History: The British Bulldog has been a symbol of Britain since the days of Winston Churchill associated with spirit and determination and seems fitting that this should be our November dog.
The original British Bulldog was traditionally bread for bull baiting hence the name, and was renowned for their strength and ferocious behaviour; however since the English outlaw of bull and bear baiting in the 1800’s the breed has been changed significantly. Now a much more placid animal renowned for its loving and clownish temperament, the original Bulldog has since been crossed with the Pug giving him a shortened and stout frame. It could no longer perform the baiting of the original Bulldog, the first standard for perfection in the breed was written in 1894.
Class: ??Utility (The Kennel Club)
Height: ?31-40cm
Weight (Standard):? Dog- 23kg / ?Bitch- 18kg
Average Lifespan: ?8-10 years
Appearance: The British or English Bulldog is a medium-sized breed. Typical appearance include a wide round head with a short muzzle accompanied by deep folds and wrinkles around the face typically with drooping lips and a characteristic under bite. The coat is short, tight to the body and typically coloured in red, fawn, white or brindle. The tail is naturally short and typically straight or corkscrewed. The Bulldog’s stance is proud having a muscular physique with wide strong shoulders and a narrow rear.
Temperament: Despite the British Bulldog having a somewhat intimidating appearance they are amongst the gentlest of dogs. They are extremely affectionate and dependable animals and love human attention and interaction. The Bulldog is a very head strong breed and like to do things their own way and in their own time, so training can be somewhat of a challenge at times. The Bulldog does make a good family pet and is happy spending lots of time sleeping and relaxing however can turn into a ball of energy when they so choose. Viewpoint by Sonny’s Owner, Aaron
The British Bulldog is one of the most iconic and recognisable breeds that people instantly seem attracted to, making walking them somewhat of a task. They have a little celebrity following as people really do love these dogs, so regular stops to greet strangers is all part of the ownership!
My Bulldog, Sonny, now 21 months old is an absolute character. Loving nothing more than human companionship,these dogs really do become attached to the family and prefer nothing more than to be curled up on you lap. In general he does enjoy a good nap which is always accompanied by strong snoring, which I believe is a common trait of these dogs. However when he’s ready to he really does enjoy a hyper moment and the mention of a ‘walk’ turns our docile Bulldog into a charging ball of energy. Mostly he loves meeting new people as well as other dogs and is extremely friendly, so aggression has never been a problem. They are extremely comical dogs and do appear to have a lot of expressions and funny little mannerisms, he definitely knows how to keep you smiling.
However with all pure bread dogs health issues do arise and the Bulldog is sadly one of the worst affected so high maintenance is really a key issue. One of the leading issues with the bulldog is cardiac problems, so it is vital that as a puppy the heart should be checked by a vet, as holes in the heart are common. Bulldogs also suffer from skin conditions so daily cleaning of the folds on their face is important to prevent infections, additionally sensitive shampoo should be used when cleaning to prevent drying out of the skin. The Bulldog does suffer with its breathing so over exertion is not advised and they are happy with small to medium amounts of exercise, additionally they can easily over heat in the summer months so short walks are advised, with drinking water (Sonny enjoys drinking out of a water bottle).
Bulldogs do have stubborn personalities and like to do things at their own pace, if he doesn’t want to go out to walk he will happily let you try and drag him out the door, however on the other hand he has been very easy to house train and has never had accidents in the house. He will come and give you a nudge if he does need to go out, or stand near the back door. If you do consider buying a bulldog bear in mind that they are a handful in terms of maintenance and will require regular health checks and vet visits. However the payoff of having a comical, loveable and endearing companion more than outweighs this and once you own a Bulldog, a Bulldog is all you will ever want!
