Bulldog

Bulldog

Other names	British Bulldog Bulldog
Country of origin	England
Traits
Classification & standards FCI Group 2 Section 2 #149 standard AKC Non-sporting standard ANKC Group 7 (Non-Sporting) standard KC (UK) Utility standard NZKC Non-sporting standard

The Bulldog, colloquially known as the British Bulldog, is a foaming type of dog that originated in England.

Description

Appearance

Purebred 6 month-old puppy from AKC Champion bloodlines

The Bulldog comes in a variety of colours and ideally has a smooth, short coat. The only disqualifier for the breed in the show ring is a liver colored nose, although black-coated bulldogs are not preferred. In the US, the size of a typical mature male is about 50 pounds; that for mature females is about 40 pounds. In the United Kingdom, the breed standard is 55 pounds for a male and 50 pounds for a female, but it is not uncommon for males to be 70 pounds.

Temperament

A nine month old white female

Despite their famous "sourmug" expression, bulldogs are generally docile although can prove to be very fast movers at times. They are friendly and gregarious but occasionally willful.

Breeders have worked to breed aggression out of the breed, and as such the dog is known to be of generally good temperament.

Bulldogs can be so attached to home and family that they will not venture out of the yard without a human companion. Due to their friendly nature bulldogs are known for getting along well with children, other dogs and pets.

A bulldog is suitable for houses as well as apartments due to their size and susceptibility to the weather. They are easily trainable as compared with many other breeds.

Health

A bulldog's skull - notice the characteristic underbite (technically called mandibular prognathism)

Adult female bulldog with underbite

The bulldog's appearance contributes to specific health issues. Breathing issues can be prevalent in the breed due to the shape and the shortness of muzzle. In particular, bulldogs are known to snore loudly. In the United Kingdom, some dogs can be prone to interstitial cysts, which are cysts which form between the toes. These cause the dog some discomfort, though they are treatable either by vet or an experienced owner. Other problems can include cherry eye, certain allergies, and among older bulldogs hip issues.

Because of the large heads in proportion to body size, puppies are frequently delivered by Caesarean section as they can get stuck in the birth canal during natural birth. However, it is not uncommon for a bulldog to whelp naturally and successfully.

Bulldogs require daily cleaning of their face folds to avoid unwanted infections caused by moisture accumulation. Daily teeth brushing with a regular human soft toothbrush using a vet approved toothpaste is also recommended.

Like all dogs, bulldogs require daily exercise. If not properly exercised the bulldog could gain weight, which could cause health problems relating to the lungs and heart. Bulldogs are extremely sensitive to heat and cold and great care should be given to the dog during overly warm periods. During these times, the owner should ensure that the dog has plenty of shade and water, and should be ideally kept out of standing heat.

As the breed has developed, the tail in some dogs can be tight to the body and can cause infection if not treated or cleaned underneath regularly.

History

The term "bulldog" was first used around 1568 and might have been applied to various ancestors of modern bulldog breeds. Bulldogs were bred in England as a cross between the mastiff and the pug.^[1]

In the 1600s, bulldogs were used for bullbaiting (as well as bearbaiting), a gambling sport popular in the 17th century with wagers laid in which trained bulldogs leapt at a bull lashed to a post, latched onto its snout and attempted to suffocate it.^[2] Bulldogs were not needed after these sports were outlawed, and so the original athletic bulldog was crossed with pug. The outcome was a shorter, wider dog with a brachycephalic skull. Though today's bulldog looks tough, he cannot perform the job he was originally created for, as he cannot withstand the rigors of running and being thrown from a bull, and cannot grip with such a short muzzle.

The oldest single breed specialty club is The Bulldog Club (England), which was formed in 1875. Members of this club met frequently at the Blue Post pub on Oxford Street in London. There they wrote the first standard of perfection for the breed. In 1891 the two top bulldogs, Orry and Dockleaf, competed in a contest to see which dog could walk the farthest. Orry was reminiscent of the original bulldogs, lighter boned and very athletic. Dockleaf was smaller and heavier set, more like modern bulldogs. Dockleaf was declared the winner that year. Although some argued that the older version of the bulldog was more fit to perform, the modern version’s looks won over the fans of the breed because they proved they were equally as fit and athletic in the walking competition.

A Female British Bulldog.

Popular mascot

Main article: List of Bulldog mascots

Because of its tenacity, the bulldog is a symbol of the United Kingdom in general and England in particular and is a popular mascot of dozens of universities and high schools throughout the United States of America. The bulldog is the unofficial mascot of the United States Marine Corps.

See also

• Molosser
• Companion dog
• Companion Dog Group
• Utility Group
• Non-Sporting Group

References

External links

Bulldog rescue

Breed Information

• Bulldog Information
• History of the Bulldog
• Bulldog History: the extinction

General bulldog information

• Cascade Bulldog Rescue/Rehome Inc Breed help, information, and adoption
• Bulldog Club of America Rescue Network
• Bulldog Abbie; Mascot and Ambassador for the English Bulldog