The Bulldog is a non-sporting
dog that has a heavy, low-swung body. The breed’s
normal disposition is one of vigor, strength, and
durability. Originating in the British Isles, the
name was created from “bull”, which references the
dog’s use in bull baiting, an unusually cruel thing.
Interesting, the early Bulldog was extremely mean.
In fact, this breed was so ferocious that it seemed
completely unaware of physical pain.
However, by 1835, the sport of dog fighting became
illegal in England, which meant the deterioration of
the breed. Some people who loved the Bulldog and
knew it could be a loving pet decided to join forces
to preserve the breed. Over time, the negative
characteristics were eliminated to the dog we see
today, a loving, proud, and faithful pet. While the
Bulldog still has its strong, boxy body, its
personality is soft and gentle.
Temperament
The Bulldog of today is actually quite charming and
comical. The key to having a docile dog starts with
early socialization. Although the Bulldog is
generally great with people, it is important that
the dog have proper handling at a young age.
Typically, this breed does not require much exercise
and additionally, a cool home is most comfortable.
The best way to describe the temperament of the
Bulldog is as an English gentleman. Although this
dog can be socialized to be great around children,
the Bulldog prefers a quiet home and a comfortable
surrounding.
Size and Color
The Bulldog has a strong body with a medium-size
build. On average, this breed weighs between 40 and
60 pounds with the male being on the upper end of
the scale. For height, the Bulldog ranges from 13 to
15 inches at the withers. Unfortunately, this
particular breed does not live long. Even with
proper diet and exercise, the breed does not usually
live beyond 10 years.
In addition, the Bulldog has a smooth coat with only
continual shedding. However, with regular brushing
and monthly bathing, the shedding is controllable.
For colors, you see this breed with a white, fawn,
red, brindle, or patched coat. If you were
interested in showing your Bulldog, you want to look
for a massive, short-faced dog that has strong and
wide shoulders. Interestingly, most people look at
the Bulldog believing it is a mean dog but again,
with proper love and socialization, it makes a
wonderful pet.
Feeding and Grooming Requirements
Obviously, you want to feed your Bulldog puppy a
highly quality puppy food. Typically, the dog would
be provided with three smaller meals during the
first year. After that, you would need to cut
feedings back to two meals a day and no more. With
this breed, it is important that you always feed it
on schedule. In other words, if you choose the
morning meal for 8:00 and the evening meal for 6:00,
follow this same schedule every day.
The most important thing with a Bulldog is proper
food. Again, choose only top qualify dry food or you
could make homemade food but only what is acceptable
for this dog. In fact, food made for humans can
actually be dangerous, if not deadly for the
Bulldog, usually because of salt content. For
instance, you want to avoid foods such as French
fries, cheese, canned broth or gravy, buttermilk,
and cottage cheese. Other foods that should
definitely be avoided include:
►Chocolate
– Containing an ingredient called Theobromine, which
can cause hypertension in Bulldogs, leading to
hyperactivity, vomiting, and diarrhea.
►Raw Eggs – Uncooked eggs
put your dog at risk for salmonella poisoning.
Additionally, feeding the breed raw eggs long-term
could cause a deficiency in a vitamin B component
known as biotin.
►Bones – Never feed your
dog bones, which can become lodged or break off
causing internal damage. Rawhide bones should also
be avoided, which commonly become lodged in the
dog’s throat.
►Onions and Garlic –
Although harmless to humans, onions, and garlic can
cause serious blood problems in some breeds.
►Sugar – Bulldogs can
experience both tooth decay and obesity with sugar.
►Beef – This meat often
causes issues with gas
►High Protein Foods – In
this case, you would see hotspots develop
Exercise Needs
Many people love the Bulldog because the breed does
not need much exercise. For this reason, this
particular breed is a great choice for homes with
yards or apartment dwellers. Typically, a short
15-minute walk every day or two is sufficient.
Remember, the Bulldog tends to tire out easily and
walks slowly so you want to make sure you do not
over-exercise it.
