English Bulldog

History

The English Bulldog breed has been a regular participant in cartoons, movies, and TV shows. These animals can be seen on a variety of advertising materials, and on the emblems of sports teams – due to their colorful appearance and history. Bulldogs are by far one of the most recognizable dogs.

The first mention of this breed dates back to 1500 – in those days, bulldogs were widely used in bloody entertainment called bull-baiting with dogs. Nowadays it seems savage but in those distant years, and, up to the 19th century, many believed that this made bull meat more tender.

These unfounded notions were extremely common, to the point that there even was a law in the UK that required butchers to poison a bull with dogs before slaughtering it. Based on the logic that this allegedly “thins the blood” – a complete heresy, of course. The truth is that bulldogs were extremely effective in fighting bulls, grabbing them by the neck and biting through the artery.

However, if the dog didn’t dodge the horns of the bull, inevitable death awaited it. Bulldogs poisoned not only bulls but also other large predators, such as bears, which was also very popular with spectators. It is worth noting that the bulldogs of the 17th century and the bulldogs of the 21st century are different dogs. Both in size and temperament.

This became possible thanks to the efforts of the breeders of the 19th century, who decided to remake this breed. Additionally, the authorities banned bloody entertainment. For these purposes, only obedient and docile dogs were selected, with minimum aggression. The first dog show in which the updated bulldog breed participated took place in 1861. And in 1864, enthusiasts created the first bulldog club in England.

Description

The modern bulldog breed is small. Their limbs are short, and embossed, body is large and muscular. The muzzle is flattened, with folds, ears are triangular and small, and hang down on the sides of the head.

Personality

Despite the fact that today’s bulldogs are significantly different from those that existed 300 years ago, they have retained their courage and pride. Today they are friendly, very sociable, and affectionate with their family. These dogs are very fond of making new friends, meeting new people, and other pets.

At first glance, it may seem that they are not very smart when it comes to training, however, this is not entirely true. Perhaps it takes them a while to learn a new skill but once he has mastered it, then it is forever. Sometimes this breed can show stubbornness but if you look closely, it will seem that they do it as if not being serious. As if they were doing it for a joke or to play some kind of game with you. If you show a little patience and have a good sense of humor, everything will work out.

The English Bulldog has a fairly loud voice, and may well be a guard dog. Although his current size does not allow him to compete on an equal footing with an adult, he will be able to raise an alarm for the entire district and will definitely try to stop the attacker. The Bulldog can be quite lazy and sometimes even difficult to move during a walk. Although, in fairness, we note that this is most often happening with older dogs that are overweight.

This breed cannot be called very active but sometimes bulldogs can play some games with you. They do not like to run too far and too fast. English Bulldogs love the presence of a person. The bulldog breed has several negative features associated with the structure of its skull – snoring and loud sniffing. Also, they are prone to flatulence.

Training

The Bulldog breed is neutral about the training process, and usually, there are no problems with this. However, most likely you will have to face innate laziness and stubbornness. There is no remedy for all cases. Only patience, kindness, and a sense of humor will help you. And, of course, a tasty treat as a reward, as bulldogs love to eat.

Usually, these dogs are taught basic commands, as the more commands they have learned, the more difficult it is for them to learn new ones. Moreover, bulldogs generally rather slowly learn new stuff. In everyday life, it will practically not interfere with you. In the life of every dog, there is a period when the owner needs to clearly put himself in the role of the leader. Bulldogs are no exception to this. Thanks to their natural friendliness and open character, you can always find a common language with these animals without resorting to emergency measures.

Care

The Bulldog dog breed has a short coat and needs to be brushed once a week. Always make sure your pet’s ears and eyes are clean, and trim its claws on time – this is done about 3 times a month. Bathe your dog once or twice a week. Also, do not forget that the bulldog has many wrinkles that need to be wiped from time to time with a damp cloth with a suitable pH level. This is so the skin does not dry out. You will eliminate harmful bacteria and prevent various irritations from developing.

Also, keep in mind that the English Bulldog is very sensitive to overheating and cold – do not let the dog stay in the sun for a long time, and wear overalls for a walk in the winter. Another problem is overeating and obesity. Watch your dog’s diet so that it does not turn into a kind of bedside table.

Common Diseases

The English Bulldog has a non-standard skull structure, which is why they are prone to various respiratory diseases. In addition, some individuals may have pinched nostrils, and the animal may even require surgery for normal breathing. Also, the non-standard shape of the head sometimes causes problems during childbirth, when puppies have to be removed by cesarean section.

Here is a list (not counting the aforementioned complications) this breed is prone to:

• Cherry eye;
• Dry eye;
• Entropion;
• Inverted or reverse sneezing;
• Brachycephalic syndrome;
• Head shaking – nervous shaking of the head;
• Demodicosis;
• Generalized demodicosis;
• Hip dysplasia;
• Tail problems – some are born with curled tails or other types of stiff tails that can cause skin problems. You must keep its tail clean and dry to prevent infection.
• Dislocation of the patella.

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