What is the significance of the British Bulldog?

The Bulldog is now a national icon, symbolising British pluck, but where does this reputation come from?

There are several breeds of bulldog today, including the small French, the powerful American and the wrinkled British, but the original breed that earned notoriety is now extinct.

The Old English Bulldog possessed a muscular, stocky body and a vice-like jaw that clamped shut with tremendous force, making it well-suited to the violent sport of bullbaiting.

Its strength, tenacity and willingness to fight larger animals appealed to 18th-century political cartoonists, who began depicting the female figure of Britannia being accompanied by both a lion and Bulldog.

As the phrase ‘British Bulldog spirit’, meaning unrelenting courage, had evolved during the 19th century, plucky Bulldogs soon became a regular fixture in World War I propaganda posters.

But perhaps the most symbolism came when Winston Churchill became Prime Minister.

More like this

His jowly face, broad body, and steadfast determination to overcome powerful Nazi forces in WW2 made him an almost living embodiment of the heroic pooch.

Bulldog (English Bulldog): Dog Breed Characteristics & Care

The bulldog is a medium-sized dog breed from England known for its trademark gloomy face, wide shoulders, and endearing rolling gait. It’s quite possibly one of the most recognized breeds in the world. Although you’ll often see this breed referred to as the “English bulldog,” a reference to its country of origin, the official name is simply bulldog.

Bulldogs live happily in large homes or apartments. Their main concern is that they are inside with the family. They are dignified but funny, courageous but easy-going, and tenacious but sweet—the bulldog is simply like no other breed.

Breed Overview

HEIGHT: 14 to 15 inches at the shoulder

WEIGHT: 40 to 50 pounds

COAT: Straight, short, fine-textured, smooth, and glossy

COAT COLOR: Red, white, fawn, or fallow (pale brown), or any combination of these colors, with or without such patterns and markings as brindle, piebald, ticking, black masks, or black tipping

LIFE SPAN: 8 to 10 years

TEMPERAMENT: Willful, friendly, gregarious, docile

HYPOALLERGENIC: No

ORIGIN: England

Characteristics of the Bulldog

Bulldogs are extremely popular in both England and North America. Despite that furrowed brow and grumpy-looking scowl, bulldogs are amiable and sweet-natured companions. They are great family dogs and they get along with adults and kids alike. Bulldogs usually coexist peacefully with other pets, although some dogs of the same sex might not get along. Thanks to their extreme facial construction, bulldogs snort, snuffle, grunt, snore, slobber, and drool.

History of the Bulldog

In 13th-century England, the bulldog was used as a fighting dog in a gruesome sport known as bull-baiting. During this period, bulldogs looked and acted very different than they do today. In particular, they were much fiercer—not suitable pets in the least. After blood sports like bull baiting were outlawed in England, bulldogs were out of a job, but some bulldog lovers sought to save the breed. With some judicious breeding, the bulldog was toned down into the slow, ambling, sweet, and loving pet we know and love today.

Bulldog Care

When exercising and training your bulldog, keep these important considerations in mind. The bulldog is extremely susceptible to heatstroke. Take extra precautions with your bulldog to avoid overheating on warm days: Don’t exercise a bulldog outdoors in the heat and stay indoors with air conditioning if possible. Use fans, shade, and cooling pads, and provide access to cool drinking water.

Exercise

Bulldogs are sometimes labeled as lazy, and while it’s true that bulldogs are one of the more sedate breeds, some enjoy more vigorous activities than just lying on the couch. Bulldogs like daily walks—no more than 20 to 30 minutes, though—and some crave more brisk exercise like off-leash fetch or romping at the dog park. Some superstar bulldogs even excel at competitive dog sports like obedience and agility.

Grooming

The bulldog’s short coat is easy to care for. Brief brushing sessions two or three times a week will get rid of any loose hairs and leave the coat looking and feeling great. The deep wrinkles require special care—clean them using a cotton swab or cotton ball dipped in hydrogen peroxide and follow up with an application of cornstarch to keep them dry. Clean the ears once a week with a pet-safe ear cleanser and trim the nails weekly, as well. Bathe your bulldog monthly or when it gets dirty.

Training

Bulldogs can be difficult to train as the breed can certainly be stubborn, but you only have to look to one of the famous skateboarding or surfing bulldogs to see that they are definitely capable of learning. You just need to find the right motivation. Positive-reinforcement methods like clicker training work best. Use tasty treats and keep sessions short to maintain the bulldog’s attention span.

Common Health Problems

It’s no secret that the bulldog is not the healthiest dog breed. Some common health issues seen in bulldogs include:

• Breathing Problems: Because this breed has brachycephalic syndrome, it is susceptible to stenotic nares and an elongated soft palate.
• Eye Disorders: This breed is prone to keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye), entropion, ectropion, cherry eye, and distichiasis.
• Ventricular Septal Defect: This birth defect results in a hole in the wall separating the lower heart chambers.
• Orthopedic Disorders: This breed is prone to canine hip dysplasia, shoulder luxation, elbow dysplasia, and patellar luxation.
• Internalized Tail: Other names for this problem include screw tail and corkscrew tail. It refers to an inherited condition where the vertebrae form an abnormality that spirals downward, resulting in anal obstruction or other serious challenges.
• Underbite: Many bulldogs have underbites, meaning the teeth are misaligned and the lower jaw juts out. This can lead to dental issues.

Due to the multitude of health problems that occur commonly in the breed, vet bills can be quite high throughout the lifetime of a bulldog, a serious consideration when deciding to become a bulldog owner.

Diet and Nutrition

Bulldogs love to eat. Their love of food can cause some to eat more than they should and put on too much weight, which adds stress to their joints. Work with your veterinarian to determine how much your bulldog should be eating daily, and feed measured meals at scheduled times. Leaving food out all the time (free feeding) or eyeballing the amounts instead of using a measuring cup can pack on the pounds.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Bulldog

Bulldogs are unique in that they nearly always give birth via Cesarean section due to the construction of their bodies. This means bulldog puppies can be pricey. Expect to pay an average price of $2,500—or between $1,500 to $4,000—for an English bulldog pup. Many adult bulldogs are available for adoption through various rescue and adoption groups. If you have your heart set on a puppy, the best way to locate a bulldog breeder is to contact the following sources:

• Bulldog Club of America: The national club for the breed which maintains a breeder referral list and also a rescue referral program.
• Bulldog Rescue Club of America Network

Bulldog Overview

• Full of personality
• Can live in any size dwelling, from a small apartment to a big house
• Capable of fun agility skills, like skateboarding

• Prone to health problems, such as breathing issues, eye disorders, and orthopedic problems
• Drools, snorts, and passes a lot of gas
• Territorial about their food

English Bulldog

Typically low-endurance dogs, English bulldogs have a sweet disposition, are predictable, dependable and excellent with children and need only moderate exercise.

• English Bulldog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Airedale Terrier
• Catahoula Leopard Dog Breed | Hill’s Pet
• Pomsky Dog Breed: Information & Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Goldendoodle Dog Breed: Information & Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Rough Collie Dog Breed Information | Hill’s Pet
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Breed Facts | Hill’s Pet
• American Staffordshire Terrier Dog Breed Facts | Hill’s Pet
• Vizsla Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• American Eskimo Dog Breed Facts | Hill’s Pet
• Chiweenie Dog Breed Information and Personality Traits
• Cavachon Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• American Hairless Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Shih Poo Dog Breed – Information & Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Shorkie Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Morkie
• Schipperke Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Puggle Dog Breed: Information & Personality Traits
• Shetland Sheepdog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Standard Schnauzer Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Weimaraner Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Saint Bernard Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Yorkshire Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Welsh Corgi Cardigan Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Smooth Fox Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Saluki Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Wire Fox Terrier Dog Breed- Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Silky Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier Dog Breed Facts | Hill’s Pet
• Xoloitzcuintli Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Rottweiler Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Skye Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• American Pit Bull Terrier Dog Breed Facts | Hill’s Pet
• West Highland Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Shih Tzu Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Welsh Springer Spaniel Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Scottish Deerhound Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Siberian Husky Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Samoyed Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Scottish Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Bloodhound Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Basset Hound Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Chihuahua Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Golden Retriever Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Lhasa Apso Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Dachshund Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Old English Sheepdog Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Australian Cattle Dog Breed Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• English Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Bullmastiff Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Doberman Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Havanese Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Bull Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Papillion Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Japanese Chin Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Kuvasz Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Belgian Malinois Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Border Collie Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Great Dane Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Australian Shepherd Dog Breed Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Bichon Frise Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Alaskan Klee Kai Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Norwegian Elkhound Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• English Foxhound Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Labrador Retriever Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Belgian Sheepdog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• German Wirehaired Pointer Dog Breed Facts | Hill’s Pet
• Boxer Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Keeshond Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Miniature Schnauzer Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Beauceron Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Brittany Dog Breed | Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Norwich Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Collie – Scottish Collie – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Finnish Spitz Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Black and Tan Coonhound Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• German Shepherd Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Portuguese Water Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Giant Schnauzer Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Chow Chow Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Brussels Griffon Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Rhodesian Ridgeback Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Newfoundland Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Italian Greyhound Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Akbash Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• German Shorthaired Pointer Dog Breed Facts | Hill’s Pet
• Akita Dog Breed | Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Dandie Dinmont Terrier Dog Breed- Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Bedlington Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Flat-Coated Retriever Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Irish Water Spaniel Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Breed Facts | Hill’s Pet
• Boston Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Jack Russell Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Clumber Spaniel Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Miniature Bull Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Boykin Spaniel Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Bernese Mountain Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• English Springer Spaniel Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Beagle Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Briard Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Pomeranian Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Mastiff Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Pug Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Norfolk Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Irish Wolfhound Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Miniature Pinscher Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Maltese Dog Breeds – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Ibizan Hound Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Chinese Crested Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Bouvier Des Flandres Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Field Spaniel Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Bearded Collie Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Dalmatian Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Border Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• French Bulldog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Chesapeake Bay Retriever Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Pekingese Dog Breed Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Puli Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Cairn Terrier Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Poodle Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• English Pointer Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Irish Setter Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Borzoi Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Great Pyrenees Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Basenji Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Pharaoh Hound Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Shar Pei Dog Breed – Information & Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Leonberger Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Pomsky Dog Breed: Information & Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Chinook Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• American Water Spaniel Dog Breed Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Cockapoo Dog Breed: Information and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Greyhound Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Komondor Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Canadian Eskimo Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Bracco Italiano Dog Breed: Personality & Information | Hill’s Pet
• English Setter Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Tibetan Spaniel Dog Breed: Personality & Information | Hill’s Pet
• Curly-Coated Retriever Dog Breed – Facts and Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Affenpinscher Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Afghan Hound Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet
• Whippet Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits | Hill’s Pet

In this article

Thick neck, brachycephalic (short face), heavy wrinkles

Energy level

Grooming Needs

Social Needs

About the English Bulldog

The English bulldog is a brawny little powerhouse whose characteristic crablike waddle exudes great strength, stability and vigor.

English Bulldog personality

The English bulldog has a sweet, gentle disposition. Dependable and predictable, the bulldog is a wonderful family pet and loving to most children. People-oriented as a breed, they actively solicit human attention.

However, they have retained the courage that was originally bred into them for bull baiting, so they make fine watchdogs. Although they generally get along well with other family pets, English bulldogs can be aggressive to unfamiliar dogs.

What to expect

English bulldogs make fine apartment pets and do not require a yard. Typically low-endurance dogs, they need only a moderate amount of exercise. They thrive best in temperate climates: they readily overheat and have breathing difficulties in hot weather, and they chill easily in cold temperatures.

Generally loud breathers, English bulldogs tend to snore and wheeze. Many drool as well. They are moderate shedders and their short coats require little grooming. However, the wrinkles on the face should be wiped regularly to prevent skin infections.

History of the English Bulldog

Named for its use in the sport of bull baiting, the English bulldog seems to have originated in the British Isles sometime prior to the 13th century. One of the few references to the sport dates back to 1209, and talks about a butcher’s dogs that chased a bull through the English town of Stamford. This pursuit so pleased the earl of the town that he inaugurated bull baiting as a sport in his domain.

Today, the English bulldog makes a fine family pet. The AKC recognizes the breed simply as the bulldog.