English Bulldog Facts

Despite the stubborn nature of the breed, the English Bulldog is actually a very docile breed that has been extremely popular since the 1800’s. Now a member of the non-sporting group and a devoted family pet, they were at one time bred for their ferocious and courageous traits. Literature from 1609 has the earliest reference to the English Bulldog.

The English Bulldog was listed as one of the top ten dog breeds as of the year 2007. The original purpose of the English Bulldog was to help butchers control unruly oxen, as a guard dog and as a hunting dog. Originally the breeds name comes from when they were commonly used to fight the bull in a sport called baiting that was eventually outlawed in 1835. The English Bulldog was first accepted into the American Kennel Club in the year 1976. This complex breed of dog has much to consider.

As long as you give the English Bulldog occasional walks outside or to the park then the breed will do well in apartments. However, they don’t have a lot of energy so they aren’t too keen on exercise. The English Bulldog prefers to spend the majority of their time lounging around the house. If you have children in the household they make an excellent pet, as they enjoy the company of family.

You will be alerted to strangers nearby by the English Bulldog barking and growling. They often do not attack since their imposing figure is enough to scare off most threats. They typically have an average weight between fifty to sixty pounds when full-grown and can stand between twelve to sixteen inches at the shoulder.

They have a stocky build and broad chest, making them a medium sized dog. They have a bowlegged appearance with a tail that is often curled. Coat colors for the English Bulldog range from liver, tan, black, white and a combination of colors.

The English Bulldog doesn’t do so well when it comes to obedience training. They don’t follow instructions easily and are a rather stubborn breed. This lack of response when training doesn’t mean they aren’t smart, rather it just means they prefer to think things all the way through before they act which actually makes them very smart.

Unfortunately the popularity of the breed has increased the number of disreputable breeders who don’t focus on the dog’s temperament. Therefore, there has been an increase in aggression among the breed. The key to reducing this aggression is to only get your dog from reputable breeders and properly socialize them when they are young. With proper care and training your English Bulldog can live a long eight to ten years.

Some health concerns you need to be aware of is heat illness which occurs if you expose your English Bulldog to environmental temperature that are excessive and don’t give the dog a way to dissipate the heat quickly.