About The English Bulldog
Animals November 13th, 2008Although a relatively stubborn breed, the English Bulldog is also a very docile breed that as been very popular since the 1800’s. At first they were bred for their ferocious and courageous traits, now they are a member of the non-sporting group and remain a devoted family pet. The earliest reference to the English Bulldog was in literature from 1609. As of the year 2007 the English Bulldog was listed as one of the top ten dog breeds.
The English Bulldog was originally bred for the purpose of helping butchers control unruly oxen, as a guard dog and as a hunting companion. The name of the breed actually comes from when they were used to fight the bull in a sport called baiting which was outlawed in 1835. In the year 1976, the English Bulldog was finally accepted as a member of the American Kennel Club. There is much to consider when it comes to this complex dog breed.
The English Bulldog can do well in apartments as long as they get the occasional walk outside or to the park. The English Bulldog is not particular keen on exercise since they don’t have a lot of energy. Rather the English Bulldog prefers to spend much of its time just lounging around the house. They do enjoy the company of family and are excellent pets if you have children in the household. If strangers come near, the English Bulldog will alert the family by barking and growling.
The English Bulldog will alert the family to nearby strangers by barking and growling. Since their imposing figure tends to scare off any threats they tend not to attack. At the shoulder they typically stand between twelve to sixteen inches and weight an average of fifty to sixty pounds when full grown.
They are a medium sized dog with a stocky build and broad chest. Their tail is often curled and they always have a bowlegged appearance. The coat colors can 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.
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