English Bulldog - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
It is almost impossible to track down the Bulldogs history precisely. It is believed that Bulldog like dogs were used for centuries to drive cattle to market and for a so called bloody dog sport bullbaiting. The first mention of the breed was in 1500 in a description of a man "with two Bolddogges at his tayle…". It is believed that they are descendants of ancient mastiff dogs and that they were entirely developed in England.

2) Appearance
The Bulldogs appearance changed a lot over the time. Early Bulldogs used for Bullbaiting and as drover dogs were much more athletic, muscular, taller, heavier and they had much longer faces. Just look at this photo of the early English Bulldog, the difference is just enormous.

3) Family companion
In 1835 the Bullbaiting was finally outlawed, which caused that most of the Bulldogs did not have a purpose anymore, because back than, the Bulldog was not an affectionate companion we know today, it was quite an agressive breed. But luckily, many breeders love Bulldogs and they started to bred only the dogs with docile and affectionate temperament, which is exactly the traits we admire on todays Bulldogs. And indeed, The Bulldog we know today is amazing friendly, gentle and tolerant companion.

4) Stubborness
On the other hand, the English Bulldog is definitely not a pushover to train. They are not stupid, definitely not, but they are known to be pretty stubborn. This is why they need patient and firm trainer to become obedient.

5) Watchdog
The Bulldog is also quite courageous and alert breed, they will not back up against even much larger opponent, which is a reason why they can be trained to be good watchdogs. Although, they are pretty lazy, so do not expect them to patrol around a large property.

6) Living with
English Bulldogs are great apartment pets, because they do not need a lot of exercise. Or better to say, compared to other dogs, because you will still need to go on a longer walks every day, even with a Bulldog, to keep him healthy and happy. The Bulldog will also love regular playtimes. It is important to not overdoit with the exercise, especially in hot temperatures, because Bulldogs can have difficulties with breathing.

7) Size
The Bulldog has short legs, medium sized compact body, wide head. The average height should be between around 16 inches, which is 40 cm, and weight is typically between 18-25 kg, which is 40-55 pounds. The females are slightly smaller and lighter than males.

8) Head

The most distinctive part of the Bulldogs appearance is definitely its head. The head is just massive for a medium sized dog. The muzzle is extremely short and they have wrinkled face. BTW it is important to clean the wrinkles, because they can develop skin infections. The jaws are also massive and lips are fleshy and pendulous.

9) Maintenance
This is very easy to maintain breed. They have short hair, but they still do shed, so brushing from time to time will remove the dead hair and minimize the shedding. Be prepared for drooling and snoring. Just like with all dogs you should regularly check their eyes, ears and nails and clip them or clean them if needed.

10) Health
Overall, the Bulldog can suffer from a lot of health issues, it is definitely not the healthiest breed. The list includes brachycaphelic syndrome, head tremors, patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, demodectic mange, entropion, problems with breathing, heat stroke and obesity. The average lifespan is between 8-10 years, which is one of the shortest in their size category.