All Dogs Welcome

This is not the English Bulldog, which is slightly different in appearance, nor is it the American Bulldog, which is quite different in appearance.  It is, simply, The Bulldog, as defined by the American Kennel Club standard.  The standards for the English Bulldog, as defined by the United Kennel Club are, though similar, somewhat different.

The Bulldog mug is the most well known mug in all of dogdom. 

This is a medium sized dog with a thick, massive body, square or broad head and short sturdy legs.  The dog displays a short, upturned muzzle topped by a broad, black nose with wide nostrils.   There are usually skin folds forming wrinkles along the brow.  There is a large upper jaw and the lower jaw is undershot with thick hanging or 'pendant' chops.  The 'rose ears' fold inward at the back edge with the upper portion curving over and falling forward. 

At first glance the Bulldog give an impression of stregnth and dominance.  Then you'll notice the soft, loose skin, and when the dog moves, the shuffling and rolling gait which appear to be in conflict with the overall appearance of the dog.  

Though the original Bulldogs of Great Britain were bred to be ferocious bull baiters this quality has been bred out of these dogs.  The Bulldog is now one of the most loyal and affectionate of all dogs.  It is a gentle being that is very affectionate with its people with a docile and mellow - if not down right lazy - demeanor.  It is good with children and cautiously friendly with strangers.  The caution comes from its desire to assure nothing happens to its family.
The jovial and clownish personality of the Bulldog belies its gruff and rough appearance.  But the patience and natural affection of the bully is actually evident in its expression.
The Bulldog is strong, courageous and powerful, but seldom aggressive, especially toward people.  The Bulldog is sometimes intolerant of other dogs but can be socialized to do well with other family pets.

The Bulldog does not need strenuous activity.  A daily walk will satisfy this breed's canine instinct to migrate and investigate and is, in fact sufficient exercise for the dog. Allowing the dog to satisfy his curiosity will also result in a better behaved dog.

While the Bulldog may play 'hand games' or fetch in the house for short periods, do not expect this dog to go for a long jog or to jump great heights. The Bulldog should not be allowed to become overheated when playing or even when walking at a slow place.  Take care to have water available for this pet.

The short, smooth coat of the Bulldog requires little grooming.  A regular brushing and occasional bath are sufficient.  But you must keep all of the skin folds and wrinkles clean and dry to avoid irritation and possible painful infections of the skin.

All breeds of dogs are subject to certain health concerns.  Those that most commonly afflict the Bulldog include: allergies, brachycephalic syndrome, eye problems, elongated soft palate, hip dysplasia, and cherry eye. 

If not properly exercised it is possible for a Bulldog to become overweight, which could lead to heart and lung problems, as well as joint issues.

Bulldogs are inclined to skin fold dermatitis unless all wrinkles are kept clean and dry.

Bulldogs often experience complications during pregnancy and delivery.  Puppies are frequently delivered by a veterinarian via Cesarean section because the large heads of the puppies can become lodged in the mother's birth canal during a natural birth.

The leading causes of death for Bulldogs are cardiac related (20%), cancers (18%) and old age (9%). Those that died of old age had an average life span of 10 to 11 years.

Bulldogs are incredible companions.  They will love you with all their heart and look at you in a way that convinces you that you are the only thing that matters in all the world.  Doesn't that sound incredible!  But, they snore, snort, wheeze and drool.  They are also messy eaters that are well known for having flatulence.  You might just go ahead and name the dog 'stinky.'

If that's not enough to make you fall in love the Bulldog ranks 78th out of 80 in 'Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs.'  The Bully is not often seen competing in obedience trials nor is he likely to be successful in agility competitions.  But they are great show dogs!

But you want a dog that will love you - right?  Responsible breeders worked very hard over several generations to breed the 'bully' out of the Bulldog. Not only is the Bulldog incredibly loyal and affectionate, but this breed craves and requires human interaction.  In fact, Bulldogs can become so attached to home and family that they will not venture out of the yard without a human companion.  But please don't assume this is true of your dog and leave him in an unfenced yard without supervision.

And about those charming good looks.  At a glance this appears to be an intimidating dog.  The common under-bite may even frighten people who think the dog is showing his teeth!  And the snorting and wheezing, well that can be mistaken for aggressive panting or even growling.  But while your Bulldog may look like a watchdog, the truth is that he isn't likely to do much more that watch unless he feels that his family is threatened.

This tough guy cannot be expected to be an outdoor pet.  The Bulldog has a very short muzzle that restricts his breathing. Exerting too much energy in hot and/or humid weather could be harmful to your Bulldog. Excessive panting could increase phlegm buildup in the throat causing the tissues to swell. Keep plenty of water and ice on hand in hot weather, and take precautions to prevent your dog from getting too hot.

Bulldogs can be a bit stubborn and difficult to train.

The tenacity of the Bulldog has made it a very popular mascot.  It is a symbol of the United Kingdom, the official mascot of the United States Marine Corps. and is the most popular mascot for professional sports teams, colleges and universities, secondary schools, military institutions and many organizations and corporations. 

Check out Wikipedia's  ever growing list of bulldog mascots.

The Bulldog has been extraordinarily popular as an animated character.  Some of the most famous animated bulldogs include:

• Butch the Bulldog was introduced in a Pluto cartoon
• Francis the bulldog was an outstanding character in the Disney production Oliver and Company
• Hector the muscle bound Bulldog is an animated character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series
• Spike, the swearer wearing Bulldog made famous in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies
• Marc Antony is another animated Bulldog  made famous in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies
• Spike, also referred to as Butch or Killer is an animated character from the Tom and Jerry series

Since the Bulldog is a low maintenance pet with minimal exercise requirements he will make a great apartment pet.  Just don't forget the daily walk!  But your Bully Buddy will also be very happy in a home with a backyard.

If you happen to have a stubborn or somewhat aggressive bulldog it is imperative that a human assume the alpha role and take charge.  This will help the Bulldog to understand his position in the 'pack' and keep him in good standing with people and other pets.  Do not allow your dog to display either aggressive or 'guarding' behavior.  This will add stress to his life and yours.  The Bulldog, like most other dogs, is happiest when in knows its position in the family and does not feel the need to be on guard.

The bulldogs origins are definetly tied to Great Britain.  Though, as already mentioned he bears no resemblence to the original bulldogs of the 1300's, he is unquestionably a descendant of these dogs, such as the Olde English Bulldogge and possibly of the Asiatc Mastiff.

All Bulldogs were originally bred and raisedfor the sport Bull Baiting.  Some were even used in the sport of Bear Baiting.  When these activities were outlawed an attempt was made to have bulldogs pit fight against each other.  However, the dogs were not inclined to copperate at this activity.  After the Cruelty to Animal Laws were successfully passed in Great Britain the popularity of the Bulldog plummetted.   But fanciers of the breed kept the Bulldog going as a companion dog and attempts were made to breed out the ferocity in favor of a gentle disposition.  The dogs natural affection and loyalty were brought to the forefront, and this personality coupled with his unmistakable look brought the Bulldog back to popularity as a pet and companion.

AKC, Non Sporting Group
CKC, Mastiff Group
UKC, Companion Group

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR, DRA, NAPR

View a list and pictures of designer breeds based on the Bulldog.