The English bulldog is a sturdy, medium-sized dog with a distinct appearance. Broad chest, short legs, and a wrinkled head. According to Stichting Dier&Recht (08-05-2017), the English bulldog is in fifth place among the most thoroughbred purebred dogs and they have to go through life with many physical complaints and limitations.
“Dogs have become fashion accessories and are knowingly bred purebred, resulting in inbreeding and genetically unhealthy dogs,” said Dier&Recht. However, the English bulldog is a very sweet, social, and loyal friend with a gentle character and therefore the perfect family dog. The English bulldog: top dog in the wrong body.
The history of the English bulldog is not a pretty one. From the 13th century through the 19th century, the English bulldog was bred specifically for ‘Bull Baiting’ in the United Kingdom. Public entertainment to watch dogs fight bulls. In 1835 these fights were banned and the English bulldog became unemployed. By breeding aggression in dogs for decades, the English bulldog was by no means the ideal companion dog, around the year 1900.
The Contemporary Bulldog
The aggressive ‘bull dog’ was not well known as a family dog and it would have been close to extinction. Some admirers of the breed have enthusiastically started breeding programs with the aim of giving the bulldog a more gentle nature. Also, the positively judged characteristics of the dog were excessively bred or distorted.
Today’s English bulldog hasn’t changed much since the late 1800s. It has become a gentle, loyal friend, which has gained immense popularity.
Breed Characteristics Of The English Bulldog
The English bulldog is a sturdy, smooth-haired, powerful compact dog, with a relatively large head. Males weigh on average 25 kg and bitches 23 kg. The English bulldog only lives between six and nine years on average. General breed characteristics are:
- Short torso with a broad chest
- Forsgebouwd
- Stands low on the legs
- The front legs are straight and set wide apart
- The hind legs are longer than the front legs and are a bit closer together
- Short broad blunt snout
- strong and muscular
- The nose is very short and pointed upwards
- Thick drooping upper lips
- Short smooth coat
- Thick wrinkling skin at the neck and shoulders
- The jaws are massive, square, and wide
- Small high set ears
- Deep-set dark eyes, far from the ears
- Short back that flares out at the shoulders
How Does The English Bulldog Get So Popular?
The English Bulldog is intelligent, sweet, sociable, and comical. If dogs can have a sense of humor, then bulldogs are a prime example of this. Bulldogs can be really clownish. They have a mind of their own and are often stubborn. Also, they have their own law: ‘the law of the bulldog’. If they don’t want something, they really don’t do it. On the other hand, if they want something from the boss, they have a whole arsenal of facial expressions and sounds to make this clear.
Partly because the English bulldog is so gentle, sensitive, and social, the popularity of this dog breed has increased enormously. This is largely due to the character of the English bulldog.
The Character Of The English Bulldog
The English bulldog is a social, sweet, calm, and cheerful dog. The bulldog is a real family dog, who wants to be with everything. He likes attention, cuddling, lazing around, and playing games.
The bulldog seems like everyone’s friend at first glance, but he is not. The bulldog often acts casually and is moderately interested in others. The English bulldog is very focused and loyal to its own family members. The bulldog also makes it very clear that he is part of the family, and is not forgotten.
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The tolerance limit towards children is high. For children, the bulldog goes through fire, as it were. If a child cries, the average English Bulldog will take a close look at the child and comfort it if necessary.
In principle, the Bulldog gets along well with other dogs, but they are not really interested in other canids. Other pets are no problem either, he won’t chase them. The hunting instinct in the English bulldog is barely developed.
Other Reasons That Explain The Popularity Of The English Bulldog
- The owner doesn’t have to take long sporty walks
- The Bulldog Can Be Alone (But Doesn’t Like This)
- The bulldog barely barks
- He has no inclination to run away or investigate on his own
- Remains playful until the end of its life (if in good health)
- The funny YouTube and Instagram videos about bulldogs skateboarding, surfing, and trampoline jumping
- The frequent use of the English bulldog in series (Jake and the Fatman), films, and commercials
- The almost-human appearance of the eyes
Is Everything About The Bulldog Hosanna?
No. The breed is tormented by an endless array of ailments and abnormalities. The English bulldog has a hard time with all its unnatural so-called breed characteristics.
Health Problems And Hereditary Disorders In The Bulldog
- The bulldog cannot reproduce naturally (via artificial insemination)
- Puppies are almost always born via Caesarean section
- They have it chronically stuffy because of the blunt skull and the too-short muzzle
- Breathing problems due to a narrow windpipe
- Dysplasia (deformation) of the elbow
- Hip dysplasia
- fusion of vertebrae
- Cleft Palate
- Because the body is relatively too large for the legs, the bulldog quickly has joint problems
- Skin conditions, infections, bumps, and baldness
- Ingrown eyelashes and inward curled eyelids
- uterine inflammation
- Allergy sensitive
- ingrown nail
- Cherry eye (abnormality of the lacrimal gland of the eye)
- Dry eyes (red eyes)
- Clogged tear ducts
- Knee deformity that causes lameness
- Overheating (Bulldogs do not tolerate heat well)
- Shock (bulldogs are highly emotional dogs and can go into shock from accident or excitement)
- Narrowing of the pulmonary artery
- Congenital under- or overbite
The bulldog has to endure a lot under its unnatural breed characteristics. They are quickly short of breath and because of their flat nose, they can hardly breathe. Due to their forced body and relatively short legs, they are difficult to move and because of their heavy weight, they are prone to joint problems. The bulldog is incapable of mating naturally on its own and because of their broad skull, a cesarean section is inevitable.
Respiratory Problems In The English Bulldog
Shortness of breath is a characteristic condition that is common in bulldogs. Due to the broad blunt skull of short length, there is little room for the internal nasal and throat structures. This leads to shortness of breath as a result of the labored breathing. Due to the moderate or severe shortness of breath, the English bulldog has to deal with even more adverse health complaints as a result of oxygen deficiency:
- Stomach and intestinal complaints
- Gagging and vomiting
- Cough
- Conditieverlies
- Quickly out of breath
- snoring
- Pass out
- Cardiac arrhythmias
The list of conditions is far from complete, leading to the conclusion that the bulldog is physically a disaster dog. A vulnerable dog that suffers from serious hereditary disorders and defects, as a result of inbreeding and through breeding. This also applies to the: French Bulldog, Boxer, German Shepherd Dog, the Cavalier Dog, and the Chihuahua.
Breeding for specific appearances (ideal beauty), flat nose, large eyes, broad head, large chest, narrow hips, and short legs, does not benefit the health and well-being of the English bulldog.
The Bulldog is a great family dog, unfortunately, housed in an unhealthy body. A top dog in the wrong body.
