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Bulldog

friendly / courageous / calm
Non-Sporting Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

14-15 inches

Weight

50 pounds (male)

40 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy

8-10 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    60% 60%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    60% 60%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    80% 80%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    80% 80%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    60% 60%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    40% 40%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    60% 60%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    60% 60%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    60% 60%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    80% 80%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    80% 80%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    60% 60%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    40% 40%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The Bulldog is a thick-set, low-slung, well-muscled bruiser whose “sour mug” face is the universal symbol of toughness and determination. He is kind but courageous, friendly but dignified. These submissive, devoted companions fit in both urban and rural settings.

A Bulldog cannot be confused with any other breed. The undershot jaw with dangling chops on either side, the small ears, the loose skin of the head, the furrowed brow, the pushed-in nose, and the unique rolling gait nearly shout “I’m a Bulldog!”The coat is brief, smooth, and glossy, and it comes in a variety of colors and designs. Although bulldogs can weigh up to 50 pounds, they will still attempt to snuggle up in your lap despite their size.

Bulldogs enjoy brisk walks and need regular moderate exercise, along with a strict diet, to stay fit. However, don’t mistake their laid-back demeanor for laziness. Summer afternoons are best spent indoors in a cool environment because a bulldog’s narrow nose can make breathing difficult in hot and muggy conditions.

What To Expect When Caring For a Bulldog

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

Bulldog owners need to exercise caution to prevent their dogs from overheating. Bulldogs shouldn't be left unattended in the hot sun without access to shade or water, and no dog should ever be left in a closed vehicle in even moderately warm weather. A Bulldog's tongue will hang out exceptionally far and have a bluish cast rather than the typical pink color if he is overexcited or breathing too forcefully. The dog can be cooled down by receiving an ice bath and an immediate soak in chilly water. The Bulldog Club of America offers more thorough guidance on the health and upkeep of bulldogs.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
  • Patella Evaluation
  • Tracheal Hypoplasia Radiographic Evaluation
  • Cardiac Exam

Grooming

The Bulldog will look his best if he gets a thorough, 10-minute brushing two or three times a week. Using a rubber curry brush first can be helpful at times of heavy shedding. The skin around the wrinkles on the Bulldog's face needs to be kept clean and dry on a regular basis to prevent food or moisture from being trapped and causing infection or inflammation. Although neither should be applied close to the eyes, you can remove wrinkles with a cotton ball dipped in peroxide and then apply cornstarch to speed up drying. Every two weeks or so, the dog's nails should be clipped, and the ears and area beneath the tail should be kept clean.  

Exercise

Bulldogs are calm and content to laze around at their owner's feet, but they also like to play occasionally and go on walks. The dog will maintain its shape with with moderate activity. However, it's preferable to spend extremely hot days in front of an air conditioner because the Bulldog's short muzzle can make breathing challenging when it's hot and muggy outside. Pools and stairs can pose serious safety risks. Bulldogs like to wade in extremely shallow water, but they should never be left alone in water that is deeper than elbow-deep.  

Training

Bulldogs are affectionate, loyal, and laid-back canines who strive to please their owners. Early socialization is essential to help the dog get off to a good start in life, as it is for all breeds. Additionally, puppy training lessons are highly advised because they teach the owner how to control any undesired tendencies. Bulldogs love to chew; the majority will spend their entire lives playing with chew toys. They also enjoy playing tug of war, but it's crucial to teach the puppy to release everything in his jaws when told to do so. In order to prevent the baby Bulldog from developing a tendency of becoming possessive of his food, he should also be taught from an early age to allow people taking food from his dish while he is eating.

Nutrition

The Bulldog should thrive on premium dog food, whether it is made commercially or at home under the direction and agreement of your veterinarian. Whatever the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior), the diet should be suitable. Watch your dog's calorie intake and weight level because certain dogs are prone to obesity. Treats can be a valuable training tool, but offering them in excess might lead to obesity. Discover which foods fit the bill for canine consumption and which don't. If you have any worries about your dog's weight or diet, consult your veterinarian. Fresh water that is clean should always be accessible.  

History

Bulldogs are thought to have been developed in 13th-century England, under King John, for the “sport” of bullbaiting, in which a staked bull battled a pack of dogs while onlookers placed bets on the outcome. The dogs used in this gruesome sport, the forerunners of the modern Bulldog, were vicious brutes with enormous jaws, incredibly fearless, and seemingly painless.

Bulldog history underwent a sea change in 1835 when England outlawed using animals in blood sports. Bullbaiting gave birth to underground pit-dog fighting, and blood sports actually went underground. The plodding Bulldogs of the early 19th century were insufficient for this illegal activity; faster, more energetic canines were needed. By combining several terrier breeds with Bulldogs, gamblers produced their ferocious, four-legged gladiators. As a result, the Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and another bull-type terrier breed that is still in fashion today were developed as early prototypes. The Bulldog faced extinction because bullbaiting was no longer used. As a result, bulldog fans started the drawn-out process of changing the breed’s reputation from brawler to friend. They improved the Bulldog’s physical features to make it more appealing, they subdued its ferocity, and they reimagined the breed as a kind and affectionate pet that is especially good with kids.

England’s national animal is the bulldog and has been for a very long time. The similarities between the jowly, stubborn Bulldog and the jowly, tenacious Prime Minister Winston Churchill were frequently noted during World War II. The breed serves as the mascot for numerous sports teams in America, especially those that represent Yale University. Handsome Dan, the Bulldog mascot for Yale, is thought to have been the first animal mascot in sports history. Uga, who cheers on the University of Georgia Bulldogs from the comfort of an air-conditioned doghouse on the sidelines, is another well-known Bulldog football mascot. The Bulldog also serves as the aging face of the United States and Mack Truck. Corps of Marines.