and tranquil .
With no curling or feather to it , it is easily managed with a normal frump brush .
Do English Bulldogs make good family pets?
This is a breed that tend to get along well with the minor they live with , and that enjoy being pet and played with .
They are almost all very affectionate with their families , including the smaller members .
However , as with any dog supervision around unseasoned children is vital .
This enables you to protect them both from accidentally hurting each other .
They also benefit from former enculturation , to give them the good chance of feel felicitous and surefooted around mass of any age .
However , they do n’t make good kin favourite when you take into account their dangerous health problems .
The heart ache , and expensive treatment , is enough to put many possible puppy parent off .
However , there is another option .
Rescuing an English Bulldog
At nowadays there is no path that I can in good moral sense recommend that you bribe a Bulldog pup .
These wienerwurst have endearing personalities . But the monetary value your puppy has to yield for his cute nature and iconic looks is very in high spirits .
These dogs are so structurally mentally ill that their tone of life is very poor , not to observe very short .
But that does n’t mean a Bulldog is out of your reach , because there are some loving , loyal dogs waiting for homes .
Rescuing an English Bulldog means you know the extent of their wellness problems too .
English Bulldog puppies
English Bulldog puppies are improbably cute .
They have rattling personalities and appearances that may citizenry find endearing . However , the breed in general is very unhealthy .
Even the best pedigree English Bulldog breeders will find it almost impossible to produce a pup that will live a long and felicitous life .
English Bulldog price
The price for one of these puppies might shock you a little .
Puppy cost is high-pitched for a issue of reasons . The main ones are popularity and the difficulty of breed these dogs .
As we have seen , Bulldogs can rarely give nascence course .
The breeder will have incur a vast c - section cost before the puppy have even arrived .
you’re able to anticipate to ante up between $ 1,000 – $ 3,000 for a puppy in the US .
In the UK the cost will be somewhere in the region of £ 2,000 – £ 4,000 .
Popular Bulldog mixes
Many mass are concerned about the handicap that we have bred into these blackguard .
Fortunately , there are a number of breeder render to create respectable alternative Breeds .
depend for wide-cut nostrils and less loose skin in your Bulldog Mix .
One notable example is the Leavitt Bulldog .
This is an effort to recreate the character of hound seen in our older painting above , but with a in effect temperament that more reflects the forward-looking dog ’s nature .
you could find out more about these dogshere
Levitt Bulldog or Victorian Bulldog breeds are a better options .
And there are some first generation mixture that are proving quite democratic too .
Comparing the English Bulldog with other breeds
The English Bulldog is a fair unparalleled breed in term of looks . One that it is often compared with is the lovely small French Bulldog .
But how do they stack up against similar personality ?
Similar breeds
deplorably , the severe health problems associated with this stock are off putt .
But there are some other lovely breeds which have some similar trait to the Bulldog , but are healthier in universal .
Still open ? Let ’s break it down to pros and cons !
Pros And Cons of Getting A English Bulldog
The English Bulldog has a marvelous personality .
But sadly there are more things to take into news report when choosing whether to bring one home .
Cons
Pros
bulldog need especial care , and the good products can facilitate with that .
Products and accessories
Here are some things you ’ll want to carry up on :
The good room to bring home a Bulldog is in all probability from a delivery center .
English Bulldog breed rescues
Rescuing is a great way to bring an English Bulldog into your family .
Here are some rescues you might want to ascertain out .
