British
Bulldog
Other
Names: Bulldog, English Bulldog, Bullie
Group: Utility
General
Profile
British
Bulldogs have a short, sturdy body with a wide chest. The
most distinguishing feature of the Bulldog is their large heads
and flat faces. They have loose skin, especially at the head,
neck and shoulders (face wrinkles must be cleaned on a daily basis).
Bulldogs have a short, fine and straight coat. Coat colours include:
brindle, white,
red and fawn.
Weight:
Bulldogs are classed as a medium
breed: Males 50-65 lbs, Bitches 40-45 lbs
Average
Life Expectancy: 8-10 years
Some people are intimidated by the physical appearance of the
Bulldog. They should not be as bulldogs are affectionate, gentle,
good natured, friendly and loyal dogs. They adore children making
them excellent family pets. They will get along well with dogs
and non canine animals. They do not like to be left alone for
too long as they crave human attention.
It is thought that
bulldogs are not very intelligent, this not true. They are intelligent,
it is just they would prefer to be cuddled rather than learn a
new trick or two. Bulldogs can be lazy and quite stubborn, it
is at these times their intelligence shines through. They always
know how to get their own way, or get you to help them do something
e.g. helping them on to the sofa. All they do is give you that
sad look to make you feel guilty, and bingo, they have got what
they wanted.
Bulldogs are known
for their human like quality. Their wrinkly faces give away so
much expression. Bulldog owners will tell you that they nearly
always know what their bulldog is thinking!
Bulldogs learn quite
quickly but they are stubborn. Training should be carried out
from early puppy-hood, and should be gentle and consistent. Bulldogs
should also be socialised well from puppy-hood.
Bulldogs can be lazy
but they do require regular daily exercise to keep them fit and
healthy. Bulldog can not cope with hot weather so they should
not be walked during the hottest parts of the day. Wait until
the day is cooler, keep in the shade and always carry water on
sunny days (see below for more details).
Grooming requirements
are minimal, weekly brushing will keep the coat healthy. The face
wrinkles require daily attention to prevent infection, especially
the nose wrinkle which can be quite deep. The underneath of the
tail daily also requires daily cleaning. Nails should be clipped
regularly.
If you are thinking
of owning a bulldog you should have strong knowledge of
the breed and its healthcare requirements.
Note: Because of
their short airways bulldogs snore, and snore loudly
British
Bulldog Health Issues
Severely hot
weather can be fatal to a bulldog, they don’t even need
to be moving about in it to succumb to the heat. Please make sure
that any exercise is given early in the morning or late in the
evening, don’t be tempted to go for a nice Sunday afternoon stroll
when it is very sunny or hot. Also please don’t allow your bulldog
to lay out in the sun for long periods, they do not know when
they have had enough and it doesn’t take long for their panting
to become out of control.
Click
here For More Information
Elongated Soft Palate and other airway disorders:
Every bulldog has an elongated soft palate to a certain degree,
this is because of the shape of their heads (ie: brachycephalic
- short nosed). In most cases this causes nothing more than snoring,
but in severe cases may cause your bulldog difficulty in breathing.
Heat and exercise will cause loud, gurgly breathing, (commonly
known as "roaring") and your bulldog may appear to be
"lazy". The severity can range from loud breathing when
excited, during/after exercise to total exercise intolerance,
regurgitation of food to permanent breathing difficulties. The
condition can be corrected with surgery and you need to be sure
that the vet you chose to carry out this surgery totally understand
brachycephalic breeds
Cherry
Eye: Where the gland under the third eyelid protrudes
and looks rather like a cherry in the corner of the eye. Your
vet will need to remove the gland (some prefer to tuck but it's
not recommended). Occasionally removal of the gland causes dry
eye but dry eye is a very common bulldog problem anyway regardless
of if the dog had cherry eye surgery as a pup. More recently we
have heard of vets that refuse to snip, try and find one that
will if possible. The risk of dry eye is increased but we see
so much dry eye in dogs that haven't had this surgery that it's
not usually a factor - bulldog tear glands often block even if
they still have this gland.
Dry Eye:
Caused when natural tear production slows or stops. Symptoms include
green gungy eyes, especially in the morning and a dry appearance
or blue haze to the eye itself. Can be confirmed by your vet who
will perform a dry eye test with blotting type paper to see how
much moisture can be soaked from the eyes surface. Artificial
tears will need to be applied to the eye for life, your vet can
prescribe this.
Sore Wrinkles: Looking after a bulldog
involves daily care of the face and the deep folds. Wash their
faces on a daily basis with either a soft cloth and water. Be
sure to dry the face properly, extra care is needed to the nose
roll which in some bulldogs can be very deep.
British
Bulldog History
Bulldogs
come from the ancient breed of Bullenbeissers a mastiff-like dog
used for guarding and attacking wild animals in Ancient Greece,
Egypt and Rome.
In England, the originally huge Bullenbeisser was bred to be a
smaller dog and during the reign of King John (13th century) began
its career as a bull baiter. Over the years, an ideal dog for
bull baiting was created.
Thankfully, baiting
and dog fighting were outlawed in England in 1835. From that day,
Bulldog owners began selective breeding to eliminate the aggressive
elements of the breed and establish a good natured, yet still
determined family pet being bred for their companionship, loyalty.
Traditionally recognised as 'the British breed' and renowned for
the bulldog spirit and strength. The Bulldog is often referred
to as the "Churchill dog" as it was used to portray
the courage and spirit of England during the second world war.
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