The Bulldog, sometimes referred to as the "English Bulldog", is believed to have evolved from the Molossian dog first brought to Britain by Phoenician traders in the 6th century BC. Because of their courage and apparent ability to endure pain, the breed was exploited in the sports of bull baiting, bear baiting and dog fighting. When bull baiting was made illegal in England in 1835 and eventually dog fighting was prohibited, the breed began to decline in numbers. Fortunately, with the beginning of the dog show era, the breed was saved by a group of fanciers determined to preserve the characteristics of the breed and eliminate all fighting and viciousness.
Though the Bulldog may appear to be oddly built, each point of his structure was bred into the breed to aid or protect him while attempting to overcome a bull. His general appearance is one of stability, vigor and strength.
The Bulldog is calm and dignified with a steady, even disposition. He is resolute and courageous but not vicious or aggressive. He loves people and though his appearance may be somewhat intimidating, he does not generally make a good watch dog. He has a relatively low activity level so adjusts well in just about any environment. His facial structure makes him susceptible to snuffling, snorting and snoring.
Today, Bulldogs are successsfully competing in Obedience as well as Agility and Tracking, and their calm disposition makes them ideal candidates to work as Therapy Dogs.
For Bulldog coat colours, the Canadian Kennel Club and American Kennel Club Breed Standards states:
"The colour of coat should be uniform, pure of its kind and brilliant. The various colours found in the breed are to be preferred in the following order:
(a) red brindle;
(b) all other brindles;
(c) solid white;
(d) solid red, fawn, or fallow;
(e) piebald;
(f) inferior qualities of all the foregoing.
Note A perfect piebald is preferable to a muddy brindle or defective solid
colour. Solid black is very undesirable, but not so objectionable if
occurring to a moderate degree in piebald patches. The brindles, to be
perfect, should have a fine, even and equal distribution of the composite
colours. In brindles and solid colours a small white patch on the chest is
not considered detrimental. In piebalds the colour patches should be
well defined, of pure colour and symmetrically distributed."
A Word of Caution: In part due to the growing popularity of the breed, the Bulldog is becoming more and more at risk of irresponsible breeders attempting to cash in. If you are considering the purchase of a Bulldog puppy, be especially selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. (For more information see Puppy Buyer Beware as well as the articles on selecting a breeder, at Breed Listing and Breeders.)
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Health Issues for the Bulldog Breed:
The average life expectancy for the Bulldog is from 8 to 12 years; however, some have lived to 15, 16, and even 18 years of age. Like all breeds, the Bulldog is no exception to a number of health related issues, such as:
- Elongated Soft Palate — This is the most common breathing disorder.
- Hypoplastic (narrow) Trachea — The most common signs of a narrow trachea are shortness of breath, gurgling sounds, and/or wheezing. Many Bulldogs live long and happy lives with this condition provided that they are carefully monitored.
- Pinched Nares (nostrils) — With this condition, the dog's nares are pinched tight causing insufficient air to pass through the nose. This can usually be corrected with surgery.
If you are considering the adoption of a Bulldog puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
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Breed Standards:
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Training Resources:
- Training — For information on training your Bulldog, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
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Additional Information:
- Basic Care for Your Bulldog — From the Bulldog Club of America
- Puppy Buyer Beware — By Cindy Madill, BCCC
- Clubs, Sports & Activities — See this section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for information on various dog sports and activities as well as listings to non-breed specific clubs from across Canada
- Working Dogs — If you would like to learn more about how you could get involved in Therapy work with your Bulldog, or another type of dog job, this section provides information on various jobs as well as listings to organizations across Canada.
- Bulldogs World — Excellent Bulldog information web site.
