Live Life Team
The Bulldog belongs to the Mastiff group and descends from the Asiatic Mastiff. Despite these roots, the main part of the development of the breed we see today took place in Great Britain. The name is medieval in its origins and came about due to the strong resemblance this dog has to a small bull. It is also related to the power that this breed used to attack bulls for sport until this practice became illegal in the 19th century.
The Bulldog is a relatively small dog but extremely strong and sturdy in stature. It is characterised by its large and broad head and its highly pronounced cheeks which extend outwards sideways of the eyes. The skin around the head and forehead fall into thick folds and it has a short, flat muzzle. The small round eyes are set wide and the ears are small and folded back like a rose. The tail is short and carried downwards. The dog appears to walk with a waddle due to its thickset legs.
There are several colours in which the Bulldog may be found. These are red, yellow, white and fawn and, indeed, any combination of these colours. The muzzle is typically darker than the rest of the dog. The coat is short and smooth and can easily be groomed. This breed sheds an average amount throughout the year.
The physical appearance of the Bulldog is somewhat fearsome. It is indeed capable of significant aggression and is renown for its courage. Despite this, it can be an extremely gentle dog. They are a persistent breed of dog and highly determined. They need a lot of human attention in order to live happily as a pet and will often try to dominate their owner. The dog must be trained and managed firmly in order that the dog understands that its owner is the leader and not the dog itself. If this does not happen then the dog will display so-called guarding behaviours such as guarding their toys and food and aggression. They will not be as happy as dogs that have correctly been taught their place in the pecking order of the home. Young Bulldogs are full of life and energy but this does decrease significantly with maturity. They are also known for their loud snoring and their excessive drooling and slobbering.
The Bulldog makes an excellent guard dog. Its intelligence and natural aggression coupled with its appearance make it a formidable one. They also make good family pets as they can be trained successfully and socialised with a family. They are relatively inactive indoors and so can easily adapt to smaller living spaces and limited outdoor space,
The Bulldog typically has a short life expectancy of around 8 years. Some live longer whilst some live even less than that. They are susceptible to a number of health issues such as breathing problems related to a small windpipe, poor eyesight and sensitivity to temperature. Digestive issues and flatulence are also common. Other ailments are skin infections and problems with both hips and knees.
